Skyhawk. Her father’s creation, the music, his love. And tonight, Skyhawk was the three older rockers, Chris Wiley, Mark Reynolds and Joe Garcia, still looking the part, agile, vibrant for their ages, long hippie hair, and all that they needed to be.
And then her, Brandon and Chase. Second and third generations.
Skyhawk, changing, growing—and yet the embodiment of love that her dad had created.
Her part in all that was just to play with all her heart.
They ran out, waving to everyone and going for their instruments, Chase bowing broadly as his name was shouted, grinning and then maintaining a fantastic drumroll.
They burst straight into one of Skyhawk’s most popular numbers, “The Path I Took,” and from there, they moved straight into one of her dad’s older ballads.
Act normal, behave normally, give the show all your heart and...
Trust in Chase, in Wellington, and that everything is being handled. Her part was to keep this moving, give them the opportunity to do what was needed...
“Welcome! We are Skyhawk, and we’re thrilled to be here, thrilled to have you here with us! I’m Sky Ferguson, and you have known Chris Wiley, Mark Reynolds and Joe Garcia for—”
“Decades!” Joe put in dryly, bringing a bout of laughter to the crowd.
“We have Chase McCoy on drums tonight—though Hank has told him he wants his place back as soon as possible! But we’ll make do, right?”
Her words were greeted with laughter and another round of phenomenal drumming.
Chase, too, was playing his part.
“We also have Brandon Wiley with us tonight, and this guy does just about everything!”
Brandon created a combo of melodies quickly, then they moved into a fast, heavy rock piece that had once ruled the airwaves.
She moved about the stage, forgetting she’d told Chase she wouldn’t carry the mic. But her father had moved; it was natural, swirling and dancing while doing the songs, the numbers she had known since she was a small child...
Songs she had done with her dad. And she gave it her heart as she went along, because as serious as the night had become, it was also her ode to him.
Mark stepped in when it was time to take a break, announcing with her that they were giving everyone a chance to head out for drinks, snacks and merchandise. Hey, the place was in it for the money, right?
They could bring the crowd to laughter and applause, and it felt good.
Even if...
Running to the stage-right wing, she found herself crashing into Chase’s arms.
“Our guys have the families!” he whispered to her, pretending to nuzzle her ear. “Kids, wives, good... They went in the back. They’ll be waiting.”
She smiled at him, pretending to whisper in his ear as well.
“Ah, lovebirds!” Mark said. “It’s adorable to see you two together again.”
“I’m adorable?” Chase asked, grinning.
It was going the best that it could. But she didn’t see Justin anywhere. She knew he had to be playing whatever part it was that he needed to, but...
She managed to slide back into his arms and ask softly, “Justin?”
“He’s good. Agent at his side.”
She nodded. They weren’t playing, but the canned music and the noise of the crowd was almost deafening, still. They waited, talking about where they were going next. Mark and Joe reminded her of the songs they would do for the encore; it was apparent that this crowd would demand it.
Then the MC announced the return of Skyhawk to the stage. It was time to run back out there.
Next...
Drum solos, songs that featured each instrument and each player. A wonderful crowd in the audience, cheering them on, moments when she needed to chat, to laugh, to draw the others in, moving across the stage, covering the stage...
And all the while wondering what was going on, how Chase, too, was managing to bang away, come in with drumrolls when she was about to speak, to bring them back to their performance, to follow her as she crossed the stage, paused to make comments to those off the apron by the stage...
Then she thanked everyone for coming. For supporting Skyhawk.
She thanked them for having loved her dad and all the music he had created.
Then they were running off stage, listening, waiting, hearing the crowd roar, screaming that they come back, and then the MC announcing they’d return for the last few songs...
Her father’s songs. Songs about life, learning about the dark side and how to find the light, about love, about the strength to be found in the eyes of a loved one...
Then it was done.
“Thank you! Skyhawk thanks you, I thank you, and among the angels—trust me!—my dad thanks you!”
She ran back offstage. Show over. Encore over. And...
