Part 62
Men bustled about backstage moving huge boxes of equipment to its designated area. Orders were being shouted for particular boxes while music drifted from the stage area. To someone new to this scene, it was complete chaos.
“OH…..MY…..GOD!” breathed Michelle. “How on earth are they going to be ready?”
“Wonder what it was like for the tours that had all those extras?”
“That’s easy,” said Kevin as he joined the two putting his arms around Chelsea. “While one crew was in the first town, a second crew would go to the next town and set up.”
Both women looked extremely overwhelmed by it all.
Kevin laughed, “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
“Thanks, but Alex is gonna do that,” said Chelsea.
“Are you just getting here?”
“Yeah, Michelle put me through my paces after lunch. Have you seen Annie and Alex?”
From the other end of the hall, over the noise of the crew getting ready, a little girl’s squeal of happiness rang out. All three looked up to see Annie on Nick’s shoulder and Brian and AJ chasing them.
Kevin shook his head. “That boy is going to hurt someone.”
“They’re just having fun, Kevin. Don’t say anything to Nick.”
The three made their way through the multitude of boxes and people to where the others were playing.
“MAMA! DADDY!” squealed the little girl when she saw them and she tried to get down.
“WHOA! Hang on, squirt! You’re gonna fall,” scolded Nick as he struggled to keep her in place so he could help her down.
Chelsea moved to Alex and gave him a kiss. “Hey!”
“Hello, ‘Beautiful’! How was your physical therapy?”
“Pretty good. Has she behaved?”
“Of course!!”
Annie was now in Kevin’s arms talking a mile a minute and Michelle had wandered off with Nick. Brian was now with Leighanne and Bailey leaving AJ and Chelsea alone.
“Alex, how in the world are they going to be ready?”
“It’s not as chaotic as it seems. Come on. Let’s go out front and watch.”
Hand in hand, the couple made their way out to the seats and sat in front of where the sound board was being set up. Alex explained to her what everyone was doing.
After some time had passed, Chelsea asked, “When are the families going to be here?”
“I don’t know about the others but Mama and Tony will be here in time for dinner.”
“I can’t wait to see your mother now that I’m off my crutches. What are we doing for dinner?”
“Management is catering dinner for the entire crew and families.”
“That’s sweet. Do they do that all the time?”
“No. Normally we’re either on our own for dinner or it’s in our contracts for the arena to feed us. It depends on where we’re coming from.”
“Oh!”
Chelsea laced her fingers with AJ’s as she put her head on his shoulder and gave a contended sigh.
AJ placed a kiss in her hair. “Are you going to watch the opening acts?”
“I don’t think so. Michelle wants me to but I really want to stay with you as long as possible.”
“You won’t miss anything if you go with Michelle. We have our pre-show ritual and Kevin barking orders.”
Chelsea giggled knowing Kevin was exactly like that. “I still want to be able to give you a kiss before you go on stage.”
How could he refuse that? Okay, so he’d have to work something else out. Fortunately, he was going to get that help when Tony, the head tech person, called him over.
“Be right back, ‘Beautiful’.” Giving Chelsea a kiss, AJ left her and rushed over to Tony. “Man, am I glad you called!”
“What’s up?”
“That text I wanted to send….she’s not going to watch the opening acts.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going to run them through the first twenty minutes of your show…after the opening number.”
“How am I gonna send it though?”
“Just send it earlier…when you have a free minute and she’s not watching. I’ll watch for it and keep it in the loop.”
“You’re a life-saver dude.”
“This girl must be extra special.”
“She is,” answered AJ as he looked over at Chelsea who was now watching the band getting ready to play.
“When she answers, I’ll give you a signal over your headset.”
“Thanks!”
“No problem and good luck.”
AJ rejoined Chelsea and the two went off to do something else before the sound checks.
