The Devil's Lair by A.M. Madden Read Free Book Online

for Shane. He will be ok. He’ll grow up knowing what a selfless person his mother was. How brave and how courageous she was to make her final days all about him. As hard as it’s been for her to battle her illness, that’s not even the hardest thing she’ll endure. The emotions she will be fighting these coming weeks, months will rip her to shreds.
    Paula’s hell is only beginning.
     
     

Hunter
    We breezed through Germany and Portugal without drama. The nerves we all felt from touring in foreign lands are no longer an issue. We quickly acclimated to the travel schedule, the customs we experienced at each stop, and even having our wives with us for the first time since we became famous. It’s all like second nature to us now. We’ve morphed into world traveled rock stars without a conscious thought.
    Routines were established regarding rehearsal time and down time. Tara has begun writing her book, interviewing us in between the two. Mandi and Patti even found their own purpose while traveling with their rock star husbands. Mandi has been helping Jen and Paula with the administrative part of the tour.
    Jen is acting as agent and tour manager. Dylan is not able to travel with us since his wife Krista is very pregnant. Jen keeps them both busy with all the mundane crap that Dylan handled. They both know how to handle Jen. My wife can handle the devil himself if he were to suddenly show up. Her even keeled personality is just what is needed to counter balance Jen’s. Patti is much more confrontational and opinionated. By default, she becomes a preschool tutor to the twins and a kindergarten teacher to Shane. She loves kids, and may have found her calling in life.
    At each show Jack would introduce Shane and have him perform his two-song set side by side with Trey. It became our norm, and Shane’s focus in life. On nights when we didn’t perform, he would hang out with the twins, acting like the child he is, carefree and innocent.
    Paula has been unbelievably strong throughout. The air has been thick with the unspoken thoughts that plague us. To see her so happy and jovial, seeing her positive attitude is an inspiration to us all. How can I complain about nonsense when this woman is literally enjoying every minute that God hands her, knowing they are numbered?
    She loves hanging out with us. Sometimes it makes it all too easy to forget her reality when she’s laughing at our antics. We love making her laugh and getting her drunk. She’s a riot when she’s tipsy. She has no filter and could stand toe-to-toe with Trey in a lewd joke battle. So with each day that passes, the tone and mood of our tour lightens once again. Such is life, right? Attitude is everything. Paula is unintentionally giving us all life lessons that we will carry with us from here on out. I know I will. Life is too short.
    I have been doing a lot of contemplating lately. What is it that I want out of life? I have so much already. My career is kick-ass. My wife is stunning and gorgeous, inside and out. I have the best friends a man can ask for. I lack for nothing, except for maybe appreciation. I’ll admit it, I never really thought about it. Now it consumes my every thought. I allow myself to think of what it would feel like to lose my career, or worse, my wife. How would I survive that? I’ve lacked gratitude, until now.
    I now wake up every morning thankful for what I have. I no longer assume we will be here tomorrow. It’s bewildering to suddenly have these thoughts invade your otherwise careless and oblivious mind. It’s very humbling. At my age it’s foreign to think this way. I’ve never had to think this way. Sure, sure, I’m always grateful for my good fortunes, but what exactly does that mean? Those looking in on my life see a handsome, very talented drummer who is a jokester and can sometimes act immaturely…act being the key word. It’s my fucking shtick.
    That’s only part of who I am. The real me is very insecure. I’ve