Part 20
The new couple had been together ever since Chelsea had been brought to recovery, AJ refusing to leave her side. They’d talked; they’d held each other; and they’d fallen in love. Now, late Wednesday afternoon, the two were asleep in each other’s arms when the door opened slowly and Kevin peeked in.
Thinking they were asleep, he started to leave.
"Don’t go, ‘Boo’," called Chelsea trying not to wake AJ.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was…sorta, but it’s okay," she smiled sleepily as Kevin came in. "Where’s Annie?"
"Howie picked her up from school and is going to take her to the zoo. How do you feel?"
"Better but my ankle is still killing me." Struggling to sit up, she said, "And I’d KILL for a shower. I feel gross and I know I look even worse."
"You look absolutely beautiful," praised Kevin as she helped her to sit.
"You’re a lousy liar," laughed Chelsea.
The conversation and Chelsea’s movement woke AJ. "Are you okay, beautiful?" yawned AJ.
"I’m fine, baby. Kevin’s here."
"Hey, ‘bro’," greeted AJ as he sat up beside Chelsea, his hair all askew.
"Now HE looks gross," chuckled Kevin.
"Gee thanks," grumbled AJ as Chelsea giggled.
"He looks fine," defended Chelsea as she snuggled closer to him.
"You sure you didn’t have any head injuries?" teased Kevin.
"Why are you here?" asked AJ with a touch of irritation.
"Came by to give you a break and to talk to Chels. Marcus is with me to take you to her house so you can get cleaned up."
"I could use a shower and shave," said AJ. Then in a cartoon voice as he sniffed at himself, he said, "I smell stinky."
That sent Chelsea into a fit of giggles as she managed to say, "You goof!"
Kevin smiled watching the two together. AJ was good for her and hearing her laughter was a blessing.
"Do you mind if I leave for a little while?"
"Only if you promise to bring me back something good to eat….REAL food."
"How about something from Mickey D’s?"
"Ummm, fries and a quarter pounder?"
"Super sized with an apple pie for dessert."
"Perfect!"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "You two were made for each other."
"Of course we were," agreed AJ as he hugged Chelsea to him. "I promise I won’t be long, beautiful, and when I get back, maybe I can help you get a shower."
Blushing furiously, Chelsea tucked her head as she whispered, "I can’t wait."
"Do you need anything other than real food?"
"Clothes would be nice. I really don’t want to wear this gown into public, especially if any of your fans know you’re here with me or the press."
"I don’t know. I think you’d be cute with your butt hanging out," mused Kevin. "From what I recall, you’ve got a mighty cute butt too!"
Chelsea groaned as she blushed and AJ laughed as he asked, "Where is your room?"
"Top of the steps, first one on the left," she said, her voice muffled by his chest.
Placing a finger under her chin to lift her face to him, he touched his lips to hers and kissed her gently. "Back before you miss me."
"Already miss you."
Kissing her again quickly, he got up and said, "Kev, keep an eye on my beautiful woman…make sure she doesn’t take off with some young intern."
"No problem," smiled Kevin as he watched the couple who were kissing again. As the door closed, he said, "You two look happy."
"We are! Kevin, I was so scared of getting hurt again but Alex….he’s been so wonderful."
"He’s a good man, Chels. He’s been hurt before too but he’ll treat you right…better than me."
Reaching for his hand, Chelsea said, "Kevin, I don’t regret anything about us and I don’t resent you for the way you ended it. Yeah, it hurt a lot but I hurt you too. We both had difficult decisions to make and right or wrong, we made the best one we knew to make. We just need to pick up where we are now and move on. What did you want to talk to me about?"
Kevin shook his head. "I wanted to talk to you about Annie and you."
"Me?"
"Yes! Chelsea, I know you don’t expect anything from me in the way of help for the last six years but I want to do something."
"Why?’
"Because Annie’s my daughter too and because you gave up everything for her….and me."
"I’d do it again, Kevin. Annie is the greatest gift in my life and I thank God every day for her."
"That’s why I want to help you. First off, I’ve added you and Annie to my insurance and made sure it would cover this."
"You didn’t have to do that."
"How else were you going to pay for all this?"
"Alex had offered to help and I was going to pay him back."
"Well, now you don’t have to worry about paying him back. I also had my attorney figure out how much child support I’d have had to pay over the last six years and we decided on a thousand a month. My accountant has already put the money into your account. There’s also…."
"STOP! Slow down!" Chelsea’s head was spinning from Kevin’s first announcement and now he was telling her he’d had money put into her account. A thousand a month….for twelve months…that was….$12,000! And to pay for six years…..
"What’s wrong, Chels?" asked Kevin seeing the confusion in her eyes.
"KEVIN! You put….seventy-two thousand dollars into my account?!"
"Yes."
"NO! I don’t want it.’
"Too late!"
"No, it’s NOT! I’m not going to argue with you. Get your accountant to take it back," demanded Chelsea. Then it dawned on her. "Exactly HOW did he know my account number in the FIRST place?"
"I went through your stuff to find it," blushed Kevin embarrassed having to admit that he’d snooped. "Look, Chels, I saw your bills from college and from having Annie and you’ve got her in a private school too! I don’t know how in the HELL you managed to do it on your own."
Chelsea didn’t want to tell Kevin everything about that time period and exactly how she made ends meet so she backed down. "Believe me, there were plenty of times I wanted to call you but I didn’t. I just found a way to do it. Thank you for wanting to help me."
Kevin leaned back to regroup. He’d been prepared to argue with Chelsea knowing that she would fight him every step of the way in his attempts to help her but this…he wasn’t prepared for her to back down so easily. Cupping her cheek in his large hand, he forced her to look him in the eye and asked, "What are you holding back?"
"Nothing."
"BULLSHIT! You’re a lousy liar too! I can tell you’re holding back something and I’m going to find out one way or another."
"Kevin, I won’t fight you on anything you want to do to help if you’ll just let it go."
Whatever it was, she clearly didn’t want him to know and that just made him more determined to know. He’d let it go for now to keep her calm though.
Seeing Kevin wasn’t going to press the issue, she asked, "Is that all you had in mind?"
"No. Chels, it’s going to be hard enough for me to see Annie once all the promotion for the new CD starts and then the tour but with you here in Virginia, it’s going to be impossible."
"I’m going to make sure she visits on holidays and during the summer, we’ll join you on the road some."
"I know but…."Kevin hesitated because he knew he was about to ask a great deal of Chelsea. "Chels, I’d really like for you to move to California. You can stay with Dee and me until I can find you a place and I’ll get you a job with our attorneys."
Once more, Chelsea was floored by what Kevin wanted. She had planned on visiting, especially since she and Alex were seeing each other, but actually moving to California hadn’t crossed her mind…well, at least not yet, but it wasn’t a bad idea. After all, what did she have to stay in Virginia for? Monique was dead and she wasn’t ready to reconcile with her family.
"I know it’s a huge step but….well, I don’t want to be selfish, especially since you gave up so much for me in the first place."
Shaking her head, Chelsea said, "You aren’t being selfish but you’re right, it is a huge step and I hadn’t really thought about it."
"So will you?"
"I need to think about it but if I do, I’m NOT living with you and Dee. I just can’t do that even if we aren’t involved."
"Where would you stay?"
"I guess with Alex but I’d have to talk to him about it first. Tell you what, Alex has set up an appointment for me with the doctor who worked on his knee."
"Why are you going to him?"
"My ankle was crushed by the front of the car and has to be reconstructed. My appointment is for Wednesday and I was going to need you to stay here with Annie anyway. I guess we could take her with us and you could be getting her enrolled in school while I’m having my ankle fixed."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I have nothing to keep me here in Virginia now with Monique gone and everything to take me to California."
"So you aren’t going to give your mother a chance?"
"NO, and don’t you DARE start lecturing me about it either."
Holding his hands up in defeat, Kevin laughed and said, "No way!! I’ve already pushed my luck with you enough."
"Good," smiled Chelsea. "Now, have you told your mother about Annie?"
"Not yet. I wanted to go to Kentucky with her so Mama can meet her…if you don’t mind."
"Not at all. Why don’t you take her this weekend and then meet us in California?"
"Sounds like a plan."
With all the business of what to do so Kevin could be a part of Annie’s life, the two spent the time they had getting caught up. Alex was gone for a couple of hours giving them plenty of time.
