Tate and I managed to get bunks right across from each other, like we had on our previous tour together. I had to fight Dallas for it, but I still managed it.
We spent the day jamming with Hysterica and laughing so much our sides hurt. By the time we reached the first venue, we were falling off the bus in well- hysterics. They were a great group to be paired with. And we later found out, they were the ones that recommended us to the label for this tour.
“We’d seen you guys play live a few times and then your music video came out for that cover. The sexy one,” Dolly, their bassist winked at me. “We knew we wanted you guys to come with us. I’m glad they put you on our bus.”
I thanked her and the rest of the band. They waved our gratitude off.
“We mentioned your names, but you did the rest. You’ve got the talent to stand on your own,” she added. I agreed with her, and looked back at my bandmates, currently loading in our equipment. We really did.
Load in and sound check went great. Tate and I did our signature switch during it to prepare the sound booth. Overall, we were pumped and prepared for a fantastic kick-off.
“This is the first performance since I was stabbed,” I mentioned to everyone in the dressing room. The room got quiet for a moment and then started laughing at how nonchalant I was about it all. I shrugged and leaned into my husband. I was really okay with everything now. When everything was meant to be, it would be.
They started calling for the openers and the room began clearing out. When it was closer to our time, a member of security came in and called for us. “Homewreckers, you’ve got guests.”
“Before the show?” Tate asked, confused. The guy nodded and opened the door wider to let them in. I gasped as my parents walked in, holding Cara. I stood up and ran over to them. Cara reached for me and I took her from my mom’s arms, smothering her with kisses. She was wearing giant baby earphones. We had bought them with no real intent on using them, but here they were.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, my voice was cracking, overwhelmed with emotion.
“We’re coming with you,” my dad shrugged from behind my mom and the baby.
“What?” I laughed, not entirely sure of what was going on.
“You guys were having a hard time leaving her behind. We did it when you were growing up because we had to. There was no one to come with us, nor did we have the money or resources to do it. But we do now. We’re following in our own bus.”
“Seriously?” Tate asked. We looked back at him. He was just as much in shock as I was.
“Don’t worry,” my mom smirked. “We’re not going to crash your party. Ruin the vibe and all that. But you’ll have access to Cara this entire time when we aren’t driving. You’ll be able to tuck her in every night if you want.”
“We probably won’t come to the shows,” my dad added. “We’ll be sightseeing and stuff during the day. Consider it just us going on a road trip across America.”
“Thank you. Seriously,” Tate lunged forward and extended his hand. My dad’s eyes went wide with surprise, and he shook his hand.
“I hated leaving the kids every time we went on tour. I left them one way and when I returned they had grown up, continued living as if I hadn’t been stuck in place for so long. We don’t want that for you guys.”
My mom nodded, stepping back to wrap her arms around her husband.
“He was the one who came up with the idea. That’s why we were at your parent’s place today. To say goodbye.”
“They weren’t upset?” Tate asked. He had also been dealing with the constant arguing.
“Not at all, they encouraged it. They helped us pick our transportation and get it loaded up for her,” my dad explained.
“I love you guys,” I gushed, unsure of how to properly vocalize how grateful I was in that moment. All of this was so unexpected, it was hard to grasp that they were really here. “Thank you.”
My mom reached for Cara and I gave her back.
“This tour is going to be so good for you. We didn’t want anything holding you back.”
“Let me get a picture,” Dallas said suddenly. I had completely forgotten about everyone else in the room for a brief moment. I turned to see my brother raising his phone to us. “The three of you.”
Tate took Cara in his arms and my parents moved to get out of the frame. Dallas started snapping photo after photo and when he was done, I laughed.
“What was that for?”
“I had to capture Cara’s first concert.”
The room joined in on the laughter and then my parents called it a night. They were going to their hotel. They’d see us either later tonight or at the next show. We kissed our daughter goodbye and then we were called to the stage.
There was a single minute after we set up in which we stood behind the curtain. Tate squeezed my hand and asked me what I was thinking. I looked up at him and grinned.
“It took so long for me to realize that I loved the idea of you and me together. But now, I love the idea of us, as a family, even more.”
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the very top of my head before we burst out onto the stage.
“I like the sound of that. Us. Let’s do that forever.”
