Part 212
In the bedroom, Sarah was rifling through her suitcase looking for her shoes. Howie picked them up off the bed where she’d left them and went to her wrapping his arms around her waist and holding them in front of her.
"Looking for these?" he teased.
"Oh, god! Where were they?" groaned Sarah.
"Right where you left them….on the bed. Sarah, calm down."
"But Howieeeee…." Whined Sarah and she began to pout as she turned around to face him.
Howie laughed, "You’re so cute when you do that," and he kissed her. "Now, finish getting ready and please, give me my wife back…NOT this nervous bundle of energy."
"I’m sorry, D. I’m just excited…I FINALLY get to meet someone I had a crush on when I was growing up along with performing for MILLIONS of people. What if I screw up?"
"Okay…I understand that you’re meeting someone you looked up to but you know something, if Nick gets hold of this, he’s gonna ride you on this!"
"I can handle ‘Blondie’. He wouldn’t DARE say anything to me knowing Willa’s gonna be there tonight."
"Just be careful what you say. You don’t want to upset Becca," he warned. Now, gazing lovingly into Sarah’s eyes, he said, "You’re gonna be AWESOME tonight, Sarah."
Sarah melted. "You really think so?"
"I know so," he said running his finger down her nose. "You never did tell me what song you were gonna do. You’ve been kinda mysterious lately about it too…only wanting AJ around when you practice. What’s up with that?"
Sarah smiled sweetly, "You’ll just have to wait and see the tape to find out what I’m doing!!!"
"You need to finish getting ready, Angel. Are you gonna leave your hair down?"
"Yeah, I was. Why?"
"Braid it…. please."
"But my tattoo will…."
Howie grinned impishly, "Yeah, it will show…won’t it?"
Sarah kissed him quickly and as she slipped on her sandals, Howie sat on the bed to watch her. It was hard to believe that last year this time, they were having problems and their future, as a couple had been questionable. Now, they were married with twins on the way and their relationship was rock solid.
As she finished braiding her hair, Sarah turned to find Howie staring at her.
"D, what’s up?"
"Just thinking what a difference a year makes," said Howie taking her hand in his. "You look absolutely radiant, Angel."
Sarah answered him by running her free hand through his hair. "You know, you’re the only man I want to be with…my one desire."
Howie pulled her close, their bodies pressed together as he leaned in to kiss her. His tongue parted her lips searching hers out and teasing her into a tango of passion. As they kissed, he slipped both hands around to her ass and seductively pulled her dress up so that he could run his hands under her panties. A whimper escaped from Sarah into the kiss as she melted at his touch.
Pulling away, Howie gasped, "We need to go before I’m the reason we’re late."
Howie and Sarah emerged from their room…this time, Sarah was fully dressed and ready to go.
Kevin and AJ’s eyes popped out of their heads when they saw her. Her hair was braided in a loose French braid that fell softly onto her neck. She was wearing the ‘angel’ necklace and earrings that Howie had given her. The dress she’d chosen was a shimmery white dress that had spaghetti straps and reached to mid-way her thigh. It was just tight enough to reveal her shape but loose enough NOT to show her belly.
"GOOD GAWD!" growled AJ. "Baby, you look…."
"Awesome," moaned Kevin.
Kevin and AJ had forgotten completely about what Becca told them but Nick didn’t and he wasn’t about to let it go.
"You know what would make that outfit complete…Richie Sambora’s hat! Wonder what he’ll think of that dress?" smirked Nick.
Sarah looked at Howie. "Did you tell him?"
Slipping his arm around her waist, Howie shook his head, "No."
"What’s wrong, Sarah? Cat got your tongue?"
"NO!"
Howie spoke up, "If Richie has ANY taste, which he obviously does, he’ll
think she looks hot, but if not…"
"My HUSBAND thinks so and THAT is all that matters. Wonder what Willa
will say about YOUR outfit?"
"Bite me!" snapped Nick.
"What’s the matter, Blonde Boy?" jeered Sarah. "You can dish it but you can’t take it, can you?"
"Stop it, you two," hissed Becca. "Nick…back off!!"
"Why are you taking HER side?" whined Nick.
"OH GOD!! That WHINE," groaned Sarah.
Howie hugged her close and said softly, "Angel, you’ve done your share of whining tonight. Don’t complain about his."
"Nick, you started in on her and Brian warned you. Now listen to Becca and let it DROP," said Kevin sternly. "We need to get going or we’re REALLY gonna be late."
Sarah and Howie turned to Jesse who was now coloring and Howie said, "Princess, we’re getting ready to leave."
Jesse popped up and ran to Howie, jumping into his arms. She looked at all of the guys and stopped with Kevin. "You look like a girl, Uncle Kevin!"
Kevin put his hand over his heart pretending to be hurt. "Oh…’Little One’, you don’t like my outfit?"
Jesse giggled, "It’s a skirt!"
"Yeah, but I’ve got pants on under it."
"You still look like a girl."
They all laughed and Sarah mumbled to Kevin who was standing beside her, "She’s right!"
"And I thought you LIKED my outfit!"
"NOT!" laughed Sarah.
"Princess, you mind Chelsea, okay, and you can stay up to see Mommy sing on TV. Then it’s to bed with you!"
"I don’t WANT to see Mommy sing," pouted Jesse.
That shocked everyone, especially Sarah but Howie said, "Jesse, what’s this all about?"
"She’s MEAN and she wants to run away! She doesn’t LOVE US anymore."
Howie set Jesse down and led her to the couch where he looked back at Sarah. "Angel, why don’t you and the others go on? I’ll handle this."
"Uh…shouldn’t I be here? I AM…"
"I’ll handle it," said Howie sternly, shutting her down.
Kevin took Sarah’s hand, "Come on, baby. Let Howie take care of this."
Becca put her hand on Sarah’s back to help lead her out of the room as Sarah looked back helplessly at her daughter and husband. She was fighting hard not to cry as her friends surrounded her and ushered her out.