Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

March 2017 

“Tonight is a special night,” Justin stated.  “Last July, my wife Emma was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She fought it and as of September is cancer free – so tonight is for her, and the proceeds will go to The Sarver-Timberlake Cancer Fund, which Emma and I started to raise money for families affected by cancer.  She’s going to talk more about it later on this evening, but right now I’m going to stop talking and get the show started.

“The opening bands that are here tonight are some of Emma’s favorites.  This first one is the band that was playing the night we met, 10 years ago, this is The Almost.”  He introduced the band and then walked off stage.

Emma stood up from the seat she was sitting in the back of the venue they had rented out for the night.  It was the same place they had met each other 10 years before, and it was only fitting for the small charity event to be held there.  She was even at the same table, but surrounded by their family, even Will and Noah.

The music started, and Emma got into it quickly.  She barely noticed Justin come stand next to her with NJ sitting on his shoulders.  Emma leaned against him.

“I keep picturing you grabbing my hand and taking me out into the crowd,” Justin spoke, a few songs into the set.  He leaned over so he could speak into Emma’s ear. 

“Oh yeah?”  Emma smiled at the memory.  She would never regret that bold move on her part all those years ago.

~~

Emma started bouncing her feet to the beat and once the crowd really started moving, she couldn’t sit there.  Emma stood up, and Justin turned to look at her.

“I have to go down!” Emma yelled.  He looked confused.  She leaned over and yelled in his ear, “Floor!  Come with?”

He shrugged and stood up with his drink in his hand.  Emma took his drink out of his hand and set it down knowing that if he carried it down there it would end up all over his jeans and shirt.  She grabbed his hand.

Justin was shocked by the gesture, but followed her down the stairs and into the crowd.  He definitely wasn’t worried about getting into trouble in the crowd even with the few confused looks being thrown in his direction.  Once Emma settled on a spot, he wasn’t sure what to expect from her next especially with the rest of the crowd pushing and jumping up and down along with the beat. 

Emma didn’t hesitate to join in.

~~

They both enjoyed listening to the same band that was playing the night they met, sharing a simple moment with their family after everything they had been through in the past year. 

After The Almost’s set, Justin headed backstage so he could be ready to introduce the next band that was going to play.  Emma sat back down and picked up Will when he toddled over to her from Lynn.

“Are you excited for Uncle Trevor?”  She asked him.

“I am!”  NJ shouted over the noise of the crowd.  He was excited to see his Uncle on stage, and even more so his Dad, who was going to perform after.

“I know you are.”  Emma smiled at the four-and-a-half-year-old boy as he reached for his cup of soda that was sitting on the table.  Her eyes drifted to the stage when the noise of the crowd grew because Justin had walked out.  “Hey guys, there’s Daddy.”

“Da!” Will clapped excitedly.

“Hello again,” he spoke into the microphone all the while directing his attention to where he knew Emma and the boys were.  “I hope you guys enjoyed The Almost.”  He paused for the crowd’s response.  “I’m excited to introduce this next band because they are Emma’s absolute favorite.  Her brother is in this band and for them to get back together for this night, I know it means the world to her.

“Here is The Wedding!”

Emma’s heart swelled as they began their set.  She never thought she’d see them together again, but it was the best feeling.  Emma stood with Will in her arms and NJ at her feet.

“Mama, it’s Trevor!”  Noah yelled so she could here them.  Emma looked down at him and smiled as he started hopping around to the songs he knew so well.  Emma bounced Will in her arms and the three of them had their own dancing going on for the first couple of songs.  Justin joined in after he had made his way back to where they were.

Their set lasted for an hour, and Emma was sad to see it ending, but she knew they still had to do one more song – her favorite song.

“This last song is for my big sister, one of my best friends, Emmy-Leigh,” Trevor leaned in closer to the microphone.  “I know how much you’ve always loved this song, and I know how much you have not wasted your life. 

“And I can’t tell you how blessed we are to still have you in our lives.  God is good.”

Justin rested his hand on Emma’s back where she had “life is but a breath” tattooed above the cross. It was her favorite tattoo that she had, and quite possibly his favorite of hers as well.  She leaned into his hand, knowing just what he was thinking about.

He had been fascinated with it since the first night he had seen it.

~~

“Wait a sec, is that a tattoo?”  Justin asked.  He sounded shocked.  He had never seen it before because she was always fully clothed, but right now she was wearing a spaghetti-strap tank top.

“Yes,” she answered and turned to look back at him.  “Why are you so surprised?  You’ve seen the people I hang out with.”

Justin laughed.  “I know.  You’re just always so covered up.  Let me see.”  Emma obliged his request by turning back around.  The tattoo was between her shoulder blades. The Celtic cross with the words “Life is but a breath …” above it was about four inches in height and three in width.

“Isn’t that one of your brother’s songs?”  He asked.  Justin wanted to run his fingers over it, her skin looked so smooth, but he refrained because he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be.

“You’ve been listening.”  Emma stated and figured he’d looked long enough so she turned back around.

“Uh-huh.  You got any other tattoos?”  Justin asked.

~~

Hands down, no regrets
Life has its hands around my neck
Fight back, no regrets
Life has its hands around our necks 

La La La La La
La La La La La
Life is but a breath
Don’t waste it 

La La La La La
La La La La La
Life is but a breath
Don’t waste it 

Emma had never appreciated that song more.  After the year they had had, she did not plan on wasting any second of her life, no matter how long or short it would be.

When those guys finished up, Emma and Justin both made their way backstage because she was going to introduce him before he performed.  Emma wrapped her arms around Trevor when she saw him and thanked him, as well as the other guys.

The group talked while the stage hands got the stage ready for Justin to go on.  Emma and Justin embraced before he sent her in the direction of the microphone with a smile on his face.  Emma shook her head, smiling the whole time.

“Good evening,” Emma said into the microphone.  “For those of you who don’t know, I’m Emma Timberlake.”  She paused, taking in a deep breath and continuing. 

“Before I start talking about what Justin and I are doing with the fund, I want to thank The Almost and The Wedding.  I have known the guys in those bands for a very long time – especially The Wedding, you guys really don’t know how much I have always loved and appreciated each and every one of you– and for both bands to regroup and perform once again really does mean a lot to me.  It has brought back so many fantastic memories that I do cherish.

“I also want to thank Justin, because he really is the reason you all are here tonight, so I’m trying to keep this short.  When I first started my cancer treatments, I had mentioned that I missed going to concerts – I used to go all of the time – so he kept that in the back of his mind, and here we all are today.  So thank you.

“As he mentioned earlier, we started The Sarver-Timberlake Cancer Fund to raise money for low-income families affected by cancer.  Both of us have been blessed to have strong careers that have allowed us to take care of my medical bills and still provide for our boys, but there a lot of families who are not as fortunate.  We want to help those ones – especially the ones with children, so that parents can be around to see their sons and daughters grow up, so that they can provide for them in any imaginable way.

“This is something I feel called to do, and I know from your presence here tonight that this is something you believe in as well.  I am thankful that each and every one of you came out tonight to see The Almost, to see The Wedding and to see Justin, but most importantly to support a great cause.  So thank you and God bless you.

“And without further blathering on my part, here’s the man I’m sure you are all here for, my amazing husband, Justin Timberlake.”

Justin walked out onto the stage and stopped Emma as she headed off.  He gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.  “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Emma said and continued off stage.

“Isn’t she sweet?”  Justin sighed into the microphone as his band started to play.  He was pretty sure Emma was rolling her eyes as he said that.  She stopped just off to the side, so she could watch him sing a couple of songs from that vantage point before moving back to where their sons were sitting.

It was the first time either boy had seen their father up on stage, and while Will was still too little to grasp the concept, NJ was eating it up.  Emma was having more fun watching Noah’s reaction to Justin on stage than watching Justin.  Noah really looked up to him.

“Mama, look at Daddy.”  He smiled proudly. 

“I see him.”  She nodded and turned her attention back to Justin. 

His set went quickly, and Emma enjoyed watching him do what he loved to do, plus over the years of knowing him she had grown to enjoy his music and appreciate it for what it was.

“I normally don’t like to get sappy at my shows,” Justin chuckled. “But as we all know, tonight is a special night, and I just have a few things to say before I sing ‘Better Part of Me.’”

Emma leaned her head against Will’s; the little boy was curled up against her body, resting his head on her shoulder, dozing despite the noise level in the small venue.  She sighed into his hair and sat back farther in the chair as Justin spoke.

“Last year when Emma was getting treated for cancer, she never complained or thought negative thoughts.  I saw how hard it was for her.

“I am so glad that you never gave up Em.  You are the strongest person I know, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without you.  This song has taken on a whole new meaning now.”

His words meant a lot to Emma.

You say that our love is from above

Don’t give up don’t give in now, now
I know your love will always be enough
Oh won’t give up, I won’t give in now, now 

~~

“Can I have what you wrote?”

Justin pulled the folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her before he sat down in the chair she had just vacated.  Emma unfolded the piece of paper and was just about to start reading it when Justin wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down so she was sitting on his knee.

“Geez, Justin.”  Emma laughed.

“There’s no reason for you to stand.”  Justin kissed her head and looked back at the computer screen.  He really just liked being close to her.  Emma read what was written; most of it was pretty standard, but it made Emma feel good to read what he wrote at the end.

“For the better part of me, my Emmy – you have taught me how to love our God and in return He has taught me how to love you (of course not more than him ‘wink’).  Thank you for not being afraid to tell me how it is, for your love, for your support, and for your life lessons.  You have my heart, my mind and my soul.  I love you. 

“And for the even better part of me, my Savior – you teach me something new everyday in your words and through my wife.  Thank you for your continual blessings that I am not worthy of and never will be.” 

Emma leaned back against him and turned her head so she was looking at him.  Justin curled his left arm around her and brought his attention to her. 

“What?”  He asked about the way she was looking at him.

“Nothin’.”  Emma shrugged.  “You’re just the sweetest man ever.”

“Ever?”  Justin double checked with a smile on his face.  Emma nodded and kissed him quickly. 

~~

I know this love will see us through
When seas get rough

Oh I won’t give up no
I won’t give in now, now 

Babe you are the better part of me
I believe, I believe you are 

Baby you’re the better part of me
‘Cause I believe, I believe you are
You are 

You’re the better part, part of me
The better part of me

Babe you are the better part of me

I believe, I believe you are, you are 

Justin finished his set after a couple more songs and disappeared backstage.  Noah was still showing his excitement along with everyone else there, but Emma knew he would crash before they even got back to the hotel. 

“Daddy!”  NJ dropped Emma’s hand and ran to his father.

“Hey NJ!”  Justin scooped him up in his arms.

“I saw you.  You’re so good Daddy,” Noah smiled widely as he praised Justin.

“Thanks,” Justin chuckled and stepped closer to Emma who was still holding Will in her arms.  “He’s out cold, huh?”  He leaned over to check on Will and brushed his fingers through the little boy’s dark brown hair.  Emma nodded, and he gave her a quick kiss before asking her what she thought of the show.

“Better than the first show I went to of yours,” she teased.  Justin rolled his eyes at the memory she had brought up.

“We can head back to the hotel in a few minutes.  I’m just going to say goodnight to everyone.”

“That’s fine.”  Emma smiled.  She stepped back and let Justin finish talking with his band and a few other people before they headed out with their immediate family to go back to the hotel.

The boys had fallen asleep during the car ride.  So Emma and Justin each carried one to their room and put them to bed. 

“NJ had so much fun watching you,” Emma said quietly as the two excited the room the boys were sleeping in.  Justin pulled the door shut behind them, and Emma wrapped her arms around him in a hug.  “He adores you, and I just know Will’s going to be the same.”  She smiled up at him.

“And what about you?” He placed his hands on her waist.

“Me too …” Emma stood up taller so she could kiss him.  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate tonight or everything you did for me last year.  Your love and support means so much to me.” 

He kissed her quickly and let his hands fall from her waist.  “Ready to go to bed?”  He grinned, and Emma knew what he was getting at, she rolled her eyes, but she still dropped her arms from around his body and followed him into their room for the night.

Justin closed the door behind them.  They got ready for bed, and after pulling back the covers on the bed, Emma and Justin climbed into bed.

“Thanks again for tonight Justin.”  Emma curled up against his side, in his arms.

“Anytime,” Justin sighed.  “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, and that I was able to do it for you and for a good cause.” 

Emma lifted her head up, from where it was resting on his arm, and placed a kiss on his cheek.  He turned his head so his lips would meet hers.  Emma sighed and deepened the kiss.  She pulled away after a few minutes, and moved so she was lying on top of him – her forehead resting against his.

“Emmy,” Justin held her closer to him.  “I’m so glad you’re healthy.”

“Me too.”  She tucked her head under his chin.  “Not to be absolutely cheesy or anything, but you’re the better part of me too – second to God of course …”

“Thanks.”  He kissed her as she picked her head back up to look at him.  “I know exactly what you mean.”  Justin put his hands on her cheeks and brushed his lips against hers again.  “God has blessed me in so many ways.”

“Absolutely,” Emma agreed.