Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (31 page)

Stacey listened to auditions from three p.m. to five p.m. Some were very good.  David Halquest had already screened the most talented ones.  Stacey introduced the idea of back up singers and dance people. The next week was full of auditions for back up singers and dancers.

“All we have to do is look at the videos and mimic them,” Stacey said. “We can rent costumes. You do have a budget, don’t you?” 

“Yes, a small one,” David said.

“Don’t worry,” Stacey assured him. “As long as we have boots and hats, we can improvise.”

And improvise they did. Jeans were cut off very short. Halter-tops were in vogue.  Chaps, jeans and cowboy shirts were easy to come by, so were wigs, hairpieces and mustaches.

Shane had been trying very hard to keep his ambivalent feelings to himself. He knew Stacey’s helping out with the show was for a good cause. Mr. Chen had arrived the same weekend Stacey had started helping out. Between him and Mrs. Wyatt, the house was running smoothly.  Stacey and the girls were almost always home by the time he was. Shane couldn’t fault her there. He felt a bit guilty about his ambiguous feelings.

Sir Richard, called Shane and asked him to have supper with him one night this week. Jokingly, he said, “We neglected husband must stick together.”

Shane met Richard at his club. After dinner and a brandy Richard asked, “Has Stacey told you how well the rehearsals are coming along?” “No,” Shane said, “But I’m sure that’s my fault. I’ve neglected to ask.” 

“Why don’t you come by and watch rehearsals one afternoon,” Richard said. “Those young people are giving it all they’ve got. I wish you could see your baby daughters, they are laughing and cooing at everyone. I find myself quite enjoying these young people and their music.”

Shane had noticed Stacey’s electric guitar was missing from the downstairs closet, so on Wednesday afternoon he decided to go join his family and watch the rehearsals. He took the stairs to the balcony where he could watch without being seen.

A group of young people were playing and singing. Stacey was one of them. Shane sat and listened for a while.  He could see his wife was enjoying herself. Stacey had a rapport with these people.  Shane chided himself for being a fool. Of course, she does, she fits right in with them because they are her peers.

Between songs, they were laughing and talking. Aunt Lora, Richard and even his baby daughters seemed to be a part of this, but Shane felt like an outsider. He watched and listened for a while, then quietly left the auditorium.

Hugh had noticed Shane was preoccupied. On the next Wednesday afternoon at the athletic club, he asked, “What’s up mate?  You look like you’ve lost your best friend, however, I know that can’t be, because I’m right here.” 

Shane smiled at him and said, “I know you are and I appreciate it.” 

“What is it, about this concert that’s bothering you?” Hugh asked. “I know you’ve been reluctant to talk about it. Is it taking up too much of Stacey’s time?” 

Shane didn’t answer Hugh’s question, but asked one of his own, “Did you know Stacey is going to be performing in the concert also?”

“No, I didn’t,” Hugh said, “But I assumed she would.  Is that what’s brothering you?” 

“Yes, and No, I have ambiguous feelings about this and I don’t know why.” 

“Have you discussed this with Stacey?” Hugh asked.

“Of course, not,” Shane said. “If I don’t understand my own feelings, how can I expect her to do so?”

The concert was scheduled for the first Friday night in November. Shane had promised Stacey he would attend.  On Wednesday night, Stacey had just put the babies down for the night and was on her way downstairs for supper when the phone rang. It was David Halquest with bad news. Jodi Burns had been taken to hospital with pains in her side.

“Is it bad news?” Shane asked.

“Yes,” Stacey said. “Our Shania Twain has just been admitted to hospital with pains in her side. Hopefully it’s not serious. Things have been going so smoothly.” 

David called again at nine o’clock, “Jodi’s having an appendectomy as we speak. What are we going to do now?” 

“Good question,” Stacey said. “I’ll go see her tomorrow.  She’s going to be so disappointed. We can always cut Shania from the show, I guess.”

Stacey really didn’t want to do that.  Shania’s part was one of the best impersonations.  Stacey decided she would worry about that later, right now she had an appointment with a technical group to discuss using cameras and a big screen for the people in the far back to see on stage better.  The university had connections and it was amazing how many people wanted to assist in anyway they could. 

The night of the concert, Shane arrived home around six o’clock. The flat was empty.  He showered and changed into jeans and his leather jacket. The auditorium was much more crowded than he’d expected. He had to park two blocks away.  His pass was waiting at the ticket booth. Stacey had jokingly told him, “When you’re married to the director of this little shindig, you don’t have to stand in queue.”

While Shane was trying to maneuver his way to his seat, he realized the auditorium was packed to capacity. Even standing room was filled. As Shane sat down, Hugh said, “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it.”

Just then the lights dimmed, the band struck a cord, the curtains went up, and the spotlight encompassed the stage as a tall man dressed in black stepped to the microphone and said, “Hello, my name is Johnny Cash.” 

The place went wild with whistling and applause.  Shane could not have told you that the first two songs were, ‘I walk the line, and Folsom prison blues.’ He had his eyes on Stacey.  She was dressed in black and lavender colored western boots, a scarf hemmed lavender skirt with black flowers that glittered with rhinestones and a black glitter shirt with turned up collar and silver loop earrings.  She had on a headset microphone and was playing her red and white guitar. The Johnny Cash character introduced her as Luther.

Shane leaned toward Hugh and asked, “Why is he calling Stacey, Luther?”

Hugh asked Annie, then told Shane, “That was the name of his lead guitar player.”

After Johnny sang another song, he said, “I’m gonna need Luther to help me out on this one. Ain’t she the prettiest Luther you’ve ever seen?  Would you believe she’s a lactating mother of twins?” 

Stacey frowned, then took her guitar like a rifle and picked a ping, ping, ping, Johnny grabbed his chest and said, “Oops, guess I wasn’t supposed to tell that. Sorry Luther. She might kill me, if I wasn’t already dead.” 

The auditorium roared with laughter and applause.  Stacey was laughing too. “Are you still gonna sing, ‘Jackson,’ with me?” Johnny asked.

Stacey smiled and nodded her head, ‘Yes,’ and said, “We did rehearse that part.”

Johnny chortled and said, “Well come on Luther and be my June Carter.”

Together they sang, ‘Jackson,’ then, ‘If I were a carpenter.’ After the applause died down, Johnny sang his final song, ‘A boy named Sue,’ and brought the house down. As Johnny left the stage, the announcer introduced a slender man in a blue western suit and a white cowboy hat as Hank Williams Sr. The auditorium went wild. Hank sang two songs. ‘Love sick blues’ and ‘Cold, cold heart.’ About the same time, Shane asked Hugh, “Does Stacey sing with him also?”

A man seated in front of Shane turned in his seat and said, “Listen mate, you gotta program, why don’t you try reading it.”

“Sorry mate, but I don’t have a program,” Shane replied.

Four people sitting near handed him theirs. Hank finished up with, ‘I’m so lonesome I could cry,’ and ‘I saw the light.’

Next on stage was Elvis Presley singing, ‘Jail house rock,’ ‘Heart break hotel,’ and ‘In the ghetto.’ Next, Patsy Cline sang, ‘Crazy,’ ‘Walking after midnight,’ and ‘Sweet dreams’. Next, Waylon Jennings sang, ‘Good hearted woman,’ ‘Amanda,’ ‘Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys,’ and ‘The only daddy that ever walked the line.’ The next entertainer was a tall slender blonde beauty, introduced as Tammy Wynette. There was much whistling and applauding. She sang, ‘Your good girl’s gonna go bad,’ ‘Apartment Number #9,’ Some guy from the audience hollered out “I’ll meet you there sweetheart.” Tammy waved. The last song was a favorite and received a standing ovation ‘Till I can make it on my own.’

Shane was enthralled. He looked at the program. It had Jodi Burns as Tammy Wynette. He remembered Jodi was incapacitated, however, wasn’t aware that Stacey was to replace her. Although, he had to admit she did a spectacular job.  Shane’s mind was on his wife and not on the next singers Conway Twitty sang, ‘Between her blue eyes and Jeans,’ I’d love to lay you down,’ ‘Don’t call him a cowboy,’ Marty Robbins was last with, ‘El Paso,’ ‘Running Gun,.’ Now this one is special for you gentlemen in the audience, ‘Cowboy in a continental suit.’

The disguises and costumes were so well done that the same person impersonated both Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.  The same person was Elvis, Marty and Conway. A comedian kept the audience entertained while the second half of the concert was getting prepared.

Hank Williams Jr. was first out with his raw, rollicking, party music. ’Wiskey bent and Hell bound,’ All my rowdy friends,’ after two songs he asked the audience, “Are you ready to party?”  The audience was roaring and ready. With no introduction necessary, the band started playing Gretchen Wilson’s, ‘I’m here for the party.’ The audience was screaming and applauding. Stacey, dressed in jeans with glitter down the side, silver-strapped high heels, and a black leather jacket, which she shed on her entrance, under it she wore a black bustier. Shane was mesmerized.  He had never seen her wear anything like that, neither had he seen Gretchen’s video. The song and the way Stacey delivered it was pure earthy sensuality. When the song was finished, Shane was on his feet applauding like everyone else. As Stacey strapped her guitar on she saw Ian and Rachael with their nine-year-old daughter Madison. Stacey waved at her as the crowd settled down. When Stacey started singing, ‘Redneck woman,’ the young women in the audience sang along with her. You could tell Stacey loved it. She was in her element. Her last song was, ‘When I think about cheating.’ The audience was quiet and listened to the words of the song. When Stacey finished, she got a standing ovation. Before Stacey left the stage the said, “We have a lot of folks to sing for ya’ll tonight, so I hope you’ll give’em all a big welcome.”

The living legends sang two or three songs each, Leann Rimes, sang three songs, ’Blue, Hanging on and How do I live. Tim McGraw sang two songs,’ Real good man and Living Proof.’ Faith Hill sang two, ‘Cry, and Breath’. Brooks and Dun sang three songs ‘My Maria,’ ‘Boot scouting boogie.’ and ‘Red Dirt Road.’ George Strait, sang three ‘All my X’s live in Texas,’ Amarillo by morning, My baby has gotten good at goodbye,’ Tonya Tucker, sang, three ’Delta Dawn,’ and Strong enough to bend.’ and ‘Some kind of trouble.’ Big and Rich, sang ‘Holy Water’ and ‘Save a horse ride a cowboy.’ When the announcer said Shania Twain, Shane looked at his program. He knew the young woman was in hospital. He looked up when the music and applause started. There was a line of dancers dancing across the stage, then from the middle stepped a vision in red.  She was dressed in red leather with two rows of fringe on the bottom of her short skirt and around the top of her red leather spike heeled boots.  She had on a red western hat that she peeped out from under the brim and said, “Let’s go girls.” Stacey sang and danced to, ‘I feel like a woman.’ Shane sat there and watched Stacey deliver the sexiest song and poses he had ever seen.  He was amazed when he saw how comfortable and in control she was on stage with all these people in the audience.  She had a way of making each person think she was singing just for them.

When the number was finished the audience was on their feet applauding and asking for more.  Stacey stood there and waved to them with a smile of satisfaction. For her second song, Stacey took her guitar and sang, ‘Whose bed are your boots under?’ As she walked back and forth on stage, she pulled the audience right along with her. Next, she sang, ‘Any man of mine.’  Shane would swear she was looking right at him. When Stacey finished the song, she tossed her red hat to Madison.  Shania received a standing ovation. Shane stood up applauding like everyone else, and said for all around him to hear, “That’s my wife.”

Still to entertain was Max Sloan, who impersonated both Alan Jackson and Toby Keith, with bulk’ Toby sang three songs, ’Who’s you daddy,’ I want’ a talk about me,’ How ya like me now?’ The finale artist was Alan Jackson sang, ‘Pop a Top,’ and Remember When.’ After his two songs, he invited Jimmy Buffet on stage to join in and sing, ‘Its five o’clock somewhere.’ The audience came to their feet when they recognized the very proper, university Chancellor as Jimmy Buffet dressed in island shorts and shirt. The entire cast joined them to sing, ‘Its five o’clock somewhere.’  Many bows were taken before the curtain finally closed.

Chapter-53

The aftermath

After the show, Shane told Annie, “I’ll go back and help Stacey with the lasses.” 

“She’s not there, Shane.  She left with Mr. Chen before the last number.”

Shane had been wondering why he couldn’t see Stacey among the cast members. Everyone was talking about the concert and how much they had enjoyed it and especially Stacey’s parts. As soon as Shane could get away, he headed for home. He had just turned off the motorway when he had a puncture. He got out and looked at it, but he had no tools, so he called for road assistance. He tried to call Stacey, but there was no answer.  He called the flat, however, no answer there either, so he left a message.  The road service arrived and the punctured tire was removed and the spare put on in no time.  When Shane parked in the garage, he was relieved to see Stacey’s H-3 was there. Shane greeted Mr. Chen on his way upstairs. Stacey was in the nursery letting Jessie nurse. Stacey had on a robe and a wet towel around her hair.

“Sorry I’m late, but I had a puncture on the way home.” 

Shane reached over and let Jessie take his finger in her tiny hand.  Jessie let the nipple go and smiled at her daddy.  Shane kissed her little fingers and asked, “Is Jessie okay?”