THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

nuts, singing along. Fourteen songs in, the crowd was just as engaged. They didn’t even notice that she’d moved out of the orchestra area to the catwalk above them. She zoomed in on the audience for reactions and captured a wide-angle panoramic.
    By now she knew how many songs they’d play before Cody’s first wardrobe change and the order in which the last three songs were performed. She had all the pictures she needed, so she let the camera swing on her neck strap and sat cross-legged on the catwalk, high above the stage. The last song, one of the few ballads Cody had recorded, was her favorite. She wiggled into a comfortable position and waited for the final song.
    But Cody didn’t follow the six-chord fade into the song he usually closed with. Instead, he took the mic from the stand and swung his guitar to his back. He repositioned his hat, a nervous tic. She’d noticed that a while back.
    “Can I get personal with ya for a minute?” he said.
    The audience cheered.
    “You’ve been terrific, Raleigh. I want to play something special.”
    They went wild.
    “It’s a song I’ve been workin’ on for the past couple of months.”
    A hush came over the crowd; only a couple of whistles broke it.
    “You may have heard that I’ve been trying to help a friend get the word out about her missing son.”
    Kasey gulped. What is he doing?
    “You might not have heard that we’ve been photographing this tour for a book. You’re part of that. The book will come out next fall. I hope you’ll buy a copy. Not for me, but because twenty percent of every book sold is going directly to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.”
    Kasey reached out to steady herself. His overwhelming generosity was dizzying.
    The crowd hooted and howled.
    “I knew I could count on your help.” Cody shaded his eyes and looked to the projection booth. “Johnny, will you put that picture up for me?”
    Jake’s picture filled the floor-to-ceiling backdrop.
    Kasey snapped her mouth shut in utter disbelief, her gaze clouded by tears.
    “Thanks.” Cody looked back at the picture, shook his head, then turned back to the crowd. “This is Jake. He’s been missing since Hurricane Ernesto came through these parts a while back. If you see him, would you please contact the police? His mother, a very dear friend of mine, she’s looking for him.” He swung his guitar back around. “This song is called A Mother’s Love .”
    No one in the band joined in. It was just Cody and his guitar.
    Kasey clutched the metal railing with both hands as she listened, recognizing the melody immediately. She’d heard it a hundred times in the plane.
    She was drawn into his words, and then the bridge
    A child is born and placed in the arms of his mother.
    A powerful love, and a bond like no other.
    There to protect, to guide and to grow,
    A love as strong you’ll never know.
    By the second verse, the band members joined in.
    When Cody sang the bridge, the crowd sang along. Every mother in the crowd must have felt this song to her core. The audience swayed below Kasey as she cried.
    When the song ended, Cody turned his back to the crowd, knelt on one knee and dipped his hat to Jake. Then he rose, faced his fans, and waved as he headed off the stage.
    Kasey would usually have been backstage well before now, but her knees were like jelly. The house lights would come up in about three minutes. She couldn’t stand, much less descend the ladder from the catwalk. She watched as the fans cheered for Cody, hoping he would come back on stage. He rarely did.
    The house lights came up. Kasey watched from her spot in the sky as people shuffled toward the exits. Roadies moved in to unhook cables and disassemble what they’d just assembled a few hours ago.
    She pulled her feet underneath her and stood, holding the rail to steady herself. Then she headed for the ladder and made her way to the stage level. As she stepped on the last rung, Cody startled her.
    “I couldn’t find you.” He steadied her by the hips as she climbed down. “You had me worried.”
    She reached up and hugged him. “That was a beautiful song. Thank you.”
    He held her tight, rocking her in his arms. “You’re welcome. You’re a beautiful mom.”
    She let go and stepped back. “I can’t believe I’m leaving tomorrow.”
    “You don’t have to,” he said, and raised a brow.
    Kasey paused, but only for a second. “It’s time. I have to handle things at home. I’m not