Dave just smiled. "It's okay. I'm hoping they might take me back before I'm literally back on my feet."
"Are you up for touring again?" Eric asked. "You know how grueling it can be."
Dave nodded. "I'm hoping when you go back out in January that I'll be ready to take over most of my duties. Well, those I can do in my chair. I don't think I'll be walking that soon and won't be all that helpful at assembly and teardown. I'll do as much as I'm able to though."
"Don't rush yourself, son," Bill said. "You can stay here with your mother and me for as long as necessary."
Dave and Rebekah exchanged glances and then smiled at their mother.
"I like to work," Dave insisted. "I really miss it. And the guys. I miss them too. How are they all doing?"
"Great!" Eric said. "Me and Reb signed them all up to volunteer this Thanksgiving at the homeless shelter. I can't wait to tell them."
"Awesome. I'll be there," Dave said. "I can't wait to see them again. And I really can't wait to go back on tour."
"Whenever you think you can handle it," Eric said with a smile. It was great to see Dave doing so well.
"But … what about me?" Rebekah asked.
"Reb, you knew your work with the band was temporary from the beginning," Dave said.
She ducked her head, looking entirely defeated. Eric didn't want her to leave, but when Dave was ready to return to work, she'd have to. And then she'd be here with Isaac all the time, while Eric was on the road.
This entire situation sucked.
"I don't like the idea of you on the road with all those sinful, dirty rock stars in the first place, Rebekah," Mrs. B said.
Eric's hackles rose. He had the sudden urge to hit someone.
"As you've told me every other day on the phone, Mother," Rebekah said. "Give it a rest."
"Is it safe?" Isaac asked, glancing at Eric out of the corner of his eye. "They wouldn't hurt you, would they?"
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "The guys are great. All of them. I had a bit of a rocky start with Marcus, but things are going perfectly now."
"Did Marcus give you a hard time?" Dave asked.
"At first," Rebekah admitted. "We're good now. We've come to an understanding. He's stopped trying to sabotage my soundboard, and he even gave your notebook back to me."
"What? I'm so going to kick his ass," Dave said. He chuckled. "Well, maybe I'll have Eric knock him down so I can roll over his fuckin' ass."
"David Adam, watch your language!" Mrs. B said.
"Sorry, Mom," Dave said sheepishly.
"Is everyone finished?" Mrs. B asked.
Eric was so ready to leave it wasn't funny. He stood and picked up his plate. "I've got dishes."
"Don't be ridiculous. Guests don't do dishes," Mrs. B said. "Rebekah, get the dishes."
Rebekah stood to obey her mother, scraping plates and stacking them.
"Why don't you help her, Isaac?" Mrs. B smiled fondly.
"Yes, ma'am."
Eric watched Isaac and Rebekah clear the table, his heart aching. They were so comfortable with each other, sharing quiet words and laughs. He had no doubt it was common for them to be domestic. Like a couple.
"Can I help?" Eric grabbed Rebekah's hand as she collected his empty wineglass. He ran his finger over the butterfly bracelet he'd given her.
She smiled. "Isaac and I have a routine. We'll be done in no time." She leaned close to his ear. "Then we can go home. You look like you're ready to climb out of your skin."
How very observant of her.
"Where's the bathroom?" he asked her.
"There's a powder room off the kitchen."
"I don't need powder," he said.
She laughed and poked him in the ribs. "Joker." She kissed his lips eagerly. The metallic clang of silverware interrupted their exchange. Isaac crouched to retrieve all the silverware he'd just spilled across the floor.
Eric climbed to his feet to find the powder room, whatever the fuck that was. It turned out to be a half-bathroom, though there was a wooden placard on the door denoting it as a powder room.
He took his time using the facilities, needing to collect himself. He was a jumble of conflicting emotions, his stomach tied in knots. His hands were shaking, for fuck's sake. He took several deep breaths to try to calm his nerves. This was all too much, too soon. Sometimes he was glad he didn't have a family to call his own. His interactions with families always left him bewildered. Even Sed's family, pretty much the most awesome people Eric had ever met, became too much to handle after a few hours. It was all so … busy. And close. When he finally came out of the bathroom, Mrs. B accosted him immediately.