We have traveled to Around the US for about 4 months . Today is Eden's first birthday and we are celebrating it in Justin's home town of Stratford! Justin was performing tonight but during his pre show we are going to sing and have cake. I know most parents go all out for their child's first birthday but I didn't care how extravagant it was I just wanted Justin to be there. We were staying at his grandparents house while we were here and Bruce and Diane were the nicest people ever! They loved Justin and I could tell he meant a lot to him. I was baking a big cupcake for Eden while she was still sleeping. Diane helped me frost it because Justin was still sleeping as well. By the time we were done Justin walked in with a baggy Toronto maple leaf sweatshirt and skinny kakis and he was carrying Eden. "The birthday girls up" he said in his baby voice. He walked over kissed me good morning and gave me Eden "happy birthday" I tried to sing but I know I'm not the best! "Good morning grandma" Justin said hugging his grandma. "So before the show I was thinking I could show you guys around?" Justin said with a smirk. "Yeah that sounds good let me go get her dressed and I'll be right back" I walked into Justin's old room and opened the suitcase to get a pair of teal bottoms and a grey shirt for Eden and a flower head band. I got her dressed and packed her diaper bag. "All set " he said grabbing my hand I nodded. We waved his grandma goodbye "you kids have fun but be back by three scooter said" Justin's grandma said as she shut the door behind us. We took his grandmas car and I strapped in Eden and Justin opened the door for me as I sat in the passenger seat. "Where are we going!" I say like a giddy little school girl. "Well if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise!" Justin laughed. We pulled into what looked like the downtown area. I pulled Eden out of her seat and put her in her stroller then Justin's hand and mine entwined. "So our first stop is the Avon theater where I started" Justin said pointing like a tour guide. Then I noticed that there's a star with his name on it. "This is beautiful!" I say then I took Eden out and she took little steps onto the star I just had to take a picture. "She's her fathers daughter " I say laughing and putting my head on Justin's shoulder. We continued to walk around the town looking at all the little shops then we looked at the clock and it was already two thirty. "Wow time flies" I laugh. "I know it's a small town and there's not much.." Justin said walking to the car then I interrupted "it was beautiful!" I say kissing him. "Well I have to get ready for the show" he says pulling up to his grandmas house. "I'll bring the cake around 5 so we can sing before your performance" I said kissing his lips before he pulls out and drives to the venue.
We pulled into the venue with the cake in the back of the van. I couldn't wait to spend Eden's first birthday with Justin. Everyday I thank god for giving g me one more day with his smile, his humor, and his passion. I walked in with Justin's family and we went through the backdoor. Then as I walked onto the stage I saw that we were interrupting their sound check. I started to walk backwards slowly and then Eden screamed "DADA" I stopped dead in my tracks and started to shush Eden Justin was in the middle of the chorus and then the music stopped. Justin looked at us I mouthed sorry. "Scooter take five" Justin yelled. He dropped the mic and walked over to us. Eden motioned her hands over to Justin and Justin couldn't resist. "Sorry we interrupted we just wanted to watch" I whispered looking at my dad. "It's okay it's almost time for everyone to sing anyways" Justin smiled the Justin's mom and grandma came in behind us with the cake with one candle lit. Justin brought me in closer we both were grinning ear to ear looking at our daughter. Everyone gathered round and stood in a circle. "Justin I think you should lead us in happy Birthday" my dad instructed Justin nodded. Justin cleared his throat and grabbed the mic and started to sing "happy Birthday to you" he sang beautifully and then everyone joined in. When the song ended Justin and I both helped her blow out the candle. Then I grabbed my iPhone out of my pocket. "Hey can you grab a picture of us" I say to Pattie she smiled and nodded. She took the picture and we cut the cake.
The show begins.
The show was a sold out show which made Justin nervous but what made him more nervous was that it was his hometown and he felt obligated to make a flawless performance. Since Eden was still very young Justin gave her some ear phones that let her listen to him and it blocks out the screams. Justin was in the zone before the show he was practicing dance steps in the corner of the dressing room. Then my dad knocked on the door and yelled "Justin it's time to head down to the stage" . Justin looked up and nodded as he put in his ear piece. He let out a big sigh as if he was stressed out. I grabbed Edens bag and we started to walk out. Before we parted was I grabbed Justin's shoulder. "Hey" I whispered as he looked back with a blank look on his face. "Your going to do great " I smiled he looked in to my eyes and just hugged me. He kissed Eden in the cheek and went back stage. Pattie and I went to our seats as the show began. He opened with What do You Mean and he didn't miss a beat. He then followed with love yourself to slow it down a bit. But in the middle of the show Eden started to get fussy and I took her backstage. I wore her ear buds so I could listen to Justin. We got back to the dressing room and I changed Edens diaper and rocked her to sleep. Just sounded like he was singing acoustic to I'll show you. I hummed the song to Eden as she closed her eyes. Then as I placed her in her pack and play everything in my ear went silent. Then I heard a bunch of people run in the hall. "Justin" I yell as I ran out not even thinking about Eden. I pushed through all the venue workers and I saw Pattie crying I looked on stage and Justin was lying there unconscious.
