Part 377
"Jesse all set?" Becca asked.
"I think she was asleep before her head hit the pillow."
"We wore her out," Becca laughed. "She had such a great time at Jane and Bob's."
"I'll bet," Sarah grinned. "I want to hear all about it."
"First I want to talk about you."
"Becca, I'm fine."
"Sarah, don't start with me. We promised to be honest with each other, remember?"
"But I-" Sarah started to protest, but Garrett woke up and began to cry.
"Damn, his timing is a good as his father's." Becca got up wearily and went to get him.
"Want me to hold him?" Sarah offered.
"No, he's just jealous because he missed all the food," Becca laughed. "I can feed him while we talk."
Sarah was silent.
"So talk," Becca said.
"How is Nick?"
"Not about Nick, about you."
"I will, but I need to know if Nick is all right. I really hurt him today, Becca." Sarah looked down at her fingers, playing with Howie's class ring.
"He'll be fine, Sarah. I tried to tell him it wasn't his fault."
"You'd never told him about the drugs?" Sarah asked with some surprise.
"Of course not, Sarah. There was no need. Sarah, you told me that in confidence."
"But Bec, I never meant for you to keep it from Nick, he's your husband. Was he angry?"
"No, no he wasn't." Becca smiled down at Garrett, whose blue eyes were looking up at her as he nursed. She stroked his cheek gently and his eyes closed sleepily. "But you know he's going to have questions, Sarah. He needs to talk to you about this whether he knows it or not."
"I know, Bec. I promise I'll talk to him. Bec, that song he did during sound checks-"
Becca waited while Sarah paused. She knew there would be questions from Sarah and
here came the first one. "What about it?" she asked.
"It's just… the look on his face, Bec, the emotions behind the words…"
"He loves you Sarah, he has for a long time." She saw Sarah's face and jumped ahead. "Not that way, Sarah. Sure, he had a major crush on you for a while, but now you're family, sis. And when Nick loves, he loves with his whole heart. When he thought he'd been responsible for what happened to you today he was devastated. I'm truly amazed that he even showed up for sound check." Becca shook her head and looked down at the sleeping baby against her breast.
"He's such a good baby," Sarah murmured with a smile. "And you handle him like a pro, Bec."
"It's a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, trust me," Becca laughed. The silence settled in again and was on the verge of becoming awkward. Becca watched Sarah as she became lost in her thoughts and knew she had to keep her talking. "Sarah-" she stopped, a little unsure of herself.
"What, Bec?" Sarah looked up at Becca, hearing the hesitation in her friend's voice.
"I almost hate to ask you, but … Sarah did he hurt you? I mean I know it wasn't … Hell, I'm not doing this right."
"Yeah, Bec," she sighed. "It hurts like hell. Every muscle in my body hurts and inside… I just feel raw." She turned her head, but not before Becca saw her wipe away her tears.
"I'll be right back, let me put Garrett down for the night." She knew it would give Sarah a moment to compose herself, and truthfully, she needed a minute or two for herself, as well. Once he was tucked in and she was assured that he was sleeping soundly, Becca quietly joined Sarah once more.