Laura sighed heavily as she and Kevin sat down in the living room. Kevin put his arm around her as she told him what happened, or what she knew happened, anyway.
"So, anyway, I came back from the kitchen to bring Misty and Lisa their coffee cups and I just sensed that Lisa was distraut about something, and suddenly Misty was a bit more cheerful then she was before I left the room. I'm almost positive she said or did something to upset her, I'm almost sure of it." Laura eyes began to water. "I love my sister so much, and it hurts me to see her so upset. She just seemed like she lost all her will to do anything, and she looked flushed and felt very warm, so I told her to lie down. She's in the spare room right now... I just wish I hadn't left them alone in the same room together, I mean it was only for a minute, but still... I just wish I knew for sure what happened, so I--" Kevin's attention shifted from Laura to Lisa, who was standing in the doorway. Laura followed Kevin's gaze to see her sister.
"Laura, it was all bullshit. All of it. He doesn't love me. Fine, fuck her one night, then fuck me. Well I'm tellin' ya it's ending right now! I'm--" Laura interrupted her sister.
"Wait, no one's ending anything until I find out what happened!" Laura's voice was incredibly demanding, more so then Kevin had ever heard from her. She was normally so very laid back, but it was obvious to Kevin that Lisa was familiar with this more strict side of Laura, for she calmed down immediately, sat down and began to tell them of her short but direct conversation with Misty. Laura responded, sounding quite angry. "Well, I don't know for sure what kind of games Misty is up to, but I for one am not going to let her get away with it. Howie would not have done that, and he didn't!"
"So are you going to tell me I was wrong?! I'm not stupid, Laura. I wasn't born yesterday. She did all but tell me straight out that she fucked his brains out. Now you tell me how I'm supposed to take that!" she said, crying profusely now. Kevin and Laura got up and sat down next to her on the couch, embracing her from either side. They exchanged glances behind Lisa's back, each looking to the other to see if they were thinking the same thing. They both nodded, knowing that they had to tell Lisa about their conversation with Howie just a couple days ago, and to try to convince her that he does love her so very much. Laura nodded again at Kevin to indicate he should speak first.
"Lisa, hon, please look at me," Kevin said, tilting her head up with his hand. Laura held her sister's hand tightly as Kevin told her about what really happened that night between Howie and Misty. "...So, she threw herself at him, and at first, he thought he wanted her. But he suddenly realized that it was just physical, and that his heart was with you. As soon as he realized what was happening and was about to happen, he split. Howie swears that all they did was some heavy kissing, and I believe him. If more had happened he would have told us. He loves you, Lisa. I've known him a long time and know when he really has fallen hard for someone, like he has you. He would have made the same committment to you, even if nothing at all had happened with Misty..." Kevin paused, noticing that Lisa was starting to calm herself down and absorb all that Kevin had said. Laura took it upon herself to continue.
"I'm afraid that we're the ones that told Howie not to tell you what happened. Actually, I told him, and Kevin just agreed. I knew that if you found out about it, that you would react the way you just did and think he committed to you out of guilt, and that's just not the case. What he did feel guilty about is not realizing his feelings for you before something like that happened. I know and feel in my heart that his feelings for you are nothing but real and pure. He's so in love with you, and I know that there couldn't be a more perfect man for you, Sis. Please, don't end things with him. Talk to him, give him a chance. You'll see I'm right. Trust me!" Laura said, as Kevin smiled at her. She always knew just what to say and do to make others feel better, and that was one of the things he loved about her. Laura smiled back as Lisa spoke up.
"OK, I'll talk to him. I'll hear what he has to say," Lisa said, now smiling. Kevin and Laura smiled back at her, knowing that they had done the right thing by telling her what Howie had told them. "Thanks for letting me sleep off some of my troubles, but now I think I'm going to head home and call Howie. I think we need to discuss this as soon as possible." Just as Lisa was getting up to get her things, there was a knock at the door. Laura went with Lisa to the spare room as Kevin went to get the door.
"Is Lisa here?" Howie was at the door, looking very stressed. "Howie... yeah she's here, come on in. What's up, D? You look like hell," Kevin said, expressing some concern. He had just seen him a little over an hour ago and he was fine then. Howie sat down, with Kevin following behind.
"Kev, you have no clue, buddy," Howie said, his entire body heaving with a sigh. "I had myself a little 'visitor' at my place when I got there. Misty picked my locks, disabled my alarm system and let herself in. I have no clue how, but first thing in the morning I'm getting them changed and having a better security system installed." Kevin's face fell. "Oh, no!" he said, "What did she do?"
"You name it, she did it," Howie said, shaking his head. "She was almost naked when I walked in, wearing only a negligee. But not just any negligee, but one that I had bought for Lisa, and had planned on giving to her this weekend. I guess we underestimated her," he said, to which Kevin half-chuckled. "Oh man, Howie, you have no idea how bad we underestimated Misty, all of us," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "I've got a story to tell you!" Kevin then told Howie what Misty had told Lisa earlier that day. Howie just listened in disbelief. "What a bitch! I can't believe Misty would do such a thing!"
"Well, she did," Lisa said regretfully, as she and Laura walked into the room. Howie got up and walked to Lisa. They exchanged a glance, then embraced. Kevin and Laura held each other as well, as they watched them. "Lisa, oh Lisa, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry what she did to you, to us. Can you forgive--" Lisa interrupted him.
"Already forgiven and forgotten," Lisa said, still clinging to him in his embrace. "Howie, please take me home... Laura, I'll pick up my car tomorrow."
"That's fine, just go!" Laura said as she watched them leave, her eyes now moist with tears of joy. Both Kevin and she were happy that a situation that had the potential to destroy the happiness of 2 great people turned out better then they could have hoped. Only one more thing needed to be taken care of... first thing tomorrow morning...
"Good Morning. I would like to speak with Kathy, please." Laura spoke sternly into the phone, as Kevin listened in on the other line.
"This is Kathy, how can I help you?" Kathy said. Laura wasted no time as she continued. "Kathy, this is Laura Mitchell. Due to a... shall we say, clash of interest... with Misty, I feel that Kevin and I need to have someone else help us finish our wedding plans. I know this is going to be a big scramble to find someone to take over where she's leaving off, but--" Kathy interrupted her.
"No need to say anything more. Misty confessed her actions to me this morning, obviously expecting that you would be calling to have her replaced. So, she wanted to make sure she told me first what happened so I wouldn't be shocked when you called. And so, everything's been taken care of. I've asked Jill to take over where Misty left off, and she was more than happy to. She'll be keeping the next appointment with you that you'd made with Misty."
Laura and Kevin let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Kathy. You have no idea how happy that makes us to hear that," Kevin said, knowing that Laura felt the same way.
"I'm glad I could help. Oh, and by the way, I've made certain that Misty will no longer be a problem for your sister and Howie. You have my word," Kathy said. On that note, Laura and Kevin said goodbye to Kathy and hung up the phone. A calm fell over Kevin and Laura as they began to eat breakfast. For the first time in a long time, everything seemed to be right for everyone, and it was only the beginning . . .
Goin' back...
Gotta email Laura...
