It was not easy to find a non-country song that worked. Most of the rekindling songs were from the point of view of the one who got left. He didn’t want to use any of those, didn’t want her to think that he was blaming her, when he was the one who’d done the giving up, done the leaving. This was one of the reasons that this project was taking so long. He was overthinking everything. Overthinking was not something Brent did often. He usually made decisions confidently and quickly.
After some serious scouring of the Internet and listening to dozens of songs he hated, he settled on “Hold Back the River” for his non-country contribution. It surprised him to like the song right away, and it was a good fit. He couldn’t wait to look into Sammy’s eyes again.
But then he’d gone right back to the country vault with the Forrester Sisters’ “I’d Choose You Again.” Then, since he was already engaged in some time traveling, he’d added the hymn “The Love of God,” recorded by someone he’d never heard of. Then he’d sprung back to the current decade with the Blake Shelton treasure “Nobody but You.”
Next came the greatest love song since “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He wasn’t certain that Tim McGraw’s “Just to See You Smile” was even technically a love song, especially since the guy ends up losing the girl in the end, but Brent thought it was the sweetest, most selfless song he’d ever heard. And he couldn’t wait to make Sammy smile again.
And rounding out the collection was “You’re Still the One” by the great Shania, and an obscure song by an obscure singer that was too perfect not to include. The final song was titled “Country Tango” and it was more upbeat than the others, so he ended the CD with it.
Every word of the song was great, but it was the chorus that earned the song its spot on the CD:
Young and dumb, so focused on my needing
I ran away from what I’d vowed to
Forgot it takes two to tango
Please forgive me, I forgot about you ...
Chapter 17
Samantha reeled backand stared at her laptop screen. What on earth was she listening to? It sounded like a bunch of hillbillies had gotten together in a barn to learn to play tango music.
It had been a difficult hour. If there had been anything in that cupboard over the counter, she might have fallen off the wagon. Thankfully, she had taken care of that dangerous supply days ago. But now she was dealing with emotional overload without the benefit of alcohol.
She hadn’t recognized the first song on the mysterious CD, but the singer’s voice had sounded familiar, so she’d looked it up.
Ben Fuller. Again. What were the chances? Was this a sign from God? Her secret admirer had chosen a song by the same guy who sang her new favorite song? What were the chances? It’s not like Ben Fuller had that many songs.
Not yet anyway.
It occurred to her that her secret admirer had someone working on the inside, but she hadn’t shared with anyone what “Wide Awake” had meant to her.
And then the first note of the second song played, and Samantha knew who her secret admirer was. “From This Moment On” began to play, and tears poured out of her like a fountain.
Brent. It had to be.