“Sounds great. I’ll see you soon.” Annie disconnected the call and jumped into the shower. It didn’t matter what she looked like for the kids. She could just throw her wet hair up in a bun. She still needed to wash all the ickiness of the twenty-four hours off. She had everything ready to go for the concert with only a minute to spare.

“Welcome, Annie Foster,” Sarah said.

Annie waved. “Hi, kids. How are you?” A chorus of “fine” and “good” answered her. “Do we have any requests today, or should I just wing it?” Annie knew Sarah would have to pull requests from the kids, as most of them were quiet and shy.

“How about something you’re playing on tour right now. What’s your favorite song to sing?” Sarah asked to spark interest.

Annie thought for a moment and decided on the song she sang with Bristol. “I bet everyone here knows this song.” She strummed and started singing. By the end of it, half the kids were singing, and Sarah was dancing down the aisle, making the kids laugh. She wasn’t a great dancer but also wasn’t trying very hard. The goal was to make the kids have fun. A few nurses popped in to check on machines and IVs and danced with Sarah. The concert was over too quickly, and Annie didn’t want to say good-bye.

“Thank you for letting me play my guitar for you.” Annie waved to the children and smiled as they waved back.

“See you later, sis,” Sarah said before ending the Zoom call.

The concert invigorated Annie. She wanted to get out and see a little bit of Los Angeles before she was expected at the arena. The rumbling in her stomach motivated her to get up and out in search for food. She slipped into shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals. Nobody would recognize her. She found a coffee shop and ordered a latte and a slice of lemon pound cake. She sat at an empty table near a window, popped a piece of cake into her mouth, and almost choked when she opened her Twitter feed and read what was trending. “Oh, fuck.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Where’s my child?”

Bristol stretched and peeked her head out from beneath her thick comforter. Sleeping in her own bed was therapeutic and much needed after so many months away. She opened one eye. “Tell me you have doughnuts.”

“Primo’s doughnuts and their world-famous coffee. Do I know my daughter or what?”

Bristol reached out and Vanessa hugged her. “Thanks, Mom.”

Vanessa sat on the edge of Bristol’s mattress and handed her a steaming cup and a glazed doughnut. “You deserve a sugar reward for being on the road for so long. It always takes a toll on you.”