CHAPTER TWO


"This is better than signing a lease on a new car," Cat said with a big smile on her face.

"You deserve it, you've worked hard," Andre said. "Congrats, Lil Red."

"This is exciting," Tori said. "A tour contract, a new album. You're going places."

"So are you. You guys are such a big part of this," Cat said. "I can't thank you guys enough for being on my team and making this whole experiance as much fun and as rewarding as it's been."

"This is all your doing. We wouldn't even be in the business if it wasn't for you."

"You just have to sign right here and it's in full effect," Trina said, handing Cat a pen.

Cat signed the paper and put the pen down with a small squeal. "Tour is happening. Any word on when it starts?"

"Not yet. Preparations have to be made. As soon as I know, I'll let you know."

"I couldn't ask for a better manager," Cat said, hugging Trina.

"I get what I want, which means you get what you want."

"Kinda makes me sound like a priss."

"No. That's me. You're just lucky. I'll get this back to the office and I'll let you know about progress."

"Thank you."

Cat sat on the couch of the studio, calling Robbie.

"Robbie Shapiro," Robbie answered.

"Cat Shapiro. Guess what I did."

"You picked up my suit from the drycleaners, he asked hopefully?"

"I did not, she replied apologetically. I'll pick it up when I leave here, I'm leaving in a little bit."

"I appreciate it. What did you do?"

"I just signed a contract for a world tour," she said with a small squeal.

"That's fun. When's it start?"

"Don't know yet. They don't have it prepared yet this time, just wanted me to sign it beforehand because it takes a while to process."

"Do you know where it's going to be?"

"Just the states for now. Depending on the schedule, we'll need to talk about Bindi's school schedule."

"We'll do that when the time comes. I'm on stage in 3 minutes, so I gotta go. Congratulations, I love you."

"I love you. Break a leg. Break Rex's leg."

"Can't anger the puppet. See you at home."

"Kay kay," Cat said before hanging up. "Alright, it's almost 3:00. I have a kiddo to pick up. I have 3 kiddos to pick up, actually."

"You go ahead," Andre said. "I'm gonna put some of these tracks together."

"I'll get some stuff written, too," Tori said. "I'll call you later."

"Okay. Send me a sample or something, I'm already bored," Cat said, grabbing her purse.

"Will do. See you later."


"Absolutely not!" Cat snapped between clenched teeth as Bindi climbed on the steps to the stage Robbie was on.

Bindi got down with a huff, following her mother and cousins backstage. "I just wanted to watch."

"You don't get on stage when someone is performing," Cat said, walking to Robbie's dressing room. "Get in here and sit somewhere. Charlotte, the bathroom is that door right there, go potty right now so you don't have an accident. I don't have clothes for you right now."

"Kay," the 5-year-old said, running to the bathroom.

Cat sat on the couch and laid the baby she was carrying down, opening the diaper bag she sat on the coffee table. "How bout you, miss Kelsey? You want your butt changed?"

"Yes," Bindi said. "She needs it, she smells."

Cat chuckled and quickly got the baby's diaper changed, tossing the dirty diaper in the trashcan. "Does that feel better?" She asked, picking Kelsey back up and kissing her cheek.

"How come Charlie and Kelsey are staying with us?"

"Because Uncle Beck and Aunt Jade will be out of town for their anniversary and I offered to keep them."

"Why?"

"I'm their godmother. It's my job."

"What's a godmother?"

"It means if anything happens to Uncle Beck or Aunt Jade, Charlie and Kelsey will be put in my custody and I'll take care of them. Just like if anything happens to me or Daddy, you'll go to Aunt April."

"How come not Aunt Jade?"

"Because Aunt April is your godmother. And she's your next of kin, so you'd go to her no matter what."

"If I'm with Aunt April and something happens to her, then who do I go to?"

"That depends on if she makes someone a legal godparent. If she does, you'll go to them, and if not, you'll either go to my parents or Daddy's parents."

"Why would she make my godmother?"

"Probably Aunt Trina."

"How come her and not Aunt Jade?"

"Because Trina's her best friend. Usually, the godparents are the best friends or people the parents trust the most."

"I'd wanna go to Aunt Jade. Aunt Trina's a little weird."

"More than a little."

"Charlie's not sleeping in my room is she?"

"No. She'll sleep in the guest room."

"Well, I'm locking my door then. She always ends up in my bed somehow and she still has accidents."

"That's why she's not sleeping in your room. Don't worry about it."

The door to the dressing room opened and Robbie walked in with a man in a suit.

"Oh. I thought I saw someone try to sneak on stage," Robbie said, ruffling Bindi's hair.

"I was not. I was just gonna sit on the steps," Bindi said.

"That's her story and she's sticking to it," Cat said, standing up and placing Kelsey on her hip as she shook the other man's hand. "I'm Cat Shapiro."

"You must be the beautiful wife he never stops talking about," the man said with a smile. "I'm Alexis Brody, owner of the club."

"Isn't Alexis a girl's name?" Bindi asked.

"Bindi!" Cat snapped. "I'm sorry, Mr. Brody, sometimes her brain doesn't filter what should come out of her mouth."

Alexis chuckled. "I often asked myself the same question growing up."

"Mr. Brody has some news," Robbie said. "Hopefully good."

"If it's not good news, break it to him easy," Cat said. "He's a crier," she joked.

"No tears will be shed tonight unless he's a happy crier," Alexis said. "Now, you've been performing here for 5 years and people love you. How would you like to be in a permanent spot on the line up from now on instead of having to book your spot?"

"What - really?" Robbie asked.

"Really. Everyone likes you, they like the puppet."

"Rex scares me," Bindi said.

"Shh," Cat shushed her. "Does that mean he has a spot guaranteed every night?"

"It does. Now, it does mean you'll be working weekends. Friday and Saturday will be a midnight spot, Sunday through Thursday will be a 9:00 spot. You get to choose your days off, too."

"Midnight's the best time, babe," Cat said. "That's basically headliner."

"It's also when we have the most business. So, what do you say?"

"If I need a weekend off, would I be able to do that?" Robbie asked.

"Absolutely. You also get holidays off guaranteed."

"That's tempting."

"What do you say?"

"What do you think?" Robbie asked, looking at Cat. "Are you okay with that?"

"I'm great with it," Cat said. "This is your choice. You do what you want. This could be the best promotion of your career. It'll really get you out there."

"The midnight spot will still give us time to do things during the day. Date nights, school performances, family get togethers. I wouldn't really have to take off for anything."

"It's the best of both worlds, honey."

"Is that a yes?" Alexis asked.

Robbie nodded. "It's a yes," he said, shaking his hand.

"Great to hear. Come to my office at 8:00 Monday morning. I'll have you sign the contract and you can start next Friday."

"Sounds great. Thank you, Sir."

"See you Monday."

Cat and Robbie watched Alexis leave the room before they hugged, Cat letting out an excited squeal.

"Baby!" Cat exclaimed. "This is great!"

"It feels pretty great," Robbie said, kissing his wife's lips.

"Charlie's playing in the soap," Bindi said.

"I don't care," Cat said. "At least she's washing her hands."


"You're so sweet," Cat whispered, kissing Kelsey's nose as she drank from a bottle. "I miss the baby stage."

"Makes you want another, huh?" Robbie asked.

"It does. Would you be up for a baby?"

"As long as it's with you."

"Well, they go home on Sunday. Maybe we can get a head start and start trying when they leave."

"It's a date," Robbie said, kissing her lips gently.

Cat smiled. "Only took us 10 years."

"Better late than never."

"Mom, Charlie's crying," Bindi said from the bottom of the stairs.

"Here Uncle Robbie, take Kelsey," Cat said, carefully handing Kelsey to Robbie.

"Hi, cutie," Robbie said. "You look tired."

"She is," Cat said as she got up from the couch. "Go back to bed, Binbin, I've got her."

Cat walked upstairs and went to the guest room as Bindi went back to her own room. She walked to the bed, sitting next to Charlie and pulling her into her lap. "What's the matter, baby?"

"I want Mommy," Charlie sobbed.

"Mommy's out of town, honey. Is there something Auntie can do?"

"No, I want Mommy."

"How come?"

"I miss her."

"It's okay to miss her. But she can't come home right now. She'll be back home in two more sleeps."

"That's too long," Charlie sobbed.

"I can't bring you Mommy, but we can go get some chocolate milk and watch a movie. You wanna do that?"

Charlie nodded.

"Yeah? Okay, let's go," Cat said, getting up from the bed and placing Charlie on her hip.

"Is she okay?" Robbie asked as Cat walked past the living room.

"Yeah, she just misses Mommy. We're gonna get chocolate milk and watch a movie to make her feel better."

Cat walked into the kitchen and sat Charlie on the counter, getting a gallon of chocolate milk from the fridge. "What color cup do you want?"

"Green," Charlie said.

Cat poured some chocolate milk into a small green cup and put the gallon back in the fridge before taking Charlie off of the counter and setting her down. "Go sit on the couch with Uncle Robbie," she said, putting a lid on the cup and following the 5-year-old to the living room.

"You missing Mommy?" Robbie asked as Charlie sat next to him.

"Yeah, I want her home," Charlie said.

"She'll be home before you know it and then you won't even wanna leave, you'll wanna stay here longer cause you're gonna have so much fun with Auntie and Bindi."

"What movie do you wanna watch?" Cat asked, sitting on the other side of Charlie.

"Encanto," Charlie said.

"You wanna watch it with us, Uncle Robbie?"

"Sure. I like me some Mirabel," Robbie said, moving his eyebrows up and down playfully.

Cat shook her head. "Nuh uh. Don't make it weird."