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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 51 Cheryl awoke the following morning to the smells of Sunday breakfast. Pancakes. Bacon. Coffee. She again wrapped Howie's robe around her body, enjoying the lingering musky scent as it enveloped her senses. Still half asleep, she padded down the stairs to the kitchen. "Good morning," she greeted cheerfully. Paula smiled as she turned away from the skillet of pancakes on the stove. "Good morning, Cheryl. I hope you slept well." The redhead knew the older woman was referring indirectly to their late night talk. "I did, thank you. You?" "Fine. You have plenty of time if you'd like to take a shower. What time do you need to get to the airport?" "Kris's flight comes in around two." "Well then, you're welcome to come to mass with us." "Right now I'm certainly not going to make it home for church, and I suppose I could break in one of my more casual new dresses." Paula laughed. "Since when do we need an occasion to dress up and feel like royalty?" Cheryl smiled knowingly. "We'll leave for St. Joseph's around 9:30." "If you're sure you don't need any help, I'll go take that shower." "That's fine." Cheryl ascended the stairs once more � a familiar warmth invading her heart. She stopped half way up the steps as the realization hit her. As much as she often missed her own family, she now knew that being with the Doroughs felt so much like being home.One Boy was unaccounted for when the group congregated around the buses at 8:30. The New York City trip had been a "break" from the rigorous cross-country tour. After satisfying their various publicity obligations, the Backstreet Boys were set to rejoin the band and crew in Pittsburgh and resume the tour. "Anyone seen Kev?" Brian asked. The oldest member of the group may have harbored a love for sleeping late but it wasn't like him to keep everyone waiting when they were on such a stringent schedule. "I haven't seen him since last night," A.J. offered. Nick cringed. He had heard the argument the night before thanks to the fact that Kristy and Kevin's suite neighbored his. But it wasn't the raised voices that had him worried. He swore that he had heard glass shattering. "Uh, fellas�," he began his account. "Damn," Howie muttered once the blond had finished his story. The other uttered similar words of shock. "Listen, I'm going to call Cher, and warn her just in case. She can help Kristy deal with the fallout." Three heads nodded in agreement.Paula reached for the phone answering it on the second ring. "Hello? Hi, Sweetie, how are you� Me? Fine, thank you. Just getting breakfast ready." Cheryl returned to the kitchen then showered and wearing a cobalt blue and lavender sundress. "�We're headed to St. Joseph's Cathedral for mass shortly� New York is okay?" Cheryl realized then that it was Howie on the phone. Her automatic smile at the thought of her boyfriend was replaced by a look of panic when she saw Paula's frown. "Sure, Howard, she's right here." Paula passed the receiver to Cheryl. "It's my son." "Howie?" She answered with uncertainty clouding her voice then heard the heavy sigh on the other end. "Hey, Cher. How are you?" "Great," she was almost afraid to finish the statement, "And you?" "Good. New York has been fun�" His hesitation was obvious. "Cher, a lot of stuff has happened since yesterday." "You're all okay, right?" she asked, bracing for the worst. "Um� well, Kev and Kris had a fight last night. Honestly, I only know what happened at the club�" Howie proceeded to tell his girlfriend about the situation at the Hard Rock Caf�, then Nick's assessment of the argument that followed at the hotel. "We have yet to see them this morning. I-I don't know where their relationship lies... or if there is a relationship anymore." Cheryl was shocked. Glass breaking? Maybe Nick was overreacting. "I can't believe this could be the end for them." "They're so right for each other like.." Us. He had almost said like us and the realization opened his eyes. It could be Cheryl and him. "Cher, we're okay, right? I mean, I forgive you for not being able to come." "And I understand and forgive your frustration." "Good. That means I will see you next weekend," he replied thinking about the concerts in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. "You aren't getting off that easily, Dorough. Besides, I wouldn't miss seeing you squirm again. Meeting `daddy' is a big step," Cheryl teased, trying to cover her own nervousness. In all honesty, she was worried how her father would view his daughter dating a pop star. "I love you, C." "I love you, too, Dorough." Their conversation was interrupted by A.J.'s announcement. "Hey, look who finally decided to show!" Howie turned to see Kristy and Kevin � both beaming and grinning sheepishly. "Looks like things are okay, Sparky. The couple in question just appeared and they're wearing that `unmistakable glow'." Cheryl laughed. "In that case, I've gotta go. Can't pass up Mama Dorough's pancakes, no matter how much I think I love you." "I see how it is you only want me for my mother's homecooking." Howie smiled thinking of his family sharing the typical Dorough Sunday with his girlfriend. It meant so much to him that she got along with his family and was willing to spend time with them despite his absence. "That's right. I'll talk to you again soon. Safe trip." "Thanks�I'll see you soon."Cheryl followed Paula and Hoke into St. Joseph's Cathedral and gasped at the beauty and reverence of the cavernous sanctuary with its high-vaulted ceilings. The late morning light refracted a rainbow of colors through the stained glass windows, which only added to the ambiance of the candlelit shrines tucked away in the corners. Cheryl had been raised in a mixed denomination home attending mostly protestant churches. The only exception was her father's birthday, Father's Day and every other High Holiday when she, her mother and her sister accompanied her dad to his Catholic church. She shivered now remembering Father Mark's stern face and cold black eyes. Somehow though this place seemed warmer and not as sterile. This was where Howie had discovered and nurtured his spirituality, something that had attracted her to him even as a fan. In the few months she had known him, she had seen it first hand and loved him even more for it. Certainly, she felt God's presence, but there was something else. A part of Howie's spirit resided here as well. Taking a seat between Polly and Angie, who had brought her family, Cheryl said a silent prayer thanking God for bringing Howie into her life.Still wearing her sundress, Cheryl arrived at the airport gate just as Kristy was disembarking the plane. She greeted her friend with a hug and customarily, the two began chatting while they walked to the baggage claim. The redhead laughed good-naturedly taking one of the garment bags Kevin had bought to enable Kristy to bring her new wardrobe home. "I see we went shopping." The blond woman shrugged then giggled. "Kev insisted." She eyed her friend's dress. "Mhmm, and that's been buried in your closet?" Cheryl blushed. "I needed something new in my wardrobe. And Polly decided I needed to get my mind off things yesterday." "Things are okay with you and D, right?" Kristy wondered as they loaded her bags into the Jetta's trunk before hopping in the front seat. Cheryl sighed happily. "Yeah. The flowers and TRL were very sweet and I had a great weekend with his family. You and Kevin, okay?" "I guess you heard." Cheryl nodded and Kristy enlightened her to the situation that occurred while the car speeded toward their condo. "So, Nick did hear glass breaking? According to Howie, the guys thought someone had thrown it." "I dropped it in the sink," Kristy dismissed the topic. "I guess we both survived another tense moment." "But you know something? Howie and Kevin might have to rethink their decisions once they realize the scrutiny they'll be enduring in the future." Kristy laughed. "Milwaukee and Portland will certainly have new meaning for them."After the bus pulled away from the hotel, the rest of the group bombarded Kevin with questions about the previous night. "You guys are worse than school girls with your constant gossiping," he observed with annoyance. "Just call us relentless� and nosy!" Brian replied, then continued with feigned tears and sniffles. "Besides we care about you, man." "Funny, Rok." "So, everybody's okay then?" Nick asked, directing his inquiry toward Howie and Kevin, who both nodded. "They may be now, but check back in a few weeks." A.J. chuckled gazing at a pair of blank faces. "If you'll check the itinerary�" Howie and Kevin groaned as they noticed what their friend referred to. There on the schedule for the tour, highlighted in florescent yellow, were two words: MILWAUKEE and PORTLAND.Next: Chapter 52 |