Together, they expressed to Bailey she was made from the love two best friends had for each other. Cash didn’t want to lie to her. He told Bailey the truth. He chose Jackson to be her father because he wanted her to have the best life he couldn’t provide at the time. He explained what his circumstances were back then, and in the end, he didn’t regret his decision.
Jackson was her father.
He wanted Bailey to understand he wasn’t trying to take Jackson’s place in her heart, but he simply wanted to be in her life any way she’d let him.
The road to forgiveness wasn’t easy, and they still had their tension-filled moments. Little-by-little, things were getting easier.
For all of them.
Once the news hit the rest of the family, it wasn’t a domino effect like I assumed it would be. If anything, the respect for Cash grew within our family. Knowing he’d put his feelings aside to give his daughter the life she deserved.
People make mistakes.
The Good Ol’ Boys.
The Jamesons’.
The Pierces’.
Every one of us had our own stories to tell that were filled with trials and tribulations, truths and lies, heartache and redemption.
No one had any room to talk.
At the end of the day, all that mattered was we were all family. Through thick and thin, we supported one another.
Jackson and Cash weren’t best friends by any means. They definitely put their feelings aside, specifically my brother. All for the love of the little girl who owned everyone’s hearts.
As soon as Cash saw us approach the side of the stage, he winked at Bailey and gestured more in sign language to me. He’d finally undergone surgery last year for his hearing, and it was better than ever. This was the first time he was back on stage with the boys.
It was three years in the making to get to this point. They had a new album releasing in a few months, and a world tour would start shortly after that. Last month, I graduated early with my degree in journalism. I now officially worked for Life of Debauchery, running their website with exclusive content for their fans.
I wrote what I knew best—my love for music and my very own rock star.
Johnny Cash McGraw.
<>Cash<>
“Hello, Rockfest!” I screamed into the microphone, feeling right the fuck at home like I’d never left. “How are we all doin’ tonight?!”
The audience yelled, “Cash! Cash! Cash!” Whistling, hooting, and hollering.
“Did you miss us?” Beck asked into his own mic.
“YES!”
“Good!” He pointed to me. “Blame this fuckin’ wanker! He had to go find himself or some shit!”
I laughed, throwing my head back.
Fuckin’ dick.
“Making us wait three fucking years to be back on stage and be with you!” Beck added, pointing to the crowd. “Our fans! Our family! Goddamn, we fucking missed you!”
The crowd went wild.
“Are you ready for a helluva fuckin’ show?” I questioned, triggering the crowd to lose their shit.
We all stood there for a few seconds just wanting to take it all in. Words couldn’t describe all the emotions surging through my body. Breathing life into me in the way it always had.
The faces.
The smiles.
The tears.
What we evoked out of thousands of people in attendance and millions of people around the world. The power we had with our lyrics, our music, our mere presence.
It was fuckin’ mild blowing.
Just gazing out at the crowd made my heart happy, my soul at ease, my thoughts silenced.
I beamed.
Cash Motherfuckin’ McGraw was finally home.
Stixx banged his drumsticks together, screaming, “One, two, three!”
“Wait! Wait! Wait!” I stopped him, making the crowd boo at me. “I know. I know. You wanna hear us sing, but I just gotta tell ya. I can’t fuckin’ do it!”
“BOO!” Everyone vocalized, loud and clear.
Putting my hands up in a surrendering gesture, I grinned. “I know. Fuckin’ sucks! ’Cuz let me tell ya, I’ve been waitin’ for this moment for a long time. Three and a half fuckin’ years to be exact.”
“Cash, what are you talking about? It’s been three years,” Jude chimed in, playing along with my skit.
“Naw, man. It’s been three and a half fuckin’ years,” I looked back at Journey, “Since I been wit’ my June.”
The ecstatic expression on her face locked up. “Cash,” she mouthed, shaking her head. Knowing I was about to drag her out on stage.
“Can I get everyone to help me get my girl out here wit’ me?”
Bailey bounced up and down, fully aware of my plan.
“Journey! Journey! Journey!” our fans chanted, including our family.
With Bailey’s help, she started pulling Journey out on the stage with her.
Junie couldn’t ever tell Bailey no.
The crowd lost their shit even more when they saw her. Journey immediately hid her face once she was standing in front of me, covering her eyes from embarrassment. She was always so shy when it came down to it.
I winked at Bailey who was standing beside me, smiling and beaming, looking beautiful.
My girls.
Before Journey uncovered her eyes, I did what I had planned since the minute I knew this was where we’d make our first appearance back on stage.
I got down on one knee.
The crowd gasping was what drew Journey’s attention away from her hands. Her eyes instantly connecting with mine.
Her mouth dropped open.
“Now, I been askin’ you for three and a half years to be my wife, Journey Pierce. You keep tellin’ me it ain’t the right time. Well, darlin’, I’m makin’ it the right time.” There was no hesitation on my part.
When I stated, “Marry me.”
“Cash...”
“You gonna turn me down in front of all these people? Oh, come on.” I placed my hand over my heart, pulling the diamond ring from the pocket. I held it out in front of me for her to see.
“Dear Diary, once upon a time there was this man who was lost without his June. She was his queen, his life, his whole world. Together, they conquered his battles against the demons holdin’ him down. He was supposed to be her hero, but as it turned out, she had been the hero ... in his story.”
Tears streamed down her face.
“I asked your daddy. I even asked your brother. After he warned me what would happen to my balls if I ever hurt you, we reached common ground.”
The crowd busted out laughing.
“All that’s missin’ is for you to say yes, Junie. Make me the happiest man alive, be my wife. Marry me, baby.”
She eyed Bailey, who was adamantly nodding before locking stares with me again.
Our connection.
There it was for all to see.
There was no hiding from it.
She was my girl. She’d always been my girl.
I waited on pins and needles, finally able to breathe when she replied, “Yes.”
Ending this chapter of our lives...
To begin another.
Happily ever after.
Epilogue
“Painter’s got a canvas. Writer’s got reams of empty paper. A musician has silence.”
-Keith Richards