Part 405
AJ, Brian, and Jesse had rejoined Kevin, Nick, and Becca after signing the autographs and they were ready to head inside. Only problem was they couldn’t find Howie and Sarah.
"Where have they gone NOW?" groaned Nick. "Can’t they control their urges?"
"Like you’re so good at it yourself," cracked AJ.
"Did anyone else besides me notice how quiet Sarah was?" asked Becca. "I’m really worried about her."
Kevin shook his head, "Don’t be, Becca. She’ll be okay once today is over."
"Today? What’s today got to do with her mood?" asked Nick. "I swear, I don’t know how Howie puts up with her mood swings. I’d have killed her by now."
"More like she’d have killed YOU by now if she’d been married to YOU," shot AJ. "Howie loves her, that’s how he does it….just like we love you and put up with your blondeness."
Becca asked Kevin quietly, "Do you know what’s wrong?"
As the others started looking for the couple, Kevin said, "She hasn’t actually told me but I’d say she’s upset over Jesse leaving, nothing major."
"Then why won’t she just say so?"
"She really hasn’t had the opportunity to say anything about it to us since Jesse has been with us ever since they told us," said Kevin. "Besides, in all the years you’ve known her, have you ever known her to voluntarily tell you what was bothering her?"
"No, but she promised not to hold back anymore," answered Becca with a hurtful tone.
AJ had heard the two and said, "Bec, don’t take it personally. Sarah’s really trying but she’s held things in for so long, it’s hard for her to just open up."
"But I’ve known her longer than you guys and she tells you EVERYTHING. Not to mention, you two seem to know her so much better than I do and I was her freakin’ roommate for four years."
"Bec, in our profession, we have to learn to read people a lot faster than most people simply because we don’t have time. We’ve also shared something that I don’t think you and Sarah would EVER share," said AJ.
"Plus, she grew up with brothers. She’s probably more comfortable opening up to us because of that too. Look, don’t sweat it. Sarah thinks the world of you. Before we ever met you, Sarah had told us SO much about you, we felt like we already knew you. It was always Becca this and Becca that."
Becca spotted Sarah and Howie coming towards them and said, "I guess you’re right."
"Hey…I’m ALWAYS right," grinned Kevin.
Becca just shook her head and watched as Jesse ran full throttle into Howie’s arms. The little family seemed lost in each other, and Becca supposed that Kevin and AJ were right. It really was silly of her to be upset with Sarah, after all, she had a lot on her mind. Really, she did. Then why did it hurt so much?
"Bec, come on, let’s go this way," Nick said, pulling on her hand and leading her toward the marine life exhibits.
"Okay, okay," Becca smiled. "Come on Garrett, let’s go meet some of your daddy’s long lost friends.
Nick stood transfixed before the various types of exotic fish, his face practically pressed to the glass. "Bec, these are so cool," he sighed. "I remember one time I was snorkeling with A.C. off the Keys and…"
His voice faded away as Becca became lost in her own thoughts, and Nick didn’t even seem to notice that his wife had zoned out and was no longer listening. All she could think about was Sarah. She insisted she was fine, but dear god, how could anyone go through what Sarah had been through and still be fine? Of course, she was very strong, but there was only so much a person could take. Becca smiled as she remembered meeting Sarah. Their first days together as roommates at Florida State had been interesting, to say the least. They’d been like oil and water, and to some degree, still were.
Sarah had been the outgoing one, constantly dragging Becca to social mixers against her will and making sure she met people. They’d spent that first year learning to read each other like a book and by the time summer break had rolled around they were closer than most real sisters. Becca had wept buckets of tears when Sarah had gone to Virginia to escape Russell, but both vowed to room together the next year.
They’d been through so much together, and it was inconceivable to Becca that she now felt this incredible chasm between her and her best friend. She wished she knew how to fix it, but how do you fix something you can’t put a name to? She felt a gentle tug on her hand and realized that Nick had led her all the way through the exhibit and out the far side, and she’d heard nothing he’d said. With an embarrassed blush, she looked up at him, but he smiled gently and gave her a quick hug.
"Becca, you okay?" he asked.
"Sure, I just got lost there for a minute. I’m fine, Nick, really." She smiled up at him, trying to reassure him, but she could tell he didn’t believe her.
A squeal from across the way brought her attention back to the rest of their group. She caught sight of Jesse being hoisted up over AJ’s head as he spun her around, threatening to toss her to the sea lions. She smiled wistfully, knowing that their time with Jesse was quickly drawing to a close.
"Come on, Bec, lets’ catch up with everyone." Nick started off with Garrett’s stroller, but Becca reached out to stop him.
"Nick, I’m going to stop here and feed Garrett," said Becca pointing to a quiet, secluded bench.
"Want me to wait for you?"
"No, that’s not necessary. Jesse’s having so much fun with all of you," answered Becca as she watched the little girl literally dragging Sarah and Kevin by the hands to the lion den.
Nick laughed, "And we haven’t even gotten to her favorite part."