"You leave in three months, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, and we'll be on the road for six months, for this leg of the tour anyway. Then, we'll have a break for two months, and then go overseas for three months after that."
"Will you be home much at all for the first six months?" she asked, concerned.
I smirked, "Why, are you going to miss me?"
"Jackass," she snipped back. "I was actually thinking of Allie. You guys have all really stepped up for her over the past few months, I hate to think of her being left alone while you're gone."
I pulled Becca in for a hug. "You have a good heart, you know that?" I asked softly. "This won't be as bad as the clusterfuckof a schedule we had on the last tour. We had more input on this schedule and were able to add some extra days in between shows. We even managed to fit in a couple of week-long breaks, so we'll all be back often to check on her," I explained.
"We aren't hitting quite as many cities. The record label wasn't thrilled with it, but we insisted on it. We've busted our asses for them and made them a fuck-ton of money in the process. We've earned the right to slow it down a little, and they finally agreed."
Before leaving the restaurant, I stopped by the bar to tell my family goodbye. Dad and I gave each other the typical one-armed guy hug - one arm around the back with the other arm thumping the shoulder. I then put my arms around Mom and pulled her close, kissing her on the cheek. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to upset you. I'll think about what you said, I promise."
"Thank you, and I'm sorry, too. I just worry about you. Having children brings me such joy,usually," she said pointedly, "and I don't want you to miss out on having a family of your own."
I laughed softly at her need to get one last little dig in at me. "I know, and I love you." I said with one last kiss to her cheek.
I turned to my Nonna, who was sitting at the bar giving me the stink eye. I leaned down to wrap her in my arms, pulling her up from the stool as I straightened. "I'm sorry, old woman," I said with a smile, kissing the top of her head and giving her a squeeze.
She arched an eyebrow as she reached up and patted my cheek a little harder than was really necessary. "You will be if youpiss me off again. I'm from Italy, remember? I know people," she said, in her best Tony Soprano voice.
"Merda!" I said, using the Italian word for 'shit'. For some reason, curse words made up most of my knowledge of the language. I leaned back to look at her face, and saw a reluctant smile pass her across her lips.
"You're a good boy, even if you do need a good smack upside your head now and then."
"Ti amo, Nonna."
"I love you, too, stronzo."
