Part 270
Rehearsal was over and the band along with the crew and security were milling around. Sarah was sitting on the edge of the stage watching the fans as Kevin and Brian were showing them around the venue. She was completely oblivious to the lone figure standing in the shadows of the pits.
"You know, I think I’ve figured it out…why you don’t mind Howie sleeping around."
Stunned, Sarah said, "How did YOU get in here?"
Smiling smugly, Claudia said, "Howie left me a pass. You two are swingers, exchanging partners. So are Kevin and AJ as good in bed as Howie?"
Sarah shook her head, "You don’t know what you’re talking about so why don’t you just hop on your broom and fly away."
"I bet you don’t even know who the father is."
"Do I need to get security?"
"You know, Howie loves a good fuck. His sex drive is amazing. I can remember when we were together, it would take me three days to recover from a night of passionate love-making. You have to REALLY stay on your toes to satisfy him."
Sarah had grown tired of being nice and polite to Claudia. Jumping down from the stage, she squared off with Claudia. "Well, ICE QUEEN, you OBVIOUSLY couldn’t satisfy him because he’s in MY bed now."
Without warning, Claudia slapped Sarah and a fight ensued, security scrambling to pull the two women apart. Carlos grabbed Sarah by the waist while Tommy pulled Claudia away.
Sarah hissed, "Get that WITCH out of here."
"Slut! You can’t throw me out of here. Howie left me a pass and I have a ticket for the show."
"Like HELL I can’t!" shot Sarah as she struggled to get away from Carlos.
Kevin’s booming voice interrupted the two women who were snarling names at each other. "SARAH! Stop it!"
"Kevin, GET HER OUT OF HERE!"
Kevin looked at Claudia, "What ARE you doing here?"
"Howie left me a pass…"
Howie had seen the whole thing and had been with Kevin. "Like hell I did! I thought I made it perfectly CLEAR yesterday that I don’t want you NEAR Sarah or me!"
"But Howie!" whined Claudia.
"But NOTHING, BITCH," growled Sarah. "Howie wants ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with you. Tommy, get her OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Sarah was struggling against Carlos so Howie took her hand and Carlos let go of her. Howie pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms and holding her tight.
Kevin said calmly, "Go on, Tommy, and let the rest of our security and the venue’s security know that she’s NOT to come back in tonight."
Tommy and Eddie took Claudia by the arms and started escorting her away. Over her shoulder, she called back, "You’re the bitch! You think you’ve won but I WILL get even."
"You can try but you know something," said Sarah smugly. She held up her left hand flashing her wedding band, "I’m the one who is MARRIED to Howie…I’m the one who SATISFIES him…and you’re the one Howie wants NOTHING to do with."
When Claudia was a safe distance from them, Kevin whirled around on Sarah and snapped, "What the hell happened and what were you thinking getting into a fight with her in front of a crowd like this?"
"Back off, Kevin," snarled Sarah. "SHE was the one who hit me and I was only defending myself. She was going off about Howie’s sexual drive and how I must be a good fuck…similar to what that reporter in New York was saying!!"
Kevin ran his hands through his hair calming down now. "Are you okay?"
Sarah had started to calm down and her body was now trembling as Howie held her close. "I’m fine but I want to know HOW she got in here. She claims Howie left her a pass but I know better."
Kevin looked at Howie who said, "I expect I know how she got the pass and I warned her she’d be fired if it happened again."
"Tammy?" questioned Kevin.
"How else would she have known those things about Sarah?"
Nick saw the look in Sarah’s eyes. "Come on, Sarah. Why don’t we go
and get that nap now?"
"Angel, go with Nick and get some rest. I’ll wake you in time for
dinner."
Tears were now flowing freely as she whispered, "Come check on me?"
"Of course, Angel," he responded wiping her tears away.
Howie let go of her and Nick took her hand. "Come on, sis. We promised Becca we’d BOTH get some sleep."
Sarah smiled through the tears. "NO, BLONDE BOY! I promised to make sure YOU would get some sleep."
"Well, I’m not gonna sleep if you don’t. Now don’t argue with me."
"Yes….DADDY," smirked Sarah.
Nick led Sarah backstage as they others watched. The two passed Fatima and the dancers as they went and Sarah smiled smugly at Tammy knowing what was about to happen.
Out front, Howie and Kevin spotted the dancers and Kevin called, "’Tima…we need to talk to you and Tammy."
Fatima looked at Tammy, "What have you done now?"
"Nothing," answered Tammy defensively.
"What’s up, Kevin?"
Kevin looked at the guys, then said, "We’ve had some problems with passes being given to the wrong people."
Fatima glared at Tammy. "I promised Howie this wouldn’t happen again."
"What? Am I the only one who’s not allowed to leave a pass for a friend?"
"Not when that friend is going to cause problems," said Howie calmly. "Claudia came in here and told Sarah that I’d left the pass along with a few other things. You know, the rumors of us being swingers and sharing never went to the press but back in New York, after the VMAs, a reporter brought it up. I’m beginning to think that it was all started by someone on the INSIDE, who knows Sarah and me."
Kevin, AJ, Brian, and Fatima were staring at Tammy now who was suddenly subdued.
"Well, Tammy?" asked Fatima. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I…uh…."
Howie pushed, "Did you call the press?"
Looking at the group staring at her, Tammy realized she had been discovered and her only hope now was to be honest. "Yes, I called that reporter. I had no idea that AJ would go after him like he did."
"Why?" asked AJ increduously.
"Yeah. What did Sarah ever do to you?" asked Brian.
"Nothing really other than fall in love with the man my best friend was in love with too. I thought if I could make things difficult for Sarah, she’d leave."
Howie shook her head. "Tammy, I’ve been over Claudia for quite a while! Sarah is my wife, the mother of my unborn children, and the ONLY woman that I’ll ever truly love. What would EVER make you think I’d go back to Claudia?"
"Claudia begged me to help her win you back and I agreed to help," said Tammy meekly.
"Well, by agreeing to help her, you’ve lost your job," said Fatima. "Pack your bags and get out."
"But the show?" protested Tammy.
"Not your concern," said Kevin. "Carlos, go with Tammy and make sure she gives you her pass."
AJ cracked, "Sure hope Claudia is as quick to help you now that she’s cost you your job."
Carlos escorted Tammy away and Fatima frowned. "Now what do I do? We don’t have anyone to take Tammy’s place."
"Sarah could do it," suggested Howie. "Switch Lisa to Kevin and let Sarah dance with me."
"What about ‘More Than That’? Sarah’s not gonna be able to wear that costume now that she’s showing," said Kevin.
"Lisa can do that. Question is, will Sarah do it?" asked Fatima.
"More to the point, is she UP to it?" asked Kevin.
"Sure. She’s getting a nap now and it’ll be a good distraction for her," said Howie excited at the prospect of having Sarah on stage with him.
"Problem solved," said Kevin. "Go rehearse, Fatima, and find a replacement for Tammy by the Ottawa show."