When I Look to the Sky Read Free

to kiss it.
     
    The next day, Angel and Carlee went to a salon early in the day for pampering. When they returned to the hotel, Andy was waiting, dressed for the evening in his tuxedo. There was a platter of fruit and cheese waiting.
    “ Look how beautiful the two of you are! We’ll have a snack now, and dinner after the awards,” he told them.
    After they ate , Angel took Carlee to dress for the evening. Carlee’s dress was yellow, her favorite color, and the salon styled her red hair in a high-ponytail with loose curls. She looked in the mirror and giggled. “Who is that ?” she laughed.
    “ It’s you! You look beautiful! Just wait ‘til your Papa gets a look at you!” Angel said as she reached for the door. They stepped out in the living room area where Andy waited.
    Lord, don ’t let me cry, he thought when he got a look at Carlee. He swore he saw a halo atop her head and took a deep breath. She wore a pearl necklace he’d given her for her fourth birthday. He remembered, and smiled.
    “ Wow, you two look like super-models,” he said with a big grin. He reached for Carlee’s hand, “I have a gift for you,” he told her.
    “ It’s not my birthday or nuthin’…” she replied with a question in her voice.
    “ Anything,” Angel corrected her, trying to hide a grin. That sweet-southern-twang… she thought.
    “ No, but this is a special occasion. Come here a sec,” he told her as he walked to a mirror in the hallway. He reached in his pocket and put a box on the table. “We’re going to take this off, it looks very pretty, but I think you will like this.” He put the pearl necklace on the table and removed something from the box. He reached around her and put another necklace around her neck and lifted her in his arms to see in the mirror.
    The chain was her birthstone, small aquamarine beads, alternating with tiny colored freshwater pearls. Hanging from the chain was a butterfly made with the same stones.
    “ Papa,” Carlee said, touching the stones, “it’s so pretty.” 
    “ I’m glad you like it. Kimmy said it would be perfect with your dress when I showed it to her.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a big hug. He kissed her cheek and put her down. Angel smoothed her dress, and he took Carlee’s hand and said, “Shall we go, ladies?”
     
    When they arrived, the Staples Center was a busy, bustling place. “The limo will drop us closer to the entrance,” Andy said as he saw the line of black cars about half a block long.
    Finally, an attendant opened the door. Andy stepped out and took Angel’s hand first, to help her, and then he took Carlee’s. “Papa, I’m so excited,” she said.
    “ Me too, come on,” he grinned as he continued to hold her hand.
    As they made their way, Angel was a step behind in her glory, capturing everything going on around them, to keep the memory. She watched as people from the music industry walked the red carpet, and flashes of light came from every direction as photographers tried to get the best shot. Finally, a reporter that Carlee recognized from an entertainment news show on TV approached. Andy squeezed Carlee’s hand as Shar Manes, the reporter, asked; “Mr. Stevens, who’s your beautiful date this evening?”
    “ This is my daughter, Carlee,” he replied.
    “ Carlee, are you having a good time?” she asked.
    “ Yes, ma’am!” she replied excitedly.
    Angel took Carlee ’s hand as the reporter spoke with Andy about the GRAMMY nominated song, and asked if he had anything new coming out soon.
    “ There are still a few songs from this album that I’ll release as singles. For now, I’m taking the summer off to spend time with Carlee.”
    “ Are you pleased with the sales of the book, Rock and Roll Never Forgets ?” Shar asked. “Almost a year on the best-seller list,” she added.
    “ I believe that we are all surprised, but yes, pleased,” he replied.
    “ Any plans for a movie, we hear that you’ve been