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“A bucket list?” Madi asks. “Can we see it?”
“No!” I answer way too quickly, startling my twins and my parents. All I need is for one of the four of them to read item number five. “Sorry, I—”
"It’s private, kiddo.” Lindsay pats Madi’s shoulder as she settles into the seat beside mine. “I might know a perfect place for you to start the trip—and the list." She reaches down, handing me an envelope from her purse.
"What's this?" I ask, removing its contents.
"A kick-off to what I know will be an amazing journey for you." She wiggles in her seat as I read the two tickets I pulled from the envelope.
Two tickets to the Ace in the Hole Festival in Seattle, which is happening just a few days from now. My mouth drops open when I scan the name of the headliner. " How did you get these? This festival sold out months ago."
"I know a guy." She laughs.
"Thank you so much!" I throw my arms around her neck and pull my best friend into the tightest hug I can.
"Take me. Please take me away," Jackie begs.
"Why? You hate country music." I shake my head at my sister.
"I know, but I need a break from these kids," she says, dropping her head to the table with dramatics.
"That's your own damn fault." I laugh. "I told you to stop at two, but you had to keep trying for a girl. Five boys would make anyone nuts! Anyway," I say, turning my attention back to Lindsay. "You were with me at the beginning of the last chapter, and it seems only fitting to start this one with you by my side. Are you ready for a weekend in Seattle?"
"Of course I am! I thought we'd go on a road trip together, get you all settled in, and then I'll fly home after the festival."
"I still think this is crazy," my mother mumbles.
"Then I know I'm doing the right thing." I wink as I wrap my arm around her shoulder, squeezing her into a side hug.
Chapter Eight
Rome
Navigating my truck through the muddy, slick campground is a piece of cake. The drunken festival goers, however, are a whole other story. People are already hitting the festival hard a day before the music even starts.
Jacob Bell, the lead singer of The Nashville Hustlers, has been my best friend since the sixth grade. After high school, he moved to Nashville to pursue music, and I followed the art scene in L.A. However, we still found ourselves running in the same circles.
"Rome! My main man. Long time no see," he says, approaching the truck's window.
"It's Daniel, now. I told you that." Jumping out of the truck, I slap my hand in his.
"It's never gonna stick. You've been Rome for as long as I've known you. Talking about building your empire."
"Yeah, well, things are different now. Thanks for this job, man. I needed to get out of L.A. for a while."
"Of course. It's not glamorous or anything, but it will be nice to have an extra hand with the stage and equipment set up. Come on. Let's go catch up with everyone. I know there's someone who's been dying to see you."
"Seriously, Jay, if you still have your crazy backup singer, I'm outta here. I don't care how bad I need to get out of town."
"Uncle Rome!" The bouncy kid with long blonde hair to match her dad's leaps into my arms, throwing her arms around my neck. "I missed you, Uncle Rome."
"No way. Can this really be Miss Stevie Ann? You, beautiful little lady, are getting much too big for your own good," I tease.
"I am big now, Uncle Rome. I'm going to kindergarten next year."
I've had a fantastic connection with Jacob's daughter since she was born. I may never get to be a father, but being an uncle is the next best thing.
"Alright, munchkin." Jay grabs his daughter from me and passes her off to a woman who must be Stevie Ann’s nanny. "Off you go. Uncle Rome and I have adult to talk about."
