CHAPTER FOURTEEN-SONG ON THE RADIO
On the sixteenth of November, the guys all loaded into Luke's parents' Suburban and headed toward Orlando for five days to work with Brett Hestla and record a demo. They put together a five song demo, which they brought home and took to our local radio stations. I was driving to get Nixon from work a few nights after Christmas when I first heard it...the first chord of "Hear Me Now" started and I knew immediately what it was. I pulled into the parking lot of Applebees, turned it up as loud as it would go, and rolled down my windows, despite the freezing cold and falling snow. Nixon was walking out the door just as the first chorus hit.
"Tell me that's our CD." he demanded.
"It's not." I said, shaking my head.
"You're fucking joking. It's on the radio?"
Nixon yanked open the door, sat down and listened.
"It's on the radio Nix...your song is on the radio!"
He pulled out his phone and texted all the guys, letting them know it was on "The Buzz".
"Do you wanna go get a drink to celebrate or something?" I asked him.
"Yeah. Are you hungry? I made a lot tonight, we can eat."
"We can eat." I rolled up the windows and Nixon and I went in and enjoyed a late night celebratory meal. We headed home, celebrated some more, and fell asleep shortly after dawn.
The next day, I woke up alone in my bed, voices talking excitedly from the living room. I rubbed my eyes and walked into the living room where I found Brandon, Tim, Chris, Luke, and Nixon all sitting on the couch, Nixon holding the phone, all of them smiling broadly.
"Alright, so you guys meet me at 5 PM at Applebees in Hendersonville, we'll talk details and sign all the paperwork."
Jeff Hanson, the boys' manager, was on the other line.
"Alright Jeff, we'll see you later man. Thank you once again."
"No problem, guys. Congratulations."
Nixon hung up the phone, sat it down, a smile still on his face.
"What's going on?" I asked.
He jumped up from the couch, walked over to me, and kissed me without hesitation.
"What was that for?"
"Babe...WE GOT SIGNED. We're going to record a record...and it's going to be in stores..."
"No way." I replied.
"Yes way. We did it, Lynds. We did it...we made it. Silent Majority is signing us."
"Oh my God, Nix, that is wonderful. Guys, I am so proud of you all..." I said, tears filling my eyes.
I hugged all five of the boys and went to change clothes. Nixon came in, still smiling, and changed into jeans and a button up plaid shirt, pulled a beanie down over his head, and put his glasses on.
"Do I look like I'm going to sign a record deal?" he asked.
"You look like a rockstar, Baby."
He grinned at me and slipped his shoes on.
"Hey, let me take a few pictures of you guys before ya'll go, okay?"
"You're not gonna come?" he asked, his expression falling.
"I can if you want me to." I replied.
"I want you to...it would mean the world to me if you came."
I nodded, kissed his cheek, and smiled at him.
"Nixon, I am so proud of all of you...not only are you the love of my life, you are my best friend...all your dreams are coming true, and I am so happy for you. This is it, honey...you've made it. Whether you sell one record or a million, you've made it."
Tears dampened my lashes as I spoke these words to Nixon. Everything I said was true. I had prayed and believed and wished and hoped and dreamed that one day these five guys' dreams would come true, and finally, they were. I also knew that somewhere in heaven, Ashley Helen Hanley was smiling down, tears of joy in her eyes, camera in hand to photograph this memorable moment...