Page 115 of Doc Rock
“I’m fine,”Mai managed to say.
Gloria raised an eyebrow and pointed to her hands.“Your knuckles are white. You're hyperventilating and sweaty. That’s not alright.”She put her hand on the younger woman’s arm.“I’m here to support you. I will cheer like a lunatic if that’s what you need. Or keep quiet and wave. Or we can drive away now. Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll betherefor you.”
Mai turned her head to look at Taylor’s mum, and for a moment, she superimposed the image of her mum’s face over the top of it. Her mum would have been near Gloria’s age if she hadn’t died; maybe she would have had the same smile lines as Gloria. But instead, she was forever frozen in time, never growing older, even as Mai did.
“Cheer,”Mai said quietly. Then her voice gained strength.“In a room full of people cheering for Ford, I want you to cheer for me.”
Gloria put her arm around Mai’s shoulder, pulling her in for a hug.“I'll be the loudest. I meant what I said: I always wanted a big family, and I’d be honoured to add you to my tribe.”
A tear collected in the corner of Mai's eyes, and she sniffed.
“Oh no,”Gloria exclaimed.“Don’t cry. With that amount of eye makeup, you’ll look like a panda. Let’sgetyou inside and to your man.”
She looked at Gloria sharply, but didn’t make any comment about the statement that Ford was her man.
“Donnie said to ring him when I arrived, and he would come to meet me.”Mai pulled her phone out of her bag and dialled her old manager.
They didn’t have to wait for more than five minutes before Donnie was out at the car, ushering them both past the crowd. Mai kept her head down, clutching her guitar case and avoiding making eye contact with anyone in the queue.
A man yelled out in indignation that they were skipping the queue, but someone else shushed him, shouting that Donnie was Midnight Thunder’s manager.
It must have been a superfan.
The crowd started to mutter about who she was. Sheheardsomeone suggest Sie, then their friend told them not to be stupid, as she didn’t look like Sie.
Mai moved faster and hurried into the pub. Taking a moment, she stood and breathed deeply to recover from the anxiety.
“Donnie, have you got a minute?”one of the men working behind the bar called.
Donnie gave Mai a quick look before he rushed away.
Mai’s feet were frozen, and her eyes wide as she looked around the bar. Donnie, as usual, had worked wonders.Therewas a proper stage now, and the other guys' instruments were set up ready for them to play.
Her heart rate increased, and her breathing became erratic.
“Mai, you’re okay. I’m here for you,”Gloria’s calm voice broke through the impending panic.
“I.. I.. can’t do this.”Mai shook her head.
“You can do this. But also, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. This is your life and your decision. I’ll take you home right now if that's what you want.”
Mai’s eyes rose to the stage again. Did she want to play?
“Sie!”a voice exclaimed behind her, and she turned toseeScotty—who had spoken—Joel, and Ford enter the pub, followed by the screams of the fans outside.
Her eyes locked with Ford’s grey ones, and a smile bloomed on his face.
Home, she was home.
Sheknewwith certainty that wherever Ford was, that was her home. If he was on stage with her, she would be okay.
Mai’s racing heart began to settle, and her breathing evened out. She didn’t break eye contact with Ford as she said to Gloria,“I want to do this.”
“Tell him,”Gloria replied, a twinkle in her eye as she tilted her head fractionally at Ford.
Mai didn’t have a chance to answer Gloria before the three men from Midnight Thunder were right in front of her.
“Are you alright?”Ford asked her quietly.
