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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 30 Once the busses were well on the road, A.J. watched from the table as Howie stood and walked back to the sleeping area. He pulled back the curtain on his bunk and spotted the flowers. "As if," he whispered then picked up the box and lifted the lid. He withdrew the little square of paper reading it quietly: Inspire musicians to gladden the hearts of peopleBy filling the air with God�s gift of music and reminding them Of the divine Musician who created all beauty. Howie, Since I can�t be with you, I am calling on a Higher Power to keep you safe and bring you home to me. I�ll miss you so much. ~ Cheryl Howie pulled the St. Cecelia medal from its nest in the cotton. Without a word, he simply hung the chain around his neck. As he reread the note, he absentmindedly rubbed the silver medal with his thumb. "You okay, D?" A.J. saw his friend wipe the tear from his eye and nod. Howie cleared his throat. "Excuse me for a minute." He snatched his cellphone from his bag and retreated to the bathroom where he promptly locked himself in. A few minutes later, the rest of the bus� occupants heard him singing "My Heart Stays with You." "Is he taking a shower?" Nick asked after coming from the entertainment center in the back of the vehicle. A.J. shook his head. "No, sending a thank you." Brian smiled and shook his head as he and Nick sat, watching Kevin stare distractedly out the window. �Train, you look awful. Why don�t you go take a nap so you don�t scare the fans tonight, �kay?� �Gee cuz, you really know how to lift a guy�s spirits, don�t ya?� Kevin grumbled as he rose to head back to his bed. It had only been a few hours, but he already missed Kristy terribly. He pulled back the curtain to his bunk and smiled slightly, his heart swelling with love as he saw the purple tulips lying on his pillow. Between the two of them, they were going to keep Florida�s tulip growers in business for years to come. He lay down and pulled his pillow to him, wishing it was her instead. His arms ached to hold her. He missed the way she snuggled up against him... the way they fit together so perfectly � like puzzle pieces. His eyes scanned the pictures on his wall. The two of them at Typhoon Lagoon. Kristy and Cheryl with the rest of the guys in their Mouse Ears at the Magic Kingdom. Kristy on his lap in front of Cinderella�s Castle. Him standing between Kristy and his mom backstage at the dress rehearsal, nights before. A puzzle piece. Kristy at his hou... �A puzzle piece?!� Kevin sat up slightly and pulled the cardboard piece from the wall. He smiled at the small portion of the picture the piece contained. It was a faintly colored rose on a black and white background. �Kristy�s kids,� Kevin chuckled to himself. She loved those black and white photos of the kids with the colored in flowers and the old fashioned clothes. He flipped the piece over in his hands and paused, recognizing the neat, feminine handwriting across the piece. Partial sentences, incomplete thoughts � random words catching his eye. �Rare.� �Distances.� �Heart.� He sat up fully, ducking his head to avoid the low ceiling, and scanned the rest of the wall. Nothing. Unconsciously, he pulled the pillow closer to him. He smiled as he felt a flat object against his chest. Another piece. He smiled again as he recalled Kristy telling him about how her brother proposed to his fianc�e... a scavenger hunt around town providing clues and pieces of a puzzle. Looked like Kristy had borrowed her brother�s idea. Kevin rose and grabbed his shaving kit, remembering that Kristy had helped him pack it. Sure enough, another piece was tucked inside the lining. He next grabbed his backpack, which contained his Discman, CD�s and some magazines Kristy�d bought before he left. Brian and Nick appeared in the isleway, watching Kevin tear through his things. �What ARE you doing?� Nick asked, confused and amused by his friend�s impulsive behavior. Brian simply smiled at his cousin�s search. �Ah hah!� Kevin exclaimed victoriously as he pulled another section out of one of the pockets. He handed the CD carrier to Nick and instructed him to start looking. �And what exactly am I looking for?� Brian chuckled, �Puzzle pieces from Kristy.� Kevin�s dark head snapped up from his search of his bed. Brian smiled guiltily as Kevin�s green eyes stared at him intently. �Start talking B.� Brian shuffled back and forth on his feet, drawing amused looks from Nick, and A.J. and Howie who�d joined them. �Umm, well... Spunky asked me to help hide a few pieces. That�s all I know.� �Where?� Kevin�s question actually came as more of a command. �The pillow was one of mine.� �And?� Brian grinned. �Nope. Part of the fun is you�re supposed to find them gradually.� Kevin cussed, making the other four guys laugh. �At least my girl didn�t make me work for my gift,� Howie chuckled as he fingered his medal.Over the course of the next few hours Kevin found puzzle pieces in his sheet music, taped to his keyboard, and folded in his clothes � which no longer were neatly packed. He also found one placed on his seat at the restaurant they ate lunch at � earning Brian another earful. As the band�s bus passed theirs, the other four Boys laughed and drew Kevin�s attention to the window, where he saw their band taunting him with several pieces held up to the windows. After some creative pleading � and an exchange of money � Kevin was able to convince the drivers of both busses to pull over, and secured several of the desired puzzle pieces. �One piece,� Kevin sighed as he placed the last couple of pieces � found in the refrigerator and bathroom medicine cabinet � into the picture. He looked at his cousin and silently begged him with his eyes. �Oh man, you are so whipped!� Brian chuckled and handed over the last piece. The picture had long ago started to form into the scene Kevin had known it would. He�d purposely not looked at the back of the puzzle, wanting it to be complete before he read Kristy�s message to him. Kevin eagerly fit the last piece in and gently flipped the entire puzzle over, his eyes savoring her handwriting and the words before him. My Prince Kevin ~ Wherever You Are For as long as I can remember, I�ve only wanted one thing...To know true love and the happiness it�d bring. I�ve waited so patiently, wondering when I�d find my soulmate, lover and best friend. Then, like an answer to my most sacred prayer, I looked across the room and saw you standing there. Our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat. I knew you were the one to make me complete. We�ve been given this gift from high above. We know that it�s rare... this one perfect love. Side by side or distances far... Remember my heart is wherever you are. And now I know what true love means... More magical than any of my wishes or dreams. You�ve touched my soul. You know the real me... Both the good and bad that few people see. You�ve captured my heart and given me yours. Our lips and souls unite... my spirit soars. I�m a better person from simply knowing you... Opening my heart and eyes to see the world anew. We�ve been given this gift from high above. We know that it�s rare... this one perfect love. Side by side or distances far... Remember my heart is wherever you are. I love you � always. Your Princess, ~ Kristy Kevin wiped away the tears that were falling gently down his cheeks. She was simply the most amazing person he�d ever met. He loved her more than he�d ever thought it was possible to love someone. Kevin grabbed his cellphone and retreated to the back of the bus, the rest of the guys staying where they were in the front � fighting the urge to read what Kristy could�ve written to elicit such emotions from the �rock� of the group. �Angel,� they heard him say, his deep voice soft and filled with something they�d never heard in it before. �My heart IS wherever you are.� |