Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Skylar meets with Ford and Cora, rejects bland love songs, and commits to writing her own material. After days of writer’s block, Oliver gifts her a bird book and inadvertently provides a first lyric. That night, Emmy brings a pocketknife and reveals West owns a Skylar T-shirt, deepening Skylar’s attachment and unease.
Summary
Skylar begins the day buoyed by humor over a tabloid headline, then meets Ford and his 13-year-old daughter, Cora, at Wild Rose Records. Cora dismisses the submitted “safe” love songs and pushes Skylar toward raw, “hurt” songs without Auto-Tune. Empowered by their support and autonomy, Skylar commits to trying to write her own material.
Over the next three days, Skylar struggles with a blank page by the lakeshore. Oliver finds her, gifts her a bird encyclopedia he bought with his allowance, and they read quietly together. When Skylar admits she doesn’t know how to start, Oliver shares how writing helps him speak, then pens a first line in her notebook: “It all started on a backroad,” giving Skylar a foothold.
That night, Emmy slips into Skylar’s room while West is on night check. Concerned about bear safety, she gifts Skylar a pocketknife purchased with borrowed allowance and promises to teach her how to use it. Emmy casually reveals West is happier with Skylar around and produces his old T-shirt featuring Skylar, proving he’s a longtime fan.
The revelation warms and unsettles Skylar—West has treated her like a normal person while privately owning her merch. Emmy continues with earnest nature lessons until Skylar drifts to sleep, newly bonded to the kids and newly resolved to find her voice on the page.
Who Appears
- Skylar StoneSongwriter deciding to write her own songs; struggles with a blank page; moved by Oliver’s help and Emmy’s gifts.
- CoraFord’s 13-year-old daughter and producer-in-training; rejects bland love songs and urges Skylar toward raw authenticity.
- FordLabel head and Cora’s father; supports Skylar’s autonomy and Cora’s creative input during song selection.
- Oliver (Ollie)West’s son; gifts Skylar a bird book and writes her first lyric, jump-starting her songwriting.
- EmmyWest’s daughter; late-night bear-safety talk, gifts a pocketknife, reveals West’s Skylar T-shirt, noting he’s happier with Skylar.
- WestOffstage presence; his past sharing of the bear story and hidden fan T-shirt complicate Skylar’s feelings.
- CherrySkylar’s parrot; brief comic beat, snarking at a blue jay image.