ENJOY Guys!
The next week after I asked Brooke to come with me on tour it hasn't really been the same. I mean we only be each other deeply that was obvious, but it's still a little weird around the house. I wasn't sure if I was being selfish or not about my book your, but I just thought she would have been happy and said yes.
On the other hand I understand where she was coming from. I get it, this is the twins home and maybe having them grownup on the road wasn't the best idea. Their family are here and we didn't want a nanny helping us, but is it so wrong for me to want my family with me when I go on tour for a few months?
"Luke? Lucas?" I hear a voice call out to me.
"In my office Ma" I call back putting my papers away on my desk.
"Hi darling, is everything okay. You and Brooke seem different lately. Have you guys had an argument?" she say down on the couch one leg over the other.
"It wasn't an argument, more like a disagreement" I answer shutting my laptop "she was right I should have talked to her about the tour before agreeing with anything, I just... I thought she'd be happy for me"
"I'm sure she is Luke, I can't imagine Brooke not being happy for you"
"Well she did sound happy at first until I told her she and the girls are coming with me"
"You told her or asked her?"
"Bob said it wouldn't be problem and I thought Brooke would be up for it. Going on tour seeing all the different places on the way" I reply "I didn't expect the reaction I got"
"Lucas, sweetie you never asked Brooke before agreeing to her and the girls coming along with you. The girls and Brooke have a life in Tree Hill. She moved here for you and you know that. Her Mom just moved here to be close to you guys and the girls. You can't just expect her to up and leave with you" I know Ma was right because Brooke had said all this to me already, but I just didn't want to leave my family for 6 months. I'll miss so much.
Yeah I know how that sounds... It makes me sound selfish.
"Yeah I guess you and she are correct" I felt defeated, but I can't just move Brooke and the girls around to suit me; it wasn't fair.
Ma stood to her feet and flattered down her dress "I'm going to go. Talk to Brooke and I'll call you later. Love you Luke" she kissed my cheek.
"Love you too Ma and thank you" she waved it off with a flash of a smile and headed out.
I needed to go talk to my wife.
I leaned up against the nursery door with my arms crossed as I watched Brooke rocking Marleigh in her arms. Evaleigh was asleep in her cot looking peaceful as ever. I really did hit the jackpot with my family. I raised my fist and knocked on the door. Brooke looked up and a hint of a smile formed on her lips.
"You look amazing butterfly"
Brooke looked down at her clothes and then back at me "I haven't even showered yet" I smile and walk further into the room.
"And yet your still beautiful" I kiss her cheek "so you were right" I say sitting on a stool in front of her "I should never have said yes to the tour without speaking about it with you first and I'm sorry. I was being selfish and it wasn't fair that I took it out in you"
"Lucas..." Brooke stands up and places Marleigh in her cot and then faces me "I'm happy for you really I am. Your books are amazing and I'm so proud of you and I love you so much I really do. You and the girls mean the world to me, but I'm sorry I can't just leave and come in your with you. The girls need stability"
I nod "I know and I get it" I reply standing to my feet "I love you too and you guys also mean everything to me and I'm gutted I'm going to miss so much, but I need to do this"
"And I'm behind you one hundred percent Luke. I just can't drop everything and come along with you. I'm sorry"
"Don't be sorry Butterfly" I lean in and place a kiss to her lips "I love you"
"I love you too" she replies "and we'll miss you, but we can FaceTime all the time and I'll send you pictures and videos the time too"
I gave her a smile and kiss her cheek "you really are the best Brooke"
Brooke had gone out with the girls for a the afternoon and I volunteered to watch the girls and spend some time with them since I'm going on tour for a while. Both girls were on each of their blankets looking up at the ceiling gurgling happily to each other putting their hands in their mouths.
"Aren't you two just adorably cute right now?" I cooed at them both "I'm one lucky daddy"
"Yo Luke!" I hear a call tunnel through the house.
"Living room!" I call back seeing Nathan, Jake and Owen walk around the corner with the little ones.
"Uncle Luke" Demi ran over to me and jumped into my arms "Daddy said your leaving"
"That is correct" her face fell "but I'm coming back" she raised her head and smiled.
"You are?"
"Of course I am" I kissed her nose "Brooke and the girls need me"
Demi looked down at the twins "they are pretty small Uncle Luke. They need you for sure" I laughed and kissed her cheek.
"Uncle Lucas do I get hugs and kisses too" Ava questions with her hand in the pockets of her dress.
"Of course you too munchkin, come over here" Ava ran over and I engulfed her in my arms "the four of you are very special little girls to me and I'll always come back. I promise"
"Right girls why don't you go and watch a movie" Nathan says. Both girls smiled and jumped off my lap.
"Beauty and the beast!" they both yelled running out of the room to the den.
"Brooke and the girls aren't going with you?" Owen asked when the girls left the room.
I shake my head "nah they are not, but that's okay. I couldn't really expect Brooke to want to follow me on my book tour with the girls for six months"
"I guess, but isn't six months a lot Luke?" Jake comments
"Yeah, but it's a great book and I'm doing all this for my family. They need to know I'll support them at any cost and I know Brooke supports me with my books, she always has"
"That's fair and don't worry Luke, we'll all look after Brooke and girls whole you're gone"
"Thanks guys that means a lot" and it did. To know they still have my back after all these years was amazing. That's friendship right there "now we are stopping with the sappy crap and let's play some basketball" I stand up and grab Marleigh and Nathan gets Evaleigh and we headed out to the garden for a game getting Demi and Ava on the way.
Later that day I drove down to Charlotte where the office is for my new publisher is and told him that it was a go for the tour, but just me alone. He was shocked until I explained why and then he understood.
"okay well Luke here is the schedule for the tour. We end up back here in two months time at the end of the tour" I look down at it.
"Wait two months? I thought it was six?"
"Yeah it was until we discussed it and didn't want to keep you or your family on the road very long. This way now you won't be away from them for very long" Clay says "we are a good publishers Lucas and I guarantee you that we will get everything we need done in two months"
"And your sure?"
Clay nods with a smile on his face "I know how it feels to leave new borns and their mother alone to go on tour forever" I see a picture of a brunette women with a toddler in her arms with Clay standing beside her on his desk "Quinn wanted to come with me, but we had just had Skilar and just like Brooke she didn't want to raise Ski on the road, so I get it and I'm going to do anything in my power not to hold you up on this tour okay"
"That would be really great, thanks Clay" I shake his hand more hopeful of getting back to my family in a short amount of time.
"Your starts in four weeks. I'll see you here then Lucas" I nod and leave his office with everything he handed to me.
REVIEW PLEASE!
Love to you all. Roch xoxo
