Face in his hands, shoulders heaving, audible sobs, not caring who saw. Even Victoria's face showed shock. Reluctant awe. Something that might have been respect.
The bridge. Tiana slowed, sang directly to her mama. What if I fall? What if I break?
Diane mouthed back, You won't fall, baby. Mama's got you. The cameras captured this exchange. It would go viral within an hour.
The final chorus. Tiana poured everything. every eviction notice, every watered down soup dinner, every night her mama cried into the crescendo. The final note, 1five seconds of sustained perfection that made professional singers weep when she released it. five seconds of cathedral silence, then pandemonium. 1,200 people on their feet screaming, crying, stomping.
The building shook. Outside people heard it and cheered through speakers. During the scoring, Mr. Harrison's voice shook. That wasn't singing.
That was prophecy. 10.0. Christopher barely able to speak. I've worked with legends, Grammy winners, platinum artists.
I have never heard anything like what I just witnessed. This is divine. 10.0. Victoria didn't score, just sat pale and defeated.
The average was 10.0, a perfect score. Tiana Turner had won. The announcer could barely be heard over the celebration. Your Riverside Community Talent Show Champion, Tiana Turner.
The oversized check, $50,000. Tiana held it with small hands, crying. Mama can have her surgery. She's going to live.
In the chaos, Christopher stood at the edge of the stage, watching Diane being helped forward by Carol. It was time. The post show chaos swirled around them. Media supporters, strangers taking photos.
Tiana stood center stage, holding her oversized check, overwhelmed, searching the crowd for her mama. Diane was being helped through the crowd by Carol, too weak to push through alone. Christopher intercepted them at the stage steps. Diane.
Diane froze, turned, saw him up close for the first time in eleven years. Her face cycled through shock to recognition to pure fury. What the hell are you doing here? Her voice shook with rage.
You have no right. Not after. I know I have no right. But she deserves to know.
Know what? Diane's voice rose. People started turning, sensing drama. That her father abandoned us.
That he left me pregnant and broke and alone. That he chose his career over his child. She's better off not knowing you exist. Tiana pushed through the crowd toward them, small and confused.
Mama, what's going on? Who is this? The question hung in the air. Christopher knelt down to Tiana's eye level.