"Pop
Life"
Chapter 89
As I look around the room at my family, I smile at the warmthness I feel. Mama passes me the plate of turkey and I glance over at Cody who is helping Ashleigh with the potatoes.
I love everyone in this room and I feel safe. I honestly can't say I've felt that way in awhile.
"You going to pass that or stare at the cranberries?" daddy asks.
I snap out of my daze and laugh. "Oh here," I say handing him the plate.
Once everyone has served themselves we bow our heads and holds hands to say a prayer.
"Dear Lord, we want to thank you for this feast at our table. May our family and friends be as blessed as they are today. Thank you for bringing our family together on this wonderful day and help them get safely back to their destinations. Guide our little pop star on a safe pathway through the country..."
I glance up and grandpa when he says this and I smile.
"...Amen."
"Amen," we all say.
Then the eating begins. My mind wanders to Brad, wondering what he's doing right now. I know he's in St. Louis with his mom and I think George and his family were going to visit them too, so that should make a nice family gathering.
"I will mom. I'll tell everyone. Tell dad Happy Thanksgiving and that I love him. I love you too...bye."
Daddy hangs up the phone as I sit back on the couch next to him.
"Grandma?" I ask.
He stares at the phone for a second and then nods. "Yes, she sends her love."
I smile. I know he misses spending holidays with her but my parent's have always been good about splitting holidays between their families. Sometimes we just have one big gathering with both sides of the family at our house in Orlando. Those are always fun. But not this Thanksgiving.
"I miss her," I say.
He wraps his arm around me and squeezes my shoulder.
"Me too. So, how is Brad's Turkey Day going?" he asks, changing the subject.
"I haven't talked to him yet. I told him when he calls to make sure it's during nap time," I giggle.
"Nap time?" he gives me a puzzled look.
"Yeah...look," I say, nodding my head toward Uncle Bryan and Grandpa. "You'll be next and I expect Uncle Sam to follow suit pretty soon. Maybe not this year but probably next."
He laughs and kisses my cheek. "You're clever. But, I'm not going to fall asleep."
"Yes you will," mama says as she walks into the room, holding Ashleigh's hand.
"Whatever," daddy sighs as he stretches his legs out in front of him and concentrates on the football game on the TV.
Mama leans down and whispers in my ear, "I give him ten minutes."
I giggle as daddy says, "I heard that."
Mama gives his shoulder a squeeze before she walks around the couch and sits on the other side of him. He wraps his other arm around her and she relaxes into his side and rests her head against his shoulder. She smiles and winks at me as I watch them.
My cell phone rings so I stand up and answer it as I walk to my bedroom.
"Happy Thanksgiving," I say, answering the phone.
"Same to you," Brad's cheerful voice booms. "So, how was your day?"
"It was great. Just as I always remember. How about yours?"
"Actually it was good. I ended up seeing some old friends from school this morning."
"That sounds like fun."
"Yeah. A couple of them I hadn't seen since high school so..."
"Had any of them heard your song yet?"
"Yep...the local radio station is playing it and they keep mentioning me apparently. Our manager wants me to call them soon."
"Maybe you should just stop by there when you're visiting me on tour next week."
He laughs. "Kill two birds with one stone. I like the way you think."
It got quiet as I sat down on the bed.
"How many more days?" I ask as I twirl my hair around my finger.
"Six."
"Six...that's not too bad."
"No, not too bad. Hey they emailed me some promos that we're doing. I think we're going to MTV in the next couple of weeks."
"See, you guys are going to get so much exposure. You need to start getting your disguises ready," I tease him.
"A hat and sunglasses? Got 'em."
We both laugh.
"You guys are really going to make it big. I know talent when I here it."
"Would you stop, you're making me blush in front of my mother."
"I think it's cute," I could hear his mother say in the background, which makes me laugh.
"Awww, that's sweet. See, your mom is cool with it."
"Well thanks...your support means a lot to me."
"Well I've always had yours."
"Yes...you have."
After we talk a little bit more I hang up and walk back into the great room where everyone is.
I cover my mouth with my hand when I see both of my parents asleep on the couch. Ashleigh hears me come into the room and she glances behind her to see what I'm trying not to laugh about.
"They're tired," she whispers.
"I see that," I whisper back.
"You girls want dessert?" Grandma asks us from the kitchen door.
"I do," Ashleigh says as she jumps up and runs to the kitchen.
I laugh and follow her.
"We gonna go on that roller coaster?" Ashleigh asks me.
It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we're in our hotel suite in Las Vegas where I have a show tonight.
"I guess we can. I'll have to check with Andre, okay?"
She nods.
There's a knock on the door and Andre opens it a little bit.
"There's someone here to see you," he says.
"Someone I know?"
He nods.
I shrug. "Okay, go ahead and let them in."
I turn around and fiddle with the straps on my shirt and smile at Ashleigh. She looks past me and smiles.
"Hi Marcus," she says.
My eyes get big and I slowly turn around.
"Hey...how's my favorite munchkin?" he asks with his hands on his hips.
"I'm good."
He looks up at me. "How are you...Ana?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
He nods. "I'm good. Can't complain."
"That's good. So, what are you doing here?"
I cut to the point.
"Here here or Vegas here?" he smirks.
"Either."
Ashleigh stands up and holds my hand. This catches Marcus's eye and he smiles and then looks back up at me.
"I'm in Vegas to do a radio promo and I'm here to see you."
"Radio? Isn't that a little beneath your league now?"
"Not this promo. Anyway, I have tickets to catch your show tonight. I've heard it's hot."
Whoever got him tickets will be fired.
"Well, I hope you enjoy it."
Ashleigh tugs on my arm and I look down at her. She motions with her finger for me to bend down to her, so I do. She whispers something in my ear.
"Okay," I whisper back. "Marcus, I'd love to chat but we were on our way out."
"Oh okay. Well, I guess I'll see you tonight. I can't wait," he says winking at me. "Bye little bit," he says to Ashleigh. He turns around and starts to leave before stopping and looking back at me. "You still seeing that guitar player?"
I take a deep breath and count to five before I answer. "Keyboardist? Yes...I am."
He nods. "Hmmm, such a shame."
And he leaves.
"You're hurting my hand," Ashleigh says, trying to pry my hand away from hers.
"What? Oh, sorry," I say when I realize I'm squeezing her hand tightly. "Andre," I yell.
He opens the door and stands in the doorway.
"Ashleigh would like to go to the roller coaster? Do we have time?"
He looks at his watch. "Yes, we should. Let me tell Vern so he can go check things out."
I nod. "Okay. I'm going to go freshen up real quick," I say to Ashleigh before heading into the bedroom.
"Okay," she says as she sits back down on the couch.
When I reach the bedroom I pick up my cell and dial daddy's cell number.
"Hello?"
"Hey daddy. I just wanted to let you know that Ash and I are going to the roller coaster."
"Which one?"
"I don't know. Whichever one Andre takes us to," I laugh.
"Okay. I don't know when we'll get back to the hotel so if you need to, just go ahead and go to the venue...take Ash with you."
"I will. You guys having fun?" I ask.
"Your mother is buying up a storm. Thank God all the baby stuff she's buying is going to the house in LA."
I laugh. "Okay, I'll talk to you later."
"Bye baby. I love you."
"Love you too."
"That ride was so much fun...I wish we could go on it again," Ashleigh says. She's sitting in my makeup chair in the dressing room of the venue.
"Yeah, it was fun."
I'm leaning over, towel drying my hair.
"When's mama and daddy coming?"
"I'm not sure. Mama's shopping for the baby so who knows how long that will take," I laugh.
"Ohhh she is? I wanted to shop with her for the baby," she says, almost in a pout.
"I'm sure you'll get to help her when she shops in Orlando."
"Oh, that's true. I can't wait."
"I'll be right back," I say.
I walk into the adjoining part of the dressing room where some of my outfits for the night are. I'm trying to find some normal clothes to go to my sound check in. I hear the door in the other room open and Ashleigh say, "Ohhh pretty flowers."
I smile. I love getting flowers. I take a few more minutes and finally find my jeans and a T-shirt. I pull the jeans on and as I'm pulling the T-shirt on, I walk into the other room. I smile when I see the flowers on the table.
"Those are pretty, I wonder who they're from?"
I look around for Ashleigh but don't see her.
"Ash?"