“Max is also a genius…and no, I’m not saying that because I’m biased as his dad. I’m saying it because he is. Before I left for LA to start recording, I sat in our music room working through melodies and various riffs and chords, looking for things that went together well so we had something to work with when we started recording. I’d play it once, and then it was locked away in Max’s brain—permanently. By the next morning, he’d have every note written down and recorded on his iPad. So it just seems right that Max gets credit for this, too—he was a writer on the album. He’s six, going on seven, so imagine what you all will get to see him do at twenty, thirty, forty.”

I didn’t expect the producers to let me go on so long, but I’m glad they did. And when the audience starts to clap and get to their feet for the words I just said, I feel overwhelmed. I hold up my award again along with the rest of the guys, and say one last “Thanks,” into the mic. We all head back stage, and all I can think of is getting back to Avery. Some woman is telling us about picking up our final awards, and Matt’s telling me he’ll get mine, but I’m too busy pushing and shoving through people, just trying to find my girl.

Someone brings her backstage finally, and I kiss her lips just to ground myself. “Can you believe this?” I say, still in shock from everything.

“I knew you’d win,” she says, her eyes still red from crying. “Mason, I can’t believe everything you said. Oh my god, that was beautiful. Max…he’s going to be so excited to see this in the morning. Oh, we have to get home…I want to show it to him!”

“Let’s go then,” I say, tugging her hand in mine, and tucking my award that Matt just handed to me under my arm.

“Mace, we can’t just leave! You have to stay for parties and things,” she says, giggling because she doesn’t think I’m serious. But I am. I learned a lot of things from Ray Abbot, and first and foremost was that things like fame and attention don’t add up to a hill of shit in the end. But Avery? And my life at home with her and Max? That’s what I want my legacy to be. And when the guy getting the award after me gives a nod to Otis Redding in his acceptance speech, I know it’s Ray’s way of telling me I’m right.

So I get us a car, and we go straight to the airport, because clothes and things can be shipped. We’ll be home when Max wakes up in the morning. And Avery loves me for it. And I love her…for everything else.

THE END