Part 290
Breakfast in Montreal…it was a group affair that included fans. A local radio station had held a contest and five lucky fans had won the opportunity to have breakfast with the Boys. Sarah and Jesse were with Howie and he introduced them but he had to handle business and Sarah understood even if Jesse didn't.
Standing off to the side with Jesse, Sarah managed to catch AJ alone to talk. She pulled him by the arm off to the side. "I need to talk to you."
"Tigger! I knew you’d finally come to your senses and DUMP Howie," cracked AJ as he hugged her.
"Not even funny," scowled Sarah. "Jess…go bug Uncle Nick while I talk to Uncle Alex."
Jesse scurried away and AJ asked, "What’s up, Tig?"
Looking around to make sure no one was listening, Sarah said, "I have to sing tonight…for myself!"
"I knew you were gonna do it. You do know Howie and Kevin are gonna be extremely ticked?"
"I can handle Howie. Besides, he’ll understand why when I’m done. As for Kevin, screw him."
AJ laughed, "Nick and I were talking about this yesterday. We’ll do whatever you want us to do."
"I need to do sound checks which is gonna be the hardest part."
"Not really. You and I can go to the venue and tell Howie that we’re working on some new material."
"He’ll want to come too. And what about the band?"
"Already talked to them," grinned AJ. "All you have to do is get ready without Howie finding out."
Sarah hugged AJ. "Thank you, ‘Bone’! Oh, and I have the set worked out. I’m not doing my stuff tonight. The other problem is I have a duet in the set to do with Howie."
Howie walked up behind Sarah and put his arms around her. "What are you
two over here whispering about?"
"Music. I wanna steal your wife this afternoon to work on some new stuff."
"We’ve got a benefit at the hospital for the foundation, Angel. You need to be there."
Sarah had forgotten all about the benefit but it was a good cover. "D, I
really don’t feel like being around a hospital. Can’t you take Jesse and do
this without me?"
"Are you okay, Angel? If you’re tired, you probably shouldn’t be working on new material either."
"I’m fine, D…just tired of hospitals for the moment."
"I understand, Angel," he answered giving her a hug.
Lisa joined the small group. "Sarah, you ready to take off?"
"Where are you two going?" asked Howie.
"Lisa and I are taking Jesse out for the morning…to the Mount Royal Park."
"Sounds like fun. I wish I could go with you."
"Maybe some other time, D. I love you," and she gave him a kiss.
"Don’t forget to call Bec. She called last night and you were already asleep," reminded Howie. "And DO NOT OVERDO!"
Bouncing off with Jesse and Lisa, Sarah called back over her shoulder, "Yes dear!"
Howie and AJ laughed watching her and AJ said, "She seems better."
"She is," said Howie with a love-sick grin. "I’m just waiting for her to be hard-headed and tell me she’s gonna sing."
"What makes you thing she’s gonna do that?"
Howie looked at AJ, "I know my wife. Besides, she tried yesterday to get me to back down. She’s gonna sing…I know her and she’s NOT gonna tell me so she won’t make me look bad with Kevin. It’s just a matter of time."
"What are you gonna do if she does sing?"
"I’ll be mad with her but there’s not much I can do! She was scared and trying to avoid dealing with the feelings she was having is why she kept pushing herself. I don’t think she’ll do anything to put her health in jeopardy…not after this last round. As long as she doesn’t try to do it tonight, it’ll be fine."
AJ thought to himself, ‘At least you know she’s planning it but you’d better prepare yourself for it to be tonight though.’
Nick joined Howie and AJ asking, "Where’s Sarah and ‘Peanut’?"
"Gone to Mount Royal Park for the morning. You two, do me a favor…if Sarah says anything to you about singing…. especially tonight, talk her out of it for me, please."
"We’ll do our best, D," reassured AJ. Howie left the two younger men and AJ said to Nick, "Sarah’s doing it tonight. We have to keep Howie occupied until she can get onstage."
"Who’s gonna introduce her?"
"It’s my turn anyway so I’ll do it. God…after she comes off should be interesting."
Nick mumbled as they watched Kevin and Howie talking to the fans, "That’s an understatement."
****************
In Sarah’s room, the two women gathered their things and Jesse’s to head out. As they did, they were talking.
"Lis…I want to do something with my hair."
"Why don’t you highlight it…or cut it?"
"No, I’m not gonna cut it, not much anyway. But what about blonde highlights?"
"It would look killer with your tan."
"Think Tony could do it this afternoon?"
"You could ask. What’s Howie gonna say?"
Sarah laughed, "Probably have a cow but he won’t say anything considering he didn’t tell me he was gonna cut his. I’m gonna call Tony before we leave."
Jesse bounced out of her room. "Mommie….I’m READY!"
"We’ll leave in a minute, baby," said Sarah as she dialed Tony’s room. As the same time, her cell phone rang so she tossed it to Lisa. "Take a message, please."
"Hello."
"Sarah?"
"No…this is Lisa. Sarah’s on the other phone. Can I take a message?"
"Uh…no…I’ll try back later."
Before Lisa could respond, the connection was broken and she cut the phone off.
"Who was that?" asked Sarah as she hung up.
"They didn’t say but it sounded like Becca. What did Tony say?"
"He’ll do it while the guys are doing sound checks," answered Sarah. Looking at her watch and then at Jesse dancing impatiently, she said, "Shit….Jess, I need to call Aunt Becca before we go. I promise…this is it."
"Mommieeeeee!" whined Jesse.
Dialing Julie’s number, Sarah said, "Be patient, Jess."
On the other end, Becca answered, "Hello."
"Hey, Sis! Whaz up?"
"Not much."
"How’s my nephew?"
"Asleep."
The conversation was strained but Sarah didn’t notice. Jesse’s dancing around the room distracted her.
"Bec, you should be sleeping when Garrett is asleep. What are you doing on the phone?"
"You called ME…remember."
"Uh huh…and you didn’t just try to call me?"
"Well, yeah…I did." Becca tried to laugh but it came out as tears. Whispering, Becca cried, "Oh god, Sarah! I miss you so much."
"I know you do, sweetie," Sarah sighed. Thinking aloud, she went on, "Look, I can get Nick’s bus and come back to Toronto to stay with you. Just let me make the arrangements."
"What about Jesse?"
Looking at her daughter playing with Lisa, she said, "I can leave her with Howie. Lisa can help look out for her."
Jesse squealed, "YIPPEEEE!! I can play with Aunt LiLi!"
Becca heard Jesse in the background and felt a twinge of jealousy. Digging deep and knowing all she had to do was say the word and Sarah would be there, she said, "No, your place is with Howie and Jesse…your family."
"You ARE a very REAL part of my family, Bec! I could get us a room at the Four Seasons so we aren’t an imposition on Julie and hang out until the doctor gives the all-clear. Are you SURE you don’t want me to come?"
Reluctantly, Becca said, "I’m sure."
"Then do me a favor…Find SOMETHING to keep yourself occupied. Try writing! Check your email. I sent out Part 2 of ‘Dark Riders’ last night…with Howie’s help! But be sure to REST! Let Julie and Lynne do most of the work!! It’s not that much longer before you rejoin us. Don’t look at it in terms of days…think about it in terms of shows. There are only 3 more shows!"
"Doesn’t seem long like that," sniffed Becca. "And yet, it’s FOREVER!"
Sarah laughed, "Yeah, it does seem like forever having to put up with Nick!! I’ve gotta go, Bec. Lisa and I are taking Jesse out for the morning and she’s wearing Lisa’s skin off right now. I’ll call again later and if you need to talk and can’t get me, talk to Howie. I KNOW he’d be glad to hear from you."
"Have fun."
Distracted by Jesse’s whines, Sarah missed the jealous tone of Becca’s voice. Saying good-bye, Sarah hung up and the three headed out with Billy and Raoul in tow. Sarah forgot completely about Becca watching Jesse pulling the two giants by the hand down the hall.
Back in Toronto, the green-eyed monster got the best of Becca and she began to cry after hanging up. Her best friend didn’t need her and was going on with her life as normal. The only one who really seemed to miss her was Nick.