Part 8
The look on Kevin’s face silenced everyone in the room immediately and stopped Chelsea in her tracks. You could have heard a pin drop at that moment and Chelsea was surprised that no one could hear her heart beating.
Kevin felt like he’d been hit hard…so hard he couldn’t breathe. He struggled to ask, “How old are you?”
“Six.”
Chelsea could see Kevin doing the math in his head and knew he was putting it together.
“Mama says we share our last name. Do you think my daddy was a cousin of yours?” asked Annie with all the innocence of childhood.
“I have a feeling he’s much closer, Annie. Where’s your mom now?”
Before Annie could answer, Chelsea said, “I’m right here, Kevin.”
Hurt, betrayal, anger, joy…they all flashed in Kevin’s emerald eyes. Standing up, he said, “I think we need to talk.”
Everyone who knew Kevin, including Chelsea, knew by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer or be put off either.
“Okay,” was all she could say.
AJ had been right behind her, holding her hand, and had felt her body stiffen when Kevin had looked at her. Now, as she turned to leave, he put his hand on her cheek. “Are you going to be okay?”
His concern and tenderness touched her. “I’ll be fine,” she whispered as his brown eyes looked at her.
“Want me to go with you? I know what Kevin’s temper can be like.”
“That’s really sweet and I really appreciate the offer,” smiled Chelsea softly as she put her hand on his, “but Kevin has a right to be angry. Besides, I need you to look out for Annie. You are her favorite.”
“How about mom? Who’s her favorite…or is it obvious?”
Tilting her head into his hand as she continued to stare into AJ’s eyes. “Ever heard the saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’?”
AJ’s heart soared. "I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
AJ gave her a quick peck on the cheek and watched her follow Kevin out of the room before scooping Annie up in his arms.
“Is Kevin mad at my mom?”
“A little, sweetheart,” said AJ, “but don’t you worry about it, okay? How about we go play some games?”
Meanwhile, Kevin led Chelsea to the dressing room. He opened it and then stepped back to allow her to enter first. Closing the door behind him, he leaned against it watching her as she nervously looked around the room. He’d forgotten just how beautiful she was and the effect she had on him. The years had definitely been good to her. When he had known for sure she was there, the first thing he’d wanted to do was take her in his arms and tell her how sorry he was for hurting her but now, god….he had so many questions.
Chelsea turned to face him, looking him in the eyes and seeing the confusion he was feeling. Apologetically, she said, “I’m so sorry, Kevin.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to know?”
“BULLSHIT!” shot Kevin angrily. She’d clearly given him the wrong answer. “You KNEW I wanted children. God, I can remember the nights we use to lay in bed and talk about children.”
“You always said ‘someday’. How was I supposed to know that nine months would qualify as ‘someday’?” defended Chelsea. “I know my decision to keep it from you wasn’t the right one or a fair one but it was the decision I had to make.”
“When did you find out you were pregnant?”
“Right after you went back to Orlando.”
“How do I know she’s even mine?”
That set Chelsea’s anger off. “You know DAMN well she’s yours! You were my first and the ONLY man I’ve been with since.”
“How can I believe you?”
“BASTARD!” hissed Chelsea as she slapped him. “I NEVER lied to you….I simply didn’t tell you about her and I DID NOT have to tell you today. In fact, I didn’t have to come here early…SIX HOURS before the show so my daughter could see you arrive. And when Marcus came out to get us, I could have simply told him that I wasn’t going to come back here. I could have kept her from going through the line and simply stood back and watched and I could have stopped her from saying her whole name! How DARE you question my honesty!”
Kevin knew she was right. It would have been very easy for her to continue keeping him in the dark about Annie and he had the good grace to blush from her reprimand. “Why DID you decide to let me meet her? I mean, you knew she would say the things she did and that I would figure it out.”
Chelsea sighed as her tears began to fall. “I guess deep down, I wanted you to know but was afraid to admit it.”
“You obviously haven’t told her about me so what have you told her about her father?”
“The truth…that he is a wonderful, loving man and that for the short time we were together, we were very much in love; that her father would have adored her completely.”
“Does she ever ask why we aren’t together?”
“Not yet, but it’s just a matter of time.”
Kevin had closed the distance between them and was now just a breath away from her. Tenderly, he reached to wipe her tears as he said, “God, I loved you so much, Chels! It broke my heart when I had to leave you.”
“Why, Kevin? Why did you leave without saying good-bye?” she sobbed as he took her in his arms pulling her into him. “That hurt more than if you’d told me it was over.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what? I’d never have gotten in the way of you and Dianne or your career. You had to have known that!”
“I did and that’s what made it even harder because you only took what I gave you at that time. Chelsea, you have to believe that if I had called you, I’d have never been able to walk away. Dianne met me at the airport in Orlando when I left you and she wanted to work things out. I loved both of you and I had to choose. I knew you were getting ready to go to college…that you had your whole life in front of you and it wasn’t fair to ask you to give that up for me so I had to make a choice.”
“And you chose Dianne.”
“If I’d only known you were pregnant, I’d have never left you. I was wrong to end it the way I did, Chels. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you, wondered what you were doing, wondered if you still thought of me.” His voice dropped as he said, “Wondered if you still loved me?”
“I’ll always love you, Kevin,” she whispered as she looked up at him.
“Can you forgive me for hurting you the way I did?”
“If you can forgive me for not telling you about your daughter.”
“I forgive you,” he whispered as his hand slipped into her hair and his lips covered hers. Slowly, he kissed her, his tongue dipping in to taste her as he held her close. Breaking the kiss, he asked, “What now?”
Breathlessly, “I don’t know. I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
“I want to be a part of your lives.”
“What about Dianne?”
“She’ll understand. Come on, Chels…I want to help you; to know our daughter. You know how close I was to my father and you are such a ‘Daddy’s Girl’….I want to have that same connection.”
Chelsea pulled away and walked to a window to look out, her back to Kevin. Loud enough for him to hear, she said, “I use to be a ‘Daddy’s girl’ but not any more.”
Moving to stand behind her, Kevin put his hands on her shoulders and felt her trembling as if she were crying. “What happened?”
“He disowned me when I told him I was pregnant and that I had no intentions of telling you about the baby.”
“So he knew I was the father?”
“No…just that it was some guy I’d met while I was staying with my grandparents.”
“Where have you been living all this time?”
“Here in the area, on my own ever since I was four months pregnant. He made it impossible for me to go to my grandparents.”
“Baby, how did you manage?”
“It hasn’t been easy. Grams managed to help me out some before Daddy caught on but I worked full time to put myself through college and take care of Annie. The law firm I’m a paralegal for now is helping me get through law school and I have Monique to help me take care of Annie.” Chelsea stopped to regain her composure because she was crying again. When she was ready, she turned to face him again. “I wasn’t sure how involved I wanted you to be in our lives but Kevin, I don’t want Annie to be without a father any more and I don’t want it to cause you any problems.”
“It’s not going to be a problem,” promised Kevin. Taking her hand, he led her to a couch saying, “Come on, let’s sit down so we can talk.”
Chelsea sat down and Kevin sat on the table in front of her taking her hands in his. He looked at her fingers, checking for rings and then turned them over to see AJ’s cell number written on the palm.
“No wedding rings or diamonds so I take it you aren’t married or engaged? What about a boyfriend?”
She shook her head, “There hasn’t been anyone since you, Kevin. Annie has been my primary focus…and my education.”
“What about AJ? He’s extremely interested in you and I know he use to be your favorite.”
Chelsea blushed. “Still is and I’d love to get to know him but I don’t want to get hurt again, Kevin. You guys are leaving soon.”
“Tomorrow but plans can be changed.” Looking at his watch, he said, “I probably should go back and spend some time with the fans. Do you want to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
“When do you want to tell Annie?”
“Not tonight, okay? She’s going to be confused and I want her to enjoy tonight….getting to spend time with her favorite group.”
“AJ said he was her favorite.”
Chelsea laughed, “Yeah, but she likes you and Howie too.”
“Your laugh was one of the things I missed about you.” Kevin’s eyes danced with joy as he leaned to her once more to kiss her. A knock broke them apart and Kevin called, “Yeah.”
Marcus stuck his head in, “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, Marcus. We’re coming back now to mingle for a little while,” said Kevin as he helped Chelsea up. “After you, my lady….but let me warn you….the fans are going to be extremely jealous of you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’re gonna have AJ at your every beck and call. Chels, promise me you’ll close your eyes and make a wish?”
Smiling, Chelsea said, “I promise.”
