The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder Read Free Book Online

dripping
off of me.
    I give my temporary
bandmates a wave
and jump down
into Cade’s arms.
    He spins me around
saying words like
“amazing” and
“incredible.”
And I think to myself,
    Yes you are,
yes you are,
yes you are,
yes you are,
yes you are.

take me there
    Henry tells the
expanding crowd
the band is taking a break
and will be back in ten.
    Cade disappears
for a minute,
then comes back
with a guitar.
    When he takes the stage,
I can feel him taking
my soul
right along
with him.
    He looks over at me.
“This one’s for you.”
    “Blue sky,
sun on skin.
Open road,
take it in.
    It’s this feeling I get
that I can’t seem to find
except when I let
all the worries unwind
when you’re there by my side.
When you won’t let me hide.
    Let’s go for a ride.
    Hand in hand,
feelings sincere.
All we need
we’ll find right here.”
    His voice, smooth as
water, washes over me.
And I am there,
on that road, the sun
warm on my skin,
and a feeling
of happy anticipation
fills me.
    And when it’s over,
tears fill my eyes
because it’s not
the road that I’m on.
    And I want it to be.
    God, how I want it to be.

One month ago
Dear Amber,
We are starting to get things ready for your arrival.
We’re converting the guest room into your bedroom. We’ll provide the basics for now, and once you get here, I’ll take you shopping so you can decorate any way you’d like.
Allen insisted you have a bookcase so you can fill it with books. When we met you in the attorney’s office, you said you liked to read, and Allen remembered that. If you have some specific titles you’d like him to get for you, please drop him a note. He’d be more than happy to have them waiting for you.
We’re both getting so excited to have you here! Can’t believe, after all this time, you’ll be joining us soon.
Is there anything you’d like me to know about food preferences, allergies, etc. before you arrive? Otherwise, we’ll figure it all out when you get here.
Love,
Jeanie and Allen

me and you
    When Cade rejoins me,
he sees that I’ve gone
from elation to devastation
in the strum of a chord,
and I can tell it hurts him.
    “It’s not you,” I tell him
as he pulls me into a corner.
“You were great.
You are great.
Too great, really.”
    He wipes away a tear
so gently
it’s like an invitation
for more to fall.
    But I close my eyes
and force them back
because he doesn’t need that.
    And then,
in the moment
of wishing away tears
and wanting to live
in his song,
his lips touch mine.
    It’s a soft kiss at first,
tender like he is,
and then stronger
as we pull
each other closer,
wanting to push
everything else away
except
this.

the feeling’s mutual
    My emotions
are on a
bungee chord.
Plummeting
one minute and
rebounding the next.
    When he pulls away,
he whispers, “Better?”
    I smile.
“Much.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
    He takes my hand
and holds it
like he owns it.
    And as we leave,
I realize for the
first time
in a long time
I’m not secretly scared
by someone wanting
to be with me,
but instead
so very grateful
for it.

so much goodness
    Outside,
the night has
gotten colder,
but I embrace it
like an old friend.
It feels good.
    Suddenly
everything
feels
good.
    We walk to the
grocery store
on the corner.
    “Did you see that movie?” I ask.
“Although, the book was better.”
    From his face,
I can tell
he has no clue.
It’s not really obvious.
So I tell him.
“Nick and Norah.
The night in New York City?
It feels a little like that.
Except not as cool.”
    “Yeah,” he says
as we head for the
school supply section.
“I’m not cool.
Not like you, drummer girl.”
    “You are too cool.”
I pause. “Castle boy.”
    He laughs.
    “Sounds like a bad boy band.
Introducing the Castle Boys!”
    I grab
a small container
of glitter.
    Because this day,
this wonderful,
beautiful,
glorious day,
just wouldn’t be complete
without a little,
or a lot, of

a dream come true
    Our next stop
is a part of town
I’m not familiar with.
    Cade