Part 359
An hour later, the five sat in silence looking over their menus. While Sarah had been getting cleaned up, Howie had called every restaurant in the area trying to find one that served biscuits and sausage gravy and had struck out. Several had even laughed at him. Now, he was waiting for the inevitable explosion when Sarah realized she wasn’t going to get what she wanted.
It only took her a couple of minutes to look at the menu before she closed it and set it down. She took her straw, tore the end of it off, and then put it to her mouth. She blew the paper at an unsuspecting Kevin and then quickly made it look like she hadn’t done anything.
"Oh good," thought Howie seeing what Sarah had done. "She’s not pissed."
The paper had hit Kevin in the face and he cut his eyes at Sarah. He smiled to himself, balled the paper up, and threw it back at her.
Brian and AJ just shook their heads as the waitress came to the table.
"Can I take your orders?"
Brian went first and then the other three leaving Sarah to go last. The waitress looked to Sarah waiting for her to place her order.
"Angel, she’s waiting."
"You KNOW what I want."
"Sarah," interceded Kevin hearing the tone of Sarah’s voice. "They don’t serve it here. You were the first one finished with the menu."
AJ decided to help too. "’Tigger’, they’ve got French toast and a ham and cheese omelet. You like both of those," he suggested.
"No, I want biscuits and sausage gravy," said Sarah leveling an icy stare at Howie.
Seeing the potential argument about to erupt, Brian said, "Give us a couple more minutes, please."
The waitress left the table to place the guys’ orders and Howie said, "Sarah, you’re being stubborn. They don’t have what you want and you knew it when she came to the table."
"And YOU knew at the house what I wanted," snapped Sarah.
"I’m sorry, but we’re already running late and we don’t have time for this. Now, get the French toast or the omelet so we can get going," said Howie irritably.
Quietly but with stubborn determination, Sarah said, "NO! I just won’t eat."
"Baby, you need to eat," urged Kevin.
"Sarah, come with me," said Howie calmly but forcefully. Sarah got up angrily and stormed to the back towards the restrooms and Howie looked at the others. "Order her something. I don’t care what, just order something. I’ll feed her myself if I have to but she’s going to eat."
Howie followed Sarah to the back and Kevin motioned to the waitress.
"What’s gotten into Sarah this morning?" asked Brian as Kevin placed an order for a ham and cheese omelet, fresh orange juice, and bacon for Sarah.
"She had a craving and was determined to have it," said AJ.
"I’m surprised Howie didn’t bend over backwards to get it for her."
"He called every restaurant he could find trying to find one that served what she wanted."
Meanwhile, in the back, Sarah stood with her back to Howie knowing that if she looked at him, she’d cave in and she wanted to stay mad at him. But that wasn’t to happen. As soon as he caught up with her, he put his hands on her shoulders and she felt herself starting to lose control.
Rubbing her shoulders, Howie felt the tension and tried to ease the friction. "I thought we sent Jesse with Nick."
"Ahahahaha," said Sarah sarcastically.
"I thought it was funny. Angel, why are you being so stubborn?" asked Howie.
That was it. His voice, his touch, and his efforts to make this easier caused her to lose the last bit of control she had. She began to sob and Howie felt her body tremble. He pulled her back against his chest holding her tight.
"Shhh, Angel," he soothed. "It’s just your hormones playing with you."
"God, Howie!! I hate this," sobbed Sarah turning into his embrace.
Howie stroked her hair as she cried. "It’s okay, Angel. I understand that you really had your heart set on biscuits and gravy. I REALLY tried to find a place that served it. I called every restaurant trying to find one that served it."
Sarah looked up into his eyes as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "You did?"
Brushing her hair back off her shoulder, Howie said softly, "Of course. Angel, if you asked for the moon and the stars, I’d do everything in my power to get them for you."
"I know and I guess I’m just not use to you not being successful. Thank you."
Howie kissed her on the forehead, "No need to thank me. Angel, come on, breakfast should be waiting for us."
"I haven’t ordered anything though."
"I told Kevin to order something for you," grinned Howie. "You were going to eat if I had to feed you myself."
Sarah laughed as she wiped the tears away. "I love you."
"I know," whispered Howie as he hugged her close.
With his arm around her waist, Howie led Sarah back to the table and held her chair for her. Minutes later, breakfast was delivered to their table, including the omelet Kevin had ordered for Sarah.
As they ate, Kevin said, "The studio called this morning and we’re going to have to push some things back for us and for Sarah."
"Us? What’s up?" asked Brian.
"The ‘Drowning’ video we did in August. They’re having problems with the CGI…they say it’s too dark and management wants us to re-shoot it. They’re giving us final say so before we leave, we’re gonna swing by the studio and get a copy for us to see. Nick needs to have say in this too so we’ll look at it in Calgary and make a decision."
They all agreed and Howie asked, "What about Sarah’s stuff?"
Kevin sighed, "Our dates were unrealistic. They say they can have the single and the video done to be released by the middle of October. I’m thinking, since we’re gonna be on TRL on the 23rd anyway, we’ll just plan to release it then. Sarah can be the scheduled guest and we’ll just be a bonus."
"Sounds like a plan. I really wanted her to be there for the premiere of her first video," said Howie.
"Me too. Sarah, are you okay with this?"
"Yeah, that’s fine. What about the CD though?"
"It’ll be released in Japan November 16th, the day before we arrive. We’ve already started the ball rolling for promoting you and the CD there."
"When’s the CD gonna be released here in the States?" asked Brian.
"It’ll be released everywhere else the day after Thanksgiving. Howie, you’re still planning to have Sarah perform on the cruise, aren’t you?"
Howie looked at Sarah. "Angel?"
"I don’t know, ‘D’. I’ll be seven months and if I keep growing like I am now, you’ll have to roll me on stage."
The guys laughed and Howie gave her a kiss rubbing her stomach as he did. "It won’t be that bad, Angel. For right now, yeah, Kevin, she’s gonna perform with me."
"We can use that to promote her and it’ll benefit the Foundation too."
"Works for me," said Sarah as she finished off her omelet.
Looking at Kevin’s plate, she reached over to get his last piece of sausage as he continued to talk to the others. AJ and Howie saw her do it and tried to hide their laughter but Kevin saw it.
"What are you two laughing at?"
"Nothing," said AJ shaking his head.
Kevin went to pick up his last sausage and realized it was gone. He looked at Sarah who was taking the last bite of it and said, "I certainly hope you’re enjoying MY breakfast."
"Mmmm, it’s delicious, ‘Boo’. Thank you."
"Any time, baby," laughed Kevin. Looking at his watch, he said, "We need to get going."
"I need to call and make sure the jet is ready," said Howie.
"Do it in the car. We’ve gotta get the video first."
Their business in LA wrapped up, the group headed to Calgary where they’d meet up with Nick and Becca and continue the tour.