Chapter 29
Kevin couldn’t fight the smirk that danced across his lips as he watched his best friend check his watch for the hundredth time in less than five minutes. Howie was normally the calm one, taking everything in stride, but when it came to Sarah, it was a different story.
"’D’, relax. We’re going to be at the airport in plenty of time for your flight. Why don’t you call her?"
Howie blushed at being read so easily as he pulled out his cell phone. He pushed the speed dial number for Sarah’s cell and waited.
"Hey, this is Sarah. You’ve reached my voi….."
Howie didn’t wait to hear the rest as he cut the phone off. Grumbling, "She’s cut it off."
As the car stopped in front of the Huntsville Air Terminal, Kevin offered, "If something were wrong, AJ would have called. Relax."
"That’s easy for you to say," mumbled Howie as he got out of the car. "It’s not your wife."
Kevin just shook his head knowing Howie had every reason to be concerned. He followed the smaller man inside the terminal saying a silent prayer that the flight to Orlando was on time but as Howie reached the check-in counter, Kevin knew that wasn’t the case. He watched as his friend argued with the ticket agent to no avail.
Joining Howie at the counter, Kevin put his hand on his shoulder and smiled at the nervous young ticket agent. "How long is the delay?"
"It shouldn’t be more than half an hour."
Kevin heard Howie grumble and ignored him as he gave the girl a sexy smile. "Is there another flight leaving any sooner?"
It was obvious that the girl had recognized Kevin and Howie and when Kevin gave her the smile, she just about melted. Quickly, she scanned the computer to check but frowned. "This IS the first available flight. The next one isn’t until 9 PM."
"That’s too damn late," growled Howie.
Remaining calm, Kevin said, "Thank you for checking but he’ll keep his flight."
"Gate 13 is down this concourse," the girl pointed in the direction of the gate, "and on the right."
As the agent handed Howie his boarding pass, Kevin gently pushed the agitated man in the direction of his gate. When they were out of everyone’s way, Howie shrugged Kevin’s hand off him.
"I don’t need a babysitter," mumbled Howie.
"No, what you NEED is a sedative," replied Kevin. "Howie, Sarah is perfectly fine."
"Wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t! I can’t get to her with the flight delayed."
"Look, she said it shouldn’t be more than half-an-hour. Call AJ’s house while you wait and talk to her. The time will fly by." Kevin saw Howie about to say something. "NO! She’s not my wife but I still love her and I’m just as worried about her as you are. Why did you even come today if you’re so worried about her?"
"YOU said it was something we couldn’t get out of!" shot Howie angrily.
"I SAID your attorney could handle it if you wanted to stay with Sarah."
Howie knew Kevin was right but he hadn’t expected to be like this. Kevin being right didn’t help his anger any either.
"Look, I know Sarah is scared of having to have the c-section. If something DOES happen before you get back, AJ is with her and I’m sure Becca will go to her, not to mention your mom and your sisters. Sarah’s in very capable hands with any ONE of them and she’s got all six of them." Once more Howie started to speak up but Kevin said, "I know, they aren’t you but just the same, they will take very good care of her."
Like a balloon deflating, Howie sagged, "I’m sorry. I’m just…."
"Anxious to get home to your wife. I understand how you feel and you’ll be home soon, ‘D’," reassured Kevin.
Trying to take his mind off Sarah, Howie asked, "What about you? Why aren’t you headed back to Orlando?"
"I’m headed to Toronto until AJ’s wedding. Lynne still needs to get a dress and I want to convince her to move to Orlando with me. I’ve asked her but she hasn’t given me an answer yet."
"That’s really cool, Kev. I know Becca and Sarah would be more than happy to put in a good word for you to convince her."
“How are Becca and Garrett?” asked Kevin as they headed towards Howie’s gate.
“They’re fine but there is a third person you should be asking about.”
“Don’t need to ask about Nick. The papers are telling me everything I need to know….he’s the same self-centered, immature Nick,” said Kevin coolly.
Sarah had a knack for knowing how to get under Kevin’s skin but Nick was the one who could push his buttons without even trying. Even being apart for the few short months the tour had been over hadn’t changed that.
“Why can’t you give him a chance, Kevin? He has changed and deserves that.”
“The only change I’ve seen is his screw ups are making the papers now and he’s embarrassing the hell out of Becca. Not to mention, he’s throwing the best damned thing in his life out the window with his shit.” Kevin’s anger was in full force now.
Howie shook his head. “You just don’t get it, do you?”
“I GET the fact that Nick is screwing up, what more is there to get, Howie?”
“Why can’t you support him? That’s all he wants you know.”
“I do support him and he knows it.”
“No, he doesn’t.” The two had reached the security checkpoint and Kevin wasn’t going to be allowed through. Knowing this and wanting to finish this conversation, Howie stepped to the side pulling Kevin with him. “Kevin, part of Nick’s problem is that he believes you and Brian think he’s turned his back on the group. All Nick knows is performing. He’s been doing it all his life and he’s given HALF his life to the group. Neither you nor Brian are being fair to him. With the group on hiatus, he’s lost…feels like he doesn’t have a purpose. A solo CD is exactly what he needs to do right now….professionally and personally.”
“I agree. Look, Nick came to me for advice and I gave it to him. I told him that I was completely behind him. I even offered to produce him but he turned me down flat. Jive and The Firm are going to screw him just like they screwed us. They have one priority and Nick is NOT it.”
“I offered to produce him too, Kevin, and he turned me down. Want to know why?”
“Because he’s set on self-destruction,” grumbled Kevin.
“Geez, drop it! NO, that’s not it. He wants to do this on his own so he can show YOU that he is capable of doing something right. He wants to make YOU proud of him and he thinks the only way he can do that is if he does this without OUR help!” Howie saw that he had hit a nerve with Kevin. Softening his tone, he added the kicker. “Brian’s his best friend and yeah, he comes to me for advice on family and relationship stuff but you’re the big brother he looks up to the most. It won’t hurt you to give him a little.”
Kevin looked away to hide the tears and let Howie’s words sink in. Suddenly, words were difficult to form and he choked out, “You need to get going so you can call Sarah.”
“Think about what I said, please.”
“Yeah…sure,” nodded Kevin. “Give your wife a kiss for me.”
“Sure. Have a good flight.”
Kevin stood watching as Howie went to the security checkpoint and seeing Howie clear the gates, he turned and headed to get himself checked in for his flight to Toronto and to make his own over-due phone call to Orlando.