Chapter Fifteen


“Hey you.” Nick said coming up behind Kaity, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.

“Hey.” Kaity said pulling her attention away from counting plastic silverware.

“Why are you counting forks?” Nick asked nibbling at the back of her neck. “You know..I like it when you wear your hair up. Easy access.”

“I want to make sure that there are enough for everyone. I wear my hair up for that purpose only.” Kaity said bring her hand up to Nick’s cheek. He rested his chin on her shoulder as she ran her hand up into his hair, messing it up.

“Hey! I just fixed that!!”

“I didn’t ruin it...besides no one will know the difference. You look like you just rolled out of bed.” She said referring to Nick’s spiked hair.

“Do you know the precision it takes to style hair like this?? I’m talking a bottle of gel and concentration, baby.” Nick said flashing the famous Carter grin.

“Shaddup.” Kaity said turning around to pinch Nick’s cheek lightly.

“Hey...” Nick said batting at her hand. “I’m a piece of art...look but don’t touch.”

“You sure are a piece of something, but it sure as hell ain’t art.” AJ exclaimed as he entered the backyard. “Where is everyone?”

“Hello to you too Bone.” Nick said rolling his eyes. “No one else is here...you’re a half an hour early.” Nick said looking at his watch. Brian and Emily hadn’t even gotten there yet.

“Oh, sorry...I was bored.”

“Sokay.” Nick said waving his hand at him. “Brian and Em should be here any minute.”

“Cool...so, got anything to drink?” AJ asked.

“Cooler is over there.” Kaity pointed.

“Thanks.” AJ said making his way over to the drinks.

“Kaity?” Nick asked suspiciously. Kaity hadn’t looked at AJ once since he had gotten there.

“Hmmm?”

“He and I talked about this already, don’t worry about anything. Okay?” Nick said wrapping his arms around her again as she resumed her counting.

“I know...I’m just...I make too much out of things. You know that.”

“Forget about it.” Nick said kissing the side of her neck. Kaity squirmed to get away from his mouth.

“You made me forget what number I was on!”

“Will you stop counting already?! There are enough forks!” Nick said laughing as he spun Kaity around to face him. She looked up at him stunned but smiled.

“Sorry, I get nervous.” she apologized.

“Why are you nervous?”

“The rest of your friends are going to find out about us today...I’m just afraid that they’ll...”

“Oh stop it. They are ‘our’ friends and they love you. Cool it.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s another thing....stop apologizing, you didn’t do anything!”

“Sor-...okay...I’ll stop.” Kaity said standing on her tip toes to plant a kiss on Nick’s lips.

“That’s more like.” Nick replied bending to kiss her again.

“Awww...isn’t that cute?!” the couple heard Brian comment, followed by Emily’s giggle.

“Man! Just when I was getting somewhere!” Nick cracked as he pulled away to greet the new arrivals.

“Hey girl!” Emily said pulling Kaity into a hug. “Thank you soooo much.”

“I told you, no problem.”

“No, really, thank you.”

“Give it a rest.” Kaity said laughing as she pulled Emily into the house. Her mother was putting together a few munchies in the kitchen.

“Hello Mrs. McKenzie.” Emily greeted as she grabbed a carrot from the veggie platter.

“Emily! How nice to see you.”

“You too.”

“How have things been?” Emily shot Kaity a glance.

“Really good, actually. I’m seeing someone.”

“Who?”

“Brian Littrell.” Emily said smiling.

“Brian? Nick’s friend Brian??” Kaity’s mother asked turning her attention away from the potato salad.

“Yeah, that’d be him. He’s so sweet.”

“Isn’t he a little old for you?” Mrs. McKenzie asked.

“Um...no. I don’t think so. My mother loved him the moment she met him all those years ago. Everyone is okay with it.”

“Really? How old is he?”

“Twenty-five.” Emily stated.

“And you’re seventeen?” Emily nodded.

“Hmm. Well, I’m happy for you.” Kaity’s mouth dropped. Her mother was happy that Emily was dating a boy that was eight years older that her...and she had a problem with her dating Nick??

“Thanks Mrs. McKenzie.” Emily smiled as she headed out the back door.

“You know, Mom...I think that’s a little unfair.” Kaity began.

“What?”

“You are happy for my best friend, who found a perfect guy to date...and he’s eight years older than she. But, you can’t be happy for me? I’m in love with Nick, Mom. And, for some odd reason, you are more happy for my friend than you are for your own daughter. Why are you more comfortable with Em and Bri, but you can’t stand the thought of Nick and I together?!”

“Kaity, this is different. Emily is not my daughter. You are. Whom she dates is her mother’s problem, not mine. You on the other hand, are my problem.” Mrs. McKenzie said turning to face Kaity.

“Why don’t you trust me?”

“I do trust you...I told you before..I trust you, I don’t trust your and Nick’s feelings for each other.”

“Mom! This is so unfair. You and Dad promised me that I would be able to go on tour with Nick when I was seventeen. I’m going to be eighteen in a month! You’re breaking your promise to me just because Nick and I realized that we love each other?”

“Don’t talk about love like that. I honestly don’t think you know what love is at your age.” Kaity was floored.

“Mom, I know that you love me, and you want to protect me but you are completely wrong. First of all, I’m not too young to know what love is. Nick isn’t either. I’ve dated guys before, Nick’s dated girls. We both have experience and we both know how we feel. I have never felt this way before..NEVER. I can’t live without him in my life. These two months that we will be apart will be hell. I don’t think I can do that. You are ripping us apart at the most crucial part of our relationship. We just started...I don’t want to lose this now. So soon.” Kaity said, tears forming in her eyes.

“Kaity, you have to understand me-”

“No, Mom. I don’t have to understand you. I will never understand you. You have treated Nick like a son since the day you met him. He and I have always been together...there for each other. You know him. You know what he’s like...why don’t you just accept that I love him? I want to be with him!”

“Yes, I do know him...and I do know what he’s like. But I am not comfortable with you two being alone together for two months. I’m sure his mother feels the same way.”

“Actually, Mom. She likes the idea of Nick and I dating. She thought that you would be happy for us.”

“What did she say about you two going on tour together?”

“That she was worried when she let Nick go the first time. She was afraid that he would mature faster...do things she didn’t want him introduced to yet.”

“See, she feels the same.”

“No, she doesn’t. She thought that Nick and I on tour was fine. She was happy. She said that she was going to talk to you about it.” Kaity said.

“Oh really? She’s going to talk to me?” Mrs. McKenzie asked.

“Yeah. Talk some sense into you.” Kaity said looking out the window to see Nick looking around for her. “I have to get back outside. Nick’s looking for me.” Kaity finished abruptly as she left the house.

“Hey, baby.” Nick said coming up to her. He kissed her softly then looked into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, my mother was just hassling me again.”

“About me?”

“What else?” Kaity said running her hand through his hair again. He didn’t complain. “Oh, so now you let me play with your hair?”

“You can play with anything of mine you want.” Nick said smiling. Kaity’s eyes widened. “No! I didn’t mean it that way.” Nick corrected himself when he caught the look on Kaity’s face. “You and your dirty mind.”

“Sorry...it was just the conversation with my mother...then you said that. It was weird.” Kaity said kissing his cheek.

“I’m sorry. Hey, here comes my Mom.” Nick said looking past Kaity. She turned around and saw Mrs. Carter and Aaron walking across the backyard.

“Hi, Mom.” Nick greeted his mother as Aaron made his way over to Nick. “AC!! How’s it going buddy?” Nick asked pulling Aaron into a brotherly hug.

“Hey Nick. Hey Kaity!” Aaron said as he pulled away from Nick to give Kaity a hug. “I heard about you two...it’s about time.” Aaron giggled.

“How are you A?” Kaity asked using her nickname for Nick’s twelve year old brother.

“Good, working hard. How about you Shorty?” Aaron asked looking at Kaity. He had hit a growth spurt and was already a little taller than Kaity.

“Eh..things have been better.”

“You mean to tell me that you are dating my brother and things are less than perfect?!” Aaron asked laughing. Nick laughed with him.

“Nice one, AC.”

“Thanks I try.” Aaron said back.

“Hey little guy!” AJ said coming up behind Aaron. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you.”

“I know..new album in the works. Less time for being a kid.” Aaron said smiling. Kaity watched the smile leave Nick’s face. He had always had a problem with the way that Aaron was growing up in the spotlight...working is butt off..not being able to act like a kid.

“Really? You sure you’re not working too hard?” AJ asked seeing Nick’s face as well.

“Gotta do whatcha gotta do.” Aaron said shrugging. Nick looked uneasily at Kaity.

“Well Nick, I’m going in to talk to Carol.” Jane said as she headed for the back door.

“Here goes nothing.” Nick muttered to Kaity.



*****



“Carol!” Jane said entering the kitchen. Mrs. McKenzie was in the process of slicing and dicing things for a spinach salad.

“Jane. How are you doing? It’s been some time since we’ve gotten the families together.”

“Yes, I know. Thanks to Kaity and Nick, we’re having a get together.” Carol said sitting down at the kitchen table. “Carol...come talk to me.”

“Jane, I know what this is about. Kaity told me earlier that you were going to try to talk me out of my decision it’s not going to wor-”

“Carol, sit.” Jane said interrupting Mrs. McKenzie, pointing to a chair next to her. Mrs. McKenzie sat. “Now, tell me something. Remember when you first moved here. What did you and I dream about?”

“Jane, I don’t remember.”

“Well, I do. You and I would talk endlessly about how we wished that Nick and Kaity would fall for each other when they were older. When they were teenagers, they would discover feelings that they had never realized were there before. They’d date...fall in love...get married. We used to laugh about how silly we were being. Dreaming of them married with children, and they were only nine and six.”

“That was then, Jane.”

“Carol, look me in the eye and tell me that you did not think back to all those talks we have had when Nick and Kaity told you they were seeing each other.” Jane demanded. Mrs. McKenzie looked down at her hands. “I know you, Carol. I know that you have been waiting for this just as long as I have. Why are you having such a hard time now? We wanted this, wished for this. Now you don’t want it?”

“No it’s not that it-”

“She’s your baby, you don’t want her to grow up so fast. She has grown up..she’s a big girl now, Carol. You can’t keep holding her back .She wants to be with Nick. Nothing you say will stop her. Yes, you can keep her home while Nick travels the country, but you know damn well that she will put you through hell. You keep her here...be prepared to deal with an upset, depressed and lonely seventeen year old girl all summer.”

“Jane.” Mrs. McKenzie sighed. “I’m scared.”

“I know. I’ve been there. Remember when I used to call you daily when Nick first left for tour, by himself? I was a nervous wreck. Carol, I made up stories in my head about what he was doing. Remember the one where AJ hired a hooker for him?? He was fourteen!” Jane exclaimed. Mrs. McKenzie cracked a smile.

“I remember. You cried sometimes because you thought that he was sleeping with girls he met on the road.”

“Yes, but he was fulfilling a dream, singing was his passion. I couldn’t hold him back from what he loved. I worried for nothing, you know? When he came home from that tour I sat him down and told him all my fears.”

“What did he say?” Mrs. McKenzie asked, relaxing a bit.

“He told me that he had the opportunities to sleep with girls, a lot of girls, but he hadn’t. He assured me that he was still a virgin and planned to be for awhile. I was relieved. I realized that I had worried for nothing. I knew my son...I knew what type of guy he was. He was a good guy. I don’t know why I assumed the worst from him.”

“I don’t know what to do. Jane, they love each other. Kaity just told me, not twenty minutes ago that she was in love. She said she couldn’t live without him.”

“They do love each other.”

“I overheard a conversation between the two of them. They were in Kaity’s room and I passed by. They were talking about what they were going to do when they were apart. I had just told them Kaity couldn’t go on tour. Jane, it was so sad. They were making promises to call three times a day, and to send postcards and e-mail. What am I doing, if I let the two of them lose each other?”

“Carol, you don’t have to let them lose each other.”

“I don’t want the two of them....”

“What Carol? Say it.”

“I don’t want to think of my baby girl intimate with Nick. It scares me, she was just a little girl yesterday...now, I know that she’s in love, and the boy loves her back. It was a lot put on me at once.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What?” Mrs. McKenzie asked looking up at her best friend.

“Is Kaity the type of girl to consider sex to be a game? Or, is she the type to consider sex to be an act of love and devotion? Something worthless? Or something special?”

“That’s easy, Kaity has always expressed that she wants to be in love and completely devoted to the man she is with for the first time.”

“Exactly my point. Nick is the same way. So, why are you worried that as soon as your daughter gets to a hotel room, that her and Nick are going to fall into bed with each other?”

“I don’t know. I’m being silly.” Mrs. McKenzie said shaking her head.

“Yes! Thank you. So now, will you reconsider allowing your daughter to go on tour with my son?” Jane asked. Mrs. McKenzie smiled.

“I guess that would be fair. I’ll reconsider. I don’t know why I am being so stubborn.”

“Me either. You were the one who started this whole thing. You wanted the two of them to end up together in the first place!” Jane said as the two women stood and hugged.



*****



“How do you think it’s going?” Nick asked Kaity as the two of them sat at a picnic table, watching the back door.

“Dunno.”

“Have faith, my mother can do wonders trying to change someone’s mind. Just ask my dad!” Nick said laughing. Kaity giggled.

“Why do you always manage to cheer me up?” Kaity asked shifting so that she was leaning against Nick.

“I’ve had many years of practice.” Nick said wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his body as they continued to wait for their mothers to finish their talk.

“Hey you guys. What are you up to?” Kevin asked as he and Howie entered the backyard.

“Hey guys.” Nick said laughing. He noticed Kevin and Howie giving he and Kaity strange looks. “What?” he asked confused.

“Nothing, man.” Howie said glancing from Kaity back to Nick.

“Oh! Dude, you guys don’t know.” Nick said laughing. Kaity hugged his middle as Nick informed Howie and Kevin that they were a couple.

“Really?” Howie asked. “That’s cool. I always thought that you two were perfect for each other.”

“Nice going guys. I’m really happy for you two.” Kevin said giving Nick the ‘proud father look’.

“Thanks.” Kaity said quietly. She was nervous, scared. She wanted so bad to go on tour with Nick. She couldn’t bare to think about being away from him for more than a few days. Two months was going to kill her. She tilted her head up to look at Nick. He gazed down at her before planting a soft kiss on her waiting lips. He pulled back to see his mother and Kaity’s mother watching them intently from the back porch.

“They’re done.” Nick whispered.

“Oh God.” Kaity said closing her eyes.

Mrs. McKenzie made her way down the porch steps. The kiss was the last straw. She had listened to what Jane had said, she thought about what Kaity and Nick had told each other, she had seen first hand the love for each other plastered on both of their faces as they told their friends they had discovered each other. Now, it was time to tell them what she thought.

Chapter Sixteen
Table of Contents
HOME