Part 553
"Oh my gosh! I can’t believe how big he is!" Jane beamed at her grandson, quickly taking him from Becca and cooing ridiculously. What was it about tiny babies that reduced even educated adults to simpering idiots?
"He eats well, that’s for sure. He must get his appetite from his father," Becca said laughing.
"As long as you don’t get pudgy like your daddy then everything will be fine," Jane said, talking baby talk to the infant who simply yawned.
Becca ignored the not so subtle jab at Nick’s weight and changed the subject. "Where is everyone? I thought you said you had a house full?"
"They scattered all over after I talked to you. Aaron is off somewhere with Angel, and Bob is shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Mm hmm. He’s been out looking at boats for weeks now." Jane sighed, settling Garrett into the crook of her arm. "I have no idea what he would even DO with a boat, as much as we travel."
"Can’t hurt to look, I suppose." Becca kicked her shoes off, sank down onto the sofa and stretched, rotating her ankles from side to side. The bones cracked and Jane laughed.
"Ouch! Are you all right?"
"I’m fine," Becca giggled. "It drives Nick crazy when I do that. Completely grosses him out."
"Nick? The king of gross practical jokes? The man who participated in a belching contest on National television?"
"Go figure, huh?" Becca laughed. Leaning back and resting her head on the plush cushions she sighed contentedly.
"You look tired. Are you getting enough rest?" Jane asked, and actually sounded sincere and not critical.
Stop it, Becca chided herself. Stop looking for problems where there aren’t any. "I am tired," she admitted, "but the tour is almost over, and then things should quiet down a bit."
"And it helps to have Lou out of the picture, too." She cut her eyes at Becca and smiled at the look she received. "Yes, dear, I know all about it." Looking down and smiling at Garrett, she continued as if talking to him, and not Becca. "Your daddy thought he was so smart didn’t he? Yes, he did!" she laughed as Garrett gurgled back at her. "He thought he was keeping his poor old mom in the dark and all this time I knew exactly what had happened."
"And you never said anything?" Becca was horrified. What kind of mother would-
"What kind of mother would do that to her own son?" Jane looked at Becca point blank as the younger woman blushed and looked away. "One who knew it was being handled at the time. And one who knew that rocking the boat would ruin five careers."
"That’s what Nick said, too," Becca whispered.
"Becca, he was right. Those five young men wouldn’t be where they are today if we’d brought charges against Lou back then."
"But-"
"I did what I thought was right at the time. Lou knew not to ever mess with me OR any of the Boys. He and I had a very clear understanding, so it must have been something else that set off this newest round of litigation."
Becca sighed deeply. "He chose to mess with the wrong people this time, Jane. He picked Sarah and me."
"You and Sarah?! What on earth could he possibly have on the two of you?"
Omitting most of the details of Sarah’s story, Becca explained the gist of what had happened, and judging by the look on Jane’s face, she was beyond appalled.
"Bastard!" she spat. "Who the hell does he think he IS?"
"Jane, it’s over." Becca reached for her, but she could feel the tension and anger that flooded the older woman’s body.
"Becca, it’s just wrong. Neither of you girls deserves any of this. Is this supposed to be your punishment for falling in love? For finding the perfect partner to spend the rest of your life with? Jesus, Becca," she said shaking her head. "I’ll admit, there’s no love lost between Sarah and me, but I’d never wish this on her. Is she all right?"
"She seems to be. Howie’s the doting father, so he’s making sure that she gets plenty of rest and takes care of herself."
"I remember when I was pregnant with Aaron and Angel. I thought I’d never see the day when they were born. Once I started showing, it seemed like I was already nine months pregnant and stuck that way."
Becca giggled. "Well, she’s getting pretty big, and she still has almost four months to go."
"Oh God save her," Jane laughed.
Just then the front door slammed and a slender blond whirlwind ran past the family room. "Mom, I’m home!"
Becca laughed as he did a comic double take and bolted back into the room.
"Becster! Whassup? When did you get here? Is Nick here? Jesus, that kid has grown!"
"Aaron Charles! Watch your mouth!" Jane scolded with a frown.
"Aw mom," he smirked, and Becca had to stifle a giggle at how closely he resembled Nick.
"Hey AC!" she said, standing up to be pulled into a hug. "Good grief! How much have you grown in the last three weeks?"
"You watch, I’m gonna be taller than Nick."
"Oh no, don’t let HIM hear you say that! Where’s your sister?"
"Dunno. She met up with a bunch of girls and took off. Said she’d be home later. So Bec, you ready to go to Toronto?"
"Say what?" Becca’s head spun at the ability with which the Carter men seemed to be able to change topics in the middle of a conversation.
"Mom, you didn’t TELL her?"
"Ease up on your mom, shorty," Becca said with a grin. "I haven’t been here that long."
"Oh, okay," he giggled his voice breaking slightly.
Becca glanced at Jane with a raised eyebrow and she could see that Jane was trying hard to stifle a laugh.
"So what’s all this about Toronto?"
"C’mere, little guy," he said, reaching for Garrett as he plopped down next to Becca. "Well, I have to go up and do some awards show … the Franny show … the ummm …." He looked at his mother for help.
"Aaron, it’s the Fannies." Looking over at Becca she went on. "One of the Radio stations, KISS 92.5, hosts an awards show, and Aaron has been invited to be co-host."
"Okay …." Becca said slowly. "I remember you telling me about the award show the last time we were together, but what does that have to do with me?"
Aaron giggled. "My video, silly girl. We’re gonna film the new video up there!"
"In Toronto?" Becca asked blankly.
"Becster, my brother’s rubbing off on you. Hello?????" He laughed at the confused look on her face and then decided to at least be somewhat helpful. "Mom? Would you get the pics that the production company sent us?"
Jane obediently went for the folder that was in the office off of the kitchen.
"So," he whispered, "any bloodshed yet?"
"Aaron, be nice, your mom and I get along."
He snickered. "Just don’t let your guard down, girl."
"Stop it!" she laughed, playfully shoving his arm. They were still giggling conspiratorially when Jane came back with a large manila folder. "What’s all that?"
"Pictures. Becca, this place they found is beautiful," she sighed. "I know we were originally going to film in Florida, but I think you’ll be very pleased with this." She handed Becca the folder and what seemed like a hundred pictures spilled out into her lap
Becca gasped. "Jane, this place is beautiful!"
"It’s right outside Toronto, and just LOOK at the Fall colors!"
Becca perused the pictures, looking up after every three or four to stare intently at Aaron.
Finally he couldn’t stand it any more. "What? Geez Bec, you’re makin’ me really nervous here."
She leaned closer to Jane, pointing at the pictures. "Look at the color of the leaves. Remember Kathy’s coloring? And here … look at Aaron…" They both looked up and grinned. "This is going to be gorgeous!"
"Where’s Nick?" Aaron asked nervously.
"Off somewhere doing the ‘Drowning’ re-shoot," Becca answered. "Why?"
"I’m needin’ some support here, Bec." Looking down at Garrett, he jiggled the baby and pleaded, "Come on, GT, you gotta help me out here dude. It’s the Carter women against the Carter men."
Garrett gurgled in response and Aaron sighed. "Great," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "A lot of help YOU are."