An eighth birthday isn't the biggest milestone for a child, but Sara is exceptionally happy because we're taken her to the Grand Canyon and a desert museum. Jess and Barbara topped it off with a zoo visit. Arizona is hot and dry, but my wife and daughter love it, so I am not complaining. Stevie just released her third studio album called Rock A Little. She's sporting a very high perm these days and the amount of hairspray she uses is nauseating. She's thirty-five quickly, approaching thirty-six and a slow death. Smoking is her new pass time. She could be back on Cocaine though, so as much as I hate it, I tolerate it.

"Momma! It's Zoo time." Sara yells running into our room and jumping onto our bed. Her knee landing right on my groin. I groan and Stevie laughs.

"Sweet Girl, we have to wait for Aunt Lori and Uncle Chris. Besides, it's only...seven-thirty, and the Zoo doesn't open until nine. Mom needs more sleep." Stevie yawns.

"Mommy!" Sara pouts as Mason comes running in. He's turning four in June and neither Stevie nor I are ready for it. He'll be starting Kindergarten.

"Well, I guess I'm getting up." Stevie groans.

"You chill with them, I'll shower," I say.

She nods and kisses me. It's been going really well for us. Two years ago she moved back in and we've been slowly treading water since. We'll have been married for ten years in a matter of twelve days. Ten years is a really long time and that stupid Don Henley thing still rattles my brain, but nothing has surfaced from it since.

***

When I get downstairs, Stevie is flipping pancakes, Lori, Chris, and the Children watching her intently. Barbara and Jess nowhere to be found.

"Morning Lindsey." Lori smiles.

"Good Morning. Where are the parents?" I question sitting at the kitchen table.

"I don't know they're normally up by now." Stevie shrugs dishing out the pancakes.

As we start eating the two patriarchs of the family come waltzing into the house.

"Good Morning everyone." Barbara cheers.

"Where did you go at seven o'clock this morning?" Stevie asks.

"That pancakes place opens at six and we went to have breakfast with Charlene and Ralph," Jess explains.

"Looks like we both had the same idea." Barbara chuckles.

"Nana, are we still going to the zoo?" Sara questions.

"Of course sweet girl. But not for a while yet it's still too early." Barbara kisses her head.

While we're eating Stevie looks at Lori.

"So, I have the tour all booked and ready we go out in April, Lindsey and the kids will join in June and it ends in November, I am breaking in September though for Mason's first day." Stevie states.

"That's longer than Wild Heart and White Winged Dove was," Lori says.

"Yes it is, but we go in for Fleetwood Mac in August. Tour will overlap but Lindsey is producing we won't directly stop until December and they're talking about going out to Tour in April. Ruth said she'd watch the kids until they can join in June." Stevie explains.

"Now you've got my head spinning. SO you're going for like two years then?" Chris states.

"The girls are, I'm not." I chuckle.

"Right." Chris laughs

***

The Zoo enamored my children. The gorillas were Mason's favorite. Penguins, Sara's. Penguins are also the Fleetwood Mac mascot. Every time Sara goes to a concert she gets a stuffed penguin with a Fleetwood Mac shirt on it. The Zoo was no different. She got a penguin stuffed animal. Stevie said no, Barbara said yes. Barbara won.

The months blended together and soon April was upon us. As Stevie was packing, Sara was sitting on our bed pouting.

"How come we can't go to Disney. Sammy is going to Disney." Sara asks.

"Because baby, mom has to work. Maybe one day we will. But right now, mom and dad are doing so much. I'm sorry sweetgirl." Stevie sighs looking over to me.

"You guys are always working and you leave more than daddy. It's not fair." Sara states crossing her arms and storming passed me.

"Sara Rhiannon," Stevie states firmly.

"Angel, it's not going to do you any good, Just let her cool off and then go talk to her. It's hard for her." I say as she sighs and goes to the Balcony. A pack of cigarettes in her hands.

"Shouldn't you be watching Mason?" Stevie asks.

"He's perfectly content watching The Flintstones. Now, should you be smoking this?" I ask plucking the stick from her mouth.

"It calms me down." She replies grabbing it back from me.

"I don't like it," I state grabbing it back and stomping it out.

"LINDSEY! You don't like anything I do that calms me down. And don't BS me, you smoke also." She growls at me.

"I smoke pot. Pot has no health problems associated with it. You could get lung cancer." I explain.

"Just let me be please Lindsey." She pouts.

My wife is stressed out and what our daughter said really hit home with her. I sigh and walk back into the house. One good thing about her cigarette use, she refuses to smoke in the house. As Stevie leaves the next day, Sara cries. Mason is still too young to realize that mommy will be gone for a while. Though we are joining her in two months it's always tough to say goodbye. When the car is out of the driveway Sara sobs into my arms.

"I hate it when you guys leave."

My heart breaks and I start to think; I like being home with my kids. As much as I love Fleetwood Mac, this may be my last album with them.