Chapter 17
So I'm pressin' on
I hope you understand
There's a broken heart that lies inside your hands
So if I could change
And it won't hurt your pride
Baby you can help me stop these tears that I cry
Like A Child
"Hey, how are you?", asked a concerned voice on the other line.
"Not that good. Are you sure you guys don't know anything?", I ventured.
"Well, Brian gave me an address where he might be at. I didn't want to get violent, but I have to pin Brian up a wall for him to tell me this. He really didn't want to squeal on his best friend", he told me.
"I understand that. Well, thanks for trying anyway", I said softly. Then, suddenly, I burst into tears.
"What is it?" he asked hurriedly.
I took a deep breath and gave him the news. "I'm pregnant, Howie, with Nick's baby. I'm so scared...he has to come back." I sobbed.
He paused , then said, " Don't worry I'll find him. I promise I'll take care of you", he assured me.
"Thank you", I whispered.
"I have to go. I'll just call you back when we know something for sure." Then, he hung up.
I felt so angry. How could Nick do this? Why does he have to do it now that the wedding's planned and we're expecting a baby.
I walked out of my room and opened the glass doors to the patio. It was chilly outside. The wind blew the skirt of my nightgown, sending shivers up my legs. I pulled my robe closer to my body.
It hurt when looked up at the sky and saw the star Nick named after me.
"Where are you, Nick?", I asked the star, but I didn't get an answer.
I went back to bed and cried myself to sleep.
It turned out that Nick was nowhere to be found. All they ever found of him was a note that said he needed a little time off. The guys tried looking for him, I know they did. They had to perform as a foursome on their next shows. They announced their break-up soon after that. I knew this was so hard for them to do, and Nick's disappearance didn't make it easier.
Even though I was hurt that Nick would disappear like this, I prayed that he was alright. I hoped that nothing awful really did happen to him. Howie was by my side constantly, and he was like my life raft through all this.
He went with me to tell my family that the wedding was off. He drove me there, and he saw that I was shaking like a leaf.
I was really afraid how my parents would react. They have seen the guys on their press conference on t.v. and they were wondering where Nick was. I told them that he had business to take care of and that the wedding would go on as planned. I can't believe how deluded I was. Now, I have come to own up to my mistakes.
Howie parked the car in front of my parent's garage. The cozy white house had never looked so foreboding.
"Well, this is it. D-day. My dad's gonna kill me. He spent like a fortune on this wedding. Then, I have to tell them that they're going to be grandparents soon. Oh man, I don't know what to do."
"Don't worry, I'm right here remember. I'll stay with you the whole time", he told me.
My parents eagerly ushered us in. They asked me where Nick was. Howie and I took a seat on one of the couches.
"Okay, here's the deal. I don't know how to tell you this, but...the wedding's off", I said nervously.
"What do you mean the wedding's off?", my dad asked, with a hint of tension in his voice.
"I'm sorry," I replied, sobbing, "But Nick left and I don't know where he is."
My dad got up and paced the floor.
"I have one more thing to tell you," I said.
They both looked at me with pained expressions on their faces.
I gulped and continued hurriedly, " I'm going to have a baby".
I stared at them, waiting for their reaction.
My father looked angry, but he didn't say anything.
"What, no wedding, and a baby..", my mom said. She was crying now. My dad gave me a stern glance, took her arm and lead her out of the room.
I buried my face in my hands and I felt Howie's arm wrap around me.
"You know, there might still be a wedding", he said softly.
