Part 240
A sudden need to hear Jesse’s voice overwhelmed Sarah. She had tried calling her dad as many times as she’d tried to call Howie in the last 36 hours but had been unable to get through. This time she got through.
"Daddy!"
"BABY GIRL! You’re safe!"
"Yeah, Daddy….I’m safe and I’m in Toronto with Howie now. Is Jesse still up?"
"Yes. Sarah, she heard the news report that you were on that plane and she’s been hysterical ever since. Chelsea has tried her best to calm her down but nothing is working."
"Put her on the phone, please."
While Sarah waited for Jesse to come on the line, Howie came over to her and took her hand in his. Softly he asked, "Jess?"
"Yeah…Daddy said she heard the news report. D, I want her back here with us…NOW…Jesse? Baby, it’s Mama. Calm down sweetie. I’m NOT gonna leave you ever again. Are you being a good girl for Chelsea?"
"Mommy…I missed you!" wailed the little girl. "Please, come get me!"
Sarah’s heart was breaking. "Baby, I’ll get you back with us as soon as possible. Here, Daddy wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Princess," said Howie as he watched Sarah wipe the tears. He kissed her tenderly and said to Jesse, "I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy," whimpered Jesse.
"I have to go finish my show, Princess, okay. I’ll see you soon."
"Bye, Daddy."
Howie handed the phone to Sarah and said, "Do whatever it takes to get her here!"
"Baby, is Chelsea there?"
"Yes ma’am."
Chelsea took the phone, "Sarah?"
"Hey, Chels…Look, I don’t have time to talk. We’re in Toronto and we’ll be here for two more shows. Take my credit card and get my brother Dusty to help you find a way here. He should be able to find a quick way up. We’re staying at the Four Seasons Hotel."
"Okay. I’ll see you in a couple days."
"Mommie, I love you."
"I love you too, baby."
Sarah hung up as Alex and Kevin joined her. Alex wrapped his arms around her pulling her close against him. She rested her head on his shoulder as she ran her hands across his arms.
Alex felt the tears falling on his arms and he asked, "Are you okay, baby?"
"I was just talking to Jesse. I could hear the fear in her voice and it was as bad as seeing Howie dropped to his knees tonight and seeing the fear in his eyes."
"It’s been a long 36 hours for you, baby," said Kevin as he reached to wipe the tears.
"For ALL of us," corrected Sarah. "I can’t even begin to imagine what Howie and Jesse were feeling or you guys."
"Why didn’t you get on the plane?" asked Alex.
Sarah laughed, "Morning sickness."
"I bet you’re glad for that excuse," laughed Kevin. Putting his hand to his ear, Kevin listened and then said, "Come on, ‘Bone’."
Both men gave Sarah a kiss and then headed up to the stage. Sarah watched them adoringly and then put her own earpiece back in. She heard the end of the introductions and headed to the steps.
Onstage, Kevin held up his hand to get the audience quiet. "We have one final introduction. This lady…this angel came into our lives a little over two years ago and since then, she’s blessed us with her friendship, love, and support. She’s been a best friend, a mother, a dance partner, an ‘enemy’ in water gun and silly string fights, a shoulder to cry on to ALL of us. But the role she cherishes the most and the role she’s BEST in is Howie’s wife. You saw her earlier when she sang with Howie…Sarah Taylor Dorough."
Howie walked with Sarah holding her hand to the front of the stage and Sarah bowed as the crowd cheered wildly for her. For close to five minutes, the stage was hers. The Boys, the dancers, and the band stood silently in the background as Sarah waved to the crowd and caught more stuffed animals.
Raoul motioned for Howie and he went over to the side of the stage. Raoul handed him a single white rose and said, "I got this for you to give to Sarah."
Gratefully and with tears in his eyes, Howie said, "Thanks! I owe you one."
Holding the rose behind his back, Howie snuck up behind Sarah and reached around to present the rose to her. A collective ‘ahhh’ passed through the crowd and Sarah turned her head to thank him.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Howie kissed her. "Sarah was suppose to be headed to LA to start recording material for her very first CD but was held up. The reason she was held up was because she had morning sickness and has been late for A LOT of things because of it. Sarah and I are expecting twins and the due date is February 28th."
Again the audience was cheering wildly and Howie hugged Sarah tighter, his hands on her stomach. He nuzzled her neck, relieved to have her in his arms again. He was also excited that the fans were happy.
He whispered, "They love you, Angel, but not as much as I do."
Sarah looked over her shoulder at Howie smiling, "Or as much as I love you."
The crowd began to chant "kiss her" and everyone on stage joined in. Howie and Sarah were laughing as Alex started making kissing noises and Brian and Nick hugged each other making goo-goo eyes at each other.
Kevin cracked, "Go ahead, ‘D’…kiss her before I DO IT FOR YOU!"
"Jeez…give me a break," laughed Howie as he turned Sarah in his arms. Leaning in to her, he kissed her. Holding her body close to his, he reacted to the feel of her body next to his and Sarah felt it. A soft whimper escaped into his mouth and when they pulled back, he whispered, "I love you, Sarah."
While Sarah and Howie had been telling the fans about the twins, the other four had put their heads together to decide what song to sing for Sarah. They wanted it to be something special to show how much they loved her.
"I think we should do ‘The Perfect Fan," said Brian.
"But she has other songs that are her favorites," said Nick. "And that’s for our moms."
"Okay, blondie…since you know Sarah so damn well, what is her favorite?" snarled Alex.
Nick shrugged his shoulders, "I know she likes "No One Else Comes Close’."
"She likes Howie singing it to her when they’re…."
Kevin cut him off, "No, we need to sing ‘I’ll Be There For You’…to let her know that we’ll always be there for her.
With that, Kevin went over to the band and told them what they had decided.
As Howie pulled out of the kiss, the band began to play and the guys moved up to surround Howie and Sarah.
Brian took Sarah’s hand, "This is for you, Sarah, because YOU have and always will be there for us…we’ll always be there for you too" and they sang the song. By the end, Sarah was in tears again and she hugged each one.
Sarah spent the rest of the show in the pits with Raoul and Howie hovered as much as he could, dancing for her and flirting with her. Their eyes were locked on each other, the love evident to everyone who saw them.