Part 307
Safely in the privacy of their suite, Jesse scurried off to see what there was to offer while Howie and Sarah went to their room to set their things down.
Howie’s mood wasn’t any better and Sarah knew it. It didn’t help that she was slightly irritated with him as well and confused by Becca’s mood. She busied herself trying to make the room as homey as possible even if it was only for the night. She was trying to avoid an argument with Howie before he had to go face the press.
"Angel?"
Sarah didn’t answer.
"Angel?" he said a little louder.
Turning to face him, tears were in the corners of her eyes but she wasn’t going to let them fall.
"Are you coming to the interviews?"
"Not this time. I thought I’d call Lisa and see if she’ll go with me to take Jesse out."
Howie recognized the tone of her voice and the tears she was battling. He went to her now and took the clothes that were in her hands and set them on the bed so that he could hold her in his arms.
"Sarah, what’s wrong?"
"Gee, Howie! Even Jesse could figure THIS out."
"You’re mad at me?"
"Not mad…disappointed and irritated, YES. Nick didn’t deserve you crawling his case today. Not to mention, we ALL ruined Becca’s reunion with Nick."
Howie hung his head remorsefully but before he could say anything, Tommy called to tell him it was time to go down for the interviews.
Sarah kissed him and said, "Don’t worry. I’m not mad. I just wish you could have maintained your NORMALLY calm temper."
"I know, and I’m sorry."
"It’s not me you need to apologize to, D. Look, something’s been bothering you for a week now and you won’t tell me what it is. You’re moody as hell and being even more protective of Jesse and me. We’ve always been honest and open with each other, Howie. Don’t start holding things in now to try and protect me. I love you and I want to be there for you, like you are for me."
Howie caressed her cheek. "I promise, we’ll talk tonight," he whispered leaning in to kiss her.
"Howie, I love you with all my heart," whispered Sarah as she ran her hand through his hair.
"I love you too, Angel. Have fun and I’ll see you later."
After Howie was gone, Sarah tried calling Becca’s room. Maybe rather than going out, she could spend a little time with Becca and Garrett and get caught up. She’d missed her best friend more than anything but she hadn’t said anything to Nick or Becca for fear of upsetting them. Finding out that Becca wasn’t taking any calls, Sarah decided it was probably because she was tired so she called Lisa and they headed out.
********************
Eddie escorted Nick down to the third floor conference room where the interviews were scheduled to take place. Kevin was on the phone, pacing and waving his hands at whoever was on the other end when he caught sight of Nick sinking wearily into a chair.
"Thank God, you guys made it." Kevin almost managed a smile, but he was too tired and had been sweating this interview all afternoon. He'd just known Nick was gonna screw it up for everyone by being late and …
"Nick?" He suddenly realized that Nick looked like he'd lost his best friend. "Where's Howie?"
"Who the hell knows? Off screwing his 'Angel' somewhere, probably." Nick sat with his leg draped over the arm of the chair, a dark sullen statement on his face. "I just know he's damn glad to be rid of me."
"Nick, you know that's not-"
"True?" Nick snorted "Like hell it isn't. You didn't hear the shit he said to me on the bus this afternoon. And in front of Becca, too."
"Where is Bec? Resting? I'll bet it was good to see her again. I know how much you've missed her." Kevin smiled, trying to turn Nick's mood around.
"She's in her room, I have no clue if she's resting or not."
"Nick, what the hell is going on?"
"Dunno. Ask Howie. I'd tell you to ask Becca, but the last I saw of her was her back as she threw me out and slammed the door in my face."
"She WHAT?!"
"Told me to find another place to sleep," Nick said as his voice cracked. He wiped his nose angrily, willing himself not to cry in front of Kevin.
Kevin pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Nick, close enough that their knees were almost touching. Leaning his elbows on his knees, he got eye to eye with Nick and spoke softly. "What happened, Nick?"
Nick relayed his version of the days' events as Kevin just listened, once in a while nodding his head sympathetically. From what Nick said, it sounded like the stress of the past couple of weeks had finally come to a head and blown up all over Howie's bus.
Kevin sighed. "Look, man, just give her a little time to cool off. I'm sure things will be okay. Once this interview is over with you can go back up to your room and talk it out."
"Not with her bodyguard standing watch. Billy made it pretty damn clear that I wasn't welcome there, Kev. He's not gonna let me any where near her."
"Nick, she's your wife."
"So? He's under orders from her not to let me in, and I know better than to try and mess with Billy."
"Want me to talk to her?"
"Nah, but thanks. I guess I'll just have to talk to her at breakfast. Or call her later, if I can get through."
Brian and AJ had come in just in time to hear the end of the conversation. "Frack, don't give up so easily. When we're done here, go on back upstairs and try again." Brian put a hand on Nick's shoulder and squeezed sympathetically.
"I dunno…" Nick rubbed his eyes wearily. It had been a long disappointing day, and he still had to look and sound cheery for the local press.
"Frack, you gotta try," AJ said. "Man, I saw how bad Bec looked when you guys came in. I know she's just as miserable without you."
Kevin stood and stretched. "Nick, try calling her. The press will be here shortly and then we have to get down to business. If you can talk to her, then maybe you'll feel better."
Kevin patted Nick's knee and went to make final arrangements for their interviews.
Nick pulled out his cell phone, and started to dial. "Shit." He closed it in frustration.
"Nick?" AJ asked.
"Where the hell ARE we, anyway? How can I call her if I don't know her damn room number or the name of the goddamned hotel?"
Brian caught his cell phone before he could hurl it against the far wall. "Hey, buddy, chill. There's a house phone, right over there." He turned Nick around and pointed him in the direction of a plain black wall phone. "Just call the front desk and ask for her room."
Nick sighed and walked dejectedly across the room.
"Damn, Frick, what the hell can we do to help?" AJ asked Brian, not seeing that Howie had come to stand behind him.
"Nothing, J," Howie said. "Nick has screwed himself good this time."
"Oh?" Brian asked. "And you know this because…?"
"Because I was there," Howie said thinly, watching Nick and his one-sided phone conversation. He winced as Nick slammed the receiver down and looked his way.
He made a beeline for Howie, his face set in an angry mask. "Thanks D, thanks a fucking lot."
Howie never dignified it with an answer.
"Nick, what's wrong?" Brian was trying hard to be the voice of reason.
"I called. And then I called again. And again. She's refusing my calls. She's refusing ANYONE'S calls. The front desk has been instructed not to put through any calls, especially mine."
"Damn, Nick, I'm sorry." AJ wrapped an arm around his shoulder and cringed at the amused sound Howie made.
"Way to go, Nick," Howie said.
"Fuck you, D," Nick said venomously. "This is all your fault."
"I'M not the one who was acting like a childish moron this afternoon."
"I'll show you childish." Nick took a step toward Howie, but Kevin was there holding him back.
"Knock it off," he said, glaring at the both of them. "Put on a happy face. The reporters are on their way up." It was going to be the night from hell.