| Chapter 55 Howie picked up the phone and dialed Kevin's number. "Hello," Kevin said. "Hey Kev, it's Howie," he said. "Man where have you been? I've been trying to get ahold of you for days now," Kevin said. "Yeah, I know. Um we were busy," he said with a smile. "Yeah, I bet. So what was the big surprise?" Kevin said anxiously. Howie laughed, "Well that's kinda why I'm calling. Me and Kira would like for you and Kris to come over for dinner tonight." "Really? Well I guess we're available," Kevin said teasing. "Good, Bri and Tara are coming too, be here at seven OK?" Howie said. "Sure, see ya then," Kevin said. "OK, bye," Howie said then hung up. "Are they coming?" Kira asked. "Yeah, everyone is coming," Howie said. "Great, now come help me in the kitchen so we can get everything done before they get here," she said. Howie got up and followed her into the kitchen. "So how do you wanna do this?" he asked. "Do what?" she said. "Tell them," Howie said. Kira looked up from the vegetables she was cutting, "I don't know, make a toast or something and throw it in. Or you could just come right out and tell them when they get here." "Yeah, or we could not say anything and see who notices the ring first," he said. Kira laughed, "I kinda like that one, but you know they know something's up anyway. It wont take them long to figure it out." "That's true. And Tara's gonna be here, she'll pick up on it immediately," Howie said. "Yeah, must be nice to be able to do that," Kira said. "I dunno, sometimes I think it would be annoying to know things before they happen. It takes the element of surprise out, and sometimes that's the best part," Howie said. "I never thought of it that way, yeah, I guess it would," Kira said, "OK, enough chit chat, let's get this finished." "Yes mame," Howie said laughing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Did they say why?" Tara asked. Brian was sitting on the bed watching her sort through the closet, "No, they just asked for us to come to dinner." Tara turned around, "Well I can't find it. Maybe it's still at Nick's." Brian got up and walked over to the closet, "Let me look. What does it look like?" Tara laughed, "It's a green shirt, sleeveless, with a mock turtleneck." "OK," Brian said and began looking through the closet, "Is it emerald green, or evergreen?" Tara looked at him shocked, "You know the difference?" He turned around and smiled, "Of course I know the difference." "OK, now you're just scaring me," Tara said laughing. Brian gave her his best hurt look and went back to looking through the closet. Tara walked over and sat on the bed and watched. "Is this it?" Brian asked holding up the shirt. "Yes, where was it?" she asked. "In behind some of my stuff," Brian said. Just then the phone rang. "I'll get it," Brian said and ran for the phone before Tara could answer it. "Hello," he said out of breath. "Brian, hey it's Steven," he said. "Hey man, what's up?" Brian asked. "Well we're about ready for you to start promotion, if you're up to it," Steven said. "OK, when and where, and for how long?" Brian asked. Steven laughed, "I'll fax you a schedule, look over it and get back to me OK?" "OK man, we were on our way out, so it may be tomorrow," Brian said. "That's fine, just let me know if everything is OK, then we'll finalize all the dates, and get the ball rolling," Steven said. "OK, talk to you tomorrow then," Brian said. "Alright, bye," Steven said then hung up. Brian turned around to see Tara staring at him. "It was Steven, they want me to start promotion on the album soon," he said. "Oh, when?" she asked. "He's gonna fax a schedule, I'll call him back tomorrow," Brian said. "Bri, do you think I could go with you?" Tara asked. He smiled, "Of course, I'm not leaving without you." Tara smiled, then proceeded to change shirts. Brian covered his eyes, and Tara started laughing, "What are you doing?" "Sorry, I'm still not used to this I guess," he said laughing and embarrassed at the same time. "I know, I take a lot of getting used to," she said teasing him. He laughed, "You about ready?" "Yep, just have to brush my hair," she said. Brian ran over and took the brush from her hand, "Let me do it." Tara looked up at him, "Now Brian, you know what happened last time you started this, and we don't have time." "I promise, I'll be nice," he said. She stared at him, not believing a word he said, "Fine, fine. But remember, I'm feeling better, and if you get outta line, I'm gonna have to hurt you." Brian laughed, "Yes dear." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick woke up to the sound of voices. He recognized Lyn's voice, but there was a man's voice he hadn't heard before. He looked around, but they weren't in the room. "Lyn," he called. Lyn came through the door followed by a middle aged man. He was in his late forties early fifties Nick guessed, with salt and pepper hair, and hazel eyes like Lyn's. "Nick, this is my uncle Ted Jackson. He's the doctor that's been treating you," Lyn said. "Hi, thanks," Nick said. Ted sat down next to him, "I'm just glad to see you're feeling better." Nick smiled, but he could tell something wasn't right between Lyn and her uncle. There was a tense feeling in the way they reacted to each other. "Doc, how much longer am I gonna have to be on this thing?" Nick asked. "The IV?" Ted asked. Nick nodded his head. "Well, I'm gonna draw some blood in the morning and run some tests, we'll see after that," he said. "OK," Nick said, not happy about having blood drawn. "Alright then, I'm gonna go. I'll be back in the morning," Ted said. Lyn followed him out of the room. Nick heard them talk for a minute, then heard Ted leave. Lyn came back in the room, looking tired. "Do you need anything?" she asked. "No, I'm OK," Nick said, "Lyn, can I ask you something?" She sat down on the edge of the bed, "Sure." "Is something wrong?" he asked. "What do you mean?" she asked. "With you and your uncle, it just seems like you don't want him to be here, and he acts like he's walking on eggshells with you," Nick said. Lyn stared at him, "You picked all that up in just the few minutes he was in here?" Nick smiled, "I had a good teacher." "Well, things with me and my uncle haven't been the best lately. It's a really long story though, and I'm sure you're tired," she said. Nick reached over and took one of her hands in his, "I've got all the time in the world, and I'm not tired." Lyn stared at him and he could see an immense amount of pain and sorrow in her eyes. "Nick, I....I really don't wanna talk about it right now," she said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry, it's just that you know everything about me and I don't know anything about you," he said. Lyn smiled, "OK, ask me anything you want, just not about my family." "OK," Nick said, "But whenever you do wanna talk about it, I'm here." She squeezed his hand, "Thanks." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie ran to the door, it was Kevin and Kristin. They were the last ones to get there, as usual. "Come on in," Howie said, letting them in. "Everyone is already in the kitchen," he said leading the way. "Does Nick know you're having parties in his house?" Kevin asked teasing. "Um, no he doesn't, and what he doesn't know wont hurt him," Howie said laughing. They entered the kitchen to find Brian and Tara seated at the table, and Kira standing behind the counter. Tara was whispering in Brian's ear, and he was grinning like the Cheshire cat. "OK guys, everybody take a seat," Howie said. Kevin and Kris found their seats as Kira walked around the counter and sat down next to Howie. "Brian?" Kevin said. Brian looked up, not realizing that Kevin was there, "Hey, how long you been here?" Kevin laughed, "Long enough to realize that Tara just told you why we're all here." Brian gave his most innocent look, "We were talking bout something else." "Yeah right," Kevin said, "Howie, we're all here now, so tell us what the big surprise was." They all laughed. Kira looked over at Howie, "Yes dear, tell them already so we can eat, I'm starving." "Well, we wanted to have you all over to tell you that.....um, we, um.....," Howie stammered. "Oh good God," Kira said and held her hand out for everyone to see the ring. Brian and Tara were smiling, and giving their congratulations. Kevin and Kristin were estatic. "Man I knew it!" Kevin said. They all laughed. "So when's the date?" Kristin asked. "We haven't set one yet, but we'll let everyone know when we do," Howie said. "I'm so happy for you guys," Tara said. "Yeah," Brian agreed. "Thanks guys," Kira said, "Now that that's outta the way, let's eat." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "God I'm tired," Leighanne said walking through the door of her hotel room. Gary followed her in, "Well, why don't you go get a shower and relax, and I'll order room service." She looked at him, "OK, but don't order anything fancy. All I want is a hamburger with extra cheese." Gary laughed, "OK, I'll tell them to hurry too, I'm starving." Leighanne went into the bathroom and started the shower. She and Gary had just got done with their last interview of the day. They had been on the road for almost a week now promoting the movie, and they were almost done. Just one more day of interviews, then it was home for a couple days before the big premiere. She and Gary had kinda worked things out. She still didn't trust him, but they were almost back to being friends. She still felt guarded around him though, the thoughts of what he had done just wouldn't leave that easily. Gary knocked on the door, "Anne, I'm goin over to my room for a sec. I'll hear if the food comes, so don't worry about it." "OK," she said. She heard the door close, and jumped in the shower. The water felt good, she hadn't realized just how tense she was. Every interview had become a repeat of the one before. It always started out being about the movie, and what it was like on the set, but somehow it always ended up with questions about her and Brian. She had tried to be gracious, but it was getting old. Gary had fielded alot of them, saving her from having to disclose a part of her life that should have been private in the first place. She stood there thinking about how Gary had seemed to change. Before everything happened, he was cocky and arrogant. The world revolved around him, and you were blessed to have been in his presence. But since the hospital ordeal, he seemed much different. He was actually caring, and compassionate. He put other's feelings ahead of his own. Leighanne had to wonder how much of it was an act, and how much was actually real. He was right the other day when he said she couldn't shut her feelings off, like you turn off a faucet. She did still have some feelings for him, she just couldn't act on them now, not after what he did. She heard a knock on the door, and heard voices. "Anne, the food's here," Gary called. Leighanne got out of the shower, dried off and put on some sweats. She came out of the bathroom still drying her hair with the towel. She looked up to see Gary standing next to the food cart. He was dressed in a suit, and the food cart had the best silver covers the hotel had on it. "Gary, what's all this? I told you nothing fancy," she said. He took her hand and pulled her chair out for her to sit down. "It's not as fancy as it looks," he said with a smile. She looked at him skeptically and sat down. Gary pulled the covers off their plates to reveal two cheeseburgers and fries. Leighanne smiled. Gary took her bottle of Coke and opened it and poured it in her glass like it was the finest of wines. "OK, what gives?" she asked. "What?" he said looking innocent. "What's with the suit, and the silver, and the service?" Leighanne asked. "Can't I treat a friend to a nice dinner?" he asked. She stared at him for a moment, "What's the catch?" "There's not one. I just thought it would be nice, that's all," he said. She looked at him for another moment, then shrugged her shoulders and dove into her hamburger. Gary laughed and started in on his as well. After they had finished eating, they walked over to the couch. Gary flipped through the channels on TV trying to find something to watch. "You wanna rent a movie?" he asked. "I don't care," Leighanne said. Gary looked down the list of movies, "They have Braveheart." Leighanne perked up, "Really? That's my favorite, but it's so long." "Oh, come on, what else we gonna do?" Gary begged. "OK, but if we're watching it, we gotta order popcorn," she said picking up the phone and dialing room service. "Get extra butter," Gary said. Leighanne ordered the food, while Gary ordered the movie. They sat back down, as the movie started. "I love this movie, it's so romantic," Leighanne said. Gary looked at her and smiled, "I guess. I mean the guy dies you know." "Yeah, but he dies fighting for what he believes in. And the love story in it just beautiful," she said. A knock came at the door, and Gary got up to answer it. He came back a minute later with a bowl of popcorn in his hands, and two Cokes. He set the popcorn between them and handed Leighanne her drink. They watched the movie until they both fell asleep. Chapter 56 |