Chapter 4
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Kevin sat with his wife Christine at the kitchen table and flicked idly
through the paper. Christine was feeding their 6 month old son his dinner.
They had married two years ago, after dating forever, it seemed like to
Christine. She smiled at Kevin fondly, she never actually thought he would
get up the nerve to propose to her and when he finally did, she dragged him
to the nearest judge that day. Two months later they held a blow out bash
to celebrate. His family had been a little hurt, but they understood
Christines motivation. They liked to tease him that if she hadn't made him
get married that day, he probably would not be married to her today. Kevin
tossed the paper aside and picked up his son, Jerald, from the high chair.
Christine had argued that there already was a Jerald in the family, but
Kevin insisted on the name. He always swore that his first son would be
named after his late father. He bounced Jerald on his knee and Christine
picked up the paper, glancing at the headline. "Isn't that the girl that
went after Nick and Elisha?" Kevin took the paper from her. "Yes, that's
Mandy. Christ, prison hasn't been kind to her." He scanned the article.
"She's asking for an appeal, release on good behaviour." he snorted. "You
won't see the outside for another 12 years at least, honey. Get used to
it." Kevin handed the paper back to Christine and resumed playing with his
son.
At the Littrell house, Linda was reading the same headline. "They wouldn't let her out would they? After all she did to Elisha and Nick?" Brian read the article over his wife's shoulder. "Well, people do get released on good behaviour, but Nick's told me that she's been under pyschiatric care almost the whole time she's been in there. I can't see how they would release her if she's still under care." Linda folded the paper and nervously ran her finger along the crease. "But couldn't she just visit the doctor on the outside? It is a possibility she could get out?" Brian hugged Linda tightly and sat down beside her. She and Elisha had developed a close bond. Brian and Nick, of course, had a long standing friendship and were elated that their wives go along so well. Brian and Linda adored the Carter children, often going over just to play with them. They had been elated when Nick and Elisha informed them that, first, Rebecca had been christened with the middle name Linda, and then, that their first son was to be named Brian. They had gotten married the year after Nick and Elisha and had discovered shortly after that they would never be able to have children. They both decided they would adopt, but when the Backstreet mayhem died down. It never did. "Maybe this year." Brian thought, wrapping his wife in his arms again. To her he said. "Don't worry sweetie, they won't let her out, her sentence was for 20 years." Nick and Elisha were oblivious to the news of the day so far. After Nick returned home from the studio the family was invited to Aaron and Angel's place for dinner. Aaron was 20 now, and looked so similar to Nick it was spooky. Elisha sometimes would see him from the back and sneak up on him, thinking it was Nick, only to surprise herself. He was out of the entertainment industry and working in computers and electronics. He had enjoyed his brief time in the spotlight, but he realized when he hit 16 and his voice had changed, that he could never make a career out of it, not like his older brother had. Aaron had gone to school and graduated top in his class and valedictorian. He was still working through college. Angel, Aaron's twin, was also in college and, since they went to the same school and took many of the same courses, moved in with Aaron last year. The place was big enough that they didn't bother each other, but cozy enough that they didn't feel disconnected from each other. "Hey little bro'!" Nick hugged Aaron tightly and looked at Angel. "And little sis. You aren't so little anymore! When did you grow up on me?" "Oh Nick!" Angel pushed him away with a little shove to his shoulder. "Elisha!" she exclaimed, looking at her sister in laws expanded waistline. "When's the due date again? You look ready to pop!" Elisha hugged Aaron and moved over to Angel. "Your big brother's birthday, the 28th, next week. I cannot wait to get this over with!" Nick came into the main room with the kids after removing their coats and shoes. "Uncle Aaron!" They jumped into his arms and demanded to go play the computer. Aaron asked Elisha if it was alright and she nodded, "But you guys listen to what Uncle Aaron tells you, okay?" "Do you mind if I go too? I'll listen to what Uncle Aaron says!" Elisha looked at her husbands mock-sad face and burst into laughter. "Get out of here, you goon! Go play with the toys!" Elisha settled into a living room chair and sighed. Angel got her a soft drink and sat across from her. "Are you having a hard time with this one, Elisha?" She took a long sip and nodded. "This one is really trying. I'm sure I'm having twins this time." Angel's eyes lit up. "Oh that's wonderful! You don't know for sure though?" "No, but there's way too much movement for one kid in there!" Angel laughed with her. "I've been meaning to ask you, or offer, whatever. When the baby is born, I would be happy to have Rebecca and Brian here for a few days." Elisha smiled delightedly. "Oh Angel, that would be so wonderful! Brian and Linda offered to watch them for awhile too, you could trade off." Angel checked her watch and got up to set the table. "Well, I was just thinking that it would give you a bit of a break, and you know how much the kids love it here." "Oh yes!" Elisha started to pull herself out of the chair and Angel pushed her back down. "No you don't!" Relax, we invited you over so you didn't have to work!" Elisha settled back into the comfy chair with no complaints. "We will definately take you up on your offer, Angel. I'll need a break after this, especially if it is twins!" |