Chance and Tim had been on the road for about 4 hours heading back to Nashville. He decided to leave his bike behind for when he went home but wanted the El Camino at his new place in Nashville. Having left early without anything substantial to eat he pulled into a nearby truckstop.

"Tim, wake up. I need coffee and food" he chuckled.

"I'm not sleeping" he replied yawning and stretching.

"Yea, right" Chance commented getting out of the car.

Tim stood outside for a moment getting his bearings, smoothing his hair with his hands. "Where are we" he asked.

"Not sleeping huh...about 2 hours away from Nashville" Chance replied opening the door.

As they walked in, the aroma of fresh coffee and bacon brought Tim out of his sleepy haze. After both headed to the restroom they grabbed a stool at the counter. The waitress quickly walked over with 2 cups of coffee. "Looks like you boys could really use these" she remarked with a smile. Thanking her, she took their orders then scooted behind the partition, where they heard giggling shortly after.

"I have a feeling we've been recognized" Chance stated, looking over the rim of his cup.

"Play it cool" Tim replied, trying not to look in the direction of the giggling.

The waitress returned with their food, standing there grinning. "You two...you're in Home Free, right" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am" Chance replied nonchalantly.

"I thought so. We sure do love you boys, especially the girls in the back. Would you mind taking a picture with us. Bessie, she's in the back, it's her birthday today. She would get such a kick out of this" she commented.

Looking at each other, Tim shrugged an acknowledgement as he put down his fork. "Oh, I'm so sorry fellas. How rude of me, please finish your breakfast first and if you have time after, that would be appreciated" she told them before returning to the kitchen.

Chance motioned to the waitress after they finished "Ma'am if you'd like to bring your friend out, we'd love to meet her" he said with a smile. The waitress hurried to the kitchen to fetch her friend.

Tim watched as the waitress practically dragged an older woman to the front of the counter area. Smiling he took her by the hand " You must be Miss Bessie" he said in a low tone. The woman fanned herself at the rumbling of his voice. "Careful young man, you'll give me the vapors" she chuckled.

"We understand it's your birthday today Miss Bessie" Chance remarked.

"Yes, child, 80 yrs young today" she boasted.

The other waitresses circled around her, all smiling as Tim nudged Chance with a knowing glance before breaking into singing Happy Birthday. Their waitress and others either recorded the moment or took photos of the three together. Standing next to her she barely came to their chest so they sat on the stools with her standing in between. As the waitress began to take a picture with her phone, Tim and Chance leaned in, kissing her on each cheek. "Oh my" she giggled. Thanking the boys each with a hug, she quickly headed back to the kitchen to get back to work.

"Guys, thank you so much, you made her day. She recently lost her husband and she's been throwing herself into working here all hours" their waitress told them.

Chance pulled out a business card of Jenika's. "You contact this person and she will set you up so that Miss Bessie can come as our guest to one of our VIP events the next time we're in town. That way she can meet the rest of the guys. Our treat" he told her, handing over the card.

The waitress wiped a tear from her eye, "Thank you very much. This will just add to the memory you gave her today"

"Our pleasure" Tim added.

Chance took care of the bill, not letting Tim pay anything before heading out the door. Once in the car, heading out to the interstate, Tim commented on his generosity.

"What can I say, I'm in a giving mood" he replied.

Tim looked ahead out the window "she shouldn't have to work at her age" he commented.

"No, but if it gets her through the day to accept life without her husband, it's a good thing" Chance remarked.

Tim nodded in agreement. He too found once he'd thrown himself into work that he seemed to handle the loss of Caroline a bit better, though just now really realizing it.

"You know, you never would have been able to offer that VIP if Luke was still managing us. He'd have thrown a fit right there" Tim stated.

"Another good reason he's gone. Sometimes you just have to give back at whatever the cost. Our fans are important, without them we wouldn't be here, in so many ways" Chance replied.

****
Adam had texted everyone advising they would be meeting up in Nashville the next day. Interviews with videographers and photographers were taking place and he wanted everyone to be sure they had a chance to meet and ask questions before selections were made for upcoming projects.

Jenika had gotten back in town the night before. Having gone to Chance's house to see how he was doing she found it odd he wasn't there. She hadn't texted since she let him know she'd gone home for a few days so she was unaware he had left after his appointments. She sent a text asking if he was ok.

"You want to grab that for me" he asked Tim as he pulled into Nashville.

"It's a text, from Jenika" he told him.

"And????" Chance asked.

"Well I didn't know you wanted me to read it" Tim replied sarcastically. "She's asking where you are and if you're ok".

"Answer her please or she's going to freak out and blow up my phone" he laughed. "Just tell her I'll contact her when I get home in a bit".

Tim did as he asked before placing the phone back in the cup holder.

Chance gave him a quick glance. "What you thinking about".

Tim shook his head, "alot" he replied, wondering how and if he would be able fix things between himself and Jenika.