Part 341
"Blast," Becca mumbled, hanging up the phone.
"What’s wrong?" Nick rested his chin on her head as she sighed.
"Oh, I forgot the time difference between here and Florida. Heidi has already gone for the day."
"So call back and leave a message."
"No, I left her a long, rambling one already. She’s going to think I’ve lost my mind."
"You married me didn’t you? That’s convincing enough in most people’s eyes," he laughed.
"Stop it Nick, I’m serious."
"So what was so important that you had to call her today?"
Becca shrugged. "I just haven’t talked to her in a while. And all that stuff with Aaron’s video …"
"Call her in the morning, Bec. It’s been a long day." Nick held her closely, feeling her tired body sag in his arms. "Why don’t you go on up to bed?"
"Nick, it’s not that late," she protested, yawning even as she said the words.
"GT will be up again before you know it, Bec. I’m gonna stay and talk to mom for awhile, then I’ll be up."
"You sure?"
"Positive. Go get some sleep."
"Okay. Thanks, Nick." She smiled sleepily up at him, laughing as he kissed the tip of her nose.
Nick watched her climb the stairs, stuck his hands in his pockets and went off to find his mother. His search took him to the spacious kitchen, where he found her engrossed in paperwork.
"Hey, mom." Nick opened the refrigerator and stood staring intently at the contents before finally settling on an apple and a bottle of spring water.
Jane looked up, taking off her reading glasses and rubbing her eyes. "Nick," she chided, "you should be in bed." She watched him sink his lanky frame into a chair, and studied his face. "Where's Becca?"
"Asleep, I hope," he answered, biting into his apple and sighing.
"That's where you should be, too. Nick, you look exhausted."
"I'm okay," he shrugged, not meeting her eyes.
"Don't lie to your mother, Nick, I can see right through you."
"Really," he laughed, "I'll be okay."
"Becca's worried about you."
Nick had no answer for that one, except to toss his apple core at the wastebasket, and groan when he missed.
"See?" his mother said. "That's proves my point. You should never have missed an easy shot like that."
Nick grinned. "Okay, so I'm tired."
"You may be married and gone, but I'm your mother and I'm allowed to worry." Jane thought carefully before speaking, which was not like her at all. "You're so young, Nick. To have so much responsibility-"
"Mom, don't start." He stood and walked to the door.
"Nick, wait." She sighed. "This isn't the discussion I wanted to have with you."
"Then find a new one. This isn’t helping." He stood with his back to her, the tension of the day settling once again between his shoulder blades.
"I’m sorry. Damn it Nick, I'm so conflicted here. I love you, and as your mother I just want to shake you and ask you what the hell you were thinking last winter when you got Becca pregnant."
"Mom-" He turned on her, ready to do battle.
Jane held up her hand. "But then I look at this beautiful girl who loves you with all of her heart, and I melt. I look at Garrett and it’s like looking at you all over again, Nick. Don't make the same mistakes I did."
"What?" Nick was completely confused, and it showed in the look on his face.
"Send them home, Nick. Your son needs a house and a room of his own, not a corner of a bus or another hotel room."
"But he's just a baby."
"And," she continued as if he'd never spoken, "Becca needs her home, too."
"That's nuts. We enjoy being together."
"I know you do, but it is that fair to her? At least say you'll think about it, Nick. Love is blind and Becca would do anything you asked of her, including giving up her entire life."
"Meaning what, exactly?"
"Nick, what did Becca do when you met her?"
"Huh?"
"Dear god, don't be so blonde. She was working, wasn't she?"
"Yeah, she had a great job. Damn, you should hear her sing." He smiled with pride when he thought about the times he'd watched Becca work.
"It's a shame she had to give that up," Jane said, turning away before Nick could see her smile.
"She hasn't given it up." Nick frowned, knowing there was a point to all this, but not quite finding it.
"Then she's still singing?"
"Mom, you know she can't. Not when we're always on …" his voice trailed away. "A bus. We're always on a bus."
"I had a long talk with Becca this morning, Nick. I think you need to talk to her, too."
"What did she tell you? Did she say she wants to go back to work? Mom, GT is only a few weeks old." He was pacing the kitchen as he talked, and he turned back to face his mother. "Talk to me."
"No, Nick, she didn't say anything about her work. But it's something you need to consider. You're not always going to be on tour, and Garrett's not always going to be an infant. Don't let Becca become your trophy wife that tags along from venue to venue. You fell in love with her for what and who she was a year ago. Don't make her give all that up."
"There's Aaron's video…"
"And that will be a great experience for her, but it's not who she is. You're her husband,
Nick, help her find her way back; for both your sakes."
Nick was lost in thought and jumped when Jane wrapped her arms around him.
"When was the last time you two had any time alone?"
"Well, there was the time back in … umm … Boston? No, wait … umm …"
"That settles it." She pushed Nick away. "Tomorrow night you're taking Becca out to dinner. My treat, and I'll keep Garrett for as long as you want."
"But security-"
"Screw security, Nick, that's why you have Billy with you." Jane sighed in exasperation.
"I'll make all the arrangements, you just be prepared to go out and have a nice time."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Now go get some sleep, you're dead on your feet."
Nick grinned down at his mother. "Thanks."
"Any time. Go to bed." She reached up to ruffle his hair like she'd done so many times before, and smiled wistfully as he pulled her close. It wasn't like him, and it made it that much more special.
"Good night, mom."
Jane smiled as Nick shuffled away, and settled back down to a long night of paperwork.