Fame and Love
"Gabi, you're on in five!" The stage manager yelled.
I peeled my eyes off of the guitar I was holding. I took a deep breath. I could do this. This is no different than any other time. I followed the stage manager over to the center of the stage. The lights were dark but the crowd was cheering. The familiar music was starting and I strummed along. We always started off with a crowd favorite.
My set flew by and we usually ended with bang but I wanted to change it up. They started the music to the usual ending. I didn't play along with them. "Wait, wait a minute." I said, I turned around to face Tim, Ray, and Kevin who were standing behind me. They stopped immediately and looked at me, confused. "Coming home." I told them.
They nodded and stated playing the song I told them to. I strummed along quietly.
"It's a four letter word,
A place to go heal your hurt,
It's an Alter, it's a shelter,
One place you're always welcome.
A pink flamingo double wide,
One bedroom in a high rise
A mansion on a hill
Where the memories always will keep you company
Whenever you're alone, after all of my running
I'm finally coming home"
That's exactly where I needed to be.
Home.
Two Years Earlier.
We just got finished with our tour in Nebraska. We were finally home in Nashville. Harmony Belle was 10 months old and she was tired of being on a tour bus. I found myself, sleeping all through the show just to be up all day with Harmony. Troy helped out when he was awake and I couldn't blame him. It was his job to work all night and sleep all day. I hadn't seen Molly since we got home. Troy was finishing up promoting his album so he didn't get to come home with us. He would be back soon though.
Harms and I were on a set schedule now. We ran like a well oiled machine. Monday's we started a mommy and me music class, Tuesdays we went to the park, Wednesdays we stayed in. On Thursdays, I took her to the library and read her all the books with Elmo on it and on Fridays we had play dates with other kids from mommy and me. Harmony and I always had so much fun, but she missed her daddy and so did I.
It was Tuesday and we just got home from the park. I took her in the mornings before it got too hot. I fed her some lunch and changed her and she was already down for her nap. I had a sudden burst of energy so I decided to clean up the house a bit. My parents or Troy's said they'd come down every couple of months to help out and see the baby. She was getting so big so fast.
My phone rang and I jumped over the couch to answer it quickly. "Hello?" I answered.
"Hey beautiful." A smile spread on my face. "How are my girls?"
"We're good, we miss you though When are you coming home?"
"Soon baby, soon." He promised. "Where's my girl now?"
I collapsed on the couch. "Napping. The park wore her out. I was just cleaning up the house a little bit. I can't believe she's almost eleven months old." I sighed.
"I know, we still need to plan her birthday." He said. "And her first year pictures. It will be all good after I get home though. I shouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon."
"God, I hope not." I said, rubbing my forehead.
"Did Molly tell you she's going on tour again?" Troy said.
"No, I haven't talked to her in a while. She's been pretty busy because her album just dropped." I explained. "Who's she going on tour with?"
"Luke" He said.
"No way! That's great for her! I have to call her soon." I smiled to myself. "Do you know when you are coming home?"
Troy chuckled. "Yes."
"Really?" I asked, excitedly. "When?"
"This week."
"This week, this week?" I sat up, quickly.
He laughed again. "Yes Gabi, THIS week."
"I'm so glad you're coming home soon." I let out a breath of relief. "I miss you so much."
"I miss you too babe." He breathed out.
I heard Harmony babbling from upstairs. I sighed. "Baby, Harmy is awake so I have to go. I love you baby, and I'll see you soon."
"I'll see you soon baby girl. Give Harms a kiss for me." He said. "I love you both, bye beautiful."
"Bye babe." I hung up the phone and walked up the stairs. I peaked my head into Harmony's room. She smiled brightly when she saw me. "There's my girl."
"Mama!" She squealed happily and I picked her up, kissing her cheek.
"Did you have a nice nap?" I asked, like she would actually answer. She cuddled against me. "Do you want to help mommy write?" I asked her.
She babbled in response. "Mama."
"I take that as a yes." I said laughing. I walked down stairs. We had changed the front living room to a play room for Harmony. I set her down and she crawled to her toys.
I sat down on the rocking chair and picked up my guitar. It was resting on top of my song book. "Wawa" Harmony said, trying to crawl with an empty sippy-cup in her hand.
"You thirsty baby?" I asked her. I picked her and the cup up. I got her a fresh cup of water and set her back down with it. "Okay, where were we?" I asked myself. I flipped through the pages of my song book. "Do you want to sing one of Aunt Mol's songs?" I asked her.
I picked up the guitar.
"Maybe he's in Texas, maybe this town
Maybe Oklahoma plowing up the ground-"
Harmony cut me off with her babbling. When I stopped she put her cup back in her mouth, taking a drink. I sighed. "Fine, not that song." I flipped to the last page. "How about the song we were working on last time?" I asked her, she was playing with some soft blocks. She put one in her mouth.
I hummed though the first couple of verses that were already finished a couple of times. I looked down at the ring on my finger, suddenly feeling inspiration. I wrote the last couple of verses to the song and did a quick editing. All the lyrics had to have the right rhythm to them. I picked up my guitar again, letting my book on the little music stand I had in handy. I started strumming the music I had in my head, writing it down next to the lyrics.
When I played Harmony was quiet, just looking up at me. When she wasn't a fan of the song, she would be noisy and 'talk' the whole time. But when she did like it she would do what she was doing now, sit quietly and watch. I figured this out when we were on the road. When she was up to see Molly or Troy perform there were always a couple songs that she would babble through and some she would be silent.
I cleared my throat and Harmony went back to playing with her toys. I started strumming before I sang quietly, reading off the book in front of me.
"When the stars line up,
And you catch a good break
People think you're lucky
But you know it's Grace.
It can happen so fast,
Or a little bit late.
Timing is everything.
You know I've had close calls
When it could have been me.
I was young when I learned just how fragile life could be.
I lost friends of mine.
Guess it wasn't my time.
Timing is Everything."
I looked up to see Harmony watching me quietly. She had a calm look on her face, she was so intrigued when she watched me play. I love that about her. Her blue eyes met mine as I started playing again. I gave her a soft smile and looked down at my book.
"And I could have been a child that got took home
And I would have been one more unfinished song
And when it seems a rhyme is hard to find
That's when one comes along just in time
Well I remember that day,
When our eyes first met
You ran into the building to get out of the rain
Cause you were soaking wet.
As I held the door,
You wanted to know my name.
Timing is everything.
And I could have been another minute late
You never would have crossed my path that day
When it seems true love is hard to find
That's when love comes along just in time
Well you can call it fate or destiny
Sometimes it really seems like it's a mystery
Cause you can be hurt by love
Or healed by the same
Timing is everything.
It can happen so fast
Or a little bit late
Timing is everything."
I changed the chord before the music faded out. I looked up to see Harmony wasn't sitting where she was before. I panicked a little bit. I scanned the room before I saw a pair of feet standing in the hall. I looked up to see Troy, holding Harmony. His eyes caught mine and he smiled at me.
"Troy!" I set my guitar down and rushed over to him. I wrapped my arms around him. I kissed his lips, he tasted like whiskey. I frowned. "You've been drinking?"
"I only had a little glass on the plane over here." Troy turned his attention to Harmony. "Look at you! You got so big!" He tickled her tummy as he kissed her cheek.
I smiled at them. "She missed you a lot."
"I missed her too, I missed both of you." He said, wrapping his free arm around me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and Harmony leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm so happy to be home." He said, kissing the top of my head.
"We're happy your home too." I pulled away and Troy let harmony down. She stood up for a minute before falling on her butt. She crawled back over to her toys.
He pulled me against him, capturing my lips in a passionate and overdue kiss. "That song was amazing babe." He said as he pulled away slowly. "Seriously, me and Harms were mesmerized by you. I didn't know you were writing again."
I shrugged. "It was just a little something I've been working on." I explained. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back today? I would have gotten everything all cleaned up."
Troy laughed. "Gabi, you're taking care of our baby. I don't expect everything to be perfect all the time." He kissed my forehead. "I'm just so done, being on the road. I'm excited for some down time with my girls."
I grinned. "Watch this?" I sat down in front of Harmony. I helped her up and she was holding my fingers. "Come on Harmy, walk to mama." She took a step and she let go of my fingers, taking another two before she fell on top of me. "Yay! You did it! Such a big girl." I tickled her sides and she giggled. I set her back down after a kiss and she crawled over to Troy who had just sat down next to me.
"You're daddy's big girl, aren't you?" He asked her, she smiled up at him. "Look at those teeth!" He stuck his finger in her mouth and looked at her teeth. "When did she get so many?"
"They're new, she's growing them so fast. Next thing we know she's going to be walking with a full set of teeth." I said, laying back. "She's growing up fast. This year has literally flew by."
"Don't I know it." He said, Harmony playing in his lap. "I don't know what I would have done if you and Harms wouldn't have went on tour with us."
"Me either, two weeks was killing me, I don't know what I would have done for four months." I said, sighing. "You hungry?" I asked him. "I'm thinking about starting dinner soon."
"Starving." He said. I sat up and moved closer to him. "Can you make tacos?" He grinned sheepishly.
I laughed. "Just for you." I cupped his face and kissed his lips firmly. "I'm so glad you're home."
"Me too baby." He swatted my ass as I got up. I smacked the back of his head and he chuckled.
I made tacos for dinner as Troy played with Harmony. I set up the table nicely for us. I cleared out all the dishes from the sink, putting them in the dishwasher. After I cleaned off Harmony's high chair I walked into the play room and saw them playing on the floor.
"Dinner's ready." I said, leaning against the wall.
"Mama!" Harmony said, crawling over to me. I picked her up. Troy stood up. "Dada." She reached over for him. I laughed and handed her over.
We walked to the kitchen and I gave Harmony little pieces of solid food she could start eating. It kept her occupied for a little bit while Troy and I ate. "You have no idea how much I missed these?" He practically moaned.
I giggled at him. "Taco bell isn't good enough for you?"
He shook his head. "Taco Bell doesn't do you justice."
I laughed. "I'm glad." I got up when I saw Harmony getting restless. I gave her some water and I opened a jar of baby food. "She eats like her daddy." I said, sitting back down.
"How is that?" He asked, smirking.
"All the time." I laughed, taking the cup away from her. I started feeding her spoonfuls.
"She was using the toy box to help her stand." Troy noticed.
"I see that too, I think she's going to be walking soon. I started walking the day I hit eleven months." I said, picking up another spoonful. "Apparently you went straight to running, or that's what your mom tells me."
Troy laughed. "I don't doubt it, I was a rambunctious kid."
"Thank god Harmony is more like me than she is like you." I looked over at Harmony. "Huh, Harmy?"
"MMM!" She said, raising her arms up. Troy and I laughed, smiling at our daughter.
Troy has been home for a couple of months and everything has been going great. We celebrated baby girl's first birthday surrounded by friends and family. Troy has been a great father to her, he has been really helping me out a lot. I've been thinking about starting up school again but I haven't really talked it through with Troy.
He went out with a couple of his friends from the label. He did this every Friday, I didn't really mind. I just put Harmony to bed, she was a little cranky today, I think she was getting a little bit sick. Her temperature seemed fine though. I kissed her forehead and walked out of her room. I walked down the stairs and cleaned up the kitchen a little bit.
I made my way into bed. I cuddled up to my pillow, watching some show on MTV. At night was the only time I'd watch shows for me. When Harmony was awake the TV was stuck on Sprout, not Nick, not Disney, Sprout. I knew every damn song to every damn show on that channel. I was getting to know what time each show comes on too. Oh, the perks of being a stay at home mom.
I turned the volume down and drifted to sleep. A thud woke me up. I looked at the time. It was three in the morning. Troy wasn't in bed with me. I got up quietly, walking over to Harmony's room, making sure she was okay. I heard laughter then shushing that belonged to Troy. I walked to the top of the stairs.
"Dude, shut the fuck up, my baby is sleeping." Troy slurred.
Somebody burst out laughing. "You just fell on your ass!" Another guy whispered. I walked down the stairs and turned on the light. "Uh-oh" The voice belonged to Jared, he was a new hire at the label. Chris was sleeping on the couch and Troy was on the floor next to the couch.
"What the hell is going on?" I hissed quietly.
"Sorry baby, Chris passed out in the taxi and I can't find my car!" He exasperated. "I'm so, so tired."
I sighed. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked of Jared.
"I'm just going wherever he's going." He said, pointing to Troy.
"Dear God." I rubbed my forehead. "Jared, lay on the couch. Troy get up. Harmony is waking up at six, so she's going to be pretty loud." I warned them. I walked over to Troy. "Get up."
"Help me." He whined. I rolled my eyes and helped him up. I helped him upstairs, he stunk like whiskey. I helped him into bed, pulling off his shoes and pants. I was so going to make him pay. I covered him with blankets and I crawled into bed with him. He was snoring within minutes.
It felt like just when I closed my eyes Harmony was calling me. Troy was still snoring from next to me. I covered my mouth and yawned, getting up. I walked over to Harmy's room. "Hi baby."
"Mama." She reached out for me. I picked her up. "Dada"
"Yes, we are going to wake daddy up." I smiled at her and brought her into our room. I set her on the bed and she crawled over to him. "Poke-poke daddy Harmony." She poked his cheek gently. Troy didn't budge. "Beat up daddy." She smacked his face. Troy jumped, scaring Harmony. She fell on her butt and giggled.
Troy turned over looking at Harmony. "Hey baby." He said, with his eyes still closed.
"Dada!" Harmony said as she grabbed his cheek.
"Say Dada, wake up." I instructed, sitting on the bed.
"Dada! Uh!" Harmony Screeched.
Troy groaned, covering his head with a pillow. I laughed, "Come on Harmy, let's eat some breakfast." I picked her up and took her down stairs, closing the gate behind me. I set Harmony down in the kitchen as I cut her up some fruit to eat. She walked around, looking through cabinets. When I didn't hear her clinking around anymore I looked up. "Shit." I dropped the knife and grabbed paper towels to wipe off my hands.
I checked the play room and she wasn't there. I checked the living room and she was smacking Jarrod's cheek. "What the fuck?" He slurred.
"Sorry Jared. She's one, what are you gonna do?" I said sarcastically. I picked up Harmony and strapped her into her High chair. She cried for a minute before I gave her some fruit and a fork. She calmed down and started eating. I started the coffee pot and made myself a bowl of cereal. I sat down next to Harmony and started eating.
Harmony looked over at me. "Mmm!" She reached over for my spoon. I picked it up and gave her a small bite.
"Can mommy have some?" I said, opening my mouth. She picked up a piece of banana and put it in my mouth. "Mmm, Thank you. Can you say thank you?"
"No." She said and continued eating. I laughed. She reached over for me again. "Ma."
"More?"
"Yeah!" I smiled and fed her some more. She held out a banana to me and I let her feed it to me.
"You're such a good sharer" I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You're so smart." I put my bowl in the sink and poured myself a cup of coffee. I drank my coffee and watched Harmony throw her breakfast on the floor. I sighed. "You are your fathers child." I set my cup down and picked up the pieces off the floor.
I threw them and the plate away. I picked up Harmony to give her a bath, abandoning my coffee on the table. I took her up stairs to the bathroom across the hall from her. I started the bath. I watched as she reached in the tub and touched the water. She loved bath time.
I put her in the tub and grabbed a towel and put it on my knee. I started washing her while she played in the water. She played with the squirting toy. She squirted me and started laughing. "Harmy!" I took it from her and squirted her back. She giggled and played with the water.
I sat back. "Dada!" She squealed. I looked behind me and Troy was standing behind me.
"Morning sunshine." I said, smirking at him.
"Hey" He grinned tiredly.
"You can go back to sleep." I said.
"I know." He yawned. "But I can't so I'm up."
"Well there is coffee down stairs." I said, turning back to Harmony.
"Mmmkay." He hummed, walking away.
After her bath I wrapped her in a towel and got her dressed for the day. I set her in her play room and walked back into the kitchen for my cold cup of coffee. I finished it. Troy walked in with a beer in his hand. "Whoa, starting early?"
He shrugged. "What better way to get over a hangover than to keep drinking?" He took a sip and looked for food.
I sighed to myself. "Oh dear god." I walked away from him and back to Harmony to see what she was doing.
It's back! Are y'all as excited as i am? Let me know what you think. Don't forget to review!
Songs:
Coming home- Gwyneth Paltrow (From the movie Country Strong)
Boys of the South- Pistol Annies (It was only two lines but it's coming back.)
Timing is Everything- Country Strong version.