Scene 9
When Howie got home his phone was ringing.
"Hi Mom," he said answering it.
"I am not your mother," Kevin replied. He sounded happy.
"Another boy huh," was Howie's response.
"Yup! 8 lbs 10 oz. We've decided on Kristian as a name."
"Isn't that just disgusting," Howie thought but he couldn't say that to
his friend so he just said," That's great man. I'm really happy for you.
And how's Kris?"
"She's great, tired of course, but doing fine, " Kevin replied with
entirely too much enthusiasm. "I got a few more calls to make so I'm gonna let you go now but if you talk to Alex tell him for me. I left a message for Nick in his voicemail. I'll talk to ya later on this week."
"Sure... Congratulations again, Kev and make sure to give Kristin a hug
from me?"
Howie cradled the phone, with a small disturbed smile touching his
lips. He sat there for a minute staring at the phone before he picked it up to call AJ. He got the reaction he'd been expecting.
"That's just sick man," AJ said laughing, "So now it's Kevin, Kristin,
Kevin, Karen, and ... Kristian? Excuse me while I lose my lunch!"
"That was pretty much my reaction," Howie replied dryly.
"They're just takin it too far man seriously, it's so cute it's gross!
I can imagine Kev walking around now with his chest puffed out like he's the
first person to procreate."
Howie had to smile at that, " Yup a disgustingly perfect little family
of K's. They keep this up their gonna have to bus a mini bus to cart them
all around in."
"I pity you man. You know how your Mom reacts every time a new baby
comes around. I feel for you when she hears about this one," AJ said his
voice filled with pity.
"I know... I know. Knowing Kev she already knows and will be calling
shortly to give me a lecture on how horrible I am for denying her the pleasure of my offspring."
AJ noted the dejected ring in Howie's voice and thought it would be
good to change the subject.
"So how're things goin with the nurse, what's her name.... Aadriana
that's it."
"Their going along rather nicely. We're gonna write together on Friday and then horse back riding Saturday. We had dinner tonight," He replied feeling very full of himself.
"Writing and then horses? Sounds like loads of fun So're ya gonna bring her to the party? Might as well I mean she'll be part of the family soon anyway," AJ added slyly.
"Get off it you jerk! I dunno," Howie laughed knowing his friend was just joking with him.
"I promise to be on my best behaviour. Just ask her. Do I have to tell you everything?"
"I hadn't even thought about it. I mean it's not like I was sitting here mulling over the idea. I don't think she'd go for it anyway but I guess
I'll see if she wants to. I may tell her that you requested her presence."
" What woman can resist me? Yup that'll get her there for sure. We're still gonna do the club after right? It was so much fun last year....."
As AJ went on about the previous year's party Howie let hi thoughts take a different turn. "The Party" actually started out as a dinner at his mom's house where everyone just got together to celebrate kicking off a new album or a new tour. Then the guys, the girlfriends/wives, and his sister Polly all went to the club to have a good time. It had been a lot of fun last time and with the new baby there they'd be too distracted with him to focus on her. Maybe it isn't that bad of an idea.
"Well, I'm gonna go now ... the time difference is kicking my ass. I'll give Kev a call later on. Take care and ask the girl about the party man. The worse she could say is no. Peace." AJ said, before hanging up the phone.
Howie cradled the phone once again. He sat back and began to think.
The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass her, but if they could just get through the dinner part she'd be fine. He really didn't want to subject her to his parent's "so when are you gonna settle down" speech. All it was going to take was one look at little Kristian and his mother would start. "Oh let me hold him ... it's been so long since I held a newborn," then she'd shoot him a very pointed look," it would be so wonderful to have a baby around here. Sadly it doesn't look like I'll be getting any new grandchildren anytime soon." Then she'd sigh. He was getting so tired of hearing it.
His father was the one who really laid it on thick though. " Well son, you know I'm getting on in years and with the way things are goin it doesn't look like I'll get the chance to see my youngest's firstborn, and wouldn't that just be a shame?" It always made him feel terrible, it wasn't like his parent's were at death's door or anything. On and on they would go. It got so every time they got together it would start. Polly, Angie and John had all jumped on the band-wagon as well. It was all so sickening.
Did she really need to see all of that? Although she seemed so distant she probably wouldn't notice. Oh well he still had almost 3 weeks to work up to it. No ... better to let her know a week ahead of time ... women were funny about stuff like that; she might wanna go shopping or something; why he couldn't fathom but that's kinda how women are.
For him the rest of the week was kind of a drag. He handled all of the business that he had neglected during the tour. He spent plenty of time with his family. The most difficult thing was forcing himself to just sit and do nothing.
Aadriana was the exact opposite. She had no time to sit and do nothing and when she did she filled it with worries so she kept herself busy. She rearranged her house, moving all the furniture and cleaning everything.
She worked 10 hours a day as usual and then took very long walks with the puppy.
Thursday was especially terrible; work was just awful. It was the worst day she'd had since starting, she had 2 stillborns and lost a mother. She cried her self to sleep that night after drinking a pint and a half of Jack Daniels. Up at the crack of dawn the next morning, despite all that, she spent the better part of the morning feeling sorry for herself. Around noon
Catrina called. She had to tell her that she'd finally heard from Darrien.
"Hey, Chicken," her friend said.
"Hi Hon," she responded cheerily, trying to keep her voice light and happy.
"Okay ... what's wrong?" Trina heard the distress in her voice. She always did.
"It's just been a long week. It started great and has just gone downhill since then."
"Start at the beginning." Even all those miles away her friend was there for her she listened as Aadriana gave her the details of the phone call, and the rest of the weeks happenings. When it was over she sighed.
" First of all You need to slow down with the JD. Next question is what made Monday so great? I mean we established years ago that Jason was a dick so there's nothing to say on that one. Tell me about Monday and don't leave anything out." Trina knew her so well, she was trying to remind her that there was a good day in this rotten week.
She smiled to herself and began to talk once again, "Actually it started Friday night. I went to my usual place and..... I met a guy," she stopped there debating how much Trina actually needed to know. She decided to save that part for later and continued, "He's so amazing, he's smart, he's funny and he loves to dance. It was just a really good time."
"And does this paragon of manhood have a name," Trina asked sarcastically.
"Yes, Smartass, his name is Howard."
"Howard? eww That sounds like someone's grandfather's name ... how old is this guy anyway," Trina said laughing.
"He's 30 and that's not old. Besides I really have a good time with him
... we have a lot in common." Aadriana replied defensively.
"So how well do you know this Howard?" Trina asked in her old grandmother voice.
"I guess I know him as well as you can really know someone these days," was the evasive answer.
"Oh so you're gonna make me drag it out of you ... do you know him in the biblical sense?"
Her question was met with silence and that was all the answer she needed to continue.
"Already? How serious is this and before you answer that was it good?"
Aadriana laughed," It was completely mind blowing. That's all I'm gonna say on the subject as to the seriousness of it I don't have a clue. It's only been a week. I mean he went out of his way to make sure we see each other again but I dunno."
Before her friend could ask she gave her friend the cut and dry version of what happened Monday and asked her how serious she thought it was.
" Holy Mother of Fuck! He really did that? Maybe Grandpa ain't that old after all. Any man who would go through all that just to guarantee a phone call is more than mildly interested. When are you seeing him again?"
"Who're you my mother? We're gonna write together in about an hour and
then he's taking me horse back riding tomorrow."
"Okay the writing thing doesn't sound too exciting but dammit how long has it been since we rode horses together? I'm jealous ... you're takin me when I get down there, Trina pouted.
"Oh yeah, speaking of which he wants to take us out New Year's so you'd better behave!" Aadriana said absently.
" Damn girl, it's only October ... he made plans this far ahead ... this is starting to sound serious. Have you told him about Darrien yet?"
"No. And if I haven't by the time you get here don't go telling my business." Aadriana was surprised she had yelled.
"You know I wouldn't put you out there like that so don't trip," her friend replied sounding hurt.
The phone beeped before and apology could be made. Upon looking at the receiver Aadriana saw that the number was private.
"Hold on okay?"
"Whatever," Trina muttered still put out.
Aadriana switched lines
"Hello?"
"Hi," he said.
"So what time are you..."
" Are you ready to..."
They laughed at how they both started talking at once.
"Now"
"Yes"
Still laughing, "You first," she said
"Okay. I'll be there in a few and give your attack cat some Prozac or something," He said still giggling.
" See you in a bit."
She was still giggling to herself when she switched back to the other line.
"I'm back"
" Was that the old guy ... you sound much better," Trina asked blandly.
She was still waiting for her apology.
"He's not that much older than I am so cut it out. Yes, that was him. He's on his way, he suggested I give Jack some Prozac ... sound familiar?"
Trina had made the same suggestion the previous weekend after hearing about
Jack's antics.
"See I told you. From what you've told me that kitten has some issues.
Is the bird still cursing all the time," she asked laughing.
"Now you know nothing's changed in that department. Look I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier ... forgive me?" Aadriana pleaded.
"Yes, ... you know I can't stay mad at you. So the big question is have you even seen him yet?" Trina asked good naturedly.
"Him who, crazy?" She know who the him in question was.
"That damn Backstreet Boy you were so nutso for ... what's his name.... Huey. Yeah him."
"His name is Howie not Huey and I told you I probably won't ever see him. It's a big city and that's not my reason for being here anyway."
" Whatever girl how can you be so close and not even make an attempt?"
" I don't have to ... it's not like that..." The doorbell rang interrupting her.
" But since you asked," Aadriana paused dramatically," oh well I gotta go. My ride is here talk to ya later," she finished.
She went to the door and opened it laughing at how she could hear her friend yelling at her not to hang up the telephone she still had in her hand.
"Hey you," she said to him.
"Look we'll talk about all that when you get here. I've gotta leave now. Kiss Savannah for me... Uh huh... Bye Turkey," she said before turning off the phone.
"You didn't have to rush," he said looking very amused.
"Naw, we were done. She was just being her usual crazy self." Aadriana replied.
"So, that was the friend who's coming to visit, he guessed.
" Uh huh... Let me go grab my notebooks and I'll be ready, she tossed over her shoulder on her way down the hall.
"What happened to the zoo," he asked when she returned.
" I took care of them earlier. The little ones are napping and Ronnie's listening to the radio... I'm surprised he's not singing along."
She locked the door and they left.
When they reached the spot on the beach, he handed her a folder, turned to a song he'd been working on. After only a few seconds she asked," Do you want my honest opinion or do you want me to tell you what you wanna hear."
"Honesty," came the reply.
"It's really good but entirely too sappy for my taste," she sighed,"
It's just way too sweet, I think I got a cavity reading it. For a 16 or 17 year old it might work, cause they still think love is all roses and hearts but, at my age I know the way it really works ... Good times and bad just like everything else in life and this ... it's just not real."
"Wow ... maybe you should give up the Nursing and become a critic. You let me down easy ... thanks though," he smirked.
Reluctantly she let him read something she'd been working on ... in actuality is grabbed it out of her hands when she went to get a cigarette out of her pocket.
Then before he could start reading it she launched into an explanation.
"I've been working on this for a little over a week now on and off. I lost someone close to me about 2 years ago. He was like my Guardian Angel and so I've been writing this for him. I wanted to make it perfect that's so
I'm taking my time with it."
He read and then reread very slowly. After endless minutes he looked at her and smiled. She didn't realise she had been holding her breath until she saw the smile.
"That is beautiful.... I'm really amazed. You really have a gift, I could feel your pain in the words; there was a slight undercurrent of anger, but it was all hurt with a lot of guilt thrown in. This person must have really meant a lot to you, Anee" (Ah-nee)
She lowered her head and looked up amused at the way he had finally come up with a Nickname for her. They all did eventually.
"Thank you ... my step brother, he's the one I'm writing the song for, he always called me Anee. He slit his wrists just over a 2 years ago. It's funny how you chose that name." She looked up at the sky and winked.
"What was his name if you don't mind me asking" He noticed her looking up and smiled.
"Louis, I'd always tease him and sing "Louie Louie" when he walked into a room. He was the one who always understood me ... Enough sad talk," she said realising she was close to tears.
"I don't think it's sad to think of those who left us. The memories are all we have left," he replied thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well I wanna get this finished so I'm gonna write some more and you probably ought to try to revise your bunch of fluff; before you show it to someone else," she said wiggling her eyebrows to show she was joking.
They spent the rest of the afternoon flipping through poems and songs and tossing ideas back and forth. When he took her back home, long after the sun had set, he promised to be there early the next morning. And he was.