"You go on in five." A man told Reba as he walked into her dressing room. She was preparing for her first concert. They had finished her hair and make-up while she tried to remember song lyrics. She missed her family so much it hurt, but Jack told her he believed in her and did all of this to get her the contract that she had to go through with the tour. But she always made sure to call home every night. Reba didn't want one night to go by that her kids would feel forgotten. Standing up, Reba's shoulder length hair was spiked away from her head. Her eyes sparkled as the light hit them and the soft pink eye shadow and blush on her face. She held the microphone to her lips and starting singing.

"How blue, can you make me-"

When she finished the concert, Reba walked to her trailer and picked up the phone. It was too late to talk to the kids, but Jack might answer the phone. It took several rings before he picked up the phone.

"Hello?" A voice whispered.

"Jack? It's Reba. How are you?" She could hear him clear his throat.

"Reba? Where are you?"

"I just finished my concert in Chicago. We're headed to Savannah in an hour."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too. I was home last weekend, but it feels like it's been so much longer than that." Reba stated.

"I know," Jack agreed, "the kids and I miss you a great deal."

"I'll be home soon. Are you coming to my concert in two weeks?"

"Yeah, we'll have everybody there. It might be a little loud for the kids, but it'll be worth it to see you after the show." Jack replied and Reba smiled.

"How are the kids?"

"I haven't seen my kids in a while. Marianne's in college in Florida. Kara's 16 and feels that she needs to have her own life."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh kids grow up. Yours have too I'm sure." She smiled holding the phone.

"Let me ask a different question. How are our kids?" He laughed.

"Our kids," he paused, "Paul's really growing, He's already six inches taller than the last time you saw him."

"I won't even recognize him when I see them again."

"Probably not. He's always asking about you. He wants to know where his Mama is."

"Stop, you're going to make me cry."

"Well, how about Jennifer? She's in preschool and learning her ABCs."

"I'll call before tomorrow's concert and talk to them. I love you. All of you."

"I love you too Reba." She hung up and felt a pull at her heart.

"Only one more tour. One more." She thought. Reba was ready to go. She took off her diamond earrings and put them away. That was the piece of her family she could take on stage with her every night. After putting on her nightgown, she slid into bed. Most singers these days flew everywhere, but she was glad to have her bus instead. She had a bedroom instead of a suitcase in motel rooms. After Reba had gotten under the blanket, she picked up the picture of her family next to the bed. They had taken it at Christmas. She was sitting in a chair holding Paul. Jake was sitting at her feet with Jennifer on her lap. Then Kyra, Cheyenne, Van, Kara and Marianne were standing around her. Elizabeth was on her knees with her elbows propped up on Reba's lap. Her smile made Reba laugh. She looked at the clock and decided it wasn't too late to call Cheyenne. She put the picture down and decided against it. Her eyes dropped and she barely felt the jerk of the bus moving.

"Mama!" Jennifer squealed.

"Hi sweetie." Reba replied. She smiled holding the phone. They were about an hour from their destination and she wanted to talk to her children.

"Bye mama." Reba laughed as her three year old hung up the phone. She'd talked to Paul and Jack. She sat back and sighed when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey mom; I saw you called. I'm sorry I didn't answer before."

"It's okay. I figured you were chasing Elizabeth."

"You'd be right. She's pretty stubborn on what she's going to do or not do."

"Just like you were," Reba smiled but Cheyenne was quiet, "Cheyenne?"

"Do you have a concert in Texas soon?" Reba wracked her brain.

"Yeah, we'll be in Dallas, why?"

"Jake wants to talk to you in person about something."

"Tell you what. You make it to the concert next week and I'll have tickets and passes for you, Van, Elizabeth and Jake. We can talk after the show."

"Thanks mom."

"Love ya Cheyenne." She hung up the phone. If only she could find out what Jake wanted to talk about.

After the concert, Reba was sipping a bottle of water. She was getting ready for the meet and greet. She had put aside four tickets and waited. She half-heartedly signed autographs and lost count of the pictures taken when she saw her kids. They walked over to her.

"Grandma!" She grabbed Elizabeth as she ran toward her.

"How's my girl?" Elizabeth giggled.

"Good."

"Nice concert Mrs. H."

"Yeah mom." Cheyenne replied, but Jake was quiet. Reba looked at him.

"Do you want to go talk Jake?" He looked at her.

"Come on Elizabeth." Van took her from Reba. They started walking.

"I wish you weren't touring. I know I don't get to see you living in Boston, but I could always pick up the phone and call. I can't do that now."

"I have been feeling like a part time parent Jake."

'No, you've been great."

"But I haven't done all I could so I'm done."

"Really?" Reba nodded.

"I'll cancel my tour, come home and you can spend the summer with me and Jack in Boston." Jake smiled.

"I'd like that."

"You are the most important thing to me and you always will be Jake." He hugged her and she hugged him. There was going to be a lot to cancelling the tour, but she never even though of it. She was going home to her family. That was her focus and always should be.

The End