"Pop
Life"
Chapter 88
I watch the scenery as daddy and I drive to Kentwood from New Orleans, where he picked me up from the airport. The radio is playing softly in the background.
"You tired?" he asks.
"Yeah...I'm just enjoying the view," I smile.
"It takes you away, doesn't it?"
I look at him. "Yeah. I forget I'm a "celebrity" when I'm out here."
He smiles and nods as he keeps his eyes out on the road.
"So how are you doing with all the new security measures?" he asks.
"I'm fine with them. There's just a few more people around me, that's all. I still have Andre with me, so that's cool. The guy that guards my bus, his name is Bull and he never smiles."
Daddy laughs. "We had a guard or two like that. As long as he's doing a good job."
"Yeah and as long as he doesn't get on the bus, I'm okay with that."
He chuckles.
"I can't wait to see everyone. It feels like it's been forever."
"They can't wait to see you."
Finally we pull up to the gate of the property my mama bought for her family a long time ago. It's beautiful, I always love coming here. Daddy punches in a code and the gate opens. He slowly pulls up the driveway and I see Uncle Bryan playing ball with Uncle Sam, Cody and my cousin Mitchell. They stop and wave to me as we pull up by the other cars.
When the car stops daddy and I get out and I stretch. I've been sitting a lot this morning and my legs are feeling it.
"There's our favorite pop star," Uncle Bryan says as he walks over to me and wraps me in his arms. "How are ya?"
"I'm good, Uncle Bry, how are you?"
He nods. "Good. Can't complain."
I say hi to Uncle Sam and Mitch. When I turn around to say hi to Cody he tackles me and sends us both to the ground.
"Oof."
I try to catch my breath as he laughs and stands up.
"What did you do that for?" daddy asks him.
Mitch leans down and holds his hand out for me to take.
"Thanks," I say, letting him pull me up. "'Cuz he's an idiot," I say brushing myself off and glaring at him.
He sticks his tongue out and runs back out onto the yard to find the ball.
"I'm glad to see he hasn't matured any."
"Would you hurry up, I'm freezing," mama says as she stands in the doorway to the house.
I smile and I know my face lights up when I hear her voice.
"I didn't know you were there," I laugh as I run up to her.
We hug and when I pull back I look down at her stomach.
"Wow, mama."
"Now tell her how beautiful she looks or she'll take that the wrong way," daddy says behind me.
I look up at her face and see that she's upset. "Mama's always beautiful...just like this baby's going to be," I say rubbing her stomach.
She smiles.
"Yes she will be. Just like all my children are."
"These are heavy," daddy says.
I glance behind me and see that he has my bags.
"Oh sorry," I laugh as we move inside.
I stand in the foyer and take in the warmth and the smell of apple pie. These sensations almost make me cry.
"You okay?" mama asks.
"Yeah, it's just good to be here."
She smiles, takes my hand and leads me to the great room where everyone else is gathered.
After saying hi to everyone I sit down on the couch next to Aunt Jamie Lynn so I can hold the baby.
"He's getting so big," I say, bouncing him up and down on my knee.
Ashleigh sits down next to me and lays her head on my shoulder.
"Mama was telling me about that mural you are working on," I tell her.
She nods.
"I can't wait to see it."
"I couldn't bring it with me, it's too big," she giggles.
I lean my head so I'm touching hers and I laugh. "Yeah I know silly. I'll just wait until I get home to see it, how's that?"
"Guess what?" she asks, lifting her head.
"What?" I reply as I wipe the drool from Phillip's mouth.
"Cody has an idea for the set in the next play he's in and he asked me to paint a couple of pictures to hang on the wall for it."
"Really?" I'm impressed. "That's great."
We spend the rest of the day talking, laughing and eating. My favorite things.
"Come on Ash, it's time for us to go to bed," mama says, standing in the doorway of the great room.
"Okay," she says, bounding up from the floor.
"She goes to bed so easily," Uncle Sam says shaking his head.
"Shhh, she doesn't realize that she's supposed to put up a fight," daddy says from across the room.
"You talking about me?" Ashleigh asks as she stands in front of him with her hands on her hips.
He laughs, grabs her hips and pulls her towards him to kiss her cheek.
"Yes, I was. Good night Daffodil. Love you."
She rubs her nose against his. "Love you too."
After taking about ten minutes to say good night to everyone else in the room, she and mama were on their way up. I glanced at my watch.
"Wow, mama's going to be early, isn't she?"
"She's getting to that stage where she gets tired easily," Aunt Jamie Lynn says.
"So are you still seeing that young fellow from your band?" Grandma asks.
"Yeah...but he's not in my band anymore."
"Oh that's right."
"I heard his band's song...I really liked it. Did he write that?" Aunt Jamie Lynn asks.
I smile and nod. "Yeah, he co-wrote it. It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Hmmm, I wonder who it's about," she teases.
I feel myself blushing. I think about it for a second. For some reason it never occurred to me that he wrote any of those words about me.
"I'll have to ask him the next time I see him," I kid.
"I think it's sweet and I haven't even heard the song," Grandma says.
"Everyone at my school's talking about them," Cody says.
"Really?" I ask, looking over at him.
"Yeah. They're the hottest thing right now. Maybe I should tell the girls that my sister is dating the keyboardist."
"Since when did you start caring about what girls think?" Aunt Jamie Lynn asks him.
He blushes. "I care...a little."
We all laugh.
Wow, a lot has changed since I've been gone. When did my little brother get girl crazy?
The next morning I roll over and open my eyes. Ashleigh's sitting up on the bed next to me talking on a cell phone. My cell phone.
"She's up now. You want to talk to her?" she says.
"What are you doing?" I ask in a groggy tone.
She holds the phone out. "It's Brad."
"Why are you talking to him?" I ask as I sit up and rub my face a little.
"Your phone rang so I ran to pick it up, so it didn't wake you. I saw that it was Brad and I wanted to say hi," she shrugs and smiles.
I just keep looking at her. How can I be mad at that face. I take the phone from her and put it to my ear.
"Hello," I try to say in a cheery tone.
"Morning sunshine," he chuckles.
"You can go take a bath or something," I say to Ashleigh.
Her face falls and she runs out of the room.
"That wasn't nice," Brad says.
"I know," I sigh. "I'm not awake yet."
"Do you want me to call you back when you're in a better mood?"
"Brad..." I start.
"No, I'll call you back in twenty minutes. Bye."
He hangs up.
I stare at the phone and blink. "What just happened?"
I throw myself back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. "I'm sorry," I yell.
"Sorry about what?" mama asks as she stands in the doorway.
I sit up a little. "For waking up in a bad mood."
She gives me a confused look.
"Just tell Ash I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that to her."
She puts her hands on her hips. "What did you say?"
I explain what had just happened.
"He hung up?" she asks.
I nod and look at the phone in my hands.
"Yeah. I guess he didn't like my tone or something. Mama, I'm tired."
"Well, you probably should have been able to sleep in a little more. Want me to take Ashleigh and let you get more sleep?"
I shake my head. "No, it's too late now, I'm awake."
She walks over and sits on the bed next to me.
"I didn't get a chance to talk to you yesterday without the whole family around." She brushes the hair from my face. "How are you doing?"
I nod. "I'm good, mama."
"You still having fun?"
I smile. "Yeah."
"Good," she says patting my leg. "As soon as it's not fun for you, let me know. I don't want you to feel like your daddy or I are pressuring you."
"I don't. You've never pressured me into doing anything."
She smiles. "We tried not to."
"Mama?" Ashleigh says from the doorway.
Mama turns around and holds out her arm. Ashleigh runs to her and snuggles into her side.
"I'm sorry sissy," I say. "You got me when I first woke up...I wasn't in a good mood," I say.
"That's okay," she says like nothing ever happened.
Mama kisses the top of her head.
"You guys hungry? Grandma is fixing a big breakfast downstairs."
"I am," Ashleigh says.
"I'll be down in a minute."
Mama smiles at me. "Okay. We'll see you down there," she says as she lets Ashleigh pull her out of the room and shuts the door behind her.
I pick up the phone and speed dial Brad.
"Hello?"
"I'm sorry."
"Tell that to Ashleigh."
"I did."
"I've woken you up before and you've never been like that, is something wrong?" he asks. I can hear the concern in his voice.
"No, I guess I was just more tired with traveling yesterday and staying up late with my family."
"Oh...okay. So, how are you?"
"I'm good now," I say laughing. "What about you?"
"We did our first magazine interview yesterday."
"Really? Which magazine?"
"Rolling Stone."
"No way, that's great!"
"Well it's not the cover or anything but it will be cool to be in the magazine. I think it helps that they were around for a little bit before I joined."
"This is a whole new group, they know that. You guys worked hard."
"Yeah...it's been fun."
"What's going to happen when you get busier than I am?"
"I don't know if that will happen," he chuckles. "You're a pretty busy pop star. They love you."
"They're going to love you guys too. Cody says you're the hottest thing at his school."
"Really?" he chuckles. "That's great. I'll tell the guys."
"I can't wait to hear more songs...when do I get to?"
"Soon...I promise. We're putting finishing touches on the album this week."
"Cool."
"So, how is your family?"
"Good. Oh, my mama's getting so big."
"Is she? Well, it had been a couple of weeks since you had seen her, right?"
"Yeah...a few."
"Does the media know about this yet?"
"I don't know. I haven't heard anything about it, but she really hasn't been anywhere for them to see. I mean she was at my concert opening night but she probably wore something baggy. I don't think they're hiding it anymore, just not announcing it, ya know?"
"Yeah. It's their right. Probably better this way."
"Yeah," I agree. "Hey, I'll call you later...I can smell pancakes and my stomach is growling."
He laughs. "Okay. I'll talk to you later then."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."