Chapter Twenty-one

Howie removed his headphones and set them on the music stand. The others followed suit and jumped from their stools to leave the recording booth.

“How are things going with Lori?” AJ said, walking with Howie to the big leather couch in the corner.

“Better than I could have ever imagined,” Howie told him, the smile on his face confirming it.

“Good enough to tell her about this?”

Howie paused. It had been a week since the barbecue, three since he’d found her again, five since she’d come to town, and still she had no idea about who he really was. He had finally coaxed John into helping him. All calls that Lori made to the real estate office were forwarded to his cell phone, which he had on him at all times. She was pretty much staying at his place every night, and seeing as how she wasn’t much of a party person, Howie didn’t have to worry about being seen in public.

“Howie?” AJ asked, waving a hand in front of his friend’s face.

“I don’t know.”

“You have to tell her, man. I can’t believe she hasn’t found out yet.”

They sat down and took the bottles of water Nick passed to them.

“I don’t know how to.”

Nick pulled over a chair, turned it around and straddled it.

“She loves you right?” he asked.

“She loves Tony,” Howie said, almost sadly. “She’s never said she loves me.”

“Tony is you, you dope,” Nick said, shaking his head. “She loves you, so doesn’t she deserve to know?”

Howie drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch.

“Look, you guys don’t have to convince me of this. I already know it. I’m just afraid she’ll walk away once she sees how my life really is.”

“If she finds out from someone else, she will walk away,” AJ pointed out.

Howie’s cell phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket.

“Hey, Lori, what’s up?” he asked, looking from AJ to Nick, who were exchanging glances. “Yeah, kinda busy right now. Can I call you back? What? Dinner with Ivan?”

AJ and Nick shared another glance, making Howie uneasy. He shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

“Sure. I’d like that. Uh huh, I’m free tonight. Good. See you then. Love you, too.”

“Isn’t Ivan her lawyer?” Nick asked once Howie had hung up.

“Her father’s lawyer, but a close friend of hers as well.”

“Mmhmm,” AJ said, stroking his goatee.

“What does that mean?” Howie asked.

“Nothing.”

“No, you don’t ‘mmhmm’ for nothing. What?”

“Well, this guy is really all she has for family, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

Nick reached over and smacked Howie’s forehead with the back of his hand.

“Hey!”

“Don’t you get it, Tony?” Nick stressed. “Lori’s doing the big family introduction, which means she’ll expect you to be doing the same thing soon. And will Mama and Pop Dorough go along with your little lie? No.”

Howie remained silent, thinking this over.

“Hey, ya’ll, you ready to go again?” Kevin called to them. He and Brian were heading back to the booth to record.

“Be right there,” AJ said.

He motioned for Nick to follow him, leaving Howie alone with his thoughts.

He was a nervous wreck when he pulled up to the elegant restaurant where Lori and Ivan were waiting for him. He passed his keys to the valet and cautiously made his way inside the restaurant. He was only slightly relieved that most of the patrons were older, not of the screaming, female fan type.

“May I help you, sir?” the maitre’d asked politely.

Howie tugged at his tie and nodded. “Yes, I’m with Mister Ivan Miller.”

“Mister Donetti? Ah yes, they’ve been expecting you. This way please.”

Howie followed the man to a small round table covered in linen and crystal.

“Tony, there you are,” Lori said, standing up to kiss his cheek.

Ivan stood and stretched out a hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, son. Lori’s told me a lot about you.”

Howie shook the man’s hand and then sat down.

“Nice to meet you, too, sir,” he said, trying to sound confident.

Ivan sat down again and studied Howie with a critical eye.

“Are you a singer?” he asked.

Howie gulped and Ivan laughed.

“I’m sorry,” the older man apologized. “You just look like one of those boys in that singing group. Uh, NSync or something like that.”

Howie shook his head and reached for his water glass. His mouth was dry as sandpaper. He sipped some water before answering.

“No, sir, I’m not in NSync,” he said.

Ivan shrugged. “My granddaughter just loves those boybands, but I can’t seem to keep them straight.”

“Well, shall we order?” Lori said, changing the subject. “Ivan, what’s good here?”

Howie lifted his menu and attempted to study it, even though he was jittery. When he read the same line three times, he frowned in frustration and lifted his finger to the menu to help himself along.

A young man of about twenty came to take their order. He stopped by Howie, his eyes widenening a bit. Howie bit back his panic and buried his face in his menu.

He ordered whatever the special was and reluctantly gave the menu back. The waiter walked away, a look of unsure recognition on his face.

It’s okay, Howie told himself. Just one Backstreet Boy isn’t as recognizable as two.

“Right this way, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson.”

Howie nearly gave himself whiplash as he jerked around. Much to his horror, there were Kevin and Kristin, arm in arm, being guided to a table. Lori noticed his reaction and looked up as well.

“Isn’t that--?”

“No, it’s not,” Howie said quickly.

“Kevin and Kristin?”

“I don’t think so, nope,” Howie said, shaking his head.

“Why sure it is,” Lori said, raising her hand to wave at the couple.

Kevin saw her and froze, noting a frazzled Howie sitting beside her. Kristin smiled and waved. She spoke to the maitre’d, asking him for just a moment and he nodded. Kristin started towards Howie’s table with Kevin in tow.

“Tony, Lori, what a surprise,” Kristin said, hugging Lori.

“What are you doing here?” Howie asked, staring straight at Kevin.

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his dress pants and shrugged apologetically.

“Kristin made this reservation a week ago. I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said softly.

“Would you care to join us?” Lori asked, motioning to their table. “Ivan, this is Kristin and Kevin, friend’s of Tony’s.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ivan said. “Please, join us. We have plenty of room.”

Kristin and Kevin shared a look while Howie pleaded silently that they’d decline the invitation.

“We don’t want to impose,” Kristin answered, smiling sweetly.

“Nonsense,” Ivan said, getting to his feet and pulling out a chair for her. “I insist.”

Howie’s palms began to sweat even more as Kevin and Kristin took seats at the table.

“I didn’t know Lori had made so many friends during her time here. That makes me so happy,” Ivan said.

While Ivan, Lori and Kristin chatted, Kevin leaned over to Howie and whispered, “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Howie said, even though it really wasn’t.

When their waiter returned with their drinks and saw two more had joined them, Howie could see that he fully believed he was serving celebrities. Howie imagined he would get on the phone and call his girlfriend, who would be a huge fan of course, and then she would call all her friends and they would descend on the restaurant like vultures to fresh meat. The way his night was going, Howie didn’t doubt it.

He couldn’t face the consequences, not here, not now.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” he said, getting to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”

He ignored the puzzled and questioning stares from his friends and headed off in the direction of the restrooms. Stopping by the payphones, he squeezed himself between them and dialed his brother’s house on his cell phone.

“John! You’ve got to get me out of here,” he said once his brother picked up. “I’m about to be skinned alive!”

“Are you on something?” John asked wearily.

“No, I swear. I’m not high.”

“Then what the hell’s the matter with you?”

“I’m with Lori and her father’s lawyer at a restaurant.”

“And?”

“And Kevin and Kristin just showed up and Lori invited them to join us.”

“I’m still not getting it, bro.”

Howie felt like screaming. “The waiter has recognized us!” he hissed as a man walked by on his way to the restroom. “We’re about to have a serious problem here if you don’t get me out of here now!”

“Howie, just what do you want me to do?”

“Call my cell in fifteen minutes. Fake a story about needing me at the office, a deal’s falling through or something. Please!”

John sighed heavily. “You’re making a huge mistake, Howie. As your big brother, I feel inclined to tell you that.”

“Just do it!” Howie said, before ending the call. He smoothed his hair and went back to the table.

For the next fifteen minutes, he put his acting skills to work, smiling and laughing with the others. Just as he was wondering if John would deliberately not call, his phone rang softly.

“I’m sorry, I have to take this. Business,” he explained, turning sideways in his chair. “Tony Donetti speaking.”

“This is your big brother calling, saving your ass,” John said dryly.

“Oh no, really?”

“Oh yes, really. May I inform you that you’re being a major jerk?”

“I hadn’t realized it was that bad,” Howie said, glancing at Lori and shrugging. “What needs to be done?”

“I think you should be strung up by your toenails and fed to hungry lions, but that’s just my opinion.”

“Hmm, yes, I understand. I’ll be right over.”

“Ha! Don’t you dare come near me, Howard! I’m liable to deck you!” John threatened. Then he hung up.

“Yes, yes, of course. See you soon,” Howie said to the dial tone.

“What’s wrong?” Lori asked.

“A real estate deal we had going fell through. There’s tons of paperwork that has to be done to fix it now. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave so I can help my partner take care of it. Can I take a raincheck on dinner?”

Ivan nodded, completely understanding the importance of business.

“Of course. You go ahead and take care of it. We’ll be fine.”

Howie kissed Lori’s cheek, shook hands with Ivan and nodded at Kristin and Kevin before making a hasty exit. He knew Kevin was burning holes into his back as he walked away. He knew he’d hear about this tomorrow. But he also knew that this was not how he wanted Lori to find out.