The Draw

39

Christmas and New Year were done. It was time to get back to reality. The tour that the band had postponed was due to begin soon. It was Britian, Ireland, mainland Europe, Asia and America. It was going to be 13 weeks long. Rehearsals had begun in London. Dan, though healed, had found it tough. He couldn't dance about as he once had. He even found it hard to get through a few songs without getting out of breath. Their manager and various coaches had assured him it was normal after being off for so long and the trauma he'd been through physically and mentally.

'You'll be fine. Just keep practising. And once you get on the road I bet you'll be fine.' Stacey had reassured him. She was doing her best to support him but she didn't want him to go. She wanted to keep him home forever. She wasn't sure how Evie would be with her Daddy gone for so long. When they had sat down and explained to her that he was going on a plane away for a little while, she had got upset. Probably because Liam had been away and never come back.

'But I love Daddy.' She had wailed. 'Please don't go?' She begged.

'I'm going to ring you every day. And I can come home whenever you want me to or you can come to me.'

'No no no no.' She screamed.

'I'm sorry princess.' He told her but she was in full tantrum mode. They had agreed it was best to tell her the truth rather than Dan just sneaking off in the night without saying goodbye. But they'd never contemplated her reaction to be so bad.

'Remember you're starting your new nursery soon and Granny is going to look after you some days too. And we can stay here and wait for Daddy to come home, can't we?'

'NO!'

Stacey shrugged at Dan. He seemed so devastated. He'd just gotten to know his child and he was being torn away from her again. And for Stacey it was like reliving the past. It was him working away again. As best as she could she tried to ignore her feelings towards Dan. She had already decided it was no good them being together in an actual relationship. She would not put herself through all that again. With anyone. So all the thoughts in her mind would have to stay exactly there. Even though she really didn't want him to go.

Evie continued to cry and moan on the floor, Dan shook his head.

'I can't do this.' He whispered to himself but Stacey heard him. 'I can't go. I don't want to go.'

'You have to.'

'No I don't. I need to stay here with you two.'

'Please don't do that. She'll be fine.'

'I can't miss any more of her life, Stace. I'm gonna ring the guys-'

'No. I can't let you do that.'

'Stop it Stacey. Please. I'm doing what I should've done years ago. I put you second before and I'm not doing it again. I'm gonna quit the band.'

'You can't do that-'

'I nearly died. I should've died in that accident but I didn't and I am not wasting my second chance.'

'I understand what you're saying but you're being too hasty. We can think of something.'

'No. I'm not changing my mind.' He started to get irate. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. She couldn't let him do this. She snatched it off him. 'Give it back.' He ordered. She put her arm behind her. He tried to pull her arm back round.

'Dan! Stop it!' She cried. 'We'll come with you.' The words left her mouth before she'd even thought about it.

He stopped wrestling her, but his hands still held tightly onto her wrist.

'What?'

'We will come with you.' She repeated.

'Are you serious?'

'Yes.'

'But what about your course? Nursery?'

'None of that matters. I need Evie to have her Dad around, and if you quit the band, you'll be miserable. I don't want a miserable Dad for her. I put my work before you last time, too. If we mean that much to you, then we're coming with you.'

'Stacey...' He trailed off. The smile returned to his face. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly, lifting her feet off the ground and spinning her around. 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.' He put her back down and took her head between his hands. He planted a big wet kiss on her lips. The feeling stayed on her lips long after they'd parted.

'Ew.' Evie said. She was stood in front of them, staring. They both laughed.

'Are you sure? Because I don't want to get my hopes up and you-'

'I'm sure. We're parents now and everything we do is for her.' She was still staring up at them, her big blue eyes confused. At least she'd stopped her tantrum. Dan picked Evie up with one arm and held Stacey with his other. He hugged them both so tightly, Evie squirmed.

'Daddy no!' He planted another soppy kiss on Evie's cheek. She wiped it away with her arm, giggling in disgust.

'This is going to be amazing.' He sighed happily.