And Baby Makes...?

Chapter 5

After lunch, the whole group of us went back to the venue because Dad and Josh did have press and a meet and greet.

I hung out between the bus and the dressing room with everyone else. I couldn't believe they were all here. Just for me. For my birthday. Besides having a whole new family, I couldn't believe they were all here.

Brendon and I played some Fortnite while Dad and Josh were off doing their press and sound check. I was going to watch their soundcheck at first, but then I got too into Fortnite. Aunt Sarah and Aunt Debby were watching and laughing at us. We were playing on a team and both kept having to revive each other.

"We're pathetic," I said, as we were eliminated again.

"Nah. We're not pathetic. They are," Uncle Brendon said. He pulled me into a hug. "It is so amazing to see you. Didn't I tell you you'd see us before you knew it?"

"I could never have imagined that this is what you meant," I smiled, leaning into him.

"I'm so glad we could make it work," he said.

"Me too," Aunt Sarah said, coming and sitting beside me and pulling me into a hug away from Uncle Brendon.

"Hey!" he said, pulling me back. "I had her first."

"Well, it's my turn," Aunt Sarah said, pulling me back to her.

"No fair," Uncle Brendon said, pulling me back to him.

This went on a few more times before I finally said:

"Okay, okay, ladies, you're both beautiful. But my arms are going to come off if you keep pulling me like this!"

"Oh. You need those arms," Uncle Brendon said. "Want to go play the piano?"

"I'm not very good," I said. "I'm still learning, and Dad hasn't had a lot of time to teach me."

"Come," he said, standing up and putting his hand out to me. "I'll give you a lesson."

I followed Uncle Brendon out to the stage where Dad's piano was set up.

Uncle Brendon sat me at the keyboard and sat beside me. I could play a little, but not much. He asked me to play what I could, so I played a little. When I looked up, Uncle Brendon had tears in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Was I that bad?" I asked.

"No," he laughed. "That last piece, 'Scarborough Fair, right?"

"Yeah. I learned it at school with my teacher. Why?"

"That was on of the first pieces Jess played for me. And you know what?"

"What?"

"You two share a birthday," he said, hugging me.

I was speechless. And I felt bad.

"I made you sad," I said.

"No, you didn't. I'm happy. Really, I am," Uncle B said. "I miss Jess, but that doesn't mean I can't love and celebrate you. It's a coincidence you two share a birthday, and a weird coincidence you play the same song on the piano. But honey, you could never make me sad."

"Would you have come out here if Jess was still alive?" I asked.

Uncle B looked at me.

"I think that would have depended on how she was doing. If she was well enough, we all would have. If not, well it would depend on how bad things were. Jess could get really sick really fast with no warning."

"I feel like she would have been like a big sister," I said. "I kinda felt her when we were in California. Like, there was someone in the room. It wasn't scary or anything. I felt safe."

"Jess would have loved you. You two would have had a great time together. Sarah doesn't know this, but sometimes I feel like Jess is still around the house sometimes. Just, like, a feeling. I thing Bogart does, too. Because sometimes I'll find him on his back on her bed in her room, as if she were giving him belly rubs. When she was sick and was in bed, he'd be at her side and she'd just give him belly rubs."

"Bogart is so cute. He wouldn't leave me alone when we were there."

"I know. I wonder if he felt like you were our Jess replacement, so to speak. No one could replace Jess, but darlin', you've filled a hole in my heart. And I love you so much for just being you."

I gave Uncle B a hug. He had no idea what he meant to me. I'd had no idea what I meant to him.

He hugged me back and we went back to playing the piano a bit.

After a while we went back to the dressing room so I could hang out with Pete and Aunt Debby and Aunt Sarah and Zack and Kala. And Mom, of course.

They gave me birthday presents while Dad and Josh got ready for the show. I got a ton of books and some clothes, and some gift cards.

Suddenly, it was time for Dad's show. I was going to watch from the side as usual, with Mom.

I was used to the car bursting into flames and Dad's antics. Now I found it really cool.

I had everyone hanging out with me, too. So it was the whole lot of us at the side of the stage.

It was like we were continuing my birthday party there.

It was so much fun.

Then Dad stopped the concert.