33.

                                    

                                          
**4 months later**
RING! RING!
Shit. I groan and slam my hand down on my phone. I glance at the baby boy on my chest. Wonderful. Still asleep. He's just started sleeping through the night. Harry left for work already, so I was on baby duty for the past 5 hours on my own since I decided to let him sleep.
RING! RING!
For the love of all that is holy. I grab the phone and swipe the answer button.
"Hello?" I answer exasperated. 
"Mr. Tomlinson?" Who is this?
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Mr. Spencer from Columbia records. We received your demo song and we are quite interested."
"Demo song?" I question. I run my hand down Jason's back soothingly.
"We made it. It's very good. You wrote it yourself correct?"
I nod. After a good 60 seconds I remember he can't see me. "Um. Yes sorry. Yes I did."
"We'd love to talk to you more in person. I understand you're in London correct?"
"Yes sir." I swallow. Jason started to wake up. "Shhh baby. Daddy's on the phone." I whisper in his ear.
"How would you and your family like to travel to New York? We could set up the flight, room, and then we could meet in person."
"I..." Jason looks up at me with his blue eyes. I put my finger in his mouth for him to suck on temporarily because I lost the pacifier. "I'd have to talk to my fiancé. But sir...I never sent a demo."
He chuckles. "Well someone did. Listen talk to your fiancé and let me know. I hope to meet you soon Mr. Tomlinson."
"Louis." I correct him.
"Louis. Talk soon."
The line goes dead. I look at my phone and realize he's hung up. Jason is full on crying now so I hop up from bed and go to the kitchen for his bottle. I set him in his baby bouncer while I make it up for him. After testing it to make sure it's not too hot I grab him and go back to the bedroom. I prop him up on some pillows and hold the bottle in his mouth.
"See. Daddy's got you." I smile at him as I grab my phone.
I scroll through my recent calls and click on the number I'm searching for. I wait as the line rings. It had to be Jackson who sent it in. He was just talking a few weeks ago how I had too much talent for this school. I had the best grades and I'd written enough songs to impress teachers who I didn't even have classes with.
"Lou. Long time no see. How's JW?"
"He's eating. You sent a demo out for me?"
He laughs. "Shit. Someone did that?"
"You didn't?" I squeeze my eyebrows together. 
"Nah. I don't even have a recording of you singing. I'd have to have that in order to make a demo cd."
"You're right. Who did it though?"
"Who was interested?"
I tell him about my earlier phone call. He tells me to do it. I bring up Harry and the baby and New York is so so so far. He tells me I'd be crazy to miss the opportunity and that it could open so many doors for me. But looking into Jason's eyes I don't want to miss him growing up. Singing would mean tours eventually and that would mean time away.
"I hear what you're saying Lou. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You may not get it again. Besides that little boy would be so proud of you when he's able to talk."
I smirk. Maybe he would be. He finishes the bottle and I hang up the phone. I toss a rag over my shoulder and gently bring him up and pat his back. After a mine burps a couple times and I lay down next to him on the bed. I trace my finger over his eyes...nose...lips...fingers...toes.
"What should I do baby boy? Should daddy take the opportunity? Would I be good enough? Would you and papa resent me one day for the time I'd be away? I couldn't take that Jason."
He gurgles and I laugh. I pick him up and walk over to his dresser laying him on his changing table. I grab a new diaper and some wipes and get him changed. I pick out some blue jean shorts and a white t-shirt. I slip his little zip up jumper on and his baby vans that Niall and Nick bought for him. I lay him in the bassinet then and grab some shorts and my Adidas jumper and slip on my own vans. I pick him up and he's chewing his fist.
"Let's go see papa. Yeah?"
I grab my phone, wallet, and keys and head out of the apartment. I buckle him in his carseat and get in the driver's seat. I glance in the mirror and can see him playing with the little shoes from the mirror I have on the headrest. Liam thought that would be a good investment since he had to ride rearfacing and I still needed to be able to see him,  he was right. I park at the diner and take his whole carseat out and lock the car.
"BABY J!!" Hanna squeals when I walk through the door. The customers laugh. "Sorry everyone. We all love the baby."
I roll my eyes. "They couldn't tell." I look around. "Sorry for the intrusion please continue your meals." I walk behind the counter and take him out of his seat. We walk into the kitchen.
"My boys." Harry smiles.
"Mm. We missed you papa. Didn't we Jason?" He gurgles and Harry laughs.
"Well I'm almost done with this order then I have a bit."
I nod. "I got an interesting phone call this morning."
"Oh." He's focusing on the spinach omelet and pancakes.
"From Columbia records."
His hands stop. He freezes. "Oh."
"It wasn't Jackson was it? It was you huh?"
He blushes. "What'd they say?"
I sigh. "They want me and my family to come to New York. They'd arrange it all transportation and room and they are interested."
"BOO! THAT'S GREAT!!" He looks at me and his smile drops. "You said yes right?"
I shake my head. "I asked if I could talk to you first. Harry if I do this. Sign. Sing. I'd have to tour at some time. I'd be gone." I look at the little fingers closed around mine and back up to Harry's green eyes. "I'd miss so much. I don't want either of you to resent me later."
He plates the food and hands it to Hanna over the counter. He grabs my hand and leads me out the back door and down the street to a picnic table. He still hasn't said anything. He must already resent me because he knows a part of me is thinking about saying yes.
"Louis. Boo. We'd never ever resent you. I sent it around because I believe in you. I'm already your biggest fan and I'm sure Jason is right behind me. As for the future we'd take it one step at a time. We might join you on the road who knows. Someone is going to have to keep the girls and boys away from you hot stuff."
I shake my head. "So. You're saying we're going to New York?"
He nods. "Make the call."
I shake my head dialing the number from this morning. It rings a few times before he answers.
"Rod Spencer, Columbia records."
I gulp. "Hi Mr Spencer it's Louis." I stutter. "Tomlinson." I add my last name.
"Ah. So quickly. Shall I make arrangements?"
Harry squeezes my hand and Jason pulls my hair. "Ye...yes. My fiancé and our son would love to come meet with you."
"Great. I'll be in touch with all the information. See you soon Louis."
I swallow the lump in my throat.
Onto the next adventure.