#evil lurks

Evil Lurks ( 2023 )

She watched through the window as Mike threw the fake photograph into the fire. Wifey-poo was sitting next to him.

So she’d been found out. Shit. Unless... “Maybe I can still convince him,” Alexa said aloud in the empty car. She’d decided on coming to the Fisher home to check on the Mike-Carrie situation. So far, things did not look good. Sitting across the street -- with a tree partially blocking her vehicle -- she waited until Mike left the room, then dialed his number. It rang several times before going to his voicemail. She abandoned the idea of leaving him a message there, and worked on texting him. It was taking forever, it seemed, to type it all out, her frustration mounting by the minute. Suddenly, her phone went off. It was a text from Mike:

Don’t call or text this phone again. 

Officially pissed off, Alexa gnashed her teeth. “Are you fucking kidding me?!” She threw the phone down hard at the passenger side floorboard, hearing the screen crack but not caring. That bitch wife of his always got what she wanted. The money. The fame. The amazing career. And to top it all off, her man. She even had an adorable son with him. It was a life that should’ve been hers, not Carrie’s --

Suddenly, Alexa got an awfully delicious idea. Her fingers curled around the wheel, and she smiled. “Well, you know what they say, Mike.” She heard the hiss in her whisper, and it was satisfying. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...” 

On the day of the fiftyith annual Country Music Association Awards ceremony, Carrie and Brad rehearsed for what would be a night of looking back on the past fifty years. It was going to be a night about celebrating both past and present CMA honorees. Classic Country hits would be sung by some of the greatest artists Carrie had ever been blessed to know. It was a family, really, and she was grateful just to be a part of it. 

Standing on the stage of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the blonde Country prodigy stared out at the empty seats, which by tonight would all be filled. She was nominated for three awards: Female Vocalist of the year, Album of the year, and the big one -- Entertainer of the Year. This was her first-ever nod for the CMA Entertainer, and the first time receiving it by any Country Music organization since 2010. She felt like a lot was on the line tonight -- respect, mainly, as a serious artist. On this 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards, and the biggest night of the year for her genre, where everyone would be watching -- all of her fans and  fellow artists -- the importance of winning suddenly began to weigh down on her. 

Suddenly, Brad’s hand waved in front of her face, bringing her attention back to him and the rehearsal. “Hello... Carrie?” He spoke in that half-serious, half-comical way of his. “You there?”

She managed a smile. “Yeah. Sorry.” I was just thinking for a second, about tonight... How great it’s going to be.” 

“Oh, yeah. I can’t believe it’s been fifty years! What an amazing ride. Glad to be part of it.” He regarded her excitedly, tapping her shoulder with the back of his hand. “My favorite part’s gonna’ be you winning Entertainer! I already know...” When she didn’t give quite the modest-yet-happy response he had expected, he asked, “You’re not worried about winning, are you?” She didn’t respond. 

“Look, Carrie, I’m just going  be honest with you. You shouldn’t worry so much about it. Win or lose, they’re just awards. Objects that people forget about, unless someone else brings it up years down the road -- probably after they had to research it. 

“I mean, they’re fun to win, especially the big ones. And it definitely feels good to be rewarded for your accomplishments. But to your fans, you’re their Entertainer of the Year, every year. You and I both know, there’s nothing better than a loyal fan base. Nothing can take the place of that.” 

He grinned. “Look at me: I’m not even nominated for anything! And I couldn’t be more happy and proud to be hosting an amazing show for the eighth year in a row that I used to watch on TV as a kid.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter how many awards you have. What matters is the accomplishments you made. Look at all that you did this year, and now to top it off, you’re nominated for the biggest award of the year. To me, the nominees are already winners. YOU are a winner to me, Carrie. Everyone loves you, no matter how many times your name is called tonight.”

Brad was  like the big brother Carrie never had. He always knew just the right thing to say to make her feel better. He raised his hand for a high-five, and she smacked it. Then she gave him a hug. “Thank you, Brad.”

That night, the CMA Awards commenced with a huge opening. Artists new, old, and in-between sang a series of segments from their favorite Classic Country songs, including Brad and Carrie. At the very end of the opener, Randy Travis -- who had suffered from a stroke in the past year -- came out onstage to stand next to Carrie and sing the last word of his iconic song, “Forever And Ever, Amen.” When he beautifully sang, “Amen,” The entire arena was brought to tears, as well as their feet, erupting in applause. Feeling the ecstasy of the moment, Carrie put her arm around Randy and bowed her head, resting the side of it on her shoulder. For the better part of the rest of the night, she was misty-eyed. Watching Beyonce perform with the Dixie Chicks later, she thought it an unusual but enjoyable affair. When she performed  “Dirty Laundry,’ she rocked it. Backstage during one of the commercial breaks from the show, as she was making her way back after one of her many wardrobe changes, she ran into Beyonce. Before she could begin complimenting the star on her performance, Beyonce greeted her enthusiastically, then said, “That was an AMAZING performance, girl. Seriously, kudos. I hope you win Female Vocalist.”

When the show came back on, the unexpected comments from Beyonce were still running through her head, and for the first time, she was afraid. Brad, standing right next to her, was doing all of the talking. She looked at the camera, but in that moment, didn’t see anything but Beyonce’s smiling face, all of her fan’s intensely watching the show, and every veteran singer that would be watching to see if she’d win in her three categories. 

She lost Album of the Year. When Female Vocalist of the Year was announced, she had almost thought she wouldn’t get that own, either. But sure enough, sh heard her name called. Immediately, she covered her mouth and broke out into tears. Since 2007, she’d been waiting... Running over to the mic from backstage, she took the award, and the first thing she said with her breaking voice was, “Glory be to God! Thank you, Jesus!” But the wait was not over. Finally, at the end of the night, she awaited backstage for Taylor Swift to announce the winner of the Entertainer of the Year award. Taylor herself had won it twice. So maybe she would... As she read off the names of the nominees, Carrie played it cool, smiling and waving at the camera when her name was read. Then the final moment of truth came. 

“And the winner is....” Time stopped. Hearts pounded. Hands shook. One second... Two... Three. “Garth Brooks!’ Taylor exclaimed. Hopes faded. Carrie’s heart dropped. She was happy for Garth, but couldn’t help the disappointment, the slight devastation.