"Davy?" Micky asked, sticking his head into Davy's room that afternoon. "Any progress?"
"Not a lot," Davy admitted, looking up from his concentration. Micky entered the room.
"Any thing at all?" he asked.
Davy frowned. "I think so. I think I can tell where it's coming from, but I'm not sure."
"Where?"
"Back home," Davy replied. "I think it may have to do with Thomas. I can't be sure, though."
"Very nice to meet you," Joanne told Mr. Stevens.
"Mr. Stevens, could I ask you a strange question?" Thomas asked suddenly.
Mr. Stevens glanced at Nicole a moment before he responded. "I guess," he replied.
"Is there anything unusual about you?"
"Unusual?" Mr. Stevens appeared confused.
"Thomas, are you sure about this?" Joanne asked, but Thomas ignored his sister.
"A bit," Mr. Stevens replied. "I have a few abilities. What about you?"
"I can tell you that you're a teacher and you've been divorced. And I think I might know why you're here."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"To teach me. Dad said that when I was ready, a teacher would come. And I think I might be ready," Thomas explained.
"Why don't you let me decide?" Mr. Stevens suggested. Show me what you know."
Peter was sitting on his bed in the hotel room, reading over his latest letter. Suddenly, with neither a knock or a yell to announce his presence, Davy entered the room.
"Petah, I've got great news," Davy announced.
Peter glanced up. He appeared thoughtful for a moment. "We've got the night off?" he asked.
Davy shook his head. "No, I-," he began.
"Don't tell me, let me guess," Peter interrupted. "Did you meet a girl?"
Davy shook his head.
Peter frowned and sighed. "Okay, I give up. What's the great news?"
"Thomas found a teacher."
Nicole and Joanne stood at the window looking out into the back yard. Mr. Stevens was watching Thomas as he displayed his skills, and pointing things out to Thomas.
"I guess Dad was right," Joanne decided. "A teacher found him."
Nicole nodded. "Yeah, I guess so," she replied in agreement. "Sometimes Peter can just surprise you like that." She smiled and laid a hand on her stomach, smiling as she thought of the baby that was his.
A teacher?" Peter asked. "How do you know?"
"I'm not even sure," Davy replied. "But 'e found one."
"Who is it?"
"I don't know," Davy admitted. "I've 'ad this feeling since last night, and I just figured out what it is. 'E's found a teacher. "
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I've nevah been more certain of anything."
"Davy, this is great!" Peter cheered, grinning from ear to ear.
Later that night, Peter re-boarded the bus. They had stopped for gas and everyone had gotten out to get a snack. Peter was settling into his seat when he noticed something.
"Hey Mike," he called to Mike, who was seated in the seat across the aisle from him. "Take a look at this."
Mike sat down next to Peter and chuckled quietly. Davy was leaning back in his seat, eyes shut, fast asleep.
"That's the first time I've seen him sleep since we've been on this tour," Mike commented. "I wonder why he's so tired."
"I don't know, but I'm grateful for the silence," Peter replied. Mike nodded his agreement, laughing quietly to himself as he returned to his seat.
Nicole glanced down at her increasing stomach as she re-entered the car after leaving the doctor's office. Four and a half months along, and she already looked and felt huge. She'd had two children already, and she knew she wasn't having a normal pregnancy. The doctor wasn't willing to admit it yet, though.
She put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot frowning to herself as she thought. The pregnancy was going well otherwise, with no complications.
She smiled, thinking of the surprise Peter would get when he returned home. That was two and a half months away, however, and she wondered how she'd survive that long.
Peter had continued to write letters almost everyday, and she enjoyed them. They not only offered her some sort of communication with him, but also assured her that he was alright.
Nicole wanted desperately to tell Peter about the baby. But she had promised herself even before he'd left that she wouldn't tell him until he'd come home and could see for herself. And she was determined to keep that promise.
With a smile, Peter folded the letter and placed it in the envelope. Writing letters had at one point depressed him, but now it made him happier. He placed the envelope on the night stand next to his bed and shut off the light.
The night's concert had been as satisfying to him as the rest of them had been. The crowds were great, wonderfully enthusiastic, and it was fun. Tiring, but fun, and he had to admit he loved it.
He still missed home, though.
p>
