Volare

I carefully set the tray of drinks down on the table.

The second I did, Diane looked up.

"Did you put it on my tab?"

I smiled.

"Of course not."

Her eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean, of course not?"

"I paid for it."

The entire table went quiet.

Wayne immediately laughed.

Diane looked horrified.

"Lela."

"What?"

"You weren't supposed to pay for it."

I shrugged.

"It wasn't a big deal."

Wayne raised his glass.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Diane continued staring at me.

Not angry.

Just studying me.

Like she was trying to figure something out.

Jack sat back down beside me and looked between his parents.

"What?"

Diane pointed at me.

"She's buying drinks now."

Jack smiled.

"Yeah."

"She's not supposed to be buying drinks."

I laughed.

"It was one round."

Diane looked at Wayne.

"Do you see what I'm dealing with?"

Wayne smiled.

"I do."

The entire situation was ridiculous.

And somehow hilarious.

For several minutes the conversation returned to normal.

Mostly.

Although I kept catching Diane looking at me.

Then looking at Jack.

Then shaking her head.

Like she was mentally calculating something.

Finally, Jack leaned over.

"I'll be right back."

I looked up.

"Where are you going?"

He smiled.

"To sing."

I blinked.

"To what?"

"Sing."

I immediately laughed.

"No."

"Yes."

"You sing karaoke?"

"Occasionally."

Diane burst out laughing.

"Occasionally?"

Wayne nearly spit out his drink.

I looked around the table.

"What am I missing?"

Diane smiled.

"Oh honey."

That answer wasn't reassuring.

"What?"

She pointed toward the stage.

"Just wait."

Jack stood up.

Then, completely catching me off guard, leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

For a moment I froze.

Not because it was inappropriate.

Because it was sweet.

Unexpectedly sweet.

The kind of gesture that immediately made me blush.

The entire table noticed.

Especially Diane.

Who immediately smiled.

I covered my face.

"Oh my God."

Wayne laughed.

"That's exactly how his mother reacted the first time."

Diane pointed.

"Don't bring me into this."

I was suddenly very aware that everyone at the table was smiling.

Meanwhile, Jack looked completely unbothered.

"Be right back."

Then he headed toward the stage.

I looked at Diane.

"He's actually doing this?"

She laughed.

"Oh, absolutely."

"Should I be worried?"

"No."

She smiled.

"If anything, you'll be impressed."

I folded my arms.

"We'll see."

A few moments later, the music started.

The room quieted.

People turned toward the stage.

Then Jack stepped up to the microphone.

For the first time all evening, he looked slightly nervous.

Only slightly.

Then the opening music began.

A familiar melody.

I immediately recognized it.

"Volare."

Wayne smiled.

"One of his favorites."

The first few notes played.

Then Jack started singing.

And I nearly dropped my drink.

Not because he was decent.

Because he was genuinely good.

Really good.

The kind of good that makes you stop talking and pay attention.

The room seemed to notice too.

People turned toward the stage.

Conversations slowed.

Even Diane sat back looking proud.

I stared.

Completely caught off guard.

His voice was smooth.

Confident.

Natural.

And worst of all, he knew it.

Halfway through the song, he glanced toward our table.

Toward me.

Then smiled.

That smile should have been illegal.

I immediately looked down at my drink.

Trying very hard not to smile like an idiot.

It didn't work.

Across the table, Diane noticed.

Of course she noticed.

She leaned toward me.

"You see?"

I laughed.

"I wasn't prepared for this."

"Nobody ever is."

Wayne nodded.

"Accurate."

The song continued.

The crowd loved it.

By the time he reached the final chorus, people were clapping along.

A few were singing with him.

And when he finished, the room erupted into applause.

Real applause.

Not polite karaoke applause.

Actual applause.

Jack laughed and gave a small bow before stepping off the stage.

As he made his way back to the table, Diane looked at me.

"Well?"

I shook my head.

"I'm not answering that."

She started laughing.

"Oh, I know exactly what that means."

I covered my face.

"Stop."

Wayne was laughing now too.

Jack slid back into his seat beside me.

"How bad was it?"

I looked at him.

Then smiled.

"It wasn't bad."

He grinned.

"That's high praise."

I laughed.

"It was really good."

For a moment, genuine surprise crossed his face.

Then he smiled.

A real smile.

And somehow, sitting in a crowded karaoke bar surrounded by his family, I realized something.

The last few days had been filled with endings.

Painful ones.

Necessary ones.

But sitting beside Jack while Diane watched us like a hawk and Wayne quietly enjoyed the show, it felt like I was finally seeing the beginning of something new.

And for the first time, that possibility didn't scare me at all.