Brian woke up at five am to get ready for work. He stumbled around his room to get dressed. Brian had dropped out of high school when he was just seventeen when his high school sweetheart Mary Anne became pregnant with their daughter Natalie who is now ten. He worked hard so Mary could stay at home with Natalie he had a nice job in a warehouse making a decent living as a forklift driver but gave it up when his wife died in a tragic car accident. He then needed extra help with Natalie so his parents let him move back into his childhood home. He now works at a local coffee shop in town it was the best that he could do on such a short notice but his passion has always been singing. He has loved it since he was a little kid before Natalie came along he wanted to move to Nashville and pursue country music but that went on hold. He often wondered what his life would be like if it ever had taken off. Every once in a while he will sing at the local bar in town on Friday nights for a little extra income he always hoped maybe someone would discover him but hasn’t had any luck just yet. Brian was done getting ready for work he walked into Natalie’s room and kissed her forehead.

“See you later after school I love you” he whispered Natalie opened her eyes and Brian just smiled she always reminded him of her mother her dark brown hair and her bright blue eyes.

“Bye daddy I love you too” she whispered back Brian then crept out of her room and went downstairs where his mom was making coffee

“Good morning dear how are you this morning?” she asked.

“Tired, didn’t sleep well last night,” he said,” And Natalie woke up with a nightmare” his mom handed him a cup of coffee and sat down at the dinner table.

“She went through a lot Brian it will get better these things take time to heal”

“I know mom I remember what he told me we will adjust soon I am positive” Brian said sipping on his coffee,” But I really should get going before I am late for work I will see you this afternoon love you mom,” he set his cup in the sink and kissed his mother on the cheek.

“Love you too son, have a good day at work” Brian grabbed his car keys and jumped into his 1999 Toyota Camry and headed to work.

============

A few hours into work was always the busiest for him they were like a Starbucks in the big city but out in the country. Everyone wanted their morning coffee on their long commute to the big city. Brian was cleaning tables when he saw a brunette woman walking up with her little yorkie terrier.

“I am sorry miss you can’t bring her in here,” he said stopping her at the door.

“I just broke down a few miles from here and I really have no clue where I am and I really didn’t want to leave her in the car” she explained.

“Alright, just this once though.” He smirked,” So what can I get you?”

“Just something very strong I feel like I have been driving for an eternity!”

“I can do that so where are you from? I don’t think I have seen you around here before” he said trying to make small talk.

“New York. I was tired of my life and I just wanted a change to get away from everyday life so Sofia and I packed up and just kind of left”

“Well this little small town is defiantly different from New York, never been but have always wanted to go. You must be tired from all that driving do you have somewhere to stay?”

“No I don’t you wouldn’t happen to have a phone book I can borrow do you?”

“Sure let me go get that for you.” Brian walked to the back room and grabbed the phonebook on his way back he couldn’t help but notice how much she resembled Mary Anne,” Here you go,” he said setting the phone book on the table,” Also here is your coffee”

“Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s on the house,” he flashed a smile,” By the way I am Brian” She smiled back at him

“I am Charlotte” she flashed a flirty smile

“Well if you ever need anything I will be right here all day”

“Thank you so much” he went back to washing tables in the lobby and watched Charlotte fumble through the phone book and then she started to search for her phone but realized she didn’t have it he didn’t want to seem like a creeper so he quickly looked away,” Sorry for bugging you again but it looks like I lost my cell phone do you have like a pay phone or some kind of phone I can use?” she asked.

“Sure they are right here in the back” he watched her walk to the back he officially felt like some creeper guy stalking his next prey but he wanted to get to know this girl there was just something about her that intrigued him and he was hoping she was going to be sticking around for a while.

Charlotte got herself finally all settled into an apartment she has been in this small little down for almost a month and completely enjoying herself. She was close enough to the coffee shop and walked down there every morning. She and Brian have also become good friends she was intrigued by him she wanted to get to know him more he was unlike anyone she had ever met before. She walked into the coffee shop and saw Natalie was with him.

“Good morning sweat pea” Charlotte said.

“Good morning Charlie. Dad is in the back let me go get him.” She watched Natalie walk into the back room and they both came out seconds later.

“Morning your usual?” he asked. Charlotte nodded.

“So I see Natalie is with you this morning. Everything ok with your parents?”

“Yea they won some trip or something off the radio and I have no one to watch her while I am here I am just lucky my boss doesn’t care.”

“Well I don’t have anything to do today we could hang out until your parents get back”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that”

“Daddy please…” Natalie begged

“Its really not a problem Brian we could do girly things.” Natalie was now giving Brian the puppy dog eyes.

“Are you positively sure this is ok? I really don’t want to bug you or taking time away from anything you have to do today”

“Pft even if I had a busy day. I would throw it all away to hang out with this awesome little girl.” She laughed,” Plus like I said I don’t have anything to do today. We will have some fun” Brian thought for a few moments and flashed a smile.

“Alright you behave and listen to everything she says she is in charge”

“Yes daddy”

“Thank you so much let me pay you for your troubles”

“No, I couldn’t take your money”

“Please I insist” Charlotte pondered for a few minutes

“How about you take me out to dinner, there is still so much to see of this small little town I am sure” she smiled. Brian let out a smirk.

“You have got yourself a deal” they shook hands. Natalie grabbed Charlotte’s hand.

“We’ll see you soon daddy. Love you!”

“Love you too sweet pea” Natalie and Charlotte walked out of the coffee shop and headed down towards her apartment. Charlotte was excited about her date with Brian she just hoped he was just as excited she was.

Charlotte and Natalie walked into her apartment. Natalie had never been to her house before.

“Your house is so pretty Charlie”

“Well thank you I designed it myself. So what would you like to do first? I could do your hair, your nails.” Natalie smiled.

“Nails!” she exclaimed,” Me maw doesn’t get to do them very often and she has old people colors” Charlotte giggled.

“Well I have a ton of stuff ia m sure you will enjoy my array of colors let me go get my box” Charlotte walked to the bedroom and got her box of nail polish and came back into the room to find Natalie and Sofia playing in the floor,” Well here is my box” Natalie’s eyes widened

“Boy Charlie you sure do have a lot” Charlotte just smiled.”Oh! Can I have this color?” she picked up a hot pink with lime green”

“Sure these are a couple of my favorite colors” Natalie placed her hands on the nearby coffee table and Charlotte started to paint her nails.

“Can I tell you something? I promise I haven’t told anyone” Charlotte was kind of confused.

“Ok” “I know who you are I mean who you really are” she stated.

“Oh really and just who am I?”

“Charlie Jameson but you just go by your stage name of Charlie”

“And you figured that out all on your own did you?”

“Mmhmm I have your CD’s and everything me maw bought them for me but daddy has no clue who you are I haven’t told a single sole not even me maw and I tell everything to me maw.” Charlotte smiled.

“So that is why you call me Charlie.” She giggled Natalie nodded,” Well I am glad you didn’t tell anyone I needed a vacation”

“I understand that my daddy needs a vacation he works too much”

“ It’s hard my parents worked all the time too I never saw them”

“Daddy always says if we ever gets to move to Nashville everything will be different”

“Oh really why Nashville?”

“Daddy can sing you know he sings really well,” Natalie blurted out,” But he doesn’t like to tell anyone for some reason I guess he has stage fright or something like that, but I love it when he sings.”

“Better than me” Charlotte joked, Natalie giggled.

“You are better but he is good you should make him sing for you”

“I just might have to do that” Natalie and Charlotte talked and did more girly things throughout the day before they met up with Brian later. Charlotte was even more intrigued than she was before now that she learned Brian can sing.

Charlotte and Natalie have been spending a lot more time together since Charlotte agreed to take Natalie a few times a week to relieve Brian’s parents. Natalie was starting to grow fond of Charlotte getting to know her other than just “Charlie”. Charlotte made her normal round to the coffee shop to pick up Natalie for the day but when she walked in she didn’t see Natalie only Brian.

“Hey Bri, where’s sweet pea?”

“Mom said you needed a day off so she took her to the zoo or something” he said as he wiped down the nearby table.

“Why didn’t you just call me silly?”

“Well, if I remember correctly I owe you a date.” He smiled.

“Well that is true but why not just ask me,” she giggled,” I would have liked to have put on some better clothes other than a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt.”

“You look fine just the way you are, I am going as I am come on it will be fun” he suggested. Charlotte narrowed her eyes and looked at Brian.

“And you are just going to get up and just leave work like that?” a smirk appeared on Brian’s face.

“I have a little bit of a confession. I took today off” he laughed,” I really wasn’t sure if you’d come the way you are” Charlotte smiled.

“Brian you are so silly you know that. I see where Natalie gets her witty humor from.”

“Well I try, so shall we get going?”

“Sounds good,” Brian opened the door for Charlotte and they started walking down the strip and stopped at a little pub. Charlotte looked at Brian confused.

“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking? It isn’t even noon yet,” she joked.

“This is one of my favorite places they don’t serve alcohol until evening but during the day they serve some of the best food you have ever tasted.” He said as he opened the door.

“Alright I will take your word for it.” She smiled as she walked in.

“Ah Brian my man I see you came today. I wasn’t expecting you until later this evening.” The bald man behind the bar said.

“Well Kurt, I have this lovely lady with me today and I decided to pop in early I will be back later though I promise. Looks kinda busy this afternoon.”

“Yeah, I know its unusual. You may have to play two shows today” Kurt chuckled. Brian smiled.

“I think I can do that is my guitar hanging around back there? I think I forgot to take it home last week,”

“Yeah let me go and get it for you bro,” Charlotte just stood there confused as hell to what was going on.

“I have yet another confession Natalie told me you love music and it seems that is all you two talk about I thought I would share with you what I am passionate about which is singing, I just was unable to pursue it due to unforeseen circumstances, and now seeing that we are all becoming such good friends I thought I would share this part of my life with you.” Kurt came in from the back and handed Brian his guitar.

“Natalie said you were good and wanted to move to Nashville.” “I do, maybe someday but for right now I just sing here on Friday nights most of the time never played a day show before but I see quite a few familiar faces that like to hang out throughout the week.”

“I can’t wait to hear you” Charlotte said with a smile. She was certainly looking forward to it, it’s all Natalie can talk about when they are together. Charlotte watched Brian walk up on the tiny little stage and sat down on the stool and put his guitar in front of him. He looked so happy being up there on the stage like he had been doing it forever.

“Well hello everybody. I am glad to see some familiar faces out there this fine afternoon. Well I have a very special friend with me today and believe it or not she has never heard me sing, and I thought I would pop in here before my set this evening as well and see if I could sing a little song for y’all.” Brian said into the microphone Charlotte watched as his face lit up like a firefly,” The song I am going to play for you is a song I wrote quite a long time ago I right after my daughter Natalie was born. I don’t think I have ever sang it in front of anyone before but I hope you enjoy its called “My Little Girl”.

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go Gonna tell you how much I love you though you think I already know I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm. You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.

You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

Charlotte listened to Brian sing with such passion and emotion and his voice was so soothing it made her heart want to melt into a puddle of water on the ground.

When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone. Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown. Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You!" in the moonlight at your door. As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More!"

You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

Charlotte was impressed with him the control he showed in his voice and the way he played his guitar made her feel like she was going to go weak in the knees she wanted to hear more and never wanted him to stop singing. This could be the start of a new project for her.

Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand. But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half that makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man. I know he'll say that he's in love. But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl

Everybody clapped Charlotte didn’t realize just how popular Brian was around these parts and how in the world he didn’t already have some kind of a record deal. Brian got off stage and put his guitar back behind the bar and sat down next to Charlotte.

“So what did you think?” Charlotte let out a smile.

“It was fantastic!” she exclaimed,” How do you not have a record deal?”

“I guess it just hasn’t been played in my cards yet. I have thought about it a million times just to pack up and move to Nashville and leave this place behind but I don’t think I could just leave my parents, but maybe it will happen someday,” he said.

“I think you are amazing I want to hear more of your stuff that’s if you have a lot of it.”

“ I have tons of stuff, but I keep more of my personal songs just to myself but I will be glad to show you sometime.” Charlotte smiled and nodded. She knew she would eventually have to tell him who she really was but would he accept her? And what would he think? Would he just use her fame to get what he wanted? She really wanted to take a chance on him she felt like she was falling for this southern boy but would it work out?

“My Little Girl” By Tim McGraw Album: Flicka Soundtrack & Tim McGraw Reflections: Greatest Hits Vol 2.

After Brian’s musical number the other night Charlotte decided to invite Brian over for dinner. She couldn’t stop thinking about his performance so she decided to do something about it. She was going to invest in him in hopes he will be recognized for his talents. She certainly didn’t know much about country music but she was going to attempt it the best that she could. Brian arrived on time as always Charlotte answered the door and he was holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Awe Brian you are so sweet these are beautiful! Thank you so much” she said taking them into the kitchen.

“You’re welcome. You have such a lovely place here I don’t think I have ever been here”

“Thank you I am not the best decorator in the world but I try” she giggled,” Dinner is almost done but while we are waiting I thought I could talk to you about the other night”

“Was I bad?” he asked Charlotte giggled.

“No, you were fantastic! I told you that but I figured since we are close friends and everything that I have to tell you something” Brian got this confused look on his face,” It’s not bad I promise,” she chuckled,” I am a famous singer I am sure you have heard of me…my stage name is Charlie,” she confessed Brian’s eyes kind of widened.

“You mean the girl that is plastered all over Nat’s room is you?”

“Yes” she nodded.

“Does she..”

‘Yes,” she interrupted,” She figured it out pretty quickly she is smart let me tell you,” she laughed,” That is why she always called me Charlie, but anyway what I wanted to tell you is I want to produce your music. I know I don’t know crap about country music but I think with a little research and a little teaching from you I think we can make this work. People need to hear you sing.”

“I don’t know Char.”

“Please believe me when I say this that you are good enough for Nashville can we please just do a demo? I promise it will be better than you have ever dreamed.” Brian sat there for a few minutes contemplating on whether he should take her up on the offer. This after all was his dream but he wondered what if his career was to take off? He would always have to rely on his parents to watch Natalie more than he already depends on them now, would that even be fair to them?

“Give me a few days I have to think”

“Please don’t make me beg you know your parents would be ecstatic for you. They would tell you to go live your dream and don’t worry about Nat I will always be around to help with her so it’s not falling all onto your parents. I can read your face it is all you are thinking about. All I am asking for is a demo” Brian went silent again,” Please don’t make me beg you know I will,” she smiled, oh how he loved when she smiled.

“Alright, but you have to promise me something”

“Anything”

“That we will always remain friends I don’t want anything to become awkward or anything you are the first friend I have had in such a long time that I truly care about.”

“I promise now it’s time to pick a song”

“Whoa there turbo how about after dinner, although I think it’s a little over done.” He said pointing to the smoke coming out of the oven.

“Dammit! I always do this how about we just go to the bar for some food?” she said getting the burnt chicken out of the oven,” My treat!”

“Sure” Brian helped Charlotte clean up the kitchen and off to the bar they went.