Part 64
As the two girls headed out to their seats, Chelsea said, “This has been such an awesome day!”
“Tell me about it and it’s not over yet,” smiled Michelle knowing that the message was going to be up within just a few minutes.
The two girls joined Annie, Denise, and Mrs. Richardson along with the other family members. There were fans all around and as Chelsea sat beside Denise, several girls started pointing at her and talking amongst themselves.
Michelle nudged Chelsea, “Ignore them. Check out the messages.”
Chelsea looked up to see the text messages scrolling across the screen. “Oh wow! I didn’t know they were doing this. I wonder if the guys can see the messages.”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“I could send Alex a message.”
“Send him one anyway.”
Chelsea sent a text to the number that was on the screen and then they sat back to watch the other messages. Michelle was really looking forward to seeing Chelsea’s reaction.
Just five minutes later, To My Beautiful Woman, Will you marry me August 6th? Alex scrolled across the screen.
Chelsea’s heart stopped.
Michelle looked over at her and smiled. “Chelsea.”
All around them, Chelsea could hear the fans chattering away. Most of them had seen the message and they were all speculating.
“I wonder if that was from AJ?”
“Does AJ have a girlfriend?”
“She’s sitting with his mother.”
“She’s not reacting….it can’t be them.”
Chelsea looked at Michelle and whispered, “What am I going to do?”
“Answer him?”
“How? They’re watching to see if I’m going to answer.”
“Tell me what you want to say and I’ll send it from my phone.”
* * * *
Backstage, AJ was pacing back and forth waiting for Chelsea’s message.
“’Age’, relax!” chided Kevin.
“The message is up but she’s not answering.”
“She might not be able to. And if she has, it takes time for it to go through and for Tony to get it on the screen.”
“What if she realizes that’s the Virginia date and she says ‘no’?”
Kevin laughed, “ALEX…..RELAX!! You two have already talked about getting married and I don’t think she CARES WHERE you two get married…just that you do. She loves you and she wants to marry you. She’s NOT going to say ‘no’!”
“Places!” called the stage manager.
* * * *
“Excuse me….aren’t you AJ’s new girlfriend?” asked one bold fan sitting in front of the families.
The sick feeling Chelsea had been feeling all day hit her full force now and she wanted to leave. Instead, she looked at the girl and said, “Yes, I am.”
“Was that message to you from him?”
Chelsea knew the fans would eventually find out the truth but it wasn’t going to be tonight. “No, it wasn’t. AJ and I just met in April.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
The fan turned back to her friends and Michelle whispered, “Why didn’t you tell her the truth?”
“They’ll find out soon enough.”
“So what do you want me to say in the text?”
* * *
Over his headpiece as they were about to descend the steps, AJ heard, “Be sure to check the messages after the opening number.”
How was he going to sing with his heart in his throat? His cell phone was vibrating. Was that her? His mind was on Chelsea and nothing else.
* * *
Alex, Yes, I will! Forever, Your Beautiful Woman!
All of the other messages had scrolled across but this one stayed put for everyone to see. As the song ended, Howie began to welcome the audience to their show as well as thank the families for all their love and support while AJ turned to check out the message. He had known this would be her answer but he still felt an overwhelming since of relief and the smile that he’d been wearing since April 18th was once more present.
Kevin had been watching AJ and gave him a big goofy smile.
“Hey, Howie,” said Kevin pointing to the message board. “I think we need to say a congratulations.”
All of the guys knew that AJ and Chelsea really didn’t want the fans to know about the engagement just yet.
Howie turned to the crowd. “Have you been watching the messages?”
When the crowd roared that they had, AJ spoke up, “Seems someone is getting married out there.”
“And we want to say a heart felt congratulations to the happy couple,” added Nick.
“We hope that they will be as happy in their marriage as Kevin and Dee and Leighanne and myself,” said Brian.
Nick looked at the guys and asked, “Why don’t we change the set a little and sing Yes, I Will for the happy couple?”
“Sounds good to us,” chorused the other four.
As the guys had been talking and the fans’ attention had been focused on them, Michelle managed to slip Chelsea the box who took it with a quizzical look.
“Open it,” instructed Michelle leaning to her.
“Is it from Alex?”
Michelle nodded her head.
Chelsea knew what it was but decided not to open it. Instead, she slipped it into her pocketbook and turned her attention back to the show, her eyes glued on Alex.
