Part 168
Outside, Sarah and the girls were having a similar conversation. They were asking Sarah what had happened and how Howie had surprised her. She answered all the questions she could as she watched Jesse.
"Sarah, aren’t you the least bit mad?" asked Vanessa. "I mean, Jim had Jesse for 3 ½ years and you were told she was dead."
Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "Why be mad? I can’t change it now. Besides, I’m grateful to Jim and Cindy for taking such good care of her and to Howie for finding her. I’m NOT gonna ruin what Howie has done for me."
All four girls silently agreed and Becca spoke for them all. "Sarah, out of the five guys, you DEFINITELY got the gold mine. I know we don’t have to tell you but…HOLD ON TO Howie….TIGHT!"
Howie was standing in the door watching the children play as Sarah looked at him. "I know exactly what I got," she said dreamily as she got up.
The four friends watched her as she went over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist kissing him tenderly. Howie looked at her, ran his hands through her hair, and held her close.
"What was that for?" asked Howie softly.
Sarah smiled, "Just making a small withdrawal from the gold mine."
Howie kissed her again. "From the gold mine to the bank and I have a
deposit I want to make."
"I bet you do…later, after Jesse goes to bed."
Howie groaned, "And it STARTS!"
Sarah laughed, "Poor baby! Should have thought about THAT before you
went looking for her."
Howie smiled, "I wouldn’t change a thing!"
Jesse ran up grabbing their hands saying, "Mama….Daddy…COME ON!! The clown is gonna do some tricks."
The two allowed her to pull them with her to where the other children were and they all sat down on the grass together. The clown began to perform, juggling and doing all sorts of tricks that held the children’s attention. To end his little show, he pulled out balloons and started making balloon shapes for the children. The very last shape he did was for Howie and Sarah though. He made two hearts interlocked and handed it to them.
The clown whispered, "Two hearts joined in one love."
Howie had his arms wrapped around Sarah when he said that and he hugged her tight. Sarah blushed and said, "Thank you."
Rachel announced that it was time for the cake and ice cream and the kids went screaming into the gym, led by Nick. Brian scooped Jesse up carrying her in on his shoulders laughing and having as good a time as the others.
Each of the guys were quick to lavish Jesse with attention. They catered to her every wish so when Jesse asked them to sing for her, they were more than willing.
"Daddy, will you and the others sing for me?"
"What do you want, Princess?"
"How about ‘Happy Birthday’?" suggested Sarah and Jesse quickly agreed.
Kevin said, "I think we can handle that."
The four men surrounded Jesse as Sarah lit the candles. Together, the guys sang ‘Happy Birthday’ as only THEY could do it and then they led the entire group in a chorus.
While the kids were eating cake and ice cream, several of the older girls decided to quiz Jesse on her musical interests.
"Jesse, who’s your favorite group…singing group?" asked Teresa.
As she took a bit of ice cream, Jesse said, "The Backstreet Boys. Who else?"
Nick smirked, "Got her mother’s attitude too!"
Sarah grinned, "Of course, she does."
Tracy asked, "Okay…so which one is your favorite?"
Getting cocky and expecting Jesse to say he was her favorite, Nick said with that infamous smirk on his face, "At least she’s got better taste in men than her mother."
"Oh…you think she’s gonna say you, don’t you?" questioned Ali.
"Of course. All the young girls LOVE me."
"Not ALL of them. Sarah’s nieces like Howie, AJ, and me," shot Kevin.
"Yeah, well, they are HER nieces."
Howie shook his head, "Give it up, Kev. He’s TOO blonde."
Jesse had been watching the four guys standing together talking and now she smiled. "My daddy is my favorite."
Sarah laughed, "HA! I KNEW my daughter had EXCELLENT taste."
"But he’s MAMA’S boyfriend so Brian is my next favorite."
"YEAH!" said Brian as he stuck his tongue out at Nick and did the cabbage patch. "FINALLY!"
Everyone laughed as Brian danced around Nick and Nick said disgustedly, "I thought you said she had EXCELLENT taste?"
"She does…YOU aren’t her favorite!" countered Sarah.
Tracy asked, "Why Brian?"
"Cuz he waved to me and gave me a kiss when I saw them in Raleigh."
Howie tightened his hold on Sarah as she gasped. A tear made its way down her cheek as she realized that her daughter had been in the audience…close enough for Brian to have kissed her but she’d chosen NOT to sit in the pits that night.
After the cake and ice cream, Jesse spent the better part of the next hour opening the mountain of gifts that Kevin and Vanessa had gotten her. There were clothes, games, videos…everything a little girl could POSSIBLY want. With a pile still left though, Howie saw the all too familiar signs of Jesse fading. He couldn’t mistake it…he’d seen it too many times in Sarah.
He knelt beside her and took her in his arms and whispered, "Princess, we can save the rest for later. You’ve had a big day."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
Sarah said, "Rachel, could you get the older kids to load these gifts into our truck?"
Kevin spoke up, "We’ll get it, baby."
"Thanks, Boo."
"No problem. Go be with Howie and Jesse. We’ll get the center taken care of."
Howie had gone to the bleachers with his parents and was holding Jesse in his lap. She had her head on his chest and was just about to doze off when Sarah joined them. Howie was gently stroking her hair as he held her.
"What next, D?"
"We’ll head home and get her to bed," he answered softly not wanting to disturb her.
"What about dinner…and the explanation?"
From across the gym, Nick called, "Hey, Sarah! There’s someone here looking for you."
Sarah looked up to see her brother Dusty walking towards her. "Dustin!" she cried as she ran into his arms.
"Hey, sis!" greeted Dusty hugging her.
"What are you doing here?"
Dusty looked at Howie holding Jesse in his arms. "Didn’t Howie tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I came to explain things to you….why you were told Jesse was dead all this time."
"YOU?" questioned Sarah.
"Yeah. Look, I know you’re pissed…I see it in your eyes but don’t make a scene here…in front of Jesse."
Howie came over still holding Jesse. "Angel, let’s head home. We’ll order some dinner for everyone and Dusty can explain."
Trying very hard to control her anger, Sarah said, "It had better be a DAMN good explanation."
Sarah stormed off and Howie watched her. "Sorry about that."
"Hell, I expected her to hit me. Sarah has every right to be mad as hell at me, Howie. She gave up SO MUCH to protect me and I kept her daughter from her," said Dusty as he stroked Jesse’s hair. "Let me take her for you while you go calm my sister."
Howie looked at Sarah who was now talking to Becca. He handed Jesse to Dusty as he said, "She’ll be okay but I do need to let the others know what our plans are. They want to hear the story too."
Sarah was sitting with Becca glaring at her brother. "I can’t believe my brother knows the whole story."
"You’re kidding?! Dusty knows."
"Yeah. We’re headed home now. You ARE coming, aren’t you?"
"I guess. I want to know too. What about dinner?"
Sarah smirked, "You just had cake and ice cream…two helpings of each.
Don’t tell me you’re still hungry."
"Yes. I’m still hungry!" whined Becca.
"Stop whining. It’s unbecoming of an expectant mother," groaned Sarah as she helped Becca to her feet. "You are watching your weight, aren’t you?"
"Yes. Mom…I’m watching it go up…steadily."
Reproachfully, Sarah said, "Becca, gaining TOO much weight isn’t good."
"Yes, mom!" was all Becca said as the two headed over to where the others were waiting.
The Doroughs and Denise chose not to go but the rest of the group, Ali, Sonja, Brian, Kevin, Vanessa, Nick, Becca, and Dusty, were headed to Howie’s for dinner and to hear the story. Each of the guys had a chore to do on the way in order to have enough food and drinks for everyone so they all left together.