Part 63
Becca drove around downtown Orlando for over half an hour before finally pulling into the side parking lot of Tabu. Taking a deep breath she opened the back door and walked slowly into the darkened club.
The only light came from the downstairs bar, where Howie was on the phone. He looked up as the door opened and quickly ended the conversation. "Yeah, look, Becca just walked in," he whispered. "Okay, it'll be okay, Nick, all right? Let me talk to her and then I'll make sure she gets home. I know man, I love you, too, Bye."
Becca took a seat at the bar as Howie fixed her a coke and then poured one for himself.
"That was Nick, wasn't it," she said.
"He's worried about you, Becca."
"I'll be okay, Howie."
"Want to tell me what happened?"
"I'm sure Nick already filled you in."
"I'd rather hear your version, Nick was pretty upset."
Becca sighed. "I shouldn't have said anything. But then Sarah says I already keep too many things from him, so I can't win, can I?"
Howie chose to keep silent as she talked it out.
"She hurt me, Howie. She's my best friend and the closest thing I'll ever have to a sister." She paused before saying, "I love Nick, Howie. I know you don't think I do. But-"
"Whoa. Back up," he interrupted. "What do you mean, I don't believe you love Nick?"
"Sarah said you-"
"I never doubted you love for Nick, Becca, or his love for you. I've never seen anyone as deeply in love as Nick is with you." He handed her a napkin for the fresh tears that began to fall.
"But Sarah said-"
"Sarah says a lot of things in the heat of the moment. I’m sure she's already trying to figure out how to take back most of what she said to you."
Becca smiled, knowing he had a point.
"Becca, we're worried about you both. You're facing so many drastic changes all at once: a marriage, a baby, being with us on tour – any *one* of those things is enough to test a marriage. But all of them at once? That's a lot to handle."
"I can do it, Howie," she whispered. "I love him so much. If I don’t have Nick, then my life is over. I can't do this alone."
"What are you gonna do when it's time for the baby to be born?"
"I'll do the best I can. I don't * know* how it's gonna work, I just know that I need to be with Nick when it happens. I'm not sure of things like Sarah is, I don't have my life all planned out to the minute. I'm not her and I never will be. Howie, your support means everything to us."
"Then you've got it. You've done a lot of growing up, Becca. I guess it's time for the big brother to step back and let Nick grow up, too."
"You have to let go and so does Sarah. Give us room to grow instead of shooting us down at every turn. Let us make our own mistakes and learn from them the way you two did."
"I dunno, Bec, it's gonna be tough," Howie grinned.
"Try. We'll all be happier that way."
"I'll do my best, but I can't promise not to slip once in a while."
"Thank you," she said softly. "I need to get back home, I'm sure Nick is going crazy by now. Will you-"
"I'll call him and let him know you're on your way. And I'll talk to Sarah, too."
"Thanks, Howie. For everything."
He came from behind the bar, hugged her and sent her safely on her way before calling Nick.