The song had hardly finished when he stepped back to the microphone. "I was sixteen years old, with a brand-new driver's license burning a hole in my pocket and trouble in my soul. I dragged my best friend in the whole world into my madness, and we stole a car. Okay, it was his father's car, his father's really hot vintage Mustang because when you're going on a road trip, you have to have a hot car. We had a hot car, a road map, and about a hundred bucks between us when we ran off to see Guns N' Roses in Baltimore. You never forget your first love, or your first concert, or your first felony. I still have the T-shirt. My daddy wore my rear-end out. The first love part has been a bit tricky, but he's still with me. In the end, I wouldn't go back and change a single thing about that weekend … Okay, maybe one. I'd kill to get concert tickets for under a hundred bucks again … . Take me down … ." The music rose with the lyrics and the crowd screamed. Quinn shimmied on the stage like he was channeling Axl Rose. He threw the guitar behind his back and he didn't stop until he had everyone singing along.
"It's hot out here," he said three songs later. He switched to country. "Are y'all having a good time?" The crowd cheered. Drew watched the man on the stage. And the one who didn't leave his side. He could tell when they made eye contact. He could tell that Quinn was performing more for Nathan than his hometown. "Okay, so I have a daughter. And she likes this show. It's about a little girl who is a secret popstar. And there's this song she loves to play over and over. And I have it stuck in my head all the time." He played some cheery pop tune that made all of the little girls and some bigger girls, like Natalie, scream. "Oh, so she's not the only fan. I can see you all out there. I can see you guys trying to pretend you don't know this song." Drew didn't notice that Nathan had disappeared. When he spotted him moving through the crowd, he had the little girl on his shoulders and they were headed for the stage.
"Emma, baby, you ready to sing?" Quinn asked as Nathan lifted her above his head to stand her on the stage. "What about you, Nate the Great? Are you going to sing with me?"
"In your dreams!" Nathan shouted out loud enough for everyone to hear him without a microphone. Nathan blew him a kiss and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're always in my dreams." Quinn winked at the man as the little girl took a sparkly pink microphone from a roadie. "Ready, sweetie?" His voice changed when he spoke to the kid. Drew could hear how much he loved the little girl, he could see it in every move he made.
"Ready, Daddy," Emma said, holding the microphone close to her mouth. Maybe a little too close. She sounded nervous.
Quinn settled on the floor, sitting cross-legged with the guitar in his lap. He didn't face the audience, he faced Emma. "Okay, just like we practiced. Ready?" He spoke softly, his voice carrying over the crowd. The band fell silent, the only music coming from Quinn and the beat-up black acoustic guitar he carried with him everywhere he went. "One, two … " His voice flowed over the air. A soft slow song that Drew didn't recognize. Emma's tiny voice joined his. It was fragile at first, wavering as the lyrics grew stronger, more dramatic, singing of a dream and mountains she needs to climb. Her voice grew stronger and more sure as Quinn's voice faded away until it was just Emma singing. Singing about struggles and faith that ended with the climb. Her little-girl voice giving way to a strong unwavering voice of an angel. When the guitar faded away, Drew saw Quinn wipe at his eyes. The little girl squealed and launched herself at her daddy. He kissed her and whispered in her ear and put her back on her feet.
Emma took a bow. She pulled her dress over to the side and tucked one foot behind the other in a little curtsey. And then she ran toward the edge of the stage, and with a loud, happy whoop, she flung herself into the waiting arms of the man standing below. Quinn leaned over the stage and caressed her cheek. "Good job, baby." Drew heard him say. He did the same to Nathan and said, "Love you," as if no one could hear him.
His mother and father mingled with Nathan's family as the two made their way back. The little girl broke from Nathan's arms and ran toward Drew. "Did you see me sing? Did you? With my daddy?"
Drew wiped at his eyes again as the little girl climbed into his lap. Nathan picked her up and pulled a chair up to sit beside him. Emma leaned over to tell him all about her time on the stage. And that she and her Nathan would be touring with her daddy until school started back. And maybe he should come with them.