Part 354
Mrs. Richardson had gone to bed almost half an hour earlier and now Sarah was dozing off as she leaned against Howie. He was playing with her hair as he and the others watched television, completely contented having his wife tucked warmly in his embrace and unaware that she was asleep.
"’D’, you should take ‘Tigger’ to bed," said AJ nodding his head towards Sarah.
Howie looked down as she slept. "I know but I’m gonna wake her if I move."
"Want me to get her?" offered Kevin.
"Do you mind?"
"Not at all."
Kevin easily lifted Sarah and she mumbled, "’D’?"
"Shhh, baby. It’s ‘Boo’…I’m just gonna carry you upstairs for Howie."
Sarah nestled her head on his shoulder and Kevin headed up to their room with Howie behind them. Gently setting her on the bed, he gave her a kiss on the forehead and started to leave.
Passing Howie, he asked softly, "You coming back down?"
"Probably. She needs her rest."
"I’ll see you in a few then."
Kevin pulled the door closed behind him and Howie moved to the bed where he easily undressed Sarah. He slipped one of his shirts on her then tucked her into bed without waking her. Sitting on the edge of the bed as she slept peacefully, he brushed her hair back and she turned her head to his touch. He leaned over kissing her lightly on the forehead.
"Sleep tight, Angel."
**************
It had only been an hour since Howie had tucked Sarah into bed when she woke with a start. She didn’t remember Kevin carrying her up or Howie changing her clothes and she wondered where she was. Looking around the room, she spotted the clock and realized what had probably happened.
Sleepily, she wandered back downstairs and found all of the guys still watching television.
Looking up as she walked in the room, Howie smiled, "Angel, I thought you were alseep."
"I was but it got lonely. What are you watching?" Sarah sat down in Howie’s lap and he cradled her close to him.
"Kevin, change the channel," requested Brian.
It had been on a commercial when Sarah came in but the program was now coming back on. Sarah quickly realized by the models that Brian was embarrassed.
"What’s this show?" asked Sarah
"Making of a Dildo," cackled AJ.
"Come on, Kev," urged Brian. "Change the channel."
"What’s wrong, ‘Rok’?" teased Kevin. "You aren’t embarrassed, are you?"
"It’s just not right with Sarah here."
"Bri, I’m a big girl and guess what, my mom did give me that talk," teased Sarah.
Brian looked at all of them. "You aren’t gonna change it, are you?"
"NO!"
Angrily, Brian got up to leave as he mumbled, "You guys suck!"
Sarah grabbed Brian’s hand, "Don’t go, Brian. Kevin will change it."
"You know, it is getting kinda late. I have a better idea," said Kevin as he turned the television off.
"What’s your idea, Kev?" asked Howie.
"I think ‘Mama’ Sarah needs to read us a bedtime story."
"What did you have in mind, Kevin?"
"Well, you, Nick, and Becca have all heard or read ‘Dark Riders’. I think she needs to read it to us."
"I’ve gotta have a computer."
"Why?"
"Because I didn’t save the handwritten copy and it’s on my laptop which is back on the bus. Becca has it on her website."
"No problem. There’s a computer in my office. Come on. We want to hear it."
"Hold on. Brian, I have one chapter that involves sex. Are you gonna get embarrassed?"
"One chapter?"
"That’s it," said Howie.
"I’ll be okay. Thanks for the warning though."
"No problem," answered Sarah as they followed Kevin into his office.
Sarah stood beside Kevin as he booted up the computer. When it was ready, he moved and Sarah sat down. She connected to the internet and went to Becca’s site where she quickly found ‘Dark Riders’.
In awe, "Oh wow!"
"What is it, Angel?"
"The picture Becca used to make the banner for my story. It’s awesome."
The guys looked over her shoulder to see the picture of Kevin, Howie, and AJ. It was from the ‘Drowning’ shoot in August and they were superimposed over a setting desert sun.
"That’s good!" said AJ.
"Sarah, did you do both endings to the story?" asked Howie.
"No, I threw away the original ending."
"Then what’s this ‘Alternative Ending’?" asked Howie pointing to the screen.
"I don’t know. I’ll read it after I’ve read mine. Okay, you clowns, get settled and I’ll read you your bedtime story."
All four took seats and Sarah began to read. As she did, the men listened intently, hanging on every word. As she moved from chapter to chapter, each one offered their comments.
Sarah had expected Brian to be a little offended being made the bad guy but of the three who hadn’t heard it, he was the most engrossed. He barely said a word and when Sarah read the part about ‘Sarah’ falling on the knife, he actually cried.
Howie nudged Kevin when he saw Brian’s reaction and the two grinned. It would be ammunition for later.
As Sarah finished the story, Brian finally spoke, "WOW! I was the bad guy."
"Are you okay with it?" asked Sarah hesitantly.
"It was awesome, Sarah. Most of the time, I’m the goody-goody keeping everyone else out of trouble."
"A regular Jimney Cricket," teased Kevin.
"Angel, are you gonna read the other ending?"
"Hold on," said Sarah as she clicked on the alternative ending. Skimming over it quickly, she began to laugh hysterically.
"What’s so funny, ‘Tigger’?"
"This ending! It’s Becca’s version of how she thought it should have ended."
"Let’s hear it, baby."
Sarah read Becca’s version of the ending for ‘Dark Riders’ to her eager
audience.
With it over, Brian laughed, "She still had me die but made Nick the good guy."
"Okay, boys! Time for bed," said Sarah taking a motherly tone.
"But Mommy," whined Brian. "I don’t wanna go to bed."
"No arguments. Now scoot! Your daddy and I want some time alone."
"Uh huh! To do what?" teased AJ.
"None of your business," said Howie.
"You gonna tuck us in, Mommy?" asked Kevin.
"Not tonight, ‘Boo’."
"Do we at least get a good-night kiss?" asked AJ hopefully.
"Of course," said Sarah knowing exactly what he was expecting. She got up and went to Brian first and gave him a motherly kiss on the forehead. Next was Kevin and finally AJ. "Good night, boys."
The three chorused, "’Nite, Mommy."
As they left, Howie stood and put his arms around Sarah. "Okay, Mama. Time for YOU to go back to bed."
"Let me shut down Kevin’s computer," said Sarah as she started to move back to the desk.
Howie pulled her back to him and put his hand in her hair, "I love you, Mama."
Sarah smiled, "I love you too, Daddy."
With the computer shut down, Howie turned off the lights and took Sarah in his arm as they headed up to their room.
Sarah went to the bathroom while Howie got ready. When she returned, he was already in bed so she slipped her shirt off and joined him. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed his shoulders running her hands across his chest.
Howie took her hand in his kissing the palm and each finger. "I was very proud of you today, Angel. You were very focused on making the video work even when it wasn’t what you wanted."
"You guys made it easy for me. I can’t believe what a jerk Jaime was though."
"Are you okay? I know you were excited about meeting him."
"I’m fine, ‘D’. Being with you has helped me get over being star struck. He’s just a man who chose to be an actor. Unfortunately, he’s let his celebrity go to his head. Promise me you’ll never be like that."
Howie laughed, "No way! I have you and Jesse to keep me grounded. You know, you’re about to join the ranks of the famous. Are you gonna be able to avoid getting caught up in the glitz and glamour?"
"Sure. Before I’m a singer, I’m director of a youth center, a secretary, a daughter, a wife, and a mother. Singing and performing are just bonuses being married to you. Howie, if you were to ask me tomorrow to stop, to never go onstage again, I’d do it."
Howie rolled over to face Sarah. With his thumb, he caressed her cheek. "Angel, this is your dream. I’d never ask you to give it up. You belong onstage…."
"I belong with you," whispered Sarah.
Smiling softly, Howie said, "You’re with me, Angel, forever. What’s wrong?"
"What makes you think something is wrong?" asked Sarah innocently.
"Because I know you. When something’s bothering you, you don’t sleep. I brought you up here, tucked you in, and left you sleeping. You were downstairs in an hour. Now, tell me what it is."
Looking down, Sarah ran her finger down his chest playing with his chest hair. "I’ve been thinking about the phone call to Johnny and this whole thing of me not being in your shadow, or the groups’. ‘D’, I don’t care. None of this would be possible without you. Whether I make it as a pop star or not, singing is fun. Being out there on stage is fun. And I’d shout it from the rooftops that it’s because of you that I’m having the time of my life. I know the press is gonna have a field day with the fact that I’m on KBNHA records, that I’m opening for The Backstreet Boys, that I RARELY make appearances without one of you with me but I don’t care."
"But Angel, you deserve to shine in your own light."
"I told you after we were married that I’m content to let you shine and I meant it. And I do shine, Howie. Every time Jesse calls me ‘Mommy’, every time I feel these little ones move, every time you introduce me as your wife, every time I’m on your arm at an awards show or other promotional thing, every time you hold me in your arms and make love to me."
"So…"
"I don’t care who knows that I’m your wife or that you’re my manager, or that the Backstreet Boys are backing me."
"Okay, then at least compromise. We won’t hide anything but we aren’t going to flaunt it either. If we’re asked, we’ll answer honestly but we won’t offer it up either."
"That’s fine."
"Think you can sleep now that you’ve gotten that off your chest?"
"Depends."
"On?"
"You. Are you gonna hold me and sing to me?"
Howie laughed, "Don’t I always?"
Sarah closed her eyes as Howie ran his hand through her hair. He sang to her as he watched her slip into dreamland then closed his eyes to do the same.