Introduction

Chapter 13

Luke's P.O.V.

"How did we get so lucky?" I say out loud as I'm laying in bed with my arms behind my head. "What was that Luther?" Caroline asks prompting me to repeat what I said. "How did we get so lucky?" I repeat as I pull her closer to me so we're cuddling. "Well I met this amazing guy named Thomas Luther Bryan in a bar in Statesboro. Then we ended up getting married and he gave me three amazing children who, I know we both love with every ounce of our being," Caroline responded. "She is really is awesome," I say. "Can I say something?" Caroline asks as she sits up to look me in the eyes. "What is it?" I ask her, worriedness in my voice. "I was scared. When you said she had a blood disorder I was scared. I was scared because I didn't have any clue about what I would need to do," Caroline says clearly upset. "Carol, honestly I was scared when I first found out but the more I got to know her I found out she knows how to deal with it. Now all it is is a matter of her teaching us what to do," I say. "OK. Well we should probably go to sleep. We'll probably have a late night tomorrow too. I love you," Caroline says. "Love you too love," I respond.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! I slam on the snooze button and crawl out of bed. 7 a.m. I quickly get dressed in camo shorts and a blue shirt. I hear Caroline downstairs already with Tate and Mack. I walk into Bo's room. "Daddy, look I got dressed all by myself," Bo says with a huge smile on his face. I look at him and see his camo shirt is on inside out and his plaid shorts are on backwards. "Good job Bo-bo but how 'bout we go with some blue shorts instead?" I ask him. "OK," he replies. "But first let me take a picture of ya," I say.

Caroline's P.O.V.

I woke up at 6 this morning to hear Mack bumping around her bathroom. I knock on her bathroom door. The door opens and I let out a little gasp. "I know, I know. Please help me. Do you have my medication?" Mack asks. "Uh, yea let me go get it," I say. I go get it and walk back up to her room. "Maybe we should cancel the party," I say. "No. I'll be fine after I take this," she says. "OK honey," I say as I leave.

"Momma, Momma," I hear behind me. I turn around as my Bo-bo jumps into my arms. "What is it Bo-bo?" I ask. "I got dressed all by myself but daddy had to pick my clothes out," he says looking at Luke. I put Bo down who goes right over to his sister who's feeding Tate. I tell Luke about this morning and then he shows me the picture of Bo he took this morning. 

About forty-five minutes later Luke starts his truck so he can go drop Bo off at school.

Luke's P.O.V.

"Bye Bo-bo. I'll see you later. Love you," I say. "Bye daddy. Bye Mack. I love you. Can Uncle Carter pick me up from school?" he asks. "I'm not sure buddy. I'll ask him," I say before he runs off into the yard.

"Caroline told me about this morning," I say to Mack who looks down and starts running her index finger down the side of her thumb, something she does when she's nervous or embarrased. "Darling it's okay. I'm not mad or anything. I promise. But if you need help you're gonna have to let us start to help. Sure, mo-Caroline and I don't know how to help you but we can be taught," I say looking at her. "OK. Thank you Luke. Can we talk about it at home?" she asks me nervously, "And you di-di-didn't have to say Ca-Ca-Caroline," she adds. I don't know what to say so I just keep my eyes on the road and drive home.

As we pull in I see Cole and Carter's trucks in the driveway. "We can talk later, OK darling?" I say looking at my daughter. "Who's here?" she asks me with panic in her voice. "Come in and see," I say as we walk to the front door.

Mack's P.O.V.

"Then the lady handed me the baby AND a Sharpie and was like sign him," an unknown voice says. "Don't say your idiocy took over and signed the poor kid," Luke says behind me as we walk to the kitchen table and sit down. "No I didn-hello, I'm Cole," the voice says. I look up and see Cole Swindell. "Wow," I breathlessly say,"Mackynzi," I say looking at him. "Honey you haven't stopped smiling at all today. That's not a bad thing," Caroline says. That causes me to smile bigger. "Oh, hello Mackynzi,"Carter says. "Hey, oh and Luke probably already forgot but Bo asked if you could pick him up from school?" I ask Carter. "What time is it Luke?" Cole asks. "Noon. Why?" Luke responds. "I got the studio booked and I've yet to hear your daughter sing so I was wondering if she would like to come with me?" Cole asks. "Can I?" I ask looking at Luke and Caroline. Caroline nods. "When?" I ask looking at Cole. "Now. Lets go," he says grabbing my hand.

A half hour later Cole swings into a parking spot at the recording studios. "Wait," I say noticing the sign outside the entrance,"this is Capitol Records Nashville. Oh my god I've wanted to come here since I was like 4." "Well then stop staring at it and follow me," Cole says behind me.

"I pick yours you pick mine then we can sing a couple together. How does that sound?" Cole asks me while I take a sip of water. "Sure. Can I go first please?" I ask Cole with puppy-dog eyes. "Sure. Your dad said you're pretty good at singing 'Creepin'. Sing that one," Cole says leaning back in the chair. I nod my head and walk into the little room where I put the headphones on. I hear the music coming through the headphones so I start singing and get lost in the music.

Cole's P.O.V.

"I'm never gonna be able to sing any of the songs you sung today now Mack. That was unbelievable. You're gonna be big," I say for the millionth time. I pull into Luke's driveway and see about 6 trucks in front of me. "Do you know who's here?" I ask Mack. "Uh, Eric, Katherine, and Boone. Blake and Miranda. Jason and Brittney. Carter. Lee, Sara, and Takoda.  And you," she answers then jumps out of the truck and runs inside.

Mack's P.O.V.

I walk through the front door after spending an awesome afternoon with Cole who said I can call him uncle if I want and am attacked by Bo who jumps into my arms. "Guess what Mackaroni?" Bo says, a big smile plastered on his face. "What?" I ask. "Uncle Carter and  Uncle Lee and  Daddy and  Tate and  Takoda picked me up from school," he says counting it all on his fingers. "How many fingers is that?" I ask him. "Five," he answers in a duh tone.

I'm practically glued to Luke's side now because Caroline went inside to start making salad. I'm gonna hang out with the ladies after dinner. "Hey, Mack," Cole calls over to me. "Yeah," I say looking over to him. "I just remembered that I got those recordings from today. We gotta play "Creepin'" for Eric," Cole says. Just then Caroline calls us in for dinner. "After," I say then run inside.

Caroline's P.O.V.

"Mack, honey come here. You need to take your pills," I call over to Mack. "I don't wanna. Do I really need to Caroline?" she says. "Yes you do. Now come here," I say and Mack reluctantly comes over and has her pills.

"Dinner was great Carol," Luke says walking by and kissing my cheek. The guys head back outside and the ladies help me clean up. "Carol you're gonna have to give me that recipe for the salad dressing," Katherine says to me. "Uh, where are the kids?" Sara asks. "Upstairs. I just put a movie on. Cheaper By The Dozen I think. Oh, Katherine, Boone's just in his playpen upstairs behind the couch and the monitors beside the fridge," Mack replies. "That's great. Thanks Mackynzi," Sara and says back.

Mack's P.O.V.

I was putting away the dishes when Eric comes running through the back door. "That was freaking amazing. Honestly no 16 year old should be singing as good as you are. It's freaking amazing. You're freaking amazing," Eric says breathing heavy now. I just stand there holding the stack of plates when I finally find my voice and say, "Thank you Mr. Church." "It's Eric," he responds.  "Thank you...Eric," I re-respond.

At about 2 a.m. everyone starts getting tired. Bo, Tate, Boone, and Takoda are already asleep so everyone just crashes at our house on couches and floors and beds and anywhere they can sleep.

As I lay in bed, still high on adrenaline and excitement, I think about my new life and how awesome my day was. Slowly I fall asleep.