Part 521
Sarah spoke softly, "I’m gonna go with her, ‘D’."
Howie knew what was coming next and he didn’t want Sarah to leave. He needed her. Looking her in the eye, he whispered, "Please stay. I need you."
Sarah took a deep gulp. She’d seen this look in Howie’s eyes before…that night at ‘Tabu’ when she’d told him it was over; the night she’d had the miscarriage; the night in Baton Rouge when he thought she was losing the twins. He was scared but of what? The worst was over she thought.
Kevin spoke up as Becca took Garrett from Brian. "There’s one more piece to this puzzle, Dave, and Nick needs to tell it."
It hit Sarah then why Howie was scared…no, not scared, guilty. He felt guilty for not being able to protect Nick from Pearlman. She laced her fingers with his and stayed where she was.
Howie whispered, "Thank you."
Smiling she responded, "Anything for my ‘Sweet D’. We’ll talk later?"
He simply nodded his head to acknowledge her as they all heard the door to Becca and Nick’s room close.
Nick took a deep breath and once more, the atrocities of their association with Mr. Pearlman were laid out in great detail. Everyone expected to see the thirteen-year-old emerge as Nick gave vivid details of his encounters with the man but he didn’t. He held it together showing more maturity in those few moments than the others put together. They – AJ, Brian, Kevin, Howie, and Sarah – were proud of Nick. Their ‘little brother’ had become a man.
It was Sarah’s turn to be there for Howie. Feeling a sob rack his body, Sarah let go of his hand and put her arm around him. He scooted down next to her resting his head on her breasts and a hand on her stomach. He needed her the same way she’d needed him.
As Nick finished, Becca’s arms slid around him from behind. She had rejoined them without anyone realizing and now she whispered, "I’m proud of you."
Nick turned his head to give her a kiss as Kevin said, "We’re all proud of you, Nick."
"Thanks, guys," answered Nick as they all nodded their agreement. Howie’s mood didn’t escape Nick but now wasn’t the time to say anything.
The five attorneys waited for the group to compose themselves busying themselves with their notes. It was Dave who finally said, "We have it all and by the end of the day, we will know one way or another what’s going to happen."
Charles continued, "Mr. Pearlman can speak about the touring, what it involved, the fans, so forth but your private lives are just that…private. He has NO need to expound upon ANY of it. Right now, we have him on Defamation of character, Slander, and Blackmail. "
"We’ll ask for a settlement of a million dollars with ALL of the personal items dropped from the book, a public apology to Sarah and Howie, and a personal apology to Becca," stated Jeff.
Firmly, Becca said, "I do NOT want any further contact with him."
"Okay, we’ll drop the personal apology."
"What if he doesn’t agree to this settlement?" asked Brian.
"We’ll take it to court with a gag order to not discuss the book until the case is settled and a restraining order to keep him away from all of you," said Alexis.
"What now?" asked Kevin.
Looking at his watch, Dave said, "We need to head to the stadium and get ready for the meeting. It’s set for 1:30."
"And Sarah and Becca don’t have to be there?" questioned Howie.
"No, they don’t. You all get yourselves together and meet us there," said Alexis. "You need your game faces on. This is business."
"And he wins if he sees he’s upset you," said Sarah.
"You have gotten US through this," said Becca motioning to herself and Sarah. "Just a little longer and we’ll all be over this. We love you and will be waiting when you’re done."
"We’ll get you ALL through this," said Dave. "We’ll see you at the stadium. Sarah, the lunch was excellent. Thank you."
"You’re welcome. I just wish we could have done this under different circumstances."
The room cleared quickly and the only ones left were the boys, Becca, Sarah, and Garrett. They looked from one to the other not knowing exactly what to say.
"We need to get going," said Kevin after several minutes.
"Twenty minutes and meet at the elevators?" asked Brian.
"Why don’t we just meet at the arena?" asked AJ. "Our buses are here."
"Ours aren’t." Howie reminded them.
"Howie and Sarah can come with me," said Kevin. "I need to talk to Sarah about sound checks anyway."
"Nick and Becca can come with me," offered Brian.
"I guess that leaves Garrett with me," cackled AJ as he rubbed his hands together in contemplation as to how he could corrupt his ‘nephew’.
"I don’t THINK so," snapped Nick. "You can’t even change a fucking diaper without him peeing on you."
"Oh, come on, Nicky," teased Sarah. "Alex is good with GT."
"Uh huh…the answer is NO!"
"We’re wasting time," said Kevin. "Twenty minutes and be ON the buses."
"Yes sir," they all chorused giving Kevin a salute.
Kevin threw his hands up in frustration. As he started to leave, he mumbled, "Some day you clowns will miss me."