Chapter 8
As Kevin pulled into the parking lot of the doctor's office, Tyler spotted Howie. He was pacing the sidewalk looking anxious and worried. Tyler took Kevin's hand and said, "I'm glad we called Howie."
"Me too, baby. Go on. I'll catch up with you."
Tyler got out of the truck and started to her cousin. When Howie saw her, he started crying and Tyler rushed into his arms. The two stood on the sidewalk hugging each other and crying for several minutes.
Then Howie held her back to look at Tyler. "Are you okay? Why am I meeting you here?"
"I think I'm pregnant. Howie! I'm so sorry about the argument! I never meant to hurt you."
"It's okay, Ty! There's no need to apologize."
"I know you were just trying to protect me."
Howie wiped the tears from Tyler's cheeks. "We all were, Ty. Tell me, are you still with Joey?"
By now, Kevin had joined the two and Tyler looked up at him as he put his arms around her from behind. He said, "Yes and no! As far as Joey is concerned, they are still together. I'll explain all of this over breakfast. Ty needs to get inside for her doctor's appointment."
The three walked in and Tyler went to check in. While she waited, she sat between Kevin and Howie and they talked quietly.
"Miss Dorough, you come back now," said a nurse at the door.
Tyler looked at Kevin, "Are you coming with me?"
"Do you really want me to come?"
"Yeah, please."
Kevin got up with her and Howie said, "I'll wait here for you two."
Tyler and Kevin went to the back and the nurse had Tyler sit down so that she could get all the information that she needed. Kevin held Tyler's hand as he listened to her. Then the nurse had Tyler go into an examining room and change clothes. Kevin waited outside for her but as soon as Tyler gave a knock, he joined her. He stood beside her holding her hand and whispering to her gently to reassure her. The doctor came in and greeted them both warmly.
"Well, Tyler, it's been a while. What are you here today for?"
"I think I'm pregnant."
"Okay. Let's give you a thorough exam. Is this the father?"
Kevin shook his head, "No, not the biological father."
"Well, Tyler, technically, he shouldn't be back here."
"Dr. Wells, I was raped and Kevin and I are together now."
"Oh! I see. Has this been reported to the police?"
"No. I know who did it and I'm not pressing charges."
The doctor proceeded with his exam as Kevin sat facing Tyler. He sang to her softly and brushed her hair back.
"Well, it appears that you are very pregnant, Tyler. I would like to do an ultra-sound just to get a better idea of where we stand."
Tyler looked up at Kevin and said, "Whatever you think is best."
The doctor made preparations to have an ultra-sound done and Kevin went out to wait with Howie until it was time. While they were waiting, Howie asked, "Are you two really together?"
"Yeah, we are. Look, I'm going to take her to Kentucky for the weekend. I need to get something from my mother for Tyler."
"Okay."
"'D', you need to keep this under wraps and I'll explain it later."
"No problem."
The nurse came to get Kevin and Howie and they went back to the room where she was waiting. It was dark except for the glow of the machines and a small light at Tyler's head. Kevin sat beside Tyler and took her hand in both of his. He kissed it and leaned over to kiss her too.
With tears in her eyes, Tyler said, "There he is! The next Backstreet Boy."
Kevin and Howie looked at the monitor that revealed a little shape with a heartbeat. Howie whispered, "WOW! He's incredible."
Kevin said, "She's gong to be as beautiful as her mother."
Tyler whispered, "I wish this was your child."
Kevin looked into her eyes and whispered, "It will be one day, baby."
Howie asked, "What's the due date?"
"End of July," said the doctor. "Tyler is already through her first trimester but everything looks wonderful."
"Any special instructions?"
"She needs to avoid stressful situations. Her blood pressure was elevated when the nurse took it."
Kevin explained, "She's been through quite a bit lately."
The doctor looked at the boys and said, "I thought I recognized you. You're with the Backstreet Boys, aren't you?"
Howie said, "Yes sir."
"And Tyler, you've had quite a bit of press lately."
"Too much!"
"No wonder you're blood pressure is up. Well, as long as you eat right, get plenty of sleep, and exercise, you'll be fine."
"She'll do all of that," said Kevin as he looked at Tyler to make sure that she understood that he was going to make sure she followed the doctor's orders.
"What about traveling?" asked Howie.
"She can travel anywhere until the last month and then I'd like for her to stay close to home."
Kevin said, "We'll be back in the States by then."
"Tyler, you're free to go as soon as the nurse gets you free of all the wires. Make an appointment for next month and I'll see you then."
The doctor left and the nurse disconnected the monitors.
When she was gone, Tyler sat up and said, "Well, I guess it's pretty definite."
"Ty, we're all going to be here for you."
"Thanks, 'D'."
Tenderly, Kevin brushed Tyler's hair back behind her ear and gave her a kiss. "We'll wait outside for you to get dressed and then we'll go get something to eat."
Kevin and Howie left the room so Tyler could dress. She didn't waste time and in a couple minutes, she was ready.
Outside, Tyler went to make her next appointment and Kevin joined her. He stood behind her with his arms around her neck and his face buried in her hair. Tyler put her hands on his arms as he held her.
The secretary wasn't paying attention as she said, "We have March 5th at 2:15 PM open and March 6th at 11 AM open."
Kevin said, "Take the March 6th one, baby. That way, I can fly home after the show and go with you."
Kevin's voice got the girl's attention and she stared up in disbelief.
"I'll take the 6th," said Tyler. Then she whispered to Kevin, "Why don't you two sign some autographs?"
Kevin smiled at her and said, "Always looking out for others."
The first autograph was for the secretary and the nurses and then Tyler finished with the secretary. When she went out, Kevin and Howie were talking to a little girl and her mother. The little girl was looking up at the two guys in awe and it made Tyler smile. The guys were really good with children. Tyler joined the group and the little girl asked her.
"Are you a fan too?"
Kevin was sitting as he put his arms around Tyler's waist. Tyler looked at Kevin and then the little girl and said, "Yeah, I'm a huge fan. Which one of the guys is your favorite?"
"Nick's my favorite but Kevin and Howie are pretty cool."
"Tiffany, this is my cousin, Tyler, and guess where she works?" said Howie.
"Where?"
"Disneyworld. Isn't that really cool?"
Tiffany's eyes got as big as saucer's as she asked, "Do you know Mickey Mouse?"
Tyler smiled, "Why, he's my best friend at work. Have you ever met him?"
Tiffany's mother said quietly, "We can't afford to take her."
Tyler looked at the guys and they knew what she was thinking. Howie said, "Tell you what, Tiffany. If your mom will give Tyler your address and phone number, I bet she would be more than glad to get you tickets to the park. Would you like that?"
"BOY, would I!!"
"Tell you what," said Tyler. "You know, I have an inside tract with the Backstreet Boys and I bet I could arrange for you to spend the entire day at the park with them. Would that be even better?"
Tiffany's mother had tears in her eyes as her daughter looked up at her. "Mama, could I?"
"I don't see why not if Tyler can arrange it."
Tyler smiled, "I don't see why not. It may be a little while but I think it can be worked out. Why don't you call my office on Monday and leave my secretary your number and address so when I get back to work, I can set it up. By then, I should know when I can get the guys to meet us at the park too."
"This is way more than I could ever hope for Tiffany."
"I'm glad to do it," said Tyler.
Kevin and Howie gave Tiffany their autographs as Tyler gave her mother a business card. Then the nurse called Tiffany back to the doctor.
Her mother let her go ahead of her and she said, "I don't know how to thank you three. Tiffany was abused by her father and having your music to listen to has been the only thing to get her through."
Kevin and Howie couldn't help but have tears in their eyes and Howie said, "Would you please let us know if there is anything else we can do? She's such a sweet little girl."
"Thank you."
Tiffany's mother went to join Tiffany and Kevin asked, "Are you ready, baby?"
"Yeah, I'm starving. Howie, how about you?"
"I'm hungry for information."
Tyler smiled, "You'll hear it all, 'D'."
"Let's go to Brian's. It should be fairly quiet now," said Kevin.
"I'll meet you two there," said Howie.
The three went out to the parking lot and started to separate. Tyler stopped Kevin and said, "Kev, I'm going to ride with 'D'."
Kevin gave her a kiss and said, "That's fine. I need to make some phone calls anyway."
On the way to the restaurant, Tyler told Howie about the last four months with Joey and Lou.
Howie asked, "Are you going to break up with him?"
"The night of the Grammy's. Kevin's arranged for me to be there to represent you guys. I already have a room and Bull is going to be with me when I meet with Joey and tell him about the baby."
Tyler, I don't want to be spiteful, but..."
Tyler laughed, "I know what you're going to say so don't!! I love you so much, 'D' and I never meant to hurt you."
"You're just stubborn."
"Yeah! Yeah! The pot calling the kettle black!"
"When do the others get to find out?"
"After the Grammy's. I'm going to fly to Vancouver to join y'all and Kevin and I'll tell them everything. That's when we were going to tell you too but I couldn't stand it when Kevin told me that you were really taking it hard."
"Why are you waiting so long?"
"I wanted to be sure I was pregnant but I didn't want Lou to find out."
They had reached the restaurant so they parked and got out. Kevin was behind them and they waited for him at the door. Inside, they got a table and ordered breakfast.
Once they were alone and waiting for their food, Kevin told Howie the rest of the story.
"You mean Mami and Pops knew?"
"That's where I've been the past two days."
"What about your job?"
"I'm on a leave of absence until all this is taken care of."
Over breakfast, Kevin and Tyler managed to tell Howie every little bit. They also answered his questions. They made plans to keep this all under wraps so that Lou wouldn't get wind of it.
When breakfast was over, Tyler excused herself to go to the bathroom. That's when Kevin said, "'D', I'm taking Tyler to Kentucky for the weekend. Let your parents know so they won't worry about her and tell the guys that I had to get away. I'll be back in time to leave for the tour."
"Does she know that's where you're going?"
"No! She just thinks we're going flying. I want my mom and brothers to meet her. I also have to get something from my mom. 'D', I'm going to ask her to marry me at the Vancouver show. I still need to work out the details but I can't stand not having her in my life."
Howie leaned over to give Kevin a hug. "Man! I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks! God! I thought when she took off for New York that I had lost her forever."
"I'll tell you what, after last night, I thought for sure that I would never see my cousin again. Man, I'd be willing to lay bets that Lou is behind all this."
"Oh! I know he is!"
Tyler returned to the table and Howie told them both about the conversation the guys had had after Kevin told them the 'bad' news.
"AJ and Nick are ready to kick Joey's butt!"
"I bet they are," laughed Tyler. "Those two are like my own bodyguards."
Kevin pulled Tyler close to him and said, "That's my job now!"
Tyler gave him a kiss. "So, where are we going, baby?"
Howie looked at Kevin and Kevin said, "I'm taking you to the mall first to buy you something and then we're flying to Kentucky."
"Kentucky? Does that mean we won't be back by tonight?"
"That's right!"
Howie said, "I'd skip the mall, Kev. Kryss and the other girls are there shopping all day!"
"Thanks for the heads up. I guess we'll just have to skip that. Are you ready to go, baby?"
"What about clothes?"
"We'll go shopping when we get to Lexington. I want to show you everything especially the farm I just bought there."
Howie paid the tab and the three walked out to the parking lot together. Tyler gave Howie a hug and said good-bye. They watched him leave and then got in the truck.
Tyler slid next to Kevin and he put his arm around her as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Why are we going to Kentucky, really?"
"Besides what I told you?"
"I know you. There's another reason."
Kevin stopped the truck at a stoplight and gave Tyler a quick kiss. He said, "I can't wait two weeks to have you in my arms."
