Nick arrived at his best friend’s house.  Brizee has been his best friend most of his life and they knew each other inside and out and he could always go to her about anything and she would listen and give him advice.  She has been his rock through the hard times in his life like his falling out with his family and his former lifestyle of drug and alcohol abuse.  He knew he couldn’t get past all of it without her. She was married to a great guy whom Nick approved of and became great friends with.  Jake was currently overseas with the US military.   Nick had promised him that he would take care of Brizee while he was gone.  Nick walked into the house as Brizee was coming down the stairs.

        “Hey Nicky!” Brizee said hugging him.

        “Hey Briz,” Nick said.

        “How are you,” Brizee said as they went into the kitchen.

        “I’m doing good, just Lauren and I broke up yesterday,” Nick said.

        “What, why,” Brizee said getting out some lunch.

        “It was just too much for me, she wanted to do so much stuff and it had to be on camera, I just wanted to have some time off before the guys and I went back into the studio,” Nick said.

        “Did you talk to her about it?” Brizee asked.

        “Yeah, but she wouldn’t budge, she wanted to make fitness videos and I had to be in them in order for them to sell,” Nick said.

        “You could have been in them and sang some of your solo songs while working out, but it’s your choice,” Brizee said.

        “I just didn’t want to be used,” Nick said.

        “I know,” Brizee said. The doorbell rang.

        “I’ll get it,” Nick said. He went and opened the door and saw two military personnel standing there.

        “Can I help you?” Nick asked.

        “We are here to speak to Mrs. Brizee Hardin,” one of them said. Nick let them in.

        “Briz,” Nick said. Brizee came into the living room and saw them.

        “May I help you?” Brizee asked.

        “We need to speak with you alone?” he said.

        “I’ll be in the kitchen,” Nick said. He went into the kitchen but stood at the doorway out of sight.  He heard them talking and heard Brizee cry out and he heard the door close. He went in and saw Brizee curled up on the couch, sobbing. He sat next to her and she fell into his arms. He held her close.

        “Briz, what happened?” Nick asked softly.

        “He’s gone,” Brizee said.

        “Jake?” Nick asked.

        “There was a roadside bomb and it went off as his truck went by, he died instantly, along with the other guys in the truck,” Brizee said. Nick held her close. As he held her, he texted Brian to get everyone and come over as soon as they can.  Brian said he would get everyone and come to the house.  Nick called Jake’s parents.

        “Janet, hey, it’s Nick, sorry to call so late, I’m doing okay, but you and Jack need to come to the house, something you need to know, yeah, she’s here, but she fell asleep, we were watching a movie, yeah, see ya,” Nick said. He looked down and saw Brizee asleep. He picked her up gently and carried her up to the bedroom and laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket and went downstairs to wait for everyone.  Howie and Leigh showed up first with their sons.  Howie set up the playpen and the boys played.

        “What happened,” Howie said.

        “Just need to wait until everyone’s here, so I can tell everyone at once,” Nick said.  They sat down as Kevin and Kristin came in with their sons.  Brian and Leighanne came in with Baylee.  AJ and Rochelle came in with Ava.   Then Janet and Jack arrived. They all sat down and Nick stood there.

        “So Nick, what’s going on,” Brian said.

        “Oh gosh, is Brizee pregnant?” Janet asked.

        “No, it’s about Jake,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Kevin said.

        “Janet, Jack, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Jake was killed yesterday,” Nick said.

        “No!” Janet cried out as Jack took her in his arms.

        “What happened?” Howie said.

        “There was a roadside bomb and it went off as his truck went by, he and his crew were killed instantly,” Nick said.

        “Where’s Briz?” Kevin asked.

        “Upstairs asleep,” Nick said.  Brizee came downstairs and saw everyone.  Janet and Jack got up and hugged their daughter in law.

        “I’m so sorry,” Brizee said.

        “For what, Briz,” Jack said.

        “You guys losing your only child, I shouldn’t have let him go,” Brizee said.

        “Oh sweetie, there was no way of knowing this was going to happen,” Janet said.

        “Jake talked about joining the army all through high school, nothing was going to stop him from doing what he wanted,” Jack said.