Part 323
"Daddy…I wanna go to the park," whined Jesse.
Patiently, Howie looked at his daughter who was tugging at his arm and for what he knew was the hundredth time said, "Jess, not yet. Mommy isn’t done."
"Why can’t Aunt LiLi take me?"
Having turned his attention back to Sarah, Howie answered, "Because she’s busy, Jesse. Just color for a little longer and I promise, your mom and I will take you to the park when she’s done."
Jesse crossed her arms, stomped her foot and pouted in true five-year-old fashion. Howie chose to ignore her knowing she was trying to get his attention. Seeing that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with Howie, Jesse sat down and went back to coloring.
Sarah finished the song she’d been doing and waited for Kevin to tell her if it was okay. She looked over at Howie and smiled tiredly.
"Jess, STAY PUT," said Howie as he headed up onstage with Sarah.
Sarah put her arms around Howie resting her head on his shoulder as he pressed his lips to her forehead. They talked quietly as they waited, not seeing Jesse as she slipped quietly from her seat and out the arena.
"Okay, Sarah…one more time," instructed Kevin.
"What’s wrong with it? I hit it like I was suppose to."
"Angel, right here," said Howie pointing to the music, "it should go like this."
Howie went through it with Sarah showing her what he meant. Then he had her do it.
"That’s it. Ready?" asked Howie.
Unsure of it, Sarah answered, "I guess."
"What’s wrong?"
"It just doesn’t feel right."
AJ spoke up, "That’s how you do it in the show, ‘Tigger’. When you don’t think about it, it flows."
"Okay, I’ll try."
Howie whispered, "Close your eyes and ‘feel’ it, Angel…just like when we’re making love…it’s natural."
Sarah did as he instructed and the music started. Howie stepped away from her and she did the song perfectly. When she had gotten through the hard part, she opened her eyes and looked at Howie who winked at her.
"That’s it," smiled Kevin as the music ended. "We’re done, baby."
AJ and Kevin went to the soundboard to listen to what Sarah had just done while Howie hugged her.
"That was perfect, Angel."
"It felt so good, Howie," bubbled Sarah.
"I know the feeling. Come on. We’ve got a little girl waiting impatiently to go to the park."
Looking over to where Jesse had been sitting, they realized she was gone.
"D, where is she?"
"She was just there a minute ago," said Howie looking around. Then he called, "Jesse!"
There was no answer and Howie moved to where he could see the arena better.
"JESSE!"
Kevin looked up, "What’s wrong, Sarah?"
"Have you seen Jesse?"
"She was just there right before you started the song," said Kevin pointing to the now empty seat.
AJ and Kevin started searching the seats behind them calling for Jesse while Sarah went to the underworld to look. Howie joined AJ and Kevin searching the seats in the arena as all three of them called her name.