Song of the South

A talk with Barry

Everyone was so tired by the time they got a hotel in New Orleans that they just crashed in their own rooms trying to rest for a little while. Kinsey was physically and emotionally exhausted. Kellie was simply tired from the drive. They made Kinsey to agree to meet them for a late lunch. Jesse and Daisy were sharing a room while Bella and Hayden were sharing a bed in Kinsey’s room. They were able to get a crib for Lane, which was much appreciated for Kinsey!

The smaller children were happy with some new coloring books Kellie had somehow procured for them. Daisy was reading a new book while Jesse was drawing away in the small sketch book he’d been given. Kinsey just stretched out on the bed, watched a little TV and watched the children. There was a lot on her mind and a lot she would have to be deciding on here very shortly. Dinner had gone as well as could be expected with five children all under the age of ten. Kellie was quite impressed with how Kinsey handled things.

Kellie and Eric did manage to take the group out for a while after their late lunch. Kinsey loved seeing the city, what little they did get to see, and the smaller children were excited to taste all the goodies that were available! Kellie made sure to get as many photos as she possibly could knowing Kinsey would appreciate it. Eric was even able to get them on a short “scary tour” of New Orleans! It wasn’t much, he thought, that they were able to do but perhaps the children liked it.

Eric and Kellie wanted them to have positive experience after what had transpired the night she had texted Kellie asking for advice. Of course, being in New Orleans one could not leave the city without having a Beignet. The children all seemed to really love it! Eric noticed that Kinsey seemed to be relaxing ever so slightly and he was glad for that. She was under enough stress as it was! The laughter of the smaller children seemed to make Kinsey happy so that made Eric happy. Kellie was just glad to see that Kinsey was starting to relax period.

The next day, while they were on the road to South Carolina, Barry called Eric. They had planed to go into the studio for some touch ups but Eric wasn’t at the studio so he and Brent had gone to the bassists’ house. When he wasn’t there but his and Kellie’s car was, they thought they’d call. Barry was shocked to hear children’s laughter in the background and quickly inquired about it. Eric looked over to where Kinsey was coloring with her siblings. This wave of warmth washed over him.

“You can’t tell this to anyone. I’m serious, OK?” Eric started out, “Kellie and I took the RV and picked up Kinsey and her five siblings from Texas.”

”Why don’t you want anyone to know? What about her sick father?” Barry asked, confusion on his face attracting the attention of his vocalist

“It’s a long story of why. It’s not our place to say and I’m not entirely sure she wants anyone to know. Let’s just leave it at: she’s better off coming with us and she agreed.” Eric cautiously replied

”Is she ok? We’ll be at your house when you get back.” Barry stated

“She’s…… she’ll be ok. We have to meet with Bill and a friend of his for some personal business. Have Lori come down. She might be helpful. I’m sorry I can’t say any more. Maybe she’ll tell you what happened. Kellie and I had to coax it out of her.” Eric shrugged

“This is some pretty serious shit, isn’t it?” Barry stated factually making Brent furrow his brows

“Yeah. We’ll see you when we get there. It’s about an 11 hour drive so we’ll get there sometime this evening.” Eric stated

”Well we have a key to your house so why don’t we let ourselves in and have dinner waiting on you?” Barry offered

“That sounds wonderful, man. Make it simple, something southern children would eat. It’s been a long few days for everyone and they’ll probably be heading to bed shortly after dinner.” Eric advised

”Hmm. How about Spaghetti & Meatballs with some good garlic bread?” Barry asked thoughtfully, ”Maybe a salad on the side for the adults?”

“Sounds perfect. We’ll see you when we get there.” Eric stated before ending the call

He let his ex-wife know the plan making her nod her head at him. It really wasn’t his place to tell Barry, or anyone, what had happened to Kinsey. He hated knowing there would be people waiting at their house to see Kinsey and Kinsey was so hesitant to talk to even them. Kellie kept glancing over at Eric with the baby. It looked like the most natural thing in the whole world!

“What’s going on?” Brent asked as Barry hung up his phone

“Kellie and Eric took their RV and headed to Texas to pick up Kinsey and her five siblings. I think her sick father was left behind. Eric couldn’t tell me the whole story but it sounds serious.” Barry explained

“That’s odd. Why would Kinsey leave her dad behind if things were serious?” Brent asked as Barry found the key to Eric’s house

“I’m not sure. There’s more to the story but Eric said it wasn’t his place to tell me. Will you do me a favor and call Lori? Tell her to come down to Eric’s. We’re having a meal here and Eric said that she would be useful. I don’t know any more than that.” Barry stated on the way to the kitchen

“Is she ok?” Brent asked as he dialed the phone

“I hope so. Eric said she’ll be ok. They’re meeting Bill and a friend of his as soon as they get here for some ‘personal business’. I’m not sure what that entails though.” Barry replied

Brent told Lori all he knew and what Barry wanted of her. She said she would leave right away. She was a behavioral therapist and if Eric was requesting her presence then he was worried about the children he was bringing to his home. Within minutes she had an overnight bag packed for herself and Stella and had the house locked up. Less than 20 minutes and they were on the highway to South Carolina.

Stella was excited to get to go on a road trip to see Daddy and her uncles. Lori was worried about what had happened to make Eric and Kellie go fetch these children. The oldest, Kinsey, was a legal adult and was apparently their care-taker. She was coming too but it made Lori worry about why they had needed to go be picked up. Wasn’t their father still alive? What about their mother? Lori was very thankful she had such a wonderful husband, family, and extended family to help her if she needed.

Barry was digging through Eric’s cabinets to see what he would need to fix dinner for everyone. He made a list so Brent offered to go get what the drummer needed. While Brent was gone, Barry tried to clean up the house as best as he could. Not that it really needed much cleaning. Eric usually kept his house pretty decent. Barry was a bit worried about how dirty it was since there were small children coming. After his cleaning session, he began preparations for dinner.

He made his own spaghetti sauce and garlic bread spread. As he was doing that, Brent returned with the few items Barry needed to finish up dinner. Brent was quite curious why it was Eric who had volunteered to go fetch Kinsey. She talked to them all. Was just circumstance? Barry didn’t know any more than he did but his curiosity was getting to him.

Lori and Stella arrived about two hours before the large posse did. Barry informed his wife of all he knew about the situation and what he had picked up from Eric’s verbal ques. Stella was excited to be meeting some new kids her age. Barry was worried about what had happened to Kinsey. Lori was worried about the effects of whatever had happened was having on Kinsey’s siblings.

“Momma! Bus is here!” Stella yelled out to her mother when she saw the RV pull into the driveway

“It’s not exactly a bus. But Kellie, Eric, Kinsey, and Kinsey’s siblings are here.” Lori replied, giving everyone else the heads up

“Good timing, dinner is just about done.” Barry stated with a smile