France…

The concert in France went exceptionally well, and I played four encores before the crowd even thought about beginning to disperse. I guess Darius's plan I had been worth something. I had never felt so connected to my fans before and I was relishing it. Stepping up to the mic, I yelled loudly,

"I would get stuck anytime in Europe with you guys again!" I said loudly as the crowd roared and I threw them a kiss. Looking over my shoulder at the curtain marking the backstage, I smiled as I saw Darius nodding to me in approval. He might have a stupid idea every now and then that happens to cloud his judgment, but all in all he wasn't all that bad. Our plane was waiting for us in a private airstrip outside of town, and I looked at my fans one more time mournfully before exiting the stage. My CD was going to be released on the shelves of Europe and Canada the same morning we would fly back into Toronto, and I was actually nervous about the release. Climbing into the limo outside the arena, I kept glancing back at the crowd as they grew smaller and smaller in the distance. I looked in front of me at Tommy who was sitting across the way, and he smiled at me knowingly as I glanced once more behind me. I almost felt home sick for Europe. How sick is that?

We got to the airport and were chattering incessantly as I suddenly saw the Moore's entering from the yard beside the plane. They were grinning, and I walked over to them to shake their hands and thank them for their help before turning toward the plane. A sudden yipping alerted us to the fact that 'Barbie' Moore had brought along FiFi, and the dog began to chase after Spied as he ran, to our amusement, towards a low tree before climbing up onto one of the limbs. I laughed as the dog started running around the trunk desperately as Spied threw me a look. I was just about to make a snide comment to Wally and Kyle when I noticed Giselle approaching Tommy from behind me.

"Well, Tom, it was a pleasure to see you again even if it was only briefly." She said almost sorrowfully and I felt my face fall as Tommy leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

"You'll always be a part of my past, Giselle. Just don't be angry if that's where I want to keep you—in my past." He said slowly before turning toward the plane. I smiled at her softly as she frowned before turning to walk away. Believe it or not, I felt sorry for her. Mrs. Moore grabbed FiFi in enough time that Spied could make a run for the plane, and the rest of us followed more slowly behind him. Waving to all those we had grown close to while in Europe, I actually felt my eyes water as the plane took off.