Part 612
Sarah made her way down the steps to the living room where Jesse, Garrett, and Becca waited for her. She’d spent longer than normal getting ready knowing that she’d see Howie before the night was over and she wanted to be perfect for him.
"WOW! Mommie! You look WAY beautiful!"
"Thanks, Jess," smiled Sarah. "Are you ready?"
"Yes ma’am."
"Grab your stuff because we’re leaving from the center to go home."
Jesse scurried into the kitchen to get her backpack leaving Sarah with Becca.
"That costume is absolutely stunning. Howie’s gonna be blown away."
"You think?" questioned Sarah looking down at herself.
"Oh yeah!" laughed Becca.
"What are you laughing about?" asked Sarah indignantly.
"You! You know Howie better than anyone and you know no matter what you wear, he adores you. Yet, you question what he’s going to think about an outfit that you bought with him in mind."
"I can’t help it, Becca. I want to make him happy…as happy as he makes me and after last Halloween, I want to make this one really special."
Becca took her hands. "You DO make him happy, Sarah," she reassured. "All you have to do is be yourself. Howie loves you more than any man loves a woman and as for making this a really special Halloween, it will be because you two are together. Now let’s go. We’re gonna be late now as it is."
Becca handed Sarah the diaper bag and she picked up Garrett in his carrier. Sarah started to call Jesse but it wasn’t necessary. She was already at the front door dancing with excitement. The small group made their way to their vehicles in the driveway where they parted. They’d decided to drive separately so that when the guys arrived no one would have to drop someone off.
Reaching the youth center first, Sarah was amazed at how many people were there. There were so many cars that she completely missed Kevin and AJ’s cars parked at the back. She helped Jesse out as Becca parked beside her. She helped Jesse out as Becca parked beside her and the two headed into the center.
Before Sarah could get in the door good, children she’d known since she’d come to the center swarmed her, just like normal, and she greeted each one happily remembering all their names. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the kids.
"Sarah, you look like an angel," said Emily.
"She’s SUPPOSED to look like an angel," said Jesse. "She’s Daddy’s angel!!"
Rachel joined them. Trying to clear the way for Sarah and Becca, she said, "Come on, kids. Let Sarah get into the gym so we can get the party started."
"It’s okay, Rachel. I haven’t seen them in a while. Come on, let’s go to the bleachers and we’ll talk. Jess, you coming?"
"Sure!!"
Jesse and Emily had become buddies since they were in the same class at school and they joined hands following Sarah and the other kids to the bleachers.
Becca and Rachel were left standing at the door and Becca asked, "Are the guys ready?"
"They’re in the nursery getting ready. I don’t think Sarah will notice if you go see them."
Sarah was in the middle of all the kids from the center as they asked her hundreds of questions about being out on tour with Howie, making a CD and video, and being on TRL. They had all seen her and were excited to hear every detail. They also wanted to know about the babies since they hadn’t known about it before she left. Taking her time, she answered each question patiently not knowing that she was being watched.
From the nursery, the guys peeked through the door to see Sarah sitting with the kids.
"Guys, I can’t wait any longer. I want to go on out there," insisted Howie.
"We have to wait," said Kevin. "Rachel is going to introduce us so that we can sing."
"You know, Sarah’s gonna be expecting you to be the vampire," said AJ.
"I know," smiled Howie. Turning back to watch his wife, he was thankful for the loose fitting pants.
"Watch it….here comes Jesse," warned Brian as he tried to close the door.
"And here comes Rachel too," said Kevin. "Let’s go."
The guys stepped out of the nursery into the darkened gym as Jesse ran into Brian.
Thinking Jesse realized who he was, Brian grabbed her and pretended to bite her which only served to scare her. Jesse screamed, a real scream, and took off across the gym.
"Way to go, Brian," smirked Nick as Howie took off after Jesse to try and calm her down.
Hearing Jesse’s scream, Sarah looked up and saw Jesse in tears headed towards her. Catching her as Jesse reached her, Sarah asked, "Baby, what’s the matter?"
"A strange man tried to bite me on the neck!" cried the little girl burying her face in Sarah’s hair.
"You mean a vampire?"
Jesse nodded.
"Baby, that was your daddy," smiled Sarah seeing Brian across the gym and thinking it was Howie. "His favorite thing to dress up as is Dracula."
About that time, Howie caught up to Jesse. "Is she okay?"
Surprised, Sarah said, "HOWIE!!"
"Hey, ‘Angel’," greeted Howie giving her a kiss. "This isn’t exactly how I had planned to surprise you."
Hearing her daddy’s voice, Jesse turned to see him. Through the tears she said, "You aren’t a vampire, you're a pirate."
"Yeah, I am, princess," smiled Howie taking his daughter in his arms to hug her.
"If you aren’t the Dracula, then who tried to bite Jesse?"
"Brian. I couldn’t get that costume in my size so Brian took it. Jess, are you okay? Uncle Brian was just playing with you."
"Uncle Brian is MEAN!" stated Jesse.
"Yes, he is. Why don’t you go tell him?" suggested Howie as he set Jesse down. The couple watched Jesse head through the crowd after Brian but then Howie turned back to Sarah. "You look….heavenly."
Sarah blushed. "Do you like my costume?"
Taking her hand, he turned her around then pulled her to his arms. "I LOVE the costume. It’s PERFECT on you. I have missed you so much."
Sarah held on to him in a tight hug as she whispered, "I’ve missed you too, Howie."
The two stood in each other’s arms for several minutes glad to be home again. The kids who had been sitting with Sarah politely left the two quietly but it wasn’t long before Kevin came over.
"Come on, ‘D’. It’s time to sing."
"Sing?" questioned Sarah.
"Yeah, I figured since you missed last year’s party and them singing, I’d get them to perform this year," said Rachel. "This was why I wanted you to come tonight. I know how tired you were but I really wanted to make it up to you. Howie told me how much you use to love Halloween but were dreading this one because of last year so I decided…."
"Thank you, Rachel. Having my husband back home to celebrate is DEFINITELY a good surprise. What are you guys gonna sing?"
By now, all of the guys and Becca were there with Howie and Sarah and AJ said, "We’re gonna do ‘Drowning’ and then YOU are singing your single."
It was an awesome performance by the guys and the kids were excited to hear them sing but having Sarah perform was by far more thrilling. They loved her and showed it when she was done.
The party was spectacular and Sarah was glad that she had made it after all. Of course, having Howie home made it that much better.
Near the end of the evening, most of the kids had left and only the adults were still around. The music had slowed down and there were couples out on the floor dancing slowly. Sarah and Howie were sitting together with the others enjoying what was left of the refreshments talking about the tour and what the guys had done in New York. As they talked, Sarah grew quiet and she began to play with Howie’s wedding band.
Looking over, Howie saw that she was crying. "Sarah, what’s wrong?"
"Nothing….listen to the words of this song." Everyone grew quiet as the song played out and when it was over, Sarah said, "That’s what this whole thing…the tour…was. A Dance!! With all the ups and downs, the heartache, the joy, the pain….it was one big dance and the good-bye….the end of the tour. You know something?"
"What’s that, baby?" asked Kevin.
"I wouldn’t have missed a single minute of it with you guys," said Sarah as she squeezed Howie’s hand. "I love you all and I’d do it again just to be with you."
Everyone at the table echoed the same feelings and Kevin raised his glass for a toast. "To a beautiful family and the end of the tour. May our futures be as blessed with love, friendship, and family as the last several months."
Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance
**Lyrics by Garth Brooks, 'The Dance;**
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What does the future hold for the group? Stay tuned for the next book, Forever & Ever, Amen, to find out.