Actually, it wasn't just Jake's parents who came back, it was Bill's as well.
"Jake!" squealed his mother when they finally made it through the gauntlet of security and entered the room.
Smiling, Jake stood and walked to his mother, who was holding out her arms for a hug. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he warned her. "I'm all sweaty from the show."
"Oh I don't care about that," his mom told him. "I used to change your diapers, after all, didn't I? Now give me a hug."
He gave her a hug. Next his father came up and refused the handshake in favor of a hug of his own.
"Great show you put on," his dad told him. "You've gotten better since we saw you at that D Street place."
"Thanks, Dad," he said, looking over the two of them.
Pauline came up and punched him on the shoulder, just the way she used to when she wanted to annoy him as they were growing up. "I agree," she said. "You guys rock."
He was also hugged by Stan and Cynthia Archer, Bill's parents, whom had been his alternate family ever since he was a toddler. They both told him it had been a great show as well. While they were doing that his parents went over and hugged Bill before greeting the rest of the band.
"Good show, guys," his dad told Matt and Coop and Darren, who were all sipping from bottles of beer.
"Thanks, Mr. Kingsley," Matt said politely, in classic Eddie Haskell form. "Can we offer anyone a drink? The beer is nice and cold."
As it turned out, everyone wanted a drink. Bottles were passed around and opened and then everyone found seats.
"It's too bad you can't stay longer," Jake's mom said. "Can't they give you more than two short days here?"
"We have a tight schedule," Jake told her. "We have to be in Sacramento day after tomorrow, Oakland the day after that, and Los Angeles the day after that."
"Don't forget San Jose," Matt said. "That's between Oakland and LA."
"Oh yeah," Jake said.
"My goodness but they run you boys ragged, don't they?" his mom asked.
"It's the life we choose, Mom," Jake told her. "The life we choose."
"And what about that nice girl you said you were dating in Los Angeles?" she asked next. "Are you and she still an item?"
Jake felt the normal twinge of guilt at the mention of Angie. "Uh... well, we haven't talked too much since I went out on tour. It's kind of hard to maintain a long-distance relationship, you know."
"That's too bad," his dad said neutrally. "She sounded like a very sweet girl. You haven't found too many girls like that, have you?"
"I'm trying, Dad," he said.
"Uh huh," his dad replied, staring at him.
This, of course, led to the discussion of the Spinning Rock article and all the media publicity of the past twenty-four hours.
"All those things that woman said," his mom asked. "Well... that wasn't true... was it?"
"Of course not, Mom," he lied smoothly. "Our attorneys are looking into slander charges against that rag. We were just as shocked as anyone when we read that."
"Really?" Bill's mom said. "So you boys didn't really... you know... do what they said?"
"Do you really think I would do anything like that, Mom?" Bill asked her. "Remember, I didn't even have a date until after high school."
"Well... I admit it didn't sound like something you would do," she said.
"He surely wouldn't, Mrs. Archer," Matt told her. "Bill here is straight as an arrow out there on the road. You would be proud of him."
She beamed as she heard this. Mr. Archer looked a little more doubtful, but his mind seemed to ease as well.
"So you're not really doing all those other things the article said," Jake's mom asked next. "The things with those... you know... those women and the drugs."
"Nobody could do all those things, Mom," Jake assured her.
"There are those who would give it a try though," Jake's dad put in. "Are you sure there's no accuracy to that article, Jake? If you're starting to get yourself into trouble, we can help you."
"We're not in any trouble, Dad," Jake assured him. "I mean, sure, we smoke a little weed every once in a while. I mean, who doesn't, right?"
"Yeah," his dad said guiltily.
"And there's usually beer and stuff like that for after the show," Jake went on. "That is kind of standard."
"But what about the cocaine, honey?" his mom asked. "Pot and alcohol are one thing. Your father and I would be awful hypocrites to try to condemn you for that. But you're not getting into cocaine, are you?"
"Well, we've all tried it a few times you know," Jake said. "Just to see what its like. But using it after every show?" He shook his head vehemently. "No way. That reporter had it in for us."
"So you didn't really... uh... snort it out of that girl's... out of her..."
"No way!" Matt said. "Not only is that sick, it's unsanitary."
"And all those... those... girls?" his mother asked next. "That's not true either?"
"Not even close," Jake said. "I mean, sure, we meet some girls every now and then while we're out on the road, but we're not having orgies or anything. That's just the record company and the media hyping us up to try to sell records. You see, if we get a reputation like that they feel we'll sell more albums. I don't agree with that concept but there isn't a whole lot I can do to stop them from spreading things like that. To tell you the truth, it embarrasses me."
"So your security guards aren't bringing back five naked women for you when you take your showers?" Jake's dad asked.
"Absolutely not," Jake assured him.
"I don't think girls would even do that anyway," Matt put in.
At that very moment, before anyone else could even reply, the door banged open and Jack Ferguson came walking in. With him were five excited and giggling young groupies. He closed the door behind him, failing to notice that the band was sitting on the other side of the room. He turned to the groupies. "Okay, girls," he said. "You've earned your backstage passes. Now the guys are in the shower by now so let's get those clothes off and get in there and start sucking some cock. Remember, no fighting over which band member you get and no letting any cock in your pussies until after the shower."
The girls giggled again and began pulling off shirts and pushing down skirts and pants while the parents of the band members watched with their mouths hanging open.
"Jesus," Jake groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"Do you think they bought your story?" Matt asked Jake an hour later, as the five of them, plus Greg, were riding the elevator to their rooms on the top of the Royal Gardens. The story he was referring to was the hastily concocted explanation Jake had given his and Bill's parents for the appearance of Jack Ferguson and the groupies.
"That it was just a practical joke on Jack's part, that he knew we were in the dressing room all along?" He shook his head. "No. I don't really think so."
"Me either," Matt agreed. "But that was some pretty quick thinking. You're pretty good at that."
"Yeah," Jake grumbled. "And at least they pretended to believe it."
"I'm sorry," Greg said for perhaps the twentieth time. "It's all my fault. I forgot to let Jack know that the routine in Heritage was to be a little different. At least I got rid of cocaine, didn't I?"
"At least there's that," Jake had to agree.
The usual after-show party had been assembled, this time in Coop's suite. Nineteen groupies had been brought back with them and the alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine were flowing in their usual quantities. Jake opened a beer but before he could even take a drink of it and get a good look at the groupies for the night, Matt was beside him.
"Got a surprise for you," he said. "My old man paid a little visit to the hotel earlier."
"Oh yeah?" Jake asked. "Where is he?"
"I didn't want to socialize with him or anything, I just had Pops do a favor for me. Gather up some coke and enough pot for a couple of joints and meet me by the front door in five minutes."
"What are you up to?" Jake asked him.