Chapter two hundred and fifty eight:

Isaac sighed heavily and dropped his body against the wall with a heavy thud.

The movement cracked his aching back in just the right spot and actually helped for a brief moment.

Keeping his back parallel to the wall, he slowly slid down until he was in a sitting position next to Taylor in the hallway.

Jimmy the body guard wheeled a chair out of his own room and positioned himself at the end of the group.

Isaac drew in a deep breath. “I guess we might as well get straight to the point. I guess we need to decide what we’re going to do.”

They were all silent for a moment, before Taylor finally spoke at last. “I know there’s three weeks left of tour, but I’m thinking that maybe under the circumstances, we should cancel the remaining dates, just go home for the holidays and relax for a bit. We could let the fans know that the fire had occurred and we could say that we… I don’t know… inhaled a lot of smoke and are worried about our voices.”

Isaac thought about this for a few moments; it was a likely option.

“I think,” Zac spoke up before anyone else had the chance to. “I think if we maybe postpone a couple of dates, maybe a week or so and do the tour a week longer than expected, it would be fine. I don’t really want to cancel the tour, its not particularly fair to our good and loyal fans.”

“I have no problem with that,” Jimmy spoke up. “I’ll gladly stick around as long as you need me.”

“Thank you for that.” Isaac replied. He paused or a brief moment, then turned to Luke. “What do you think?”

Luke drew in a deep breath, “I know it’s a crappy option, and I know you won’t like it, but I’m thinking that we should just send the girls to LA. You guys are recording the album there after the tour is over, and I think we could probably get the house a couple of weeks early if we try. Jimmy and I would go with them and stay until you arrive.” Luke added. “It’s only three weeks, after all.”

Zac’s jaw dropped open. “No way! I don’t like that idea!” He protested, not wanting to be away from Becky for that length of time.

Isaac sighed, folding his knees up, and copying Taylor’s stance. “I don’t like it either, you think I want to be away from my wife?”

As much as Taylor hated to admit it, he said “You know, I’m going to have to agree with Luke on this one… The girls have been through a lot in the past couple of days. They’ve lost everything, and it’s been a really close call. I think maybe they should have some time off… to rest.”

Isaac considered this last comment. The doctor had told Christy to rest. Perhaps what she really needed was the next three weeks to recuperate, even if it meant being miles and miles apart.

“You know the girls are going to hate it, right?” Zac asked, still trying to argue against the majority. “They’ll think we’re trying to ship them off, and they won’t take it well.”

“I imagine that they’ll get used to it.” Taylor shrugged. “It’s not about making everyone happy: its about safety.”

“The way I see it,” Luke spoke up again. “You’ve got two choices. You could cancel the tour, which would upset your fans, or you could send the girls off to LA for three weeks and upset them.”

Isaac sighed and glanced from Taylor to Zac then back again. “I’m sorry Zac, it looks like you’re outnumbered on this one.”

“Who’s going to tell them?” Zac asked.

“Rock, paper, scissors?” Luke shrugged. “Either way, they’re going to hate us all.”
”Not it!” Zac cried immediately.

“I’m not doing it,” Luke replied immediately after.

“Don’t look at me!” Taylor held up his hands defensively.

Isaac sighed. “Looks like I’m telling them, then.”

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