Part 166
Howie smiled as he watched Sarah playing with Jesse on the slide in McDonald’s play area. Sarah was so happy and he had been the one to make her smile. If the power were to go off, Howie felt certain that Sarah’s smile would be enough to light all of Florida.
"Angel, I’ve got our lunch."
Sarah picked Jesse up and they joined Howie. "So, tell me about this birthday party?" asked Sarah as she put Jesse in her seat across from Howie.
"Before we left, I gave Rachel instructions to plan a party for a four year old little girl…gave her a check to go buy whatever she needed including gifts…and also told her to call Kevin to get him to get the gang and my family to the center for the party at four."
"Do the guys know?"
Howie shook his head, "No! I didn’t want to tell anyone until YOU knew."
Sarah leaned to him and gave him a kiss. She whispered, "I can’t wait to show you how much it means to me."
"Seeing you THIS happy is enough, Sarah," answered Howie as he brushed her cheek with his fingers. Looking at Jesse as she ate her lunch, he added, "And having Jesse in our lives."
Sarah looked at Howie and a tear escaped down her cheek. "This means as much to you as it does to me, doesn’t it?"
Howie took Sarah’s hand in his and kissed it. "Yeah…it does! Angel,
I have the family I should have had from the very beginning. Jesse is a part of
you that I have loved from the minute I met you and I told you in Boston…I’ve
dreamed of the chance to love Jesse and spoil her, just like I spoil you. Now’s
my chance and I’m starting this afternoon with the party."
"You know, if I hadn’t thought Jesse were dead, I might not ever have come to Orlando. I’d probably still be with…"
"No…we were meant to be together! We’d have found each other…sooner or later. You are my soul mate, Sarah. My other half."
Jesse looked up at Howie. "Daddy, will I get lots of presents today?"
"Of course, Princess! Whatever your little heart desires."
"When’s the party?"
"Four."
Sarah said, "We’ll leave as soon as we finish eating, baby." Sarah took Howie’s hand and leaned to him. She gave him a kiss and said softly, "You are the MOST wonderful man in the world. You keep giving and giving to me…making my world complete…perfect. What am I EVER gonna do to show you that I love you just as much?"
Howie put his fingers on Sarah’s lips. "Sarah, you make my world complete by just being my wife. You don’t have to do anything except keep being you. Your work with the foundation, the restaurant, the youth center; being by my side on tour," putting his hands on Sarah’s stomach, "carrying my babies; they’re just part of the ways you show me your love. Every time we fall asleep in each other’s arms; the way you look at me when I’m holding you tight. I know your love for me is so unconditional…so pure…so real."
The couple kissed tenderly and then turned to see Jesse grinning as she asked, "Daddy, do you love Mama?"
"Very much, Princess….just like I love you!"
Jesse got up and went around the table. She wrapped her little arms around Howie’s neck and held on tight. She whispered, "I love you too, Daddy."
Sarah felt like her heart was gonna burst with love for Howie for what he had done. It was the most incredible feeling to have the man of her dreams do so much for her. He had made her ultimate dream come true…she had her daughter alive and well and she had HIS babies on the way. What more could she possibly want?
************
As Howie drove to Orlando, Sarah sat so she could watch Jesse sleeping. Howie would glance over at her from time to time and smile seeing the look on Sarah’s face. It was incredible to see the glow in her eyes and on her face. Howie had never wanted her more than at that moment. He reached over and put his hand on her thigh drawing her attention to him. She put her hand on his and smiled.
"Angel, why did you go off on Jim and Cindy like you did?"
Sarah sighed, "I take it you don’t know them."
"No, I didn’t have any contact with them personally. The private detective I hired did all that and set up today."
"Jim is…was…Russell’s uncle."
"No wonder you went ballistic. I’m sorry, Angel. I had no idea."
Sarah brushed Howie’s hair back. "You were just trying to make me happy. Actually, out of Russell’s family, Vanessa and Jim were the ONLY two who took my side and defended me. D, what are we gonna do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"About Jess. We’re headed to LA in a couple days and then back out on the road. Am I gonna stay home this time with her or what?"
"NO WAY! You’re place…and Jesse’s…is with me. We’re a family, Sarah, and we’re gonna be together," said Howie emphatically.
"Then HOW are we gonna do this? Jesse can’t keep the same late hours we keep, D, and there are gonna be times when we have to be out late…together. Who’s gonna stay with her? I DO NOT want her in the middle of the press circus."
"First off, we’ll have to tell the press so that we can then tell them to back off. As for Jesse being with us, I’ll hire someone to go with us as her nanny. God knows, in a few months, there will be a BIG need for it. Nick can then pitch in with the cost of it all."
Sarah laughed, "We’ll need one bus for the nursery and a truck to haul
all the baby stuff with us."
"NO WAY! Our children stay with us."
"God, I love you!" whispered Sarah as she kissed him on the cheek. Looking back at Jesse, she said, "It feels so unreal…like I’m gonna wake up and this is gonna be a dream."
"It’s NOT a dream, Angel."
"Oh god…Becca is gonna freak when she sees Jesse."
Howie laughed softly, "Let’s hope it doesn’t send her into premature labor."
"D, why was Jesse kept from me for so long and who was behind it if it wasn’t Russell?"
Howie took Sarah’s hand in his. "Angel, I promise…tonight, after the party and dinner, all your questions will be answered."
"Who’s gonna do that?"
"I can answer some of them but someone else who’s close to you will answer the rest."
"But Russell was the reason?"
"Yeah, he was."
Sarah grew quiet watching Jesse sleep. After several miles, she said softly, "D, we’ve got another problem."
"What’s that?"
"Jesse’s name…the whole Russell thing."
"No problem, Sarah. I’ve already talked to Steve and the adoption process has already been started. In fact, all it needs is YOUR signature and he can file the papers making Jesse my daughter…officially. As for Russell…when she’s old enough, we’ll tell her the truth."
Sarah’s tears began to stream realizing just how much Howie loved her. She leaned to him again and kissed him tenderly, whispering, "Howard Dwaine Dorough…every day, you give me another reason to love you even more than the day before."
Howie held her hand to his lips. "Sarah, I meant it when I said I’d give you the world."