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CHAPTER 43
Just over two years had passed since Jordan received Kevin's Christmas present. True to her word, she went on living her life without Kevin and Nick.
Backstreet spent most of 2002 recording an album. It was well received by critics and fans. They did an actual world tour, which kept them busy through 2003. Their final show was a sell-out and rang in the New Year at LA’s Staples Arena.
Kevin seemed to flounder for awhile, went underground while they worked on the album. He remained married to Kristin and they made appearances here and there. Her acting career stalled. Jordan never heard from him after he sent the Christmas present.
Nick called from time to time, but had only made one brief visit. He had pulled away. Jordan watched him get into trouble from a far. He had managed to stay out of trouble with the police after the one run-in on January 2, 2002. He still partied just has hard, but kept it contained. Girlfriends passed in and out of his life. He recorded an album, which was released the summer of 2002. It did respectably well.
Brian and Leighanne remained married. BriLeigh Production plugged along. Still no children, but they seemed happy by outward appearances.
Howie was the same as always. He did his own thing and kept it quiet. After the disaster of the 2001 Lupus Cruise, his family decided to work with another agency. Things were much smoother on the last cruise. The June Lupus Weekend still pulled in good numbers. Otherwise, Howie was still playing the “bachelor role”.
Watching AJ’s life was like watching a train wreck. He became engaged to his then girlfriend Sarah Martin in December of 2001. Rumors ran rampant for awhile that Sarah was pregnant. The rumors were confirmed when the couple was spotted buying baby things in stores on Rodeo Drive in early spring. There was no hiding Sarah’s pregnancy. June saw the arrival of Alexander James McLean, II. August saw another visit to rehab and by the end of August, the engagement was off.
AJ sobered up and realized while being a dad was cool, being a husband wasn't. He supported Alex, but not Sarah. He spent lots of time with his son. Sarah had found a new man and was happy to let AJ have Alex whenever he wanted. Alex and Denise spent most of the US Leg of the tour on the road with AJ.
The Bed and Breakfast was coming up on its second anniversary. The first year, they just broke even, but the next year was much improved. It was due in part to Jordan adding two cabins not far from the main house. They were small and private. Just perfect for the Nashville celebrities and Music Row folks to get away from it all. They weren't hassled by the folks in town. Many of the businesses in Hollow Lake were benefiting financially right along with the B&B. No one wanted to lose the business.
It was late January and the weather was brisk, but still snow had fallen only once and not stayed around for more than a day. It was Monday and Delaney had gone into town to make a deposit at the bank. Jordan was helping get the house back in order after a weekend full of guests. The front door opening pulled her out of the livingroom.
"I don’t believe," she exclaimed.
"Believe it. How are you Jordan?"
"I'm good. You look good. What do you have there?"
"It's the little man."
"AJ he's adorable!"
AJ's son opened his eyes, stretched and yawned. He blinked, then focused his big brown eyes on Jordan.
"Alex this is Jordan," introduced AJ.
"Hi baby," greeted Jordan, smiling.
Alex looked between his father and this new person. Dad seemed to think she was ok, so he ventured a smile at her. Jordan giggled and tickled him. He rewarded her with a bigger smile.
"Want to hold him?"
"Do I? Come here," encouraged Jordan.
Alex moved to her easily, but still looked back at his dad to make sure. AJ smiled and ruffled his curls. Alex laid his head on Jordan's shoulder. She hugged him.
"Oh you're a snuggle bunny. Yes you are," cooed Jordan.
"Never pictured you this way," chuckled AJ.
"What way?"
"All googoo over a baby."
"Oh hush. Alex your daddy is such a silly boy. So why did he bring you all this way?"
"I told you I would visit one day. We've got down time. The family, holiday sh…stuff is over."
"Wow good editing dad," teased Jordan. "How long you stayin'?"
"Probably through the weekend. You got room?"
"Yeah. You're stuff in the car?"
"Yep."
"Good. Buckle him in and follow me," she directed at she handed Alex back. Calling out, "Linda, going to the house. I'll be back later!"
"OK," returned a female voice for the second floor.
Once Alex was situated in his car seat, AJ followed Jordan's car. He liked this place. Chuckling to himself, he realized how much had changed in his life. Two years before he would have been itching to leave this place the second he got here. It was country and country was not something AJ normally did. However, now he found it calming.
He was surprised when Jordan turned onto a road that he could tell had once been paved, but was now almost a gravel road. He let out a soft whistle when they reached the one lane bridge and he caught a glimpse of the house on the hill. Parking behind her car, he got out and moved to the back seat to free Alex from his confines.
"So who lives here?"
"Me," answered Jordan lifting Alex out of AJ's arms. She continued when he arched an eyebrow at her.
"Just me. Get your stuff."
AJ walked in the front door to find Alex rolling around on the floor with a big black dog. Alex was laughing and jabbering away at the dog, who was content with lying on the floor and being wallowed on. Jordan was on the floor with them. Alex's little legs were worked double time to get to his father once he was spotted. AJ dropped all the bags and scooped up his son causing him to squeal. The dog barked from his place by Jordan.
"AJ come let Boonie get a sniff of you."
"Boonie huh," asked AJ as he dropped his hand for the dog to sniff. After a moment, Boonie gave him the lick of approval.
"Yep. Everyone complains I live out in the boondocks so I got a boon-dog."
"And people say I'm different."
"You are. Now you can come and go as you like and Boonie won't bother you."
"So I sniffed ok fella," asked AJ with a chuckle and pat to the dog's head. "Speaking of sniffin', son you are ripe. Do you suppose auntie Jordan would like to do the honors?"
"Sorry dad. This one's on you. I'll pull in the rest of your stuff."
"Wimp."
"Don't worry I'm sure I will change a dirty one before you leave."
"I'll see to it."
Jordan showed AJ where he and Alex would be staying and left them to their messy business. She unloaded the car and carried things to the bedroom while father and son struggled over redressing after the diaper change was accomplished. Seemed Alex did not like wearing clothes. He tolerated them once on, but put up one heck of a fight getting into them.
After the baby was fresh smelling again, it was time for a bottle and a nap. He went out like a light after finishing his bottle. During his nap, Jordan took AJ on a tour of the house. They settled in the living room in front of the fireplace with some coffee and the baby monitor.
"Dan this place is amazing. I can't believe you built it."
"Thanks. I like it."
"Are you going to repave the road up here?"
"Nope. You have to know I'm back here. To pave it would draw attention. The mailbox is out there at the road, which is enough of a sign someone lives back here. I like my privacy."
"Understand. Well you would never guess this house was back here. You know we could have stayed at the B&B."
"Actually, you couldn't. We're booked solid starting Thursday night. It makes no sense for you to settle in there only to move two days later. Besides, you’re a friend. Friends get to stay up here."
"So business is good."
"It really is."
"I'm glad to hear it Jordan."
"I'm glad to see you looking happy and healthy."
"Me too."
"You doing 12 step still."
"Oh Yeah."
"Well then if you need a meeting while you're here I will hook you up with a friend."
"Still the organizer I see."
"Always."
"So are you going to asked about the others?"
Jordan laughed, "OK. How are the others?"
"Brian's fine. His head is still up Leighanne's ass."
"AJ," scolded Jordan, though she was laughing.
"It's the truth. Howie's out and about. I think his family has given up on him settling down."
"Howie always living up to the rep."
"So he thinks. So you want to hear about Kevin or Nick first?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Alrighty…Nick."
"I've kept up. He's being a 24 year old now."
"Yeah, but I think it's finally gotten old."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I worry about him."
"So call him."
"I have, but mainly he blows me off."
"I think he's afraid he's disappointed you."
"Me? Why?"
"Because he thinks he's disappointed everyone."
"Now why does he think that? Wait, let me guess. His family."
"Yep. But he's finally breaking ties with them."
"As bad as it sounds, I think it’s the right move."
"I agree."
"I wish…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
"Hey no cussing."
"The kidlet's not around. Now tell me."
"I wish he would come here."
"Then invite him."
"I did. He's got a standing invitation."
"So the place over the garage…the apartment."
"Yes." Jordan drew out the word.
"It's for Nick. Right?"
"It is. He's never seen it."
"He will one day."
"We shall see."
"Yep. Which brings us to Kevin."
"Does it?"
"Yes."
"Well I know all I need to about him."
"That so?"
"Yep. Is he still married to Kristin?"
"He is."
"That's all I need to know."
Alex cries coming through the monitor interrupted their conversation. The rest of the day was spent playing with the baby. Delaney showed up with dinner and stayed until late.
Chapter 44
Tuesday, AJ got a tour of the property and the experience of dinner with Ma and Pa Buchanan. They had seen AJ in the videos Jordan had showed them. So, they were prepared for him. They were again surprised at how nice he was. They both loved Alex and set about spoiling him.
Wednesday, Alex spent the day with Janis Buchanan, while Jordan and AJ went to Nashville. After working their way through Opry Mills, Jordan headed downtown. Parking in front of a place called Gig World, Jordan led AJ into the building.
"Dan why are here?"
"I'm picking your brain and we are meeting a friend."
"OK?"
"Jordan sup?"
"Hey Allie Cat. Allie…AJ. AJ…Allie."
"Allie."
"AJ."
"Does he know?"
"Not yet."
"What don't I know?"
"I'm expanding the business."
"You are?"
"Yep. I'm building a studio."
"A recording studio?"
"A recording studio."
"Where?"
"Near the second cabin."
"Damn!"
"Bad idea?"
"No."
Allie jumped in, "good answer, because I'm runnin' the place for her."
"You are?"
"I am. So come talk equipment with me."
They spent the next three hours going over everything the place had. They also took catalogs and spec sheets. Jordan and Allie had pretty much decided on what they wanted, but she thought she would get AJ's input while he was there.
AJ was surprised at her decision to build a studio. Their talk on the drive home helped him understand her reasons, even the ones she didn't realize. During his tour of the property, Jordan had been evasive about was being built down from the cabins. Now it was easy to see it was the studio. She placed it back in the secluded section where the cabins were to afford anyone using it privacy. In addition, it was easy for them to crash in the cabins when needed. So conceivably, a person using the studio would never have to leave the property. Nice setup for anyone wanting to get away to record.
AJ managed to sneak in a call to Nick on Thursday, while Jordan had Alex with her in town.
"Hello?"
"Nick buddy wassup?"
"J! Nothin' much, just chillin'. You?"
"Same. Where you at?"
"Tampa. Hangin' with my fellas."
"So stayin' out of trouble?"
"Yes! What're you and the little man up to?"
"Relaxin' out in the country?"
"Country? Man where you at?"
"Hollow Lake."
"What?"
"We came to see Jordan."
"So you stay at…at…what'd she call the B&B?"
"Eagle's Rest."
"Yeah that's it! Eagle's Rest."
"No. We actually staying with her."
"So she got the house finished?"
"Damn Nick how long has it been since you seen her?"
"Umm…over a year I guess."
"Why don't you come for a visit? I know she's asked you."
"Yeah but she don't want me there."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"You are so wrong and you don't even know it."
"What's that suppose to mean," asked Nick. His voice taking on a defensive tone.
"Man she's got room for you."
"I know she's got plenty of guestrooms."
"No man. You don't get it. She built you a place."
"What are you talking about?"
"Shit. They're back. I gotta go. Nick just get your ass on a plane tomorrow. Come here and you will see for yourself. Do me a favor though. Leave all your friends there."
"I don't know J."
"I do. It's time ya came home buddy. Think about it. Bye."
"Bye."
Nick hung up and looked at his friends passed out around the apartment. He never did get another place in Tampa. He just stayed at Mike's when they were in town. In the last couple of years, he had been drifting.
He visited Jordan in the spring of 2002, but hadn't been back since. He knew she was worried about him. She had tried talking to him, but he'd dug his heels in about knowing what he was doing. She had let it drop, but he could see disappointment in her eyes. He knew the look well. He was just one big disappointment. He was never the right kind of son or brother or Backstreet Boy. He couldn't handle her being disappointed in him too.
Rather than take a chance and see her again, he ran. He ran to his so-called friends in Tampa. He stayed there until the mini tour for his record. After that, he was back in the studio with Backstreet then the tour.
He had partied way too much on the road. He had not gotten as bad as AJ, but came damn close. Now as he looked at himself in the mirror over the bathroom sink, he could see it all over his face. He was tired. It was more than tired. He was weary. Weary of his life and everything in it. Hollow Lake was sounding really good, but he didn't know if he could find the courage to do it.
"Dude you ok?"
"Yeah Tony I'm fine."
"So where we heading tonight?"
"Dude it's only what? 11:00?"
"Yeah? So?"
"So what about staying in tonight?"
"Cool with me. We can have a keg and shit delivered here."
"Great," said Nick sarcastically.
Tony missed it the tone and said, "great!"
Nick looked back into the mirror and muttered, "great."
Retrieving his phone from the living room, Nick called his travel agent and booked a flight to Nashville. A rental car would be waiting for him.
He packed up his stuff and made Mike drive him to the airport. Mike had been worried about Nick. He had watched his friend slip away. He stuck around and just played the designated drive, etc. to make sure Nick was OK. They had argued about Nick going by himself, but Mike relented when Nick finally told him where he was going. While he didn't know Jordan well, he liked her. He also knew she cared about Nick and was a real friend. If anyone could reach Nick, it would be Jordan.
Nick slept on the non-stop from Tampa to Nashville. He called AJ from the rented SUV to get directions. He made AJ promise not to tell Jordan he was coming. It was dark by the time he arrived and he drove past the turn off to her house twice.
"Someone's coming up the drive," noted Jordan looking out the window in the front door. Boonie's barking had alerted them.
"Del?"
"No. I don't recognize it."
"Come on little man let's go wait with Auntie Jordan," stated AJ, picking his son up from the living room floor.
A motion sensor triggered the outside lights. The SUV rolled to a stop and the engine turned off. The light in the cab came on causing Jordan gasp, "AJ!"
"I called him. So don't be pissed."
"Thank you AJ," she said as she kissed his cheek.
"Boonie stay," she ordered before running out of the house.
Nick was just stepping out of the vehicle when Jordan flew out of the house. He stopped when he saw her round the SUV. Before he could react, she had thrown herself at him. He caught her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him. He held her tight as tears began to well up in his eyes.
"You're here," she exclaimed, pulling back to get a look at him, but it was too dark outside .
"I'm here. It's ok?"
"It's wonderful!"
"Well come in here," chuckled AJ.
Jordan released Nick and dropped her feet to the ground. Nick grabbed his stuff and they walked in with arms wrapped around each other. Once inside Jordan got a good look at Nick and didn't like what she saw. He was bloated and his face was a mess. He looked exhausted. The weariness in his eyes broke her heart, but she didn't let on.
She called Delaney, asking her to bring food. Jordan's Aunt Mary was the cook at the B&B. Like her sister Janis, Mary was an amazing cook. Delaney arrived with food. She had a harder time hiding her reaction to Nick's appearance. Nick blushed and was withdrawn during the meal. Delaney left when AJ said good night and took Alex to bed.
Jordan pulled Nick to her room. She would give him a tour the next day.
"Jordan, I can stay in one of the guest rooms."
"I know, but I've missed some serious snuggle time. So mister it's time for you to pay up."
"Alright," he chuckled. "Can I take a shower first?"
"Please do," she replied, holding her nose.
"Funny."
"Yep. Now shower. Towels are in there."
"Thanks," he said before disappearing into the bathroom.
"Hey Shorty."
"Yeah," asked Nick sticking his head through the doorway.
"Welcome home."
"Thanks for letting me come home."
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