Chapter 8: The Change
It was already July the guys had crisscrossed America trying to promote the debut. They had a blast playing for New York City’s one hundredth birthday.
Justin began making up reasons to talk with Kristy. Lance was still withdrawn about his mystery love. JC was always playing with some type of music be it in lyric or composition. Joey had to pay for major telephone bills as he would call Germany at least one a week and Chris well; he stalked his new love interest in an attempt to persuade her to be with him.
He wrote a note to her to ask if she would like to join him in St. Petersburg for Independence Day. Of course she wrote him back and said why should I? And as she walked away she whispered in his ear. Besides I have to work for a living. He noticed the faint smile on her lips. "Oh my god, I am beginning to wear her thin. There is hope yet." He jumped for joy and couldn’t wait to get home to tell the guys.
Of course though by the time he got home the guys were already in bed waiting to get up early the next morning to perform at the Waterfront Festival.
~Across Town~
"I can’t believe that my baby is two years old today. Can you believe it Sam?" Natalee was ecstatic as she leaned down and kissed her son all over. He had a contagious giggle that mad all of them laugh out hysterically.
"Do you want to go to the beach today sweetie?" She said lovingly to her son.
"Waeer." He simply replied raising his eyebrows and holding out his hands. Connor loved the water most of the time she had to fight with him to get him out of it.
"I thought you would like that honey. All day at the beach, listening to some great music and soaking up the sun. Go get your toys together and we will get going." She tapped him on his bottom and he took off running." She smiled brightly as she prepared everything in her picnic basket.
"This is going to be such a wonderful family day." She smiled at Sam and went to get towels for them.
"Family day I like the ring to that. Now maybe she will accept my ring. You’ve got to ask her tonight. No more stalling." Sam said to himself looking down and the 2 carat diamond ring he took out a loan to get.
"Are we all ready to go?" She said as she loaded everything into the car. But as she went to get in she heard small grunts and something pulling on her skirt. "Sam, am I forgetting to do something? We got the food and the towels. Oh well, it must not be that important." She smiled but she instantly looked down as the little boy stamped his foot on the ground. "Oh yes, I am forgetting the most important thing, Connor." She picked him up and placed him into the car seat. "I love you, Honey." "I lub you too, mommy." Connor said.
As they were driving down I-4, before they reached the Orlando City limits, Connor was already asleep. "Wow all this preparing tuckered him out already."
They spent the remaining portion of the ride talking about what had brought them this far. How the little boy in the back seat made it all worth while and everyday Natalee did not regret having the one night stand with Lance. She had already worked out a well thought plan when it came to the fact of Connor finding out that Sam was not his father. Sam and Natalee talked about marriage and what each of them wanted for the future. Sam wanted so much to say that he wanted her as more than a friend but he coward back. The stereo was on the familiar station that reported everything that was going on at the festival. "Up next the line up for tonight’s musical guests." Just as they began to announce who the musical guests were Sam’s cell phone rang.
"Hello." Sam said calmly.
"Honey, where are you at?" His mother tried to be as calm as possible.
"Well, at the moment, Nat, Connor and I are on our way to the beach. Why do you ask?" Sam got a concerned look on his face and mouthed "It’s my mother."
"Honey, something really bad has happened and you all need to come home right away. It’s Nat’s mom, honey there was a fire and she was pulled out but we don’t think she will make it." She began to cry softly.
"Oh my god, we are in Tampa." Sam said changing course and heading toward the airport. "K got it. Delta. Will you and Grandma go get us some clothes we only have our beach wear." "Ok honey; see you in a couple of hours."
He parked in the Delta Terminal long term parking. "What the hell is going on?" Natalee demanded to know. "Honey, there has been an accident. You mom was caught in a fire. They lost everything." He paused how was he going to tell his best friend that her mother was about to die.
"What about my parents? Damn it tell me." Natalee shouted causing Connor to start crying. "Your Mom she was caught inside. They aren’t sure that she is going to…" He was cut off. "What flight are we on?" Delta it should be getting ready to board.
Natalee cried the entire flight, Connor couldn’t understand why they weren’t going to the beach and Sam had to be tough enough to help both of them through this.
~July 26th, 1998~
The guys couldn’t believe the success that followed their Disney special. Their album went platinum and hit nine on the Billboard charts. They were constantly in a different city, from Canada to the United States.
JC was extremely excited when he found out that he would be playing in DC. He immediately called several of his school buddies to hook up. But his heart stopped when a gorgeous 5’3" creature emerged with highlights that caught the suns rays he was in heaven.
"Oh my god JC, Is that you?" She gasped when she saw him all she could remember was this geeky kid that used to pick on her and now standing before her was the reason for living.
"Yeah it’s me." JC tried to act as though he remembered her.
"You don’t know who I am do you?" She politely asked.
"Umm…" JC stuttered running his hand through his wavy hair.
"Kelly Harris." She smiled a radiantly.
"Oh My gosh, what happened to you." He said as he walked around her.
"I grew up."
"That you did." He gulped.
The two spent several hours before the show catching up on old times and what the future might bring for them.
~Grand Rapids Michigan~
Natalee had finally gotten her mother’s will settled. She still couldn’t believe that her mother was gone. She regretted not living closer to her so that Connor would have gotten to know her. There wasn’t much to do since everything was destroyed in the fire. She was standing by the empty lot when Sam came up behind her.
"Honey, Are you ready to go?" Sam said putting his arms around her.
"Yeah, I guess there isn’t anything left for me to do?" Natalee just cried.
"Babe, it will all be ok. Don’t worry what your family says about you and Connor. It’s just the change in time that they don’t understand. Your mother knew that you needed to make a life on your own. She loved you and she loved Connor and she would be proud of whatever decisions you made with your life." Sam said as they walked towards the car.
"You’re right. Thank you so much for being my friend." She hugged him and got in. She turned in her seat to look at the beautiful pudgy boy that slept in his car seat. "I have no regrets this is where life wanted me to be and no one is ever going to change that."
