Chapter 21
'Cause everytime I close my eyes
I see your face and I wonder
When you close your eyes
Do you think about me
Everytime I Close My Eyes
*seven months later*
"We're home!" announced Howie as he opened th front doors of the condo. I opened the door and he said, "No, no, wait for me." He got out of the driver's side and quickly walked over to my side to offer his hand to me. He put his hand behind my back as I got out slowly.
"The ba..."I started, "I got her" he interrupted.
I climbed gingerly up the patio of the familiar house and Howie was soon by my side, holding a wrapped bundle in his arms. I took her from his arms gently and whispered, "Look, CJ, it's your home" as I looked up to Howie and smiled.
I had named her Caroline, after Howie's sister that passed away a few years back. From what I heard she was a great lady. Since we still didn't know what happened to Nick, he wanted her to have a connection with her biological father. He gave her the middle name "Jene", which was Nick's middle name spelled with a "J".
I drew back the fabric from her face to gaze at her again. Remarkably enough, CJ looked so much like Nick. She had very few of my features, and possessed his blond hair and green eyes. Even though he wasn't a part of my life anymore, she was a constant reminder of him. People were always saying that she didn't look like me or Howie. We just told everyone she got her looks from Howie's Irish side. I'm just glad the Backstreet Boys were on a low profile now, or else this wouldn't be a secret
We lived in one the condos he was developing. There was an entire street of them, lined up in front of the beach. I liked the thought of raising CJ there, next to one of her father's favorite things in the world.
After the band broke up, Howie devoted himself more to his business. I know he loved getting up onstage and performing, but his leg was really a probelm.
AJ and his girlfriend, Marie, lived next door to us. Howie gave him, Brian and Kevin a condo each, because he said the money he used was from the Backstreet Boys initially.
Brian and Ann now have two twin sons. They were really rambunctious, just like Brian. I could hear all the commotion from our house.
However, there were two empty houses on our street. One, of course, was meant for Nick.
Kevin moved to Southern California to work as a model. I thought that was the only reason, until one day my sister called me.
It was my one year anniversary. Howie cooked a candelit dinner for two and the baby had just fallen asleep. We were just cleaning up when the phone rang.
"Cathy!" I heard my sister's excited voice on the other line. "
"It's Sam" I mouthed to Howie.
"Hey, how're you doin? I haven't heard from you in a while," I told her.
"Oh sorry. I have great news! I hope you're not busy."
"Actually, we had a special evening planned." I answered, hinting that we were kind of busy.
Howie walked over to the table to blow out the candles and the room turned dark. He turned on the radio as he waited for me to finish. "I Want It That Way" by the guys came on.
She didn't get the hint, "Guess where I am. Oh no, don't, I'll tell you where I am. I'm at the courthouse," she chattered.
I felt a pair of strong arms encircle my waist. "You smell good," Howie whispered to me. We swayed slowly to the music.
I smiled but pretended to be interested in my sister."Why? Did you get sued or something?", I asked her.
"No way! I just got married!". Howie was nibbling my earlobe.
"Excuse me?", I was shocked, "How come you didn't tell me you were planning to do that?"
Howie walked back over the table, and started to put away the dishes.
"I know it's so sudden. He just asked me last week. We were going to wait, but I didn't want to. We were gonna go to Nevada, but we agreed that's so cheap, so here we are. I had to call you so you'll be the first to know. Guess who the lucky guy is? Kevin!', she told me.
"Kevin... I don't think I remember you at the wedding with a boyfriend named...", I said to her.
"No silly. It's Kevin, Howie's friend."
I gasped. "You mean Kevin Richardson? Howie's best man, that Kevin?"
Howie walked back to me. He pulled down the strap of my top and started kissing my shoulder. "I love it when your hair falls over your eyes." he said huskily.
I playfully shrugged him off, "Guess what? Sam's on the phone. She and Kevin just got married."
"They what?!"
I handed him the phone and he pried the details from Sam. On the radio, "I Want It That Way" was done and one of my favorite songs came on, "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man", by Jordan Knight.
The doorbell rang.
I peeked in the kitchen and saw Howie was still on the phone. It was raining. I didn't want whoever it was outside to get wet, so I hurried to open the door.
As I walked down the hall, I passed a full-length mirror and caught a glimpse of myself. Before the wedding, I lost some weight worrying about the whole thing. I couldn't believe how different I looked after that. I also got some contacts, to get Sam off my back. And I cut my long hair into a more stylish bob. I thought that suited me more. I still go to school, and was hoping to start Medical school in a year. The great thing about that is I can usually take most of my schoolwork home, so I can stay with CJ.
I passed CJ's room.
I peeked at her in her crib. She was fast asleep. She was clutching an old teddy bear AJ gave her.
I reached over and pulled her blanket to her shoulders.
I stepped out her room and walked to the front door.
"Wait a minute!", I called out when I reached the door. I fiddled with the locks.
I slowly opened the door. What I saw made me catch my breath.
There was a soaked man outside, wearing a light tan jacket. He was so familiar. His face was one of the memories I would carry with me to my grave.
Howie shouted,"Who is it?" I was frozen in my tracks and looked back at the strange tall man with blond hair.
It was Nick. He was back.
My vision went black. The last thing I saw before I fell to the floor was Nick's arms reaching out to catch me.
