All is Found - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Married life has been wonderful. The past four months have been the greatest. Every night Thea and I go to bed next to each other and it's one of the best feelings in the world. During the last four months I have been working hard on my second album and today is the day it will be released to the world. I've put a lot more work into this album then Alone in a Room. AIAR kind of wrote itself. This new album took a bit longer because I needed to spend time actually writing new material.
I've had some help with the writing this time around though. With some help from my pop artist group chat I've had writing sessions with Fletcher, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. Songs came from all the sessions I had with them and some even for them as well.
While I have been working on my album, Thea has been working hard on getting cleared to go back to work. Ever since we got home from our honeymoon she has been putting in extra time at PT to get back on the job. Her hard work actually paid off with her getting cleared in the beginning of August. Thea is back working with the gang unit but since she is interested in moving up the latter she might move units if there is an opening somewhere else. Her plan right now is to take the next lieutenant test which is coming up at the end of next year and she will go from there.
Nikki is still living with me. Well at this point she is splitting her time between my house and Malia's apartment. I think that when Thea and I really finish plans to build our house she is going to move in with Malia. Things between the pair seem like a match made in heaven. Malia's calm nature has really mellowed Nikki out.
Then we also have our other love birds to watch now. Alyssa and Eli have been together for 6 months and they are honestly adorable together. I just hate that they live on the west coast and we can't do double dates because they would be so fun together. They are actually here though for the next couple of days to celebrate with us for my album that came out today.
Alyssa and I also have some more stuff to go over for tour next year. All of the dates are locked in for the world tour and tickets actually went on sale last month. Most of the dates are already sold out and I had to add a few dates here and there because of the high demand. It took away some of my off days but Alyssa and I went through the schedule with a fine tooth comb when we selected which cities to make multiple shows in. While she is here we are going to go over stage design and I'm going to design my merch this week.
We are also going to try and make a decision on openers for tour. I don't know if I'm going to carry the acts I choice across the whole tour, but for now I have a list of ten preapproved acts by the label to choice from. Right now I'm thinking of having the band Joywave be the first opener followed by Fletcher for the US leg. I've been a big fan of Joywave for a while now and I feel like we need a boost of testosterone on tour. With Fletcher I feel like this tour could really help her get big. She is right on the edge now and I want to see her really break through. I definitely want to bring Fletcher with me to Europe and possibly South America because I'm pretty sure she charts well in those markets. The second opener will be a local group from the area I'm playing in.
But all of those decisions are going to be made tomorrow. Right now I'm on my way Looney Tune Records to sign a few boxes of CDs and records for Todd. I had the label send him some extra boxes for me to sign. Thea is working a day tour today with Malia on later tonight. Nikki is with her now and will be joining me a bit later in the record store.
I pulled into the parking lot and parked my truck. The mid-September chill is in the air today and I pulled my sweatshirt closer to my body as I walked inside the record store. Todd was waiting for me behind the counter and pulled me right into the back room once I walked in. The shop is still quiet for now so I was able to get back there without being spotted. When I got to the backroom I saw that there was ten boxes waiting for me.
"I think they might have gone overboard." I said as I cracked open the first box.
"Just a bit, but trust me they will be gone by the end of the week. There is a pack of sharpies on the bench. I'm not sure if you want to stay back here for now or come out front to the counter, the choice is up to you." Todd said from the door as I sat down on the stool in front of the first box.
"I'll sign the first box of each and then I'll come out front. When I get through the second box you can post the picture on the shops social media." I said and pulled out the first CD.
"Sounds good chief, let me know if you need anything, I'll be at the counter." Todd said and took his leave.
After I got comfortable I started to sign my life away. I was able to get through the first two boxes of CDs within an hour and took a break to stretch my legs. I brought both boxes up front for Todd and he started to put them out. Once he was done I took a selfie with them and posted the picture to the record shops social media page.
It wasn't long before fans started to turn up looking for the signed copies of the CDs. I stayed up front for about a half an hour talking with fans about the new record, taking pictures and signing more CDs before there was a lull in the crowd. I retreated into the back room to continue signing more CDs and vinyl's. I spent a few more hours with Todd at the shop before calling it a day.
Alyssa had interviews set up for me to do when I got home and I went right into the studio to start them all while I started to do an ask Ash chat on twitter. Press took me till late afternoon to finish. When I was done I went downstairs to find Pat and Thea sitting on my couch. I greeted both of them before walking off of the kitchen to find something to snack on. When I came back into the living room Pat sat on the edge of his seat.
"So I have something to tell you Ash." Pat said and moved around on the couch to hide his nerves.
"What's up?" I asked and took a bite of my granola bar.
"Before the sign goes up tomorrow I wanted to tell you both that I'm putting my house up for sale."
It kind of felt like my world stopped for a minute. Just when I thought things were finally getting back to normal Pat is moving?
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"My friend Roy lives in a condo in the senior community near Hatch. They just finished building a new building with condo's and I put an offer in for one and got it. I can start moving in after I finishing signing the paperwork next week." Pat informed us.
"Did you put your house on the market yet?" Thea asked.
"Sort of, I've had my real estate agent put out feelers for it but he hasn't gotten any bites yet. Once I finish up the paperwork next week he is going to put it on the market and a sign on the front lawn." Pat said.
"Is there a reason why you're selling it?" I asked.
"I've found that over the past year the house is just so big just for me. Without Ed there it just feels empty. Roy isn't the only friend I have in that community so I thought it would be a nice to move in there to be closer to them. I'm over there at someone's place once a week anyway so I thought it would just be right." Pat said.
"You know it won't be the same without us walking into each other's homes anymore." I said and trying not to think about it.
"You really think just because I'm moving 5 minutes down the road I'm not going to just drop in unannounced? You have another thing coming Ash." Pat said and leaned into the couch.
"If you need any help with the move you know we'll be there right?" I said.
"Oh I plan on it; you know movers are expensive. I was counting on the cheap labor." Pat said and smirked. I just threw a pillow at him and cracked a smile.
Pat and I talked for a few more minutes before I heard the front door open and in walked Nikki. Once she closed the door behind her she held up a vinyl.
"I'm here to tell you that (Un)Lost has been charting at #1 on the charts since its release at midnight and I got the last copy Todd had." Nikki said and put the record down on the coffee table before coming to sit down in my lap.
"Thank you for a status update. Were there any signed copies left when you went?" I asked.
"Nope all gone. Todd said he sold out of those about an hour ago. What time are we leaving for the restaurant?" Nikki asked and played with my hair.
"In like an hour." I said after looking at the time on my phone.
Us four just sat around on the couch talking about nothing major for most of the time. Nikki and I went to get a little more dressed up before the car was waiting for us. Alyssa and Eli are meeting us at a restaurant in Boston for a nice dinner to celebrate. When we got there I found out that Alyssa rented out the back room of the restaurant and surprised me with a small album release party with Toby, Lindsey, Scarlett and a few more of my friends from Salem all in attendance.
The party was nice and it was fun to get to celebrate my latest album with the important people in my life. Well almost everyone, just missing Malia. Toby was impressed as to how well the album was doing already and how excited he is to come out and see a show when tour starts next year.
After the night was over a car took us back home and we all settled in for the night. I know I have a lot or work to do with Alyssa tomorrow so I wanted to get some sleep tonight. Just as I settled on Thea's chest I felt her start to run her hand through my hair.
"What are you thinking of?" I asked looking up at her.
"It's just a thought but what do you think of us buying Pats house, knocking down this house and his and building our new house right here?" Thea asked.
"That's actually a pretty good idea. When did you think of it?" I asked.
"At dinner. We could start the process now and have the house be built next year while you are on the road. I'll move back into my house for the time being while it's built and we move into it together when you come home from tour. That why we also don't have to worry about displacing Nikki as well." Thea said.
"You really thought this through didn't you?" I asked.
"Just a bit." Thea said.
"We can ask Pat tomorrow and go from there." I said and smiled at her.
Thea smiled back and gave me a kiss before I settled down again.