Part 378
"He all settled in?" Sarah asked with false brightness.
"Yeah, for a while, anyway. What did the doctor say?" There was no way she was going let Sarah get out of this.
"The babies are fine, I can't have sex for a few days…"
"That's IT?" Becca was outraged. "Sarah, you were-"
"Raped, I know. You can say the word, Bec. Not saying it doesn't make it go away."
"How can you be so nonchalant about this?" Becca asked tearfully.
Sarah laughed, a strangled sound that bordered on hysteria. "I have to, Bec. If I don't I'll fall apart."
"Oh hell," Becca sighed, moving next to Sarah and holding her close. "Sis, I'm just so worried about you. That scumbag that did this to you should be hung up by his privates."
In spite of her pain, Sarah giggled. "Now that's a pretty picture."
"Shut up while I'm obsessing," Becca fussed, trying to keep a straight face. "Sarah, what about AIDS? You need to be tested now."
"Been there, done that." Sarah smiled as Becca sat back to look curiously at her. "Ever since Russell shot me up with all those drugs, I get tested every six months."
"But now David-"
"I know, Bec. Now I need to be more careful, and that means Howie is at risk, too."
In spite of the gravity of the situation, Becca laughed. When Sarah shot her a look, she laughed harder. "I'm sorry," she giggled, "it's just … well… I'm sure Nick has a box of condoms you can have. God knows, we can't use them for-"
"Twenty-eight days!" they both shrieked in unison.
Hugging tearfully, Sarah sat back and wiped her eyes. "God, Bec, can we please change the subject now?!"
"Fine, fine," Becca conceded.
"Thank you," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "So tell me about your visit with Mom and Pop Carter and all the Little Carters."
"Sarah, you make them sound like a Mafia family."
"So?" Sarah giggled. "And your point is--?"
"You're bad. You're just jealous that Jane and Bob aren't your in-laws."
Sarah snorted. "Oh yeah baby, that's it. I'm SOOOO jealous of you. Get REAL, Bec!"
Becca hit her with a pillow and leaned back, smiling. "Okay, so you've already heard about Jesse's encounters with Jane…"
"Oh dear GOD, I wish I could have seen that!"
"The best was her crack about the dyed hair," Becca giggled. "I swear, it's a wonder Jane is still speaking to me."
"You mean she IS? Then Jesse didn't do her job," Sarah smirked.
"You are so bad," Becca shook her head.
Sarah shrugged. "Like mother, like daughter, I guess."
"Oh damn, Sarah, you'll never guess what I'm going to do!" Becca was bouncing excitedly now and Sarah just shook her head in wonder.
"You're scaring me, Bec!" she giggled. "What's up?"
"You are SO not going to believe this!"
"And you have SO been hanging around Aaron too much, Bec, talk like a grownup!"
"I'm the artistic director for Aaron's new video!"
"Bec, I'm sorry, I thought you just said-"
"Yes! Isn't it cool?!"
"Oh mercy, Bec, how did all this come about?"
Becca explained the events surrounding the decision, and then went to get Nick's sketchbook. Opening up to the drawings she'd done, she grinned as Sarah's mouth dropped open.
"Bec, these are great! Since when can you draw like this?"
"Beats me. I must have caught the drawing bug from Nick. He's forever doodling on whatever paper happens to be lying about." She glanced up at Sarah, who was still studying her work intently. "So you really think they're good?"
"Good? Bec, I meant what I said, these are great! When are you doing it?"
"I'm not sure yet. Heidi has all the paperwork and is handling all the details."
"Damn, Bec, you didn't waste any time."
"Nope," she grinned, "gotta work it!"
"How is Heidi, anyway?"
"She sounded great. We had a long talk yesterday morning."
"About the video?"
"Well, no, actually we covered quite a few things."
"Bec, stop stalling, the suspense is killing me!" Sarah tossed the sketchbook on the end table and turned sideways, her feet tucked up under herself.
"We started making plans for the foundation."
"The AIDS foundation Bec? That's wonderful!"
"Sarah, I dunno, there's so much to do. I guess I hadn't really thought it through very well."
"Like what, Bec?"
Becca sighed, twisting her wedding rings nervously. "She wants me to do a ton of personal appearances. You know, speak at schools and business organizations, that kind of stuff."
"Bec, that's a piece of cake. You've been in front of people for years. If it wasn't singing, it was conducting. So what's the problem?"
"I need to just talk, Sarah. She wants me to tell everyone about Andrew and what happened to me and Nick last spring."
"Oh," Sarah said softly. "Bec, you know she's right, don't you? That's the only way to get funding for research or to set up that halfway house you've been dreaming about. Look how far you've come, sis. This is a great story with a happy ending, You can help someone else have that same happy ending, but you have to give a little more of yourself."
"She also suggested some public service announcements."
"Hey, I could do one, I bet all the guys would, too. And you and Nick should do one together. Blondie can be serious once in awhile," Sarah grinned.
"Hah hah," Becca replied, rolling her eyes. "There's more."
"More? Bec, you were only gone two days!"
"Nick wants me to start singing again, when we get back home."
"Why now? Why this sudden interest, Bec?"
Becca sighed and yawned. "I couldn't sleep that first night, so I went down to play the piano. I guess I wasn't as quiet as I thought, and I woke Nick up."
Sarah watched her friend intently; the timing on this new development was perfect. "Bec, how long has it been since you sang?"
"I don't know, I mean, I sing to Garrett all the time, and I –"
"No, silly, I mean really sang? Like you used to do."
"Oh, wow, Sarah, months. I guess when I was in Denver after I left Nick." Becca's face suddenly fell at the memory.
"Bec, I want you to sing with me tomorrow night."
"You what? Sarah-"
"Really, Bec!" Sarah took her hands and held them tightly. "We could do something we already know, something we used to do in college for the talent shows."
"Sarah my friend, you've lost it."
"No! Howie and I were just talking about this, and it would be perfect! You already said that Heidi wants you to get out more, into the public eye, and this would be the right time and the perfect opportunity!"
"No, Heidi said small groups and public service spots, not an arena full of fans." Becca's eyes were wide. "Sarah, I can't do that."
"Bec, yes you CAN. It's not like you'd be alone. I'll be there and the guys will be right backstage watching you. And the fans already love you Bec, this would be a great way to get their attention! You can even tell them about the foundation!"
"Sarah… wow, this is so much to think about. Tomorrow? What about rehearsal time?"
"We have all day, and any music we need can be faxed or downloaded. Please say you'll think about it?"
Becca yawned again, longer this time than the first. "Sorry," she mumbled. "Look, I want to talk to Nick about this before I make a decision. I can talk to him when they get back from the show."
"Bec, you'll be dead to the world by then," Sarah laughed.
"No I won't, I promised I'd wait up for him."
"He'd understand if you went to bed, it's been a long day."
"You're the one who needs the sleep, sis. I can wait up if you want to turn in," she yawned.
"Nah, I'm wired." She grinned as she watched Becca fighting to stay awake. "Why don't you go check on Garrett, I thought I heard him."
"I didn't, are you sure?"
"I think so," she fibbed.
"Well, okay, I'll be back in a minute. I said I'd-"
"I know, you said you'd wait up. I'll be here." Sarah stifled a laugh behind her hand as
Becca trudged wearily to the bedroom to look in on the baby. Fifteen minutes later, when Becca hadn't returned, Sarah went to look for her and found her sound asleep on the bed. Silently she closed the door and tiptoed back out to wait for Howie and the others.