Sinners On Tour 04 Wicked Beat (34 page)

Eric watched in stunned silence as Dave moved the foot pedals of his wheelchair aside, grabbed the banister, and pulled himself to his feet.

“You got it?” Trey asked him.

“Yep,” Dave said breathlessly. With tremendous effort and using the handrail for support, Dave slowly climbed the four stairs to stand on the porch. Eric grabbed him in a tremendous bear hug while Trey folded Dave’s wheelchair and hefted it up the steps.

“You can walk?” Eric said.

There was suddenly a smaller body participating in their hug fest. Rebekah was literally sobbing with happiness.

“Okay,” Dave said. “I need to sit down again. I’m still weak as a fuckin’ kitten. I can only move a few steps at a time.”

They helped him back into his chair and bumped him over the threshold into the house.

“Is everyone here?” Trey asked.

Rebekah nodded. “How’s Isaac?” she asked.

“He’ll be okay,” Trey promised. “I know just the guy for him.” Everyone in the foyer stared. “No, not me. You know how I feel about serious relationships.” He made a face of disgust and Rebekah laughed.

“And I wanted to date you,” she said. “Good thing I didn’t stay hung up on you for too long. Heartbreaker.”

“Cock tease,” Trey shot back.

Dave chuckled. “You’ve no idea how happy I am to hear him call you that.”

Rebekah glanced at Eric and turned beet red.

“How’s your mother doing?” Eric asked Dave, hoping to change the subject.

“Better. They’re trying her on some new meds. She sounded great when I talked to her a couple hours ago. You should call her, Rebekah.”

Rebekah nodded. “I will after Eric’s party.”

“She’s not stuck in her Isaac-and-Rebekah loop anymore.”

“That’s a relief,” Rebekah said. She stroked her brother’s hair and kissed his forehead. “You had to go and one-up me, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

“I plan all this stuff for Eric’s birthday, and you show up and promptly start walking.” She shook her head as if annoyed. “Figures.”

“Sibling rivalry at its finest.” Dave grabbed her around the waist and tumbled her onto his lap so he could tickle her. She laughed and squirmed, finally landing herself in a heap on the floor. Smiling broadly, Eric helped her to her feet.

They made their way into the kitchen where Myrna was busy getting the meal heated and appropriately served. Brian was at underfoot as he tried to help. Eventually, she grabbed him by both arms and gave him a hard shake. “I know you want to help, but will you sit down and let me get this done? Back off! I’m fine. I’m not the first woman to have a baby, you know!”

“But you’re the first woman to have
my
baby.”

Myrna stared at her husband and then burst into tears. She hugged him against her and kissed every inch of his face. “I’m s-sorry I yelled at you. I love you so much.”

“Hormones,” Sed grumbled. “Hey, Jess. You aren’t going to be like that when I knock you up, are you?”

Jessica poked him in the ribs. Hard. “Ask me that again, and you’ll be incapable of ever having children.”

Sed covered his crotch protectively with both hands.

The meal was amazing. Myrna had made her homemade lasagna. The Italian bread, with its crisp outside and melt-on-your-tongue center, was also homemade. Everything was perfect. The meal. The company. The love of his life playing footsies with him beneath the dinner table. Everything.

Perfect.

They covered Eric’s cake with candles and made him blow them out. “Don’t forget to make a wish,” Rebekah encouraged.

He couldn’t think of anything else he could possibly want or need. And then he remembered that Rebekah had her MRI the next day. He wished for perfect health for his woman and then blew out the candles. A second later, Eric found his face shoved into the cake, and then a full-fledged cake-flinging battle ensued in his kitchen. Hiding with Rebekah under the breakfast bar from the chocolate cake and buttercream frosting projectiles, Eric smiled as she began to nibble the cake and frosting off his face.

“This is delicious,” she said.

He laughed and smeared his cheek against hers so he could sample his birthday cake for himself. “That is pretty good,” he said, licking frosting off her face, “but these are much sweeter.” He kissed her and was still kissing her when eight pairs of eyes peered under the counter to stare at them.

“Time to open presents,” Sed announced.

“I could get used to this,” Eric murmured and kissed Rebekah again before hauling himself from beneath the counter. He helped Rebekah to her feet and turned to find Jessica sucking frosting off Sed’s huge biceps. Brian and Myrna were feeding each other bits of cake with their fingers. Aggie was nibbling on Jace’s jaw, none too gently, if his raspy breathing was any indication of his level of excitement.

Trey crossed his arms over his chest. “If you all don’t stop it, I’m going to have to start making out with Dave here, and no one wants to see that.”

“I do,” Aggie said and emitted a husky chuckle.

Damn, that woman was delightfully wicked. Eric could only imagine what she’d made him as a birthday gift. It turned out to be a custom-made black leather corset with blue butterflies embroidered down one side for Rebekah. Eric totally approved.

Sed and Jessica had bought him a personalized license plate frame for the Corvette that read
Drummers
Do
It
with
Rhythm
.

Myrna and Brian gave him a box of sex toys that came with their stamp of approval.

Trey didn’t get him anything. “I practically gave you that wonderful woman of yours,” he explained with a wink.

Dave gave him a new cymbal for his drum kit, which he had to try immediately.

Rebekah handed him yet another gift.

“You’re spoiling me,” Eric said. He laughed when he opened the box and found a pillow shaped like a pair of breasts.

“So when you’re on the road, you’ll have something to remind you of me. Something you can play with while you’re sleeping alone. And you will be sleeping alone, Eric Sticks!”

“No, he won’t,” Sed said.

“What do you mean he won’t?” Rebekah bellowed.

Before Eric could assure her that she had absolutely nothing to worry about, Sed said, “You’ll be there with him. The band talked about it, and we decided we want you to stay on as our permanent soundboard operator.”

Her smile could have lit the heavens, and then she glanced at her brother. “Dave—”

“Dave will also be our soundboard operator. That job is big enough for two people. There are things he won’t be able to do for a while yet, so you can help him, but honestly, with both of you on the job, Sinners is gonna rock everyone’s face off,” he said in that front man roar that made the crowds go wild.

Eric was so happy he could’ve kissed Sed. So he did. He got slapped alongside the head for his misplaced affection, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t have to be away from Rebekah for weeks on end. Or ever. She would always be by his side.

“So do you want the job?” Sed asked.

“Are you kidding?” Rebekah cried. “Of course I want the job!”

Sed didn’t slap
her
alongside the head when she kissed him, but Jessica’s eyes flashed a warning.

The doorbell rang. Eric glanced at Rebekah in question.

“Happy twenty-eighth birthday, baby.”

“Did you get me a stripper?” Eric teased.

Trey slapped himself in the forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that? Then I’d have someone to play with too.”

“Go get the door,” Rebekah urged.

Eric gave her a strange look. Everyone he knew was already here, but he went to answer. Jon stood on his threshold. Well, Eric’s birthday had been going perfectly. Only seemed fair that something would fuck it up. Why would Rebekah invite him?

Jon smiled slightly. “Hey,” he said.

“I already told you, the band is finished with you, Jon. You’re not going to weasel your way back in.”

Jon offered a curt nod. “Yeah, I get that. That’s not why I’m here. What is that in your hair?”

Eric touched his hair and found a hunk of cake in the row of spikes down the center. “Birthday cake.”

“Oh yeah. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks. So what do you want?”

“Can we talk outside? It’s kind of… personal.”

Eric sighed. Why couldn’t he just tell this guy to fuck off? To get out of his life and stay out. Maybe because he remembered him before he’d become an addict.

“Yeah. Okay.” Eric closed the front door and went to sit on the porch swing.

Jon perched beside him, clasped his hands in his lap, and stared at his thumbs. “My rehab counselor said it would help to make amends.”

“You’re in rehab?”

“Outpatient.”

“Obviously.”

Jon chuckled. “When I called the house looking for you yesterday, Rebekah said I could come tonight. Own up to everything.”

Eric wondered why she thought this was a good birthday present.

“I’m sorry I lied about the money in the lockbox,” Jon said. “I did take it. Blew it all on a weekend’s worth of quality cocaine.” He looked up and met Eric’s eyes. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I wouldn’t forgive me. Everyone else gave up on me years ago, but you never did.” His defeated smile made Eric’s heart pang. Just a little. “I didn’t know how else to keep you in my life, Eric, so I manipulated you into thinking you owed me. All I really wanted was to hang out with you again. Like we used to before I completely fucked up my life.”

“You don’t have to be in the band to hang out with me.”

Jon rubbed his forehead and stared across the immaculately tended front yard. “Don’t enable me again, Eric. It honestly doesn’t help.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near me if you’re using, but…”

Jon glanced at him.

“But if you get your shit together, maybe we could put a little band together. Play gigs at local bars. I’ve been working on some alternative rock songs. You never were heavy enough for Sinners.”

Jon smiled. “That would be awesome.”

“But I get to sing.”

“And drum?”

“Nope, just sing. I’ll need you to find a good drummer. A couple of guitarists. I won’t have time. I’m fuckin’ busy, you know?”

Jon’s eyes sparkled with hope. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun. We’ll jam. Just when I’m off tour with Sinners, of course, and only if you keep your nose clean. I’m not putting up with your bullshit anymore, Jon.”

Jon punched him in the arm. “I don’t expect you to.”

Eric nodded. “Do you want to come inside?”

Jon shook his head. “Nah. I’ve taken enough of your time. You’ll probably get a long, boring letter from me in a couple days. Another part of my therapy. You don’t have to read it, if you don’t want to.”

Eric laughed. “That’s why you’re really here, huh? To keep me from reading that letter.”

“No,” Jon said sheepishly. “I’m not like that anymore.”

“Whatever, dude,” Eric said, laughing. “I don’t expect you to change overnight.”

Jon climbed to his feet. “I’ll give you a call once I’m sure this therapy is going to stick. I really want to succeed this time. I’m finished with that shit.”

“You better. I have some songs written that are amazing, but not Sinners’ style. I’d love to get them in front of an audience. I’m counting on you to make that happen.”

Jon rolled his eyes. “You don’t need me, Eric. You could put your own band together in ten seconds. Any musician in his right mind would give his left nut to perform with you.”

“But I’m counting on you.” Eric shoved Jon toward the porch steps. “Get now. I need to chase off the rest of my guests so I can have time alone with my woman.”

“She’s good for you.”

Eric smiled. “You don’t have to state the obvious.”

Jon trotted down the steps and then turned to look at him. “Thanks.” He didn’t need to say more. Eric understood. “Happy birthday.”

When Eric let himself back in the house, Rebekah was waiting in the foyer. “How did it go?”

Eric nodded. “I think he’s actually going to get his life back together.”

She reached up and cupped his face. “And I suppose you’re going to help him with that.”

“Nope. Just gave him a little incentive. My part in his recovery is entirely hands-off.”

“Good,” she said, “because I think it’s about time you put your hands on me.”

“I think it’s past time for that.”

Rebekah didn’t know what was worse, the actual MRI or waiting for the results. She and Eric played a word game against each other on their phones while she waited to be called to see her doctor. She was glad Eric was there to help her pass the time. Her stomach was in knots.

When they called her in, she left Eric in the waiting room. If it was bad news, she didn’t want him to see her fall apart. She’d have a few minutes to pull herself together before she had to tell him.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go in with you?” he asked, clinging to her fingers with one hand.

“I’ll only be a minute.” She kissed his cheek and followed the nurse to Dr. Palmer’s office.

The moment she entered the room, she knew it would not be good news. Dr. Palmer had two expressions. I’m on top of the world. You’re going to die. He was wearing his solemn look at the moment.

“Have a seat, Miss Blake.”

She sat, or more collapsed. Her legs were like wet noodles.

“Your blood work looks great. CEA levels normal,” he said, but he didn’t offer a smile of encouragement. “The MRI…”

Oh
God, please don’t say it. Please.

“There is a suspicious spot in your pelvic cavity.”

Fuck. He said it.

“I want to do an immediate biopsy to take a look. It might be an artifact or excess scar tissue or—it might be a relapse of cancer.”

Unable to speak, she lowered her eyes and nodded slightly.

“They’re prepping a room for you upstairs. If it
is
cancer, the faster we get you on chemo, the better our chances of beating it again.”

But if it was back, they hadn’t beat it. Not really. “I feel fine,” she said breathlessly. Well, she had. Now she felt devastated. She’d found true love, true happiness, and her body had betrayed her again.

“It might be nothing. Let’s do the biopsy and see what we have to deal with before we talk about treatment options.”

She nodded and somehow found the strength to climb to her feet and shuffle out of his office. The nurse told her where she should go for her biopsy, and then she went to find Eric in the waiting room. He looked almost as nauseous as she felt.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “I need another test,” she said breathlessly. She couldn’t tell him why. She just couldn’t.

“Why?”

“Because,” she snapped. “Doctors like to stick long, thick needles into my body, that’s why!”

“I have something long and thick I’d like to stick into your body.”

She knew that he was trying to cheer her up, but it wasn’t working. “Just shut up, Eric. I’m not in the mood.”

He looked like she’d slapped him. “Sorry.”

She squeezed her forehead between both hands, trying to stave off a threatening headache. “Let’s just go get this over with.”

They made Eric wait outside while they used some kind of machine to direct the needles they jabbed her with while collecting their samples. When they left her alone, she laid there on the examination table, staring at the ceiling to fight threatening tears. They told her they’d have the results of the biopsy soon. Didn’t want her to leave in case they had to poke her some more. Her doctor had ordered her biopsy evaluation STAT, and there was a qualified pathologist on duty. At least she wouldn’t have to wonder for long.

The door opened and Eric appeared in the doorway. “Are you decent?”

“Unfortunately,” she muttered.

“I’m supposed to say that,” he said, settling beside her on the padded table. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. They sat there silently for a long while. “Are you okay?” he asked finally.

She shook her head, blinking hard, her lips pursed.

“Tell me, baby. Not knowing what’s going on has to be worse than the truth.”

“Worse than the cancer being back? I’d rather not know.”

“It’s back?” he whispered.

“I don’t know. They found a suspicious spot on the MRI so they did a biopsy to see if it’s cancer.”

“Everything will be all right, sweetheart,” he said.

She glared at him. “If the cancer has relapsed, nothing is all right, Eric. Nothing.”

“I’m here,” he said. “Okay? You beat this once. You can do it again.”

“I don’t want to go through chemotherapy again, Eric. It makes me so tired. I’ll be all sick and skinny. All my hair will fall out. I won’t be beautiful anymore.” She squeezed her eyes and swallowed. “Or sexy.”

Eric cupped her face in both hands, his thumbs stroking the tears from her cheeks. “Look at me, Rebekah.”

She forced her eyes open.

“You know I think your outer package is perfect,” he said, “but what’s beautiful about you is in here.” He pressed the fingertips of one hand to the center of her chest over her aching heart. He moved his other hand to the side of her head. “What’s sexy is in here.” He kissed her forehead, her temple. “I said I’d love you forever, baby. That doesn’t mean I abandon you when you’re sick. If you’re too tired to get out of bed, I’ll carry you. If your hair falls out, I’ll…” He grabbed the long strand of purple resting against his collarbone. “I’ll cut this off and tape it to your forehead.”

She laughed, picturing herself with one long chunk of purple hair taped to her bald head.

“If you’re sick, I’ll take care of you. If you’re skinny, I’ll feed you every flavor of scrambled eggs you can imagine.”

“Okay, you’ve gone too far with that one.”

“What I won’t do is let you give up. I won’t bury you without a fight, Rebekah. And you’re going to have to do all the fighting, sweetheart. You have to be the strong one. All I can do is hold your hand and stand beside you.”

A movement behind Eric caught Rebekah’s attention. Her mother stood there with tears in her eyes. Mom grabbed Eric around the neck and hugged his head against her ample bosom. Rebekah laughed at his startled expression.

“How long have you been here?” Rebekah asked her mother.

Her mom smiled. “Long enough. Doctor Palmer told me you were down here and could probably use some support while you waited for your results.” She grabbed Eric by both ears and pulled him away from her chest to look at him. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize how much you love my daughter. I get…
confused
sometimes. I can see you now.” She ruffled his wild hair with both hands. “Not just the crazy hair and the tattoos, but what’s inside.”

“Blood and guts?” Eric said.

Rebekah laughed and hit him with a spare pillow.

“Well, no,” Mom said, looking a tad queasy. “I don’t really want to see that. I see that you love her unconditionally. I trust you to take care of her. It’s a big responsibility. She’s always been a difficult one. You sure you want the job?”

Eric glanced at Rebekah and smiled. “I’m sure.”

“Well, hello Mrs. Blake,” Doctor Palmer said as he walked into the room. “How are you feeling?”

Mom turned and smiled. “Amazing. This new prescription has made all the difference. And my daughter is getting married!”

Doctor Palmer chuckled. “I kind of figured that out on my own. Her engagement ring is huge.”

“And I want to be there,” Mom added. That was the real news.

Rebekah’s heart warmed. With Eric and her family’s support, she could get through another cycle of chemo if she had to. She stared at her doctor, feeling a strength she hadn’t possessed twenty minutes ago. “Do you have the results of the biopsy?” she asked.

Eric grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Doctor Palmer beamed. “False alarm. The suspicious mass was just dense scar tissue and some entirely normal fibroblasts. No signs of cancer at all.”

Eric hugged her so hard, she thought she might pass out.

When he pulled away, he wiped his tears on the hem of his T-shirt.

“Looks like I won’t need your lock of purple hair after all,” Rebekah said.

He laughed. “Everything that’s mine is yours.” He looked at the doctor. “Can she leave now? We have an appointment with a justice of the peace in twenty minutes.”

“We do?” Rebekah asked.

“Yeah, just let me call and make one.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and started searching the Internet for numbers. After a moment, he looked up. “Unless you want the big fancy wedding.”

She pondered for a moment. “Nope, I want a quick wedding and a big fancy reception and a lifelong honeymoon.”

Eric grinned and leaned forward to kiss her. His fingertips against her jaw, his lips tugged hers with gentle suction and incomparable tenderness. When he pulled away, he offered her a tender smile. “Well, if you insist.”