Grace Through It All (Book 2)

Birthday surprise

(1 1/2 months later)
*Joey POV*
Today's my birthday and I sort of want to spend it with Grace. I asked if she was coming today and she didn't say yes or no. Everyone is outside playing at a park. I'm not really doing anything. I'm just laying on a couch looking through all the birthday tweets and everything else.
"Dude what's wrong" Chad asks
"Huh" I ask
"What's the matter" he asks
"I don't know. I guess I just miss Grace" I say
"Cheer up dude it's your birthday turn that frown upside down" he says
"It's not that easy" I say
"Why not" he asks
"Grace isn't here. Cynthia isn't here and I can't bear to spend time with my kids if I'm upset" I say
"Joey you need to get that stuff off your mind for the concert" he says
"I know" I say
"Then why don't you join us" he says
"Nah I'm gonna stay here and try to Skype Grace" I say
"Ok" he says
He walks off the bus and I grab my laptop. I press call and her face appears on the screen.
"Hey princess" I say
"Hey Joe! how's tour" she asks
"Good I miss you" I say
"I miss you guys too" she says
"Are you able to come to the show tonight" I ask
"I'm not sure" she says
"Ok. I have to get ready for the show. See ya later" I say
"Bye Joe and Happy Birthday" she says
I close the laptop screen and get dressed for the concert. By the time I'm finishing up my hair everyone else comes in. The guys get ready then we head to the venue. Donald stays on the bus with the little ones because they fell asleep and AJ comes in with us.
"AJ stay here with Uncle Chad and Uncle Caleb while Uncle Joey and I set up the instruments." Alan says
"Ok daddy" she says
We head out to the stage to set everything up.
"Alan what do you do when you miss Brycie" I ask
"Skype her" he says
"I did that today but that made me miss her more" I say
"Well we only have three or four more stops until we get back to Nashville" he says
"But that's sooooo long" I whine
"You're starting to sound like Presley and AJ when we go on tour" he says
"Yeah but it's true it's a long time to wait" I say
"I know dude but we got sound check and the concert and I was also thinking about having you and AJ playing the guitar for let it go tonight" he says
"Ooh fun" I say
"Good now you better teach AJ the rest of the song. I know you've been working on it a lot" he says
"Ok" I say
I head backstage.
"Chad and Caleb Alan needs you for soundcheck" I say
"Alright" they say then head to the stage
"Uncle Joey why are you so happy" AJ asks
"Because you and I are going perform together with the rest of the band" I say
"What song" she asks
"Let it go. We're going to play our guitars together" I say
"But I didn't bring my guitar" she says
"That's okay. I brought the one I gave you to use at the birthday party with me" I say
"Ok thanks Uncle Joey. When is that song" she asks
"Second. I'll come back stage to get you" I say
"Ok" she says
"Joe AJ it's time to pray" Alan says
We go over there and Alan prays. Everyone goes over to the door to wait and I go over to AJ.
"Ready to rock" I whisper to her
"Yup" she says
I go back over to the guys and we run on stage. We do our Grammy mashup then Alan starts announcing let it go.
"So I have my daughter AJ on your with us and Joey and I started teaching her to play guitar. She learned a sing so we're going to bring her out here to help Joey out on the guitar" Alan says
The crowd cheers and I run backstage.
"Ready kid" I ask
"Yep" she says
I put her on my shoulders and we go out. She waves then I set her on the stool.
"AJ are you ready" Alan asks
"Yep Daddy" she says
"Joe you ready" he asks
"Yep dad" I say
The fans laugh. We start strumming and the guys start singing. As we're playing I hear a tiny voice singing. I look over and see that it's AJ. I take my mic and put it in front of her. The guys look around surprised and the fans cheer louder. The song ends and I give her a big hug.
"Uncle Joey you smell" she says
"SO" I say
We all give her a hug the she goes backstage. We sing some more songs then we start top of the world. As I'm singing I feel something really cold hit my back. I turn around and see Grace. I pick her up and swing her around. As I'm doing that I feel more water. A lot more water hitting my back. I set her down and see the guys with squirt guns. I grab the one from Grace and shoot them. We all run out of water.
"Well that was refreshing" I say
"Ok guys we have one last song to sing" Alan says
"Wait Alan what song could that be? I thought top of the world was the last song" Caleb says
"Oh contrare Caleb my boy we have one more song" Alan says
"Well why don't you tell us" Chad says
"Ok well today is Joey's birthday so we have to sing him happy birthday" Alan says
"No you don't" I say
"Oh yes we do. You were moping all day long about how much you missed Grace and wanted to spend your birthday with her so we're singing to you young man" Alan says
"Fine but only if I can smash a cupcake in your face after the song" I say
"You don't have a cupcake" he says
"Yes I do." I say
"Fine. Lets just sing" he says.
Everyone sings then I take a cupcake or two and smash them in his face. The other guys do it as well. Then AJ comes on stage and get on my shoulder then smashes one in his face.
"Thanks guys" he says
We end the concert and go back stage. Alan heads to the bathroom to wash the stuff off his face.
"I missed you princess" I say
"I know Chad texted me and told me that you wouldn't leave the bus" she says
"Yeah. I wasn't the best person to be around" I laugh
"Where's the boys" she asks
"On the bus asleep" I say
"Ok" she says
"How long are you here for" I ask
"Tonight and tomorrow" she says
"Ok" I say
"Well I'll see you on the bus" she says
"Yeah" I say
The guys, AJ, and I head out to the meet and greet. AJ sits on my lap while the fans file through. A ton of them say happy birthday and talk about how adorable AJ is. We all go back to the bus.
"You did a good job today squirt" I say to AJ
"Thank you shrimp" she giggles
"Who told you to call me shrimp" I ask
"Uncle Chaddy" she says
"Of course he did" I say
I walk to the kitchen to find Chad.
"Chadwick Mathew Graham you have five seconds to get off this bus and run" I say
"I'm not scared of you stamper" he says
"What you aren't afraid of me? well that might change once I get you" I say
He takes off running and I chase after him. I get close enough and jump on his back.
"Never call me a shrimp" I say
"Well you are" he says
"No I'm not" I say through clenched teeth
"Oh wow. For someone short there's a whole lot of anger in you" he says
"I get that a lot" I say
"Well it's true" he says
"So" I say
"Well do you want to get off my back" he asks
"Nope" I say
"Ok" he says
He walks back to the bus and we see Caleb and Alan standing outside the bus.
"We thought Chad killed you Joe" Caleb says
"No I almost killed him" I say
"Why are you on his back" Alan asks
"I don't know." I say
"Joseph get off of my back now!" chad yells
"Fine" I say
I jump off his back and we go on the bus.
"Night guys" I say
"Night Joe" they say
I go to my bunk and fall asleep.