Finding Jaime

Chapter 80

"Pete!" Patrick cried as I walked into the venue and into the dressing room. "Where's Jaime?"

"In bed. He had a round of chemo before we came to the venue. He's sleeping it off," I said, checking through the wardrobe cases and some of the equipment in the room.

"How's he doing?" Patrick asked, sympathetically.

"He's okay. The chemo knocks him out and makes him sick for a day or so, but he's pretty good in between."

Patrick nodded.

Joe came into the room just then with Andy on his tail.

"Pete!" Andy said, wrapping me in a bear hug. "How's the kid?  Where is he?"

"In bed. We just got back from his chemo appointment."

"How's he been since..." Andy asked. The guys all knew how close we came to losing Jaime.

"Good. Better. We're still dealing with some of the emotions around then. It's... it's been a bit rough at times, but he's doing a lot better."

"Good to hear, man," Andy smiled. "Looking forward to getting to know him on tour."

"That might have to wait until tomorrow, but yeah. I'm hoping he has a really good time," I smiled.

"We'll make sure of it, you can be sure," Andy said. I smiled. I knew my boys would help out.

"Pete, feel free to go out and check on him whenever," Patrick said. As if I wouldn't anyway.

"I got Thomas, the security guy, to check in on him, maybe sit with him for a bit. And after we soundcheck I'll go check in on him. He has his phone. He'll call me if he needs. Or text."

"Okay. But still," Patrick said.

I nodded. It wasn't exactly the easiest topic to discuss.

We ran through some of the songs and some of the lighting. Any streamers or confetti would be set off during the show. They're a bit too expensive to set off at every soundcheck too.

Soundcheck took about an hour and we went back to the dressing rooms. I checked a few things and then told the guys I was going out to check on Jaime.

I saw Thomas coming off the bus as I came out of the venue.

"Jaime okay?" I asked him.

"Think so," Thomas said. "He's just sleeping. He did wake up once, threw up. I introduced myself and he waved at me then rolled over and went back to sleep."

"Okay. Great. Thanks Thomas."

He nodded before heading back into the venue.

I climbed back on to the bus and went back to Jaime's bunk. It was empty. I worried for a second. And then heard the toilet flush. Jaime came out of the bathroom carrying his garbage bin.

"Hey," I said as he came towards the front of the bus. "How're you feeling?"

He shrugged.

"Tired. Annoyed. I hate puking. I've never liked it. I know I'll feel better if I do, but I hate it. But otherwise, okay. Actually, not that bad, considering," he said.

"I guess that's good?" I said.

"Can I come into the venue? It's boring out here, I don't feel as bad as I did before."

"Would you make fun of me if I told you I kinda wanted to make you come inside? I realized during soundcheck, I don't like you being all the way out here," I said.

"Yeah. I'll probably hold that over you for... well, ever, I guess," he smirked at me.

"Grab your phone, charger, ear buds and anything you want to keep yourself entertained. I'll get you settled in my dressing room. There's a couch."

Jaime grabbed his backpack and followed me off the bus, stopping at his bunk to grab his laminate. He pulled it over his head, shouldered his backpack and followed me off the bus.

We walked into the venue and into the dressing rooms.

"Jaime!" Patrick said, as we walked in. "How are you feeling, man? Your dad said you were sleeping."

"I was," Jaime said, returning Patrick's handshake and hug. "But I woke up, got bored and Dad came out. So I came back with him."

"It's really good to see you. And I'm pumped you're going to be with us on this leg."

"Same. Kinda. Not sure what to expect. And then there's the whole cancer/chemo crap," Jaime shrugged.

"We're gonna make it special for you. You're gonna have a blast," Patrick smiled. Jaime smiled back.

I gave Jaime a tour of the dressing rooms, showed him where tour catering was and told him to get himself whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.

I got him settled on the couch in the dressing room and sat around with the guys chatting. Jaime just watched and listened.

We had some press to do, so I let Jaime know where we'd be, and we went to the press room. They'd be separate interviews with different magazines and journals, but most of them would be all four of us and a couple just Patrick and I. Joe and Andy don't love being interviewed.

We sat for the first interview. Immediately they asked about Jaime.

"Pete," the interviewer started. "We've all heard by now about your son, Jaime. You really had no idea he existed until this past spring?"

"I did not," I answered. "His mom was an old girlfriend who I was dating up until we went on tour almost 16, 17 years ago. She broke up with me just before we left and as hard as I tried to find her and find out about her after we got back, I couldn't. Her roommates either didn't know where she was, or wouldn't tell me. She'd quit her job while we were away and I had no idea where she could have been. It took me a while to get over her."

"How did you feel about Jaime?"

"It was like looking at his mother again. He looks a lot like her. And he was a kid facing an uncertain future. He'd just lost his mom, just met his dad and then found out who his dad is, it was a bit of a rough start, to be honest. But he's a really great kid. I'm really proud of him and happy he's a part of our family."

"How has he been with your wife and your other kids?"

"It was rough at first. He was dealing with a lot of upheaval in his life. It was understandable. But he fell in love with his sister, my youngest, and he gets along really well with his brothers. He's blended in really, really well."

"He's fighting cancer now, we hear."

"He is. We found out he had a brain tumour over the summer. He's had surgery to remove that and he's been having chemo since. He's doing pretty well, but we've had some rough days."

"We heard he nearly died recently?" The interviewer seemed to both want to ask and simultaneously not ask.

"We did. He had an infection and spiked a high fever and had trouble breathing. He coded twice on the way to the hospital. But, he rallied. He got better and now he's doing well."

"Rumour has it you've brought him with on tour."

"I did," I smiled. "He's taking the semester off of school, although he's also working on a few credits while he's here with us. But I'm glad I can show him what it is I do every day."

"What's going to happen with his treatments?"

"His doctors in LA have been amazing. They helped us set up treatments along our route and were in constant contact with his oncologist in LA. We've planned the treatments out along the route and as much as possible, on off days."

She asked a few more questions about Jaime and then finally moved on to talk about music and the tour itself.

Once we were done with all the press I went back to the dressing room. Jaime was splayed out on the couch, fast asleep. He was a bit pale, which is his normal complexion these days. But he felt cool to the touch and stirred a little when I touched his forehead.  I smiled down at him.

I really wish I'd had the chance to help raise him. But I wouldn't give this up for anything.