Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 75

Samantha POV

We pulled up to an arena and were driven around to the back of the building where there were a bunch of trailers, trucks, and buses. 

"We'll go drop our stuff off on the bus, and then we'll go find your dad, okay?" Mom said. 

"Okay," I said. 

We unloaded our luggage with the help of the driver who'd come to pick us up at the airport.  A security person came over and said hi to Mom and looked down and smiled at me. 

"You must be the famous Samantha," he said. 

"I don't know about famous..." I said.

"I'm Glenn. I help with security around here. Let me show you two to the bus you're using. Josh is staying on the bus with you guys too. Is that okay?"

"Sure," Mom said.  

He walked us over to the bus we'd be staying in and helped us carry our luggage up onto the bus.  Mom showed me where we'd be sleeping. It was weird.  Like bunk beds built into the wall of the bus.  There was even a kitchen. I mean, a toaster and microwave, not a stove or anything, but there was a sink, too.  Mom told me that there would be plenty of bottled water and that I should drink that, not the water from the tap.  It was fine for washing hands, dishes, and brushing teeth, as well as showering.  

Mom was explaining a few things when the bus moved and someone came almost literally jumping onto the bus. 

"You're here! You're here! You're here!" 

I was wrapped in a tight hug. I looked up and there was Dad, smiling down on me. 

"Hi baby!" he said.

"Hi, Dad," I smiled.

"Welcome to Buffalo," he smiled. "What do you think?"

"Of Buffalo? It looks like a city."

"You brat. I meant of the bus."

"Are they here!? Are they here!? They're here!" another voice came shouting on the bus and I was tackled again in the biggest hug ever. "You're here!"

"Hi, Uncle Josh," I said, trying to pull myself away to catch a breath. He let me go and smiled at me. 

"You are a weed. I was just telling your dad I wanted to see how his weed was doing. He insists you're a human but I'm not so sure."

"I'm doing okay," I said. 

"Someone was a little bit nervous about coming on tour, and had a bit of a stomach ache this morning, but I think she's okay now, huh?" Mom said. 

"Yeah," I said. 

"So, what do you think of the bus?" Dad asked.

"It's pretty cool," I said. "I never knew buses could practically be houses."

"Yeah. We can do pretty much anything in here. You and Uncle Josh will have the bunks up front here, and Mom and I get a room in the back.  There's a bathroom as well, that you can use whenever. But, try to keep it to number 1, and not number 2, okay? Unless it's an emergency. Because we all have to live here."

"Gotcha," I said, as Dad showed me where he and Mom were going to be sleeping.  They practically had their own full room. But we'd all share the bathroom. Four people and one bathroom. Oh boy.

Uncle Josh came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me again. 

"I am so happy you're here! Do you have any idea how boring it is hanging out with just your dad?"

I laughed. 

"What did you do before I came along?"

"I suffered," he said. "Greatly."

"I'm so sure," I laughed, rolling my eyes. 

Dad helped us get settled, and then he took us into the venue, where he handed me and Mom laminated passes and told me to wear it at all times, except while sleeping. He said any time we were around the venue, we had to wear them. 

I put mine around my neck and followed Dad into the venue. 

Inside, he showed me where their dressing room was, and told me that they had some press to do and that Mom and I could hang out in there.  He said that we could eat anything that was in the room, and I saw that there was fruit and stuff. 

"You can have the fruit, some crackers, but stay away from the chocolate and stuff, okay?" Mom said to me. "Unless you want to bolus for chocolate."

"Mmm, not in the mood for chocolate, honestly. But those strawberries look good," I smiled. 

I checked my sugar and bolused for a few strawberries and some cheese. 

Mom showed me around the venue a little bit, basically where the stage was, and we passed the room where Dad and Josh were doing some press. Mom stopped so we could listen in a bit. 

"Tyler, you recently adopted a daughter and there was quite a bit of drama at the beginning. How is she doing now?"

"Samantha is amazing. She had a really rough go, back in October and November, which was in the press enough, and we have moved past it for the most part.  Sam's still working through some of the things she's dealt with prior to becoming our daughter, but since the new year, she has really blossomed."

Mom looked down at me and smiled. I smiled back up at her. 

"Her birth father was abusive, we heard," the reporter said. 

"Yeah. But with a lot of work and a lot of love, Samantha has grown and learned to trust again. She is an absolutely amazing and resilient kid.  She fills our hearts with so much love. We're really proud of her."

They moved on to different topics and Mom and I continued on our little tour of the venue. Mom showed me where dinner would be served and then we went back to the dressing room. I sighed, wishing I'd grabbed something besides my phone, so I could distract myself. 

I'm not sure how much time passed, but Dad and Josh came in and Dad flopped down on the couch beside me. He pulled me into a hug and I leaned into him. 

"I am so, so glad you're here," he smiled at me. 

"Me too," I said.