Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Learning To Fly

Unfortunately after our one night of passion things go back to the way they were. Stevie works long hours at the studio while I fiddle around with my music during the morning and run back and forth with the kids in the afternoon. Sara's taken up piano lessons and at Stevie's insistence she's going to a private tutor, that way she can actually learn to read and write music. Not knowing either of those things hasn't had any negative affects on me or Stevie, but you always want better for your children. Besides Sara is a natural at any instrument, and she loves it. She may only be nine years old, but I can already see how serious she is about music, and it makes me more than a little proud.

Nova on the other hand is all boy. He wants to play sports, at five he's too small for anything but pee wee football but as soon as he got his uniform he started tackling anything that wasn't nailed down. Chairs, pillows, Sara, me, Stevie, Jeff, Robin...he'd probably tackle Ginny too if she wasn't too fast for him to catch. And too smart from years of evading toddlers trying to pull her tail and ears. My big brother has taken him under his wing excited that finally he has a playmate interested in the things he likes. AJ is just a toddler so he likes whatever the person babysitting him likes, and naps. He loves napping.

Stevie almost missed his first word, Momma. She was getting dressed to leave and I was holding him in bed watching the whirlwind of her morning routine. Sitting up with a toy dinosaur in his hand he let out one of his happy yells bouncing on the mattress, Stevie stopped for just a moment to brush a kiss across AJ's forehead and he just said it "Momma". Sara's first word was Daddy. Nova's were "Bye daddy" and AJ's was momma. Well after that Stevie spent an hour sobbing in my arms, blaming hormones and cursing record labels and solo ventures. She even got short with Tom when he called to ask if she was on the way in.

Now AJ's vocabulary consists of about two dozen words including Daddy, Robin, Ginny and Moo Moo.

When Henley flies into town with his massive entourage and line of women I feel like vomiting. Stevie's just as annoyed with his antics, but he's a big star and he and The Eagles have sold nearly on par with Fleetwood Mac so we have to cater to his ego. Unlike her duet with Tom Petty, Stevie wrote Leather and Lace on her own, she says it's about me and her but also about another couple she knows. She won't be upfront but I suspect it's Robin and Jeff. It's a beautiful song, and a perfect duet but I can't imagine the two of us signing it. It fits Don's voice better than mine, and the animosity between the three of us brings Stevie's emotions to the forefront while she performs it, which adds a lot to the final track.

Lucky for all assembled he decides to linger in the studio no longer than necessary to finish recording. Afterwards he's off to the nightclubs to score, and get laid. Good old love em and leer em Henley. Stevie lets out a shudder when his limo drives off rubbing her shoulders "I can't believe he actually dated Robin" I can. Stevie's best friend is a lot like her, but they have their differences. I mean she's dating Jeff-but breaks my balls constantly. And considering how alike he and I are in many ways it makes me wonder...

Perhaps the biggest surprise of Stevie's album comes in the form of Lori singing back up for her. After the way she treated Chris' girlfriend the first time we met her I'm shocked to discover the two women have been corresponding by letter over the years. Turns out they've become fast friends and much to Chris' encouragement the two began to collaborate musically. She's slated to go on tour with Stevie when the album drops. This whole process is a bit overwhelming to watch from the outside. I've gotten used to people singling Stevie out when we're together as a band and even when we were Buckingham Nicks. But it's uncanny how much attention she's being paid as a solo artist.

Through it all he's right there. Tom Petty. The nice guy that I feel like a dick for low key hating. It's just for this album, after it's finished he'll move on to other things and so will Stevie. After that he won't have any reason to be hanging around her or she him. I can stop feeling this petty, no pun intended, jealousy every time his name gets brought up in conversation. Why can't he be an asshole like Don?