Part 216
Backstage, Sarah hugged Richie, "Thank you SO MUCH. You don’t know how much it meant to me to have you accompany me."
"It was my pleasure, Sarah. You have an awesome gift and I can’t wait to
hear more from you."
Becca, Chelsea, and Jesse gathered around Sarah to congratulate her but it was short-lived. A stage manager came over to the group, "Excuse me…but aren’t you associated with the Backstreet Boys?"
"Yeah, I’m Howie’s wife. Why?"
"We need someone to accept the award for them if they win the Viewer’s Choice."
Sarah looked at Becca who said, ""Oh No! I’m NOT doing it."
"I need an answer. We’re back on in 30 seconds."
"Fine. I’ll do it. Jesse, would you want to go out with me?"
Excitedly, Jesse said, "YES!"
"And she’s….?"
"Howie’s daughter."
From the stage, they heard the presenters reading the list of nominations and then…."And the winner is…The BACKSTREET BOYS…accepting on behalf of the group is member Howie Dorough’s wife and daughter."
Sarah and Jesse walked together holding hands onto the stage to the mic where the award was presented to Sarah. She looked up at the fans going crazy in the balcony and she waved to them.
"On behalf of Kevin, AJ, Howie, Nick, and Brian…thank you. I know if they were here, they’d first thank God for the gift HE so graciously bestowed upon them and second, the Fans…You guys are the reason they are able to do what they love so much and that is sing to you each and every chance they get."
Picking Jesse up, Sarah whispered in her ear and then Jesse leaned to the mic and said, "Keep the Backstreet Pride Alive…I love you Uncle B-rok, Uncle Bone, Uncle Nicky, Uncle Kevy, and Daddy."
The crowd applauded as the two were led offstage where Becca, Chelsea, and Raoul were waiting for them.
"OH MY GOD! THEY WON, BEC!" squealed Sarah as she hugged Becca.
"Let me see it," gushed Becca.
Sarah handed the award to her as she said, "We need to go! I want to make it to the show to give this to them in front of the fans."
"Billy’s getting the car," said Raoul.
"Raoul, get Chelsea and Jesse back to the hotel," said Sarah.
"Mommy…I wanna go with you," begged Jesse. "Please?"
Sarah looked at Jesse and then to Chelsea, "What kind of nap did she have?"
"At least two hours."
"Okay, but after the show, NO ARGUMENTS. You go back to the hotel and straight to bed."
"I promise, Mommy."
From down the hall, Richie called, "Sarah, wait a minute."
Sarah turned to see him coming towards her. She spoke to Raoul, "Go on and take them to the car. I’ll be there in a minute."
The other three headed out but Becca stopped at the door to watch Sarah as Richie caught up to her. She could tell he had something behind his back and she watched him put a black hat on Sarah’s head. She smiled to herself knowing that Sarah was about to have heart failure.
"What is this?" asked Sarah laughing.
"My hat…to replace the other one. Kevin and the others explained to me about your ex while you were getting sick. He sounds like a real jerk and that you’re lucky to be free of him."
"He was but two good things came about because of him…I have a beautiful little girl and I met Howie. I’m grateful for both."
Richie smiled, "Howie’s a lucky man."
"Thank you."
"I got Heather to go back to the hotel to get this for you. I hope you like it."
"I love it. That was really sweet of her to do that. Thank you."
"Something tells me you’d do the same thing for one of Howie’s fans.
Tell me, when are you going to sing again?"
"Tomorrow night. I’m opening their show."
"I’d like to see you perform again…without me."
"Be my guest tomorrow then. I’ll leave you two passes at the back door."
"Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow."
Richie started to leave but Sarah stopped him. "Richie…THANKS."
"No problem. Get going…you’ve got a husband waiting for you."
The two hugged again and then Sarah rushed to catch up with Becca. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah. I can’t WAIT to see Nick’s face when he…."
"Becca, headed back to Nicky?" came a VERY irritating voice.