“Hey Nick…you’ve got mail in here!’ Brian said as he walked over to the table in their hotel room.
“Is it from Sunny?!” Nick said cheerfully, as he bound across the room.
“Sure looks like it…” Brian smiled, as he watched Nick pick up the envelope.
Nick stood there for a moment. “Well, aren’t you gonna open it?” Brian asked.
“Oh, yeah…” he said, as he stared sadly at the return address. He then quickly tore the envelope open and pulled out the black paper. “She loves to write in these weird pens…” Nick mused.
Brian sat there, patiently waiting as Nick read through the letter. Nick smiled several times, but then frowned at the end of the letter. “So Nick…what does Sunny have to say?” Brian asked as his best friend set the letter on the table, quickly wiping away the tears in his eyes.
“Umm, here, you can read it.” Nick said, handing the paper to Brian.
“Dear Nick,
Today was a very long day. I sat here on the porch, watching everyone walk by, riding their bikes, and skating along. I wanted to join them, but for some strange reason, I couldn’t get myself to leave this darn porch swing. But then, Mr. Carmichael, my postman, brought me a package. I knew right then and there, that is why I couldn’t leave the swing. The package was from you! ** big smiles **
Well, I tore into the package and saw all kinds of things! By the way, tell Brian he is right for not allowing you to steal a Bible. That would have really been bad. ** hugs ** to Brian! So, anyway, I love the towels, the soaps, and the fly swatter. I always wanted a fly swatter from Germany! ** giggles **
Let’s see. What has been happening this past few weeks? Well, school is out…but you already knew that. It is unbelievably hot and humid right now. But, I have no one to go to the beach with. Mom won’t let me go without someone…and she can’t take me. So, I have to settle for sitting on the front porch. Oh, but don’t worry…it is nice to just get to relax and not have to worry about homework.
So, what have you been up to? When will I get to see you? Oh…and when in the world are you gonna call?! I have been holding the cordless phone day and night, waiting for your call. Mom nearly ripped the phone outta my hands the other day…said it was gonna become a permanent part of my hand! Hehehe
Oh well, I want to see if I can get this in the mailbox before Mr. Carmichael picks up the afternoon bin. I gotta go! Please call me! Please…I really…umm…(there was a smudge on the paper that Nick couldn’t quite make out, but knew it was a teardrop that caused it.)…I need to hear from you.
Take care, and I hope that you will write to me again soon! I sure do miss you Nick! I think more than you will ever know!
Love ya tons dude!
** Hugs **
Sunny, the prettiest rose in your life.
PS---Mr. Splash is doing really good! I promise to take care
of him. Oh yeah…the rose is really beautiful. I’ll carry it
everywhere I go.”
Brian sat there. He knew what Sunny was trying to say, despite the fact that tears had smudged the page. “Nick…are you gonna call her?” he asked softly.
“Yeah, I really want to. But, I don’t know if I can keep myself from crying. It’s bad enough I am homesick…but it hurts really bad inside to not have my best friend around. She and I should be here…together…having fun. She shouldn’t be sad and sitting on the porch. What if I call and she is mad at me? What if she starts to cry…what will I do?” Nick said, looking down towards the floor.
“Nick, you know her better than anyone else…you will know what to say when you talk to her.” He said, picking up the phone next to the bed. “Now, call her. She needs to hear from you.” Brian said, pushing the phone at Nick.
*** ***
I sat on the porch. It was really early morning. I enjoyed watching the sunrise, however, this morning…I would do it alone. “I wish you were here Nick.” I sighed softly as the faintest of light started to show on the horizon.
I clutched the phone in my hands, just as I always did. I was just about to wipe another tear from my eye when the phone started to ring.
“Hello?” I asked softly.
“Has it started yet?” Nick asked on the other end.
“Nicky!!!”
“Hold on Sunny…wait til the sun comes up. Let’s watch the sun come up together!” he said with a smile through the phone.
I sat there quietly as I listened to Nick breathe on the other end. “Three…two…one…” I whispered into the phone as the sun finally peeked over the horizon.
“Do it again Sunny…” Nick said softly, making his usual reference to the Life Savers commercial.
“You know I would if I could.” I said cheerfully. “Nicky! I have missed you so much! When will you be home?! When can I see you? How is the music going? Are the girls falling for that Carter charm yet??!” Sunny blurted out in one breath.
Nick laughed as he listened to me. “Yup…Brian was right…you don’t know how to shut up for one second.”
I sat there, stunned. “I’m sorry.”
“Sunny…I was teasing! You know I love ya! And so does Brian…even though he won’t admit it!” Nick laughed. “But…to answer the questions. Let’s see. I won’t be home until October. They have added another month and a half of dates to the tour. And…you can see me soon. I am sending you a video of us. The music is going great…and yeah…the girls are fallin’ for the Carter charm.” He smiled.
“October? You won’t be home until October?” I said, my voice full of hurt.
“Oh Sunny…I am sorry. I can’t help it. But..maybe there is something I can do. Hold on, I’ll call you right back.” Nick said, saying goodbye and then hanging up quickly.
I sat there, staring at the phone. “What are you up to Carter?”
Fifteen minutes passed before the phone rang again. “Hello?”
“Sunny…this is Jane. Is your mom around?” she asked politely.
“Umm, yeah…she should be up.” I said, as I wandered into the house. “Mom, are you up?” I asked , stepping into her bedroom.
“Sunny...what do you want? It’s only 6:30 am.” My mom said groggily.
“Mrs. Carter wants to talk to you.” I said, handing her the phone.
After eavesdropping on a 15 minute phone call, I knew there was some plan in action. “Dang Nick…what are you getting yourself into?”
I listened to my mom as she said goodbye. “Sunshine…honey…come here.”
I stood there, at the door to my mom’s room. “Honey, Mrs. Carter called to invite you to go to Germany to see the guys. She said that she would watch you for the summer. Nick has been dying to see you, and well, frankly, you seem to miss him too. I think it would be okay, but you have to promise that you will behave for Mrs. Carter. Can you do that?”
“Oh yes ma’am!” I said, shaking all over from excitement. “I promise!”
“Good, then you get to call Nickolas and tell him that you will be arriving tomorrow night sometime. Now, hurry, give him a call, and then I will help you pack.” She smiled. “And honey…isn’t there something you should be saying?”
I ran to my mom and jumped on the bed. “Oh thank you! THANK YOU!”
Once I called Nick…my mom helped me get things together. Management
was going to send a body guard to sit with me on the plane ride.
Personally, I didn’t care…I just wanted to see Nick.