"Emily, you did amazing!" Beca said after the concert.
"Thanks!" Emily smiled.
"Why didn't your singing career take off?" Beca asked.
"I couldn't sign to a label until I finished school, and then I wasn't offered anything. It's ok though, I think interior design is cool."
Beca's phone rang in her back pocket. "Sorry, Em, I'll be right back."
Hello?
Hi, this is Keegan Michael Key, your producer.
Oh hi, Mr. Key. What's up?
I wanted to offer you a deal to be a producer. I saw that Emily girl perform with you, and she's got what it takes to be the next you.
Of course! When can I meet you?
Tomorrow is good. Does 11 am work?
Yep! See you then!
Beca ran over to Emily. "I'm gonna be a producer!"
Emily smiled. "That's great, Becs!"
Beca smirked. "And as a producer, my job is to sign artists, soooooo.......would you like to be a part of Republic Records?"
Emily's face lit up. "Yes!!!!! Oh my god this is huge! Thank you so much, Beca!"
Beca laughed as Emily practically lifted the tiny girl in the air. "Hey, where's Chloe? And Harper?"
"I don't know. I'll text her."
Hey where are you?
Outside. Harper wasn't feeling well, so we went outside to get some fresh air.
Is she ok?
She says her stomach hurts. Just tell Beca.
Ok. See u.
"Hey, Bec, They're outside cause Harper has a stomach ache." Emily put her phone in her pocket.
"Oh no! Ok I'll go out there and see if she's ok. Would you mind putting the chairs away for me?"
"Of course not! Go ahead."
Beca put her crutches down and limped outside. "Hi, baby girl, what's wrong?"
Harper had tears in her eyes. "My tummy hurts, mama."
"Aww I'm sorry, sweetie," Beca said as she took the little girl from Chloe's arms.
"Can you make it better?" Harper had calmed down a little bit.
"I'll try, baby. Does it feel like you're going to throw up?"
"Uh huh," Harper said.
Beca frowned. "Chlo, do we have any ginger ale, or pepto bismal?"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "You can't give pepto bismal to a 3 year old, and we don't have any ginger ale. I can take you guys home and then run out and get some."
"Ok. She looks really pale, Chlo." Beca held her hand to Chloe's forehead. "She feels really warm."
"Just get Emily. I'll get her in the car."
Beca walked back into the building. "How did you get here, Em?"
"I took a cab. Why?"
"Come on, we'll drop you off at your hotel, and then after Chloe takes us home, she's running out to get some ginger ale, and then she'll pick you up so you can move in with her." Beca picked up her crutches.
"Ok. How is Harper?"
"She feels like she's going to throw up. I think it's the stomach flu. I'll sit in the back with her."
"Ok, and how's your knee...well first of all, what happened to your knee?"
"Long story, I'll tell you in the car."
"Ok."
Beca sat in the back seat, holding Harper's hand and singing to her as she drifted off to sleep. When she finally fell asleep, Emily spoke up. "So what happened to your knee?"
"So our friend Anna had a miscarriage, and I went over there, and I played piano for the first time in like 6 years, and she joined in, and when I got up to record it on my phone, I must have turned wrong or something because I heard my knee pop and then I was on the floor. So then Anna took me to the doctor, and I was told it was a sprain. So I wore the brace for like 3 weeks, and then Chloe noticed I was still limping when we were walking around at the mall, so she dragged me to the doctor, and I found out I tore my ACL, so I had surgery the next day and basically they wrap the broken tendon through a metal plate until it's healed. Mine isn't healed yet, and I go in for X-rays every other week, so until it's healed, I'm not supposed to put full pressure on it, and when it really hurts, I have to use crutches again, so that sucks, but I mean I've been through worse, so I'm fine. But it's not like my knee will ever be 100% normal again, but it's fine."
"Oh wow, Becs, I'm so sorry." Emily smiled sympathetically. "Here's my stop. Chlo, you'll pick me up on your way home?"
"Yep!" Chloe said. "See you in about an hour."
Beca climbed into the front seat after Emily left. "Thank god, I was starting to get carsick back there. Hey what time is it?"
"6:30," Chloe answered. "Where did Jesse have to go for his business trip?"
"He went to Arizona, and it's a long trip. It's like 3 weeks this time, and it's really hard because after he gets back, we have 2 weeks until the wedding. I need to set up an appointment to get my dress. I'll have you, Harper, Anna, and Emily come."
Chloe pulled into the driveway. "Sounds good. Do you want me to carry her in for you?"
"Yeah that would be great."
"You know she really doesn't look good, Becs."
"I know. I think she just has a fever. I'll give her some medicine. Can you get some medicine, too?"
"Yeah. You think she's gonna throw up?"
"Probably, I mean look at her. But it's fine. Maybe she just needs to get it out of her system."
"Ok. I'm gonna run out and pick up Em. Need anything else?"
"No, but thanks. Sorry this kind of ruined your birthday."
"It didn't ruin it, Becs. Things happen, and the most important thing is that Harper feels better."
"Thanks, Chlo. See you in an hour."
"Ok! Hopefully she starts to feel better."
Beca laid her daughter down on the couch and gave her some medicine, which she threw up a second later. Beca tried to keep herself together. "Ok, ew, it's ok sweetie."
Harper started crying. Beca cradled the little girl in her arms. "It's ok, sweetie."
Beca frowned. This was going to be a long night.
