Page 94 of Hotter than Wildfire

Wait for it, Harry thought. The last song, her signature song, the song she sang at the end of every concert, whatever the type of music.

It had become her trademark.

She sang it a cappella, because just her voice was enough.

Amazing Grace. It was their song, because she said it was only by amazing grace that she’d been able to find her way to him.

The song moved him, always. He’d heard her sing it hundreds of times and it was always a dagger that pierced his heart, bloodless and painless and deep. The song made him feel keenly all the losses of his life. His mother, Crissy. Above all, Crissy.

He’d almost lost Ellen and he thought of that, daily, hourly. It would be so easy to dwell on the losses, on the pain this life gave us all. To think of the darkness and sorrow, of loved ones gone forever, of the hatred and cruelty there was in the world.

All of that passed through his heart, every time. And every time he suffered.

And then every time, the song and Ellen’s voice reminded him of the incredible grace in the world and he was pulled forward, through the pain and suffering and into peace.

At the end of the song, in the darkness of the room, Ellen shifted a little, unerringly moving her head to where he was. She met his eyes. Somehow she always knew exactly where he was, no matter how dark the room, no matter how many people.

She held his eyes and sang directly to him, straight to his heart, because this was for him.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

The last notes fell away like a dream, shimmering in the darkness, and Ellen bowed her head.

The spotlight dimmed, went out and the crowd rose to its feet with a roar, clapping and shouting and whistling.

But Eve was gone. She never came out for an encore because the song moved her too much. It was why it was always the last song. She could sing nothing after it.

The lights came on in the house, showcasing an empty stage and the musicians standing for their bows.

“Wow.” Nicole wiped her eyes. “Seems hard to remember that that magical woman up there is our Ellen.” She laughed. “Our accountant! It’s like having Picasso mow your lawn.”

Mike and Sam weren’t listening. Mike was on his feet, two fingers in his mouth, whistling and stomping and Sam was teaching the little girl on his lap to clap, laughing with her.

This part of his family was safe and happy. Harry slipped away to tend to the other part of his family.

She was backstage, her hair already down. Onstage, formal wear suited her. Her concert dresses were one of a kind, created for her by an up and coming young designer who captured her innate elegance and class.

Eve loved the drama of the gowns, loved the shimmer of silk and satin, the flash of sequins, the glamorous makeup, the elegant upswept hair. But the instant Eve left the stage, Ellen wanted back into her casual clothes, her hair down, the makeup off.

The dressing room was so full of flowers you could hardly turn around, the scent going immediately to his head. Harry’s two dozen pink roses were set on the small counter in front of the mirror, where she could see them.

All the flowers went the next day to the Children’s Hospital, but Eve loved coming backstage and plunging into the riot of colors and scents.

She was standing, trying to reach behind for the zipper.

“Let me.” Harry moved behind her, bent to kiss her shoulder. “A husband’s privilege.” He met her eyes in the mirror. “You were magnificent tonight, my love. And the last song…God.”

“Amazing Grace.” Ellen smiled at him in the mirror. “It’s our song, isn’t it? And it always will be.” She turned and caught his hands in hers. Took a deep breath. “Okay. There will never be a better moment. Since Amazing Grace is our song, I thought we’d call her Grace, because I just know it will be a girl. Grace Christine, for your sister.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “She’ll be born just in time for your birthday. So Merry Christmas and happy birthday, my love.”

And Harry’s heart simply exploded with joy.

Two years later