Starting Over

Chapter 83- We're All Sick

It's been two weeks since we arrived back home. I feel like I haven't seen my wife and kids at all. Every day I get up and I'm out the door before the kids are awake. If I'm lucky I'll get to have at least one cup of coffee with Bridget before I leave. That's only if I'm lucky, which has only happened twice. I've been getting home at nine or ten at night and all of the kids are in bed with the exception of Kenzie, but she's even been going to bed early almost every night since school started back. By the time I have made it to bed, Bridget is already in bed either asleep or reading. Either way, I know better than to disturb her. I seriously feel like I see more of my family when I'm touring than I have recently. Thankfully next week I'm taking several days off and spending it with them. As soon as the press conference announcing my new tour is over we are heading to the beach house for four days in the sun before Bridget and I head off to Mexico for Crash My Playa.

"Good morning, darlin'. Did you sleep good?" I asked Bridget as she walked into the kitchen.

"I feel like hell," Bridget said as she poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the table next to me.

"Why aren't you still in bed if you feel so bad?" I questioned her.

"I've tossed and turned all night. I can't sleep. My back hurts, I've been running a fever, and if I puke one more time it's going to be the death of me," Bridget explained.

"Have you been to the doctor?" I asked curiously as I gently rubbed her back.

"I've got an appointment this afternoon," Bridget said as she slowly sipped her coffee.

"I wish I could stay home and take care of you," I told her as I continued rubbing her back.

"That's the last thing we need. Can't you see it now, me and you both sicker than a dog, laid up in bed, unable to function? The kids would destroy this house. And I would go off the deep end," Bridget explained.

"I can take care of you and not get sick," I stated as I got up to pour me another cup of coffee.

"No you can't. Well, it's not that you can't, but it's just not a risk we need to take. You have Crash My Playa in a couple of weeks. You can't be sick for that. Honestly, it would be best if you didn't even stay here until I was better," Bridget said matter of factly.

"I'm not saying anywhere else," I exclaimed as I sat back down at the table, "I'm not bailing on you while you are sick."

"Luke, you know what I mean. By staying at home you are risking getting whatever I have. You have a career to think about. You can't sing if you're in the bathroom sick every twenty minutes. You need to stay at the guest house until I'm better," Bridget tried to convince me.

"No. I'm not doing that. I already feel like I get to see you more when I'm touring than I do now. I'm not staying at the guest house because you are sick. I'm staying right here," I stated.

"No. Luke, you don't need to get sick and the only way for that to happen is if you aren't around me. Stay in the guest house. I'll have Kenzie run you some clothes up there when she gets home from school," Bridget said as my cell rang, "Answer it."

"Hello," I said as Bridget got up from the table.

"Where are you? You should have been here thirty minutes ago," my producer Jeff Stevens said.

"I'm still at the house. It's been a long morning," I told him.

"You need to be heading this way," Jeff said as I watched as Bridget started cooking breakfast for the kids.

"I will be soon. I have something to take care of here first," I said.

"Luke, you should have been here already. They aren't going to hold this forever. You need to hurry up," Jeff said.