"Ashleigh…Pete, come on out and dry off," mama says as she sets the potato salad out on the table.

I bring the paper plates and utensils out.

Both of the kids get out. Ashleigh walks over to Brad as she's drying off.

"Hi," she says.

"Hi," he replies.

"I didn't know you were here," she says looking around.

Pete walks over to them.

"Hi," he says.

Brad chuckles. "Hello. I'm Brad," he says, holding out his hand to Pete.

Pete wipes off his hand on his towel and shakes his hand. "I'm Pete."

"Nice to meet you Pete. Is this your boyfriend, Ashleigh?"

I'm watching this interaction out of the corner of my eye.

Ashleigh blushes and shakes her head as Pete screws up his face and says, "Ewwwww." He turns around and walks over to his parents.

I cover my mouth to hide my giggle. I see that Ashleigh looks a little hurt so I walk over to her and kiss her cheek.

"Are you over here flirting with my keyboardist?"

She wraps her arms around me and I flinch when her cold suit touches my leg. "No. I was just talking. He was over here by himself."

"Well, let's go eat," I say. I look at Brad as I say it.

"Good, I'm hungry," Ashleigh says walking over to the table.

I look down at my wet shorts and legs and laugh.

"Gee, thanks Ashleigh," I say.

Brad chuckles.

Everyone fills their plates and finds a place to sit and eat. Brad goes back over to the chair he had been sitting in so I follow him.

"What's your girlfriend's name?" I ask before I take a bite of salad.

Before he can answer me Cody walks over and sits down next to me. I do a double take.

"Hello," I say looking at him.

He gives me an evil smile. "Hi."

He starts making kissing noises.

My eyes get big and I look over at Brad who starts laughing, then I shake my head.

"Ignore him…he only wants the attention," I whisper.

"Okay," he whispers back.

Cody keeps up the noises and I keep staring Brad's way, trying to avoid Cody.

We continue to eat and make small talk. Finally I can't take it anymore.

"Would you shut up!!" I yell at him.

Everyone on the patio turns and looks at me.

I don't say another word and I turn my body away from them. Brad starts to chuckle.

"Well, that quieted the room down a bit," he said.

"Cody, why don't you come over and sit by me?" mama asks as she scoots over so there's room next to her.

He looks back over at me, sticks his tongue out and walks over to mama. Ever since his fall off of the skooter he's been clingier with mama. It's good to see actually.

"Brothers," I say as I roll my eyes.

Brad smiles and shakes his head. "I wouldn't know."

"You an only child?"

He nods. "Yeah. It was just me and my mom."

"Oh. What about your dad?" I ask softly.

He glances up at me and then looks back at his empty plate.

"He left when I was little…like three. My mom and I did okay, though."

I smile and nod. "Well, it seems like it. So George is your mom's brother?"

He nods. "Yeah, they're only like eighteen months apart or something. He's older. They've always been pretty close. He's the one who really got me into music."

Daddy walks over to us and holds out his hand. I look up at him and he smiles down at me.

"I'm not finished, but thanks," I say, taking another bite of steak.

Brad hands him his plate. "Thank you sir," he says.

"You're welcome. You missed out, you'll have to throw your own plate away," daddy kids before he turns around and walks into the kitchen.

"So, you never told me your girlfriend's name."

Brad studies his hands and then looks at me. "Her name was Linda."

"Was?"

"She's not my girlfriend anymore."

I don't know why, but for some reason that answer made me very happy.

"Oh. I just thought when your uncle said…"

"Yeah, well, she was my girlfriend at the time of the story he was telling," he shrugged.

"I see."

"Does that make you happy?" he asks with an almost smile on his face.

"What? That she's your ex-girlfriend? I mean if it makes you sad then no, I'm not happy."

He looks back down at his hands. "We broke up a few months ago. When I started to pursue this music thing. We decided it was for the best. She's going to school anyway…making new friends. It's better this way."

"But I'm sure it was still hard," I say, resting my hand on top of his. "Whenever mama or daddy talk about the time they took a break in their relationship, they both say it was the hardest thing they've ever went through…even though they felt it's what they needed to do at the time."

He puts his other hand on top of mine and nods. "I know how they felt a little bit, I think. Do they talk about it a lot with you?"

I set my plate down on the other side of me and then look at him again. "I've gotten bits and pieces here and there. I've never heard the whole thing all the way through. All I know is that it was what they felt they needed at the time and that they don't regret it…but that it was hard."

"Brad, we're going to get going," George says from across the patio.

"Okay," he says standing up.

I stand up next to him and pick up my plate. We walk over to where everyone else is standing and I throw my plate away. Ashleigh walks over to me and wraps her arms around me. I look over and notice that Pete is clinging to his mom.

We all say goodbye to George, his wife and Brad. I sit down again and Ashleigh sits down with me, placing her head on my shoulder.

"Why are you so lovey dovey tonight?" I ask, smoothing away her hair.

She shrugs, looking over at Aunt Kristen and Pete.

"Why aren't you playing with him?"

She shrugs again.

I think back. "Is it because of what Brad said earlier?"

She lifts her head and looks at me. "About what?"

"About Pete being your boyfriend?"

She blushes and shrugs again. "He's not my boyfriend," she says.

"He was just teasing. Pete's been acting funny ever since then."

"I guess," she mumbles.

Mama sees us sitting there after seeing George and company to the door and she sits down across from us.

"What's this? Sister bonding?"

"I'm not sure what it is," I say.

"I'm tired, I'm going to bed," Ashleigh says. She leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. She then walks over to mama and wraps her arms around her neck. Mama holds her tightly and kisses her on the cheek.

"Love you."

"I love you too," she replies.

She then walks over to Uncle JC and Aunt Kristen and gives them both a kiss goodnight.

"It's kind of early, isn't it?" Uncle JC asks, looking at his watch.

"I'm tired."

She then walks over to daddy, who's cleaning the bar-b-cue pit.

"'Night daddy," she says, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He sets the tools down and leans down and picks her up.

"You going to bed daffodil?"

She nods and puts her head on his shoulder.

"I'll take you," he said walking into the house.

"What's with her?" mama asks.

"I don't know but I think it might have something to do with what Brad said earlier."

I tell her the story. She looks over at Pete, who now has his head in Aunt Kristen's lap.

"That's probably it. She still wants to play and now Pete doesn't want to because it's awkward."

"Something like that. Was I ever like that?" I ask.

"You didn't really have any close guy friends when you were that young. You're closest friend has always been Brianna."

I smile when I hear her name. "God, I haven't talked to her in forever," I say. "Is she going to be here for the special?"

"I think Kelly said she was going to be. She won't be able to stay long because of finals."

"Oh," I say, not hiding my disappointment very well.

Daddy joins us again. He shakes his head. "She was really quiet."

Mama stands up and wraps her arms around his waist. "I'll tell you later," she says motioning over to Pete.

After another half-hour or so of sitting around talking on the patio, Uncle JC and his family decide to leave.

"You have a great time rehearsing with Wade," he tells me as he gives me a hug. "You'll learn a lot from him."

I nod. "I will. I should probably get to bed soon so I can be well rested for tomorrow."

"She sounds so excited," Kristen says to Britney.

"She is."

"How does that make you feel?"

They're making their way to the front door. Pete has a hold of Kristen's hand as JC, Justin and Adriana walk behind them.

"I'm fine with it."

"You sure?"

"Kristen…please don't play psychiatrist with me right now," she says, rubbing her forehead.

Kristen places her hand on Britney's arm. "You know where I am if you need to talk about it."

Britney nods and gives Kristen a hug. "Thank you."

"We'll see you guys Thursday night…you'll be at the show, right?" Uncle JC asks.

"How do you think you're getting into the venue buddy…they don't let people like you in unsupervised," daddy kids Uncle JC.

"That's nice," mama laughs.

"We'll all be there. In fact the VIP area might not hold all of us."

My ears perk up at that.

"What?"

"You'll see," daddy winks down at me.

The next morning I run downstairs into the kitchen. Mama's sitting at the counter, reading a magazine.

"Morning," she says.

"Hi. You taking me to the studio today?"

She nods. "I'll drop you off. I have a few errands to run."

"Okay. But don't you want to see Wade?" I ask as I sit down with a glass of juice.

She peeks up from her magazine. "I'll see him…eventually."

I stare at the glass in front of me. "Mama…is there something about Wade you're not telling me?"

She sets the magazine down in front of her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, from what I've heard, he used to be one of your best friends…daddy's too and now you don't even care if you see him? Is there a reason why maybe I shouldn't be working with him?"

"Baby we want the best for you."

"And Wade's the best," I interject.

"Yes, he is."

"But…"

She takes my hands in hers. "There are no buts…he's the best and he's agreed to work with you. You should feel honored. He hasn't choreographed in a long time."

"I'm sure he's doing it for you. Maybe it's his way of paying respect to you…for the show."

She smiles. "Maybe." She looks at the clock. "Ready?"

I nod. "Yep. I'll grab a power bar to eat on the way."

"Okay," she sighs as she stands up. "Let's go."