Part 255
As the van door closed, Howie’s cell phone rang startling them all. It had been several days since any of them had used their phones.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Howie D…."
Sarah groaned, "Oh good god!"
"Yeah…she’s right here rolling her eyes at me….about to have a kitten waiting for you to call….we’re headed to the Air Canada Center to do sound checks…no, that’s fine. Sarah wants to see Jesse as soon as possible….That will be a wonderful surprise. We’ll see you in a few."
Before Howie had hung up, Sarah started bouncing and AJ put his hands on her shoulders from behind. "Would you STOP, ‘Tigger’?" he laughed.
"Was that Dusty?"
"Yes, Angel," laughed Howie seeing how excited she was. "They’re at the airport now and will meet us at the center."
"What surprise?"
"Your dad is with Dusty and Jesse."
"My dad?" questioned Sarah. Then it hit her. Her dad’s birthday had been September 11th. Tears welled in her eyes as she fought to hold them back.
"Sarah, what’s wrong?" asked Kevin concerned that Sarah’s mood had shifted dramatically yet again.
"My dad’s birthday was September 11th. He spent the day thinking I was dead," she answered as she lost the fight.
Howie held her close as she cried and the others grew silent. It was just one more thing added to Sarah’s guilt over what had happened and no amount of reassurance could make Sarah realize it wasn’t her fault. That would have to happen when Sarah was ready and they prayed that would be soon.
Pulling into the venue, Howie said, "Angel, we’re here. You don’t want Jesse or your dad to see you like this."
Wiping the tears, Sarah asked, "Are they here?"
Kevin and the others looked around the parking lot and it was Kevin who spotted the car parked near the buses with Jesse standing beside it holding Chelsea’s hand. "Over there," he pointed out.
As the van came to a stop, Howie opened the door and stepped out taking Sarah’s hand to help her. As they turned around, they spotted Jesse at a dead run headed for them.
Sarah scooped Jesse up in her arms holding her daughter tight as Jesse’s tears fell in Sarah’s hair.
"Oh, Mommy! I was so scared!"
"I know, baby!" soothed Sarah. "So was I but we’re together now and we’ll NEVER be apart again."
Howie put his hand on Jesse’s back rubbing it tenderly. "That’s right, Princess. You don’t EVER have to worry about being away from your mother or me ever again."
Jesse let go of Sarah and turned to Howie. "Daddy!" and she reached to hug him.
Howie took her in his arms and wiped the tears from her face. "Hey, Princess!" he said kissing her cheeks where the tears had been.
Mr. Taylor, Dusty, and Chelsea had joined them now and Sarah moved to hug her niece first, then her brother, and finally father. As she stepped into his embrace, she looked up at him and was suddenly frightened by what she saw. It had been not quite two weeks, Labor Day weekend, since she’d last seen him and he now looked much older; his jet black hair now completely white, the creases in his brow deepened, and his eyes held a sadness that broke Sarah’s heart.
The elderly man took his daughter in his arms holding her tight, his own tears falling effortlessly. She took in his scent, the same familiar scents of her childhood and thought to herself, ‘At least that hasn’t changed’.
"I thought I’d lost you too, Sarah," came the gruff voice that betrayed the emotions he showed in his eyes.
"I’m safe, Daddy…and where I belong," whispered Sarah. "I’m sorry about your birthday."
The guys looked on as Mr. Taylor held Sarah and Howie held Jesse. It was a good feeling to have loved ones reunited and they longed for their own families.
Kevin spoke up after several minutes, "We need to get inside for sound checks."
Sarah looked up at her father, "Daddy, you’ve never been to one of their shows! Are you staying long enough to see it tonight?"
Howie added, "Sarah’s gonna perform too."
"My sister…the pop star," teased Dusty. "So, you’re FINALLY gonna out do Britney."
"I’m gonna try," grinned Sarah.
"I would love to see all of you," said Mr. Taylor. "But it’s up to Dusty."
"We’re staying," said Dusty.
"Daddy, can I watch too….PULEEZE?" begged Jesse.
The guys laughed and Brian said, "Howie, how can you resist those eyes?"
"It’s not easy," he grinned and looked at Sarah who quickly nodded her approval. "Sure, Princess and you can sit with your Grandda in the SPECIAL SEATS."
Jesse had started calling the VIP seats the ‘Special Seats’ and when Howie told her that, her eyes got as big as saucers. "THE SPECIAL SEATS?"
Nick grabbed her from Howie’s arms, "Yeah, Peanut! You get to sit where I can come and play with you!"
"Oh, Uncle Nicky! You’ll be too busy flirting with Aunt Becca," said Jesse rolling her eyes just as Sarah had done earlier.
Nick laughed as they headed inside. "Not tonight, Peanut. You’ve got ALL my attention. Aunt Becca has a new man in her life and won’t be at the show tonight."
Jesse didn’t understand and thought that Aunt Becca wasn’t ever going to be back. Tears welled up in her eyes and her lip quivered as she asked, "Doesn’t she love you, Uncle Nicky?"
Brian glared at Nick, "Way to go, Bozo!!"
AJ took Jesse from Nick and hugged her tight. "It’s okay, Little One. Aunt Becca still loves Uncle Nick…despite his stupidity. She had her baby last night."
"This morning," corrected Kevin.
Jesse’s eyes were big again as Mr. Taylor asked, "You’re a father. Congratulations, son. Was Sarah’s prediction right?"
"Nope!" grinned Nick arrogantly. "And she EVEN went so far as to bet $400 that she was right."
"You’re gonna be insufferable," mumbled Sarah causing everyone to laugh again.