Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

at each other as they take in the applause around them. Their love is obvious as they glow in each other’s presence.

“Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight,” Adam says as the crowd hollers. “This is a charity near and dear to our hearts, and we’re honored to be here. We hope you enjoy the show, and please, send in those donations, so we can research this disease and find cures, so people affected can live normal lives for longer.”

I hear screams and whistles as Adam sits on the stool and drapes the guitar around his neck, holding it in position. He begins strumming, and after a few chords, he sings into the microphone with so much passion and love that it’s breathtaking. The way his eyes are closed and his voice is strong makes you feel his tone all the way to your toes. Chills cover my body as I wrap my arms around myself and enjoy the gift he’s giving us.

When Sarah’s portion of the song comes in, the crowd breaks out in applause again. I watch the way Adam stares at her as she gives the lyrics her all. He’s so in love, and it’s written all over his face for everyone to see.

The two continue singing songs together and on their own. With each song, their set gets better and better. They really are a perfect match, both physically and musically.

Someone approaches me from behind as I sit on the side stage, watching them.

“You must be Justine,” she says.

I turn and see a woman standing with a little girl who I recognize as Cailin from the FaceTime call Tucker made when he first told me he knew Adam.

“Hi. You’re Cailin, right?” I lean down to her height as I hold out my hand to shake.

“I sure am. And this is Linda!” she says with pride, introducing the two of us.

I quickly stand up in surprise. “Oh. Hi. Sorry. I didn’t know you were coming. You’re, um—”

“Tucker’s sister. Yes.” She holds out her hand to me.

I rub my lips together, fighting my emotions from just hearing his name.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I shake her hand.

“You have no idea how nice it is to meet you. You’ve made quite the impression on our family.”

I let out a breath and then grin. Not sure what to say to that since Tucker doesn’t seem to think so.

A song ends, and I hear Adam say they have a surprise for everyone. I turn quickly because he didn’t tell me about any surprises, and when you’re streaming a live event, the last thing you want is a surprise.

“We want to welcome someone who I consider family, who is also a musician, though not really in my genre.”

I watch in shock as Tucker enters the stage with a guitar strapped across his chest. He’s dressed in cowboy boots, jeans, and a blue button-down shirt, looking handsomer than ever.

I cover my mouth as a yelp escapes my lips, and tears fill my eyes.

“See, what did I tell you?” Adam stands to show the difference in their attire, as he is dressed in all black with metal rods going through the holes in his jeans and his hair spiked up as high as it will go.

The crowd laughs as they wait to hear what Adam and Sarah have to say and who Tucker is.

“I’d like to introduce you to a man who is like an uncle to me and was also just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis,” Adam says, wrapping his arm around Tucker.

The crowd starts clapping, and within seconds, everyone is on their feet, applauding the man with the strength to come out here and admit to the world that he has a condition that he has no control over.

I turn to Linda, who’s beaming from ear to ear as she runs her hand on my shoulder, obviously very proud of her little brother.

“He told me about a song he’s been working on, and we both thought it was a great idea to share it with you tonight. So, without further ado, it’s my pleasure to introduce the world to Tucker Simms,” he says the last part in a loud, singsong way.

He and Sarah grab hands and walk off the stage to where we’re standing.

Sarah comes up to me, wrapping her arm around me in a side hug before whispering in my ear, “We’re so happy he found you.”

Tucker looks to where I am and gives me a grin before turning back to the crowd and beginning his strum.

When he sings the lyrics, I can’t fight the tears anymore.

I’ve never heard this song before, and it doesn’t have the old country vibe he normally sings. He starts off, talking about one of the best nights he’s ever had, and it all sounds very familiar with times we spent together. When he gets to the chorus, it hits me.

He’s singing about us.

Saying even if he never got to do certain things or fulfill the items on his bucket list, he would die a happy man with me by his side.

I drop the folder I’m carrying and cover my mouth with both hands. Sarah rubs her hand down my back, and even Adam nudges me with his shoulder as we all stare at a man we love equally, but to me, he’s become my everything.

When he finishes the song, the crowd jumps from their seats in applause, and without even thinking about it, I run out to him, wrapping my arms around him and kissing him with everything I have.

He doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back, and in his arms, I completely forget that we’re surrounded by everyone here and that the entire world is watching us.

Adam and Sarah come up around us, breaking us from our private world.

Adam yells into the microphone, “Tucker Simms, everyone!”

They cheer again.

“And if it wasn’t obvious, that song was written for the mastermind of this entire event and sung as a complete surprise to her.”

Hoots and hollers come from all