Howie stepped out of JFK Airport in New York City and looked around for the car that AJ had arranged for him. Spotting it to his right, he walked over so he could get in it.
“Mr. Dorough?” The driver questioned.
“Yes,” Howie replied, handing his bag over and getting in.
“So where are we headed?” The driver asked as he got in and started the engine.
“Fairfield, Connecticut,” Howie replied. “And quickly, please.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Kev?” AJ called, as he walked in to Kevin’s house. “You here?”
“He’s upstairs,” Brian appeared in the hallway, surprising AJ.
“What are you doing here?” AJ asked, following Brian into the kitchen.
Brian grabbed a soda for the both of them. “Lending moral support. Brooke was here last night. As you probably could’ve guessed, the engagement’s off.”
“I figured,” AJ remarked. “No matter how much she apologized or whatever, there was no way he could’ve forgiven her.”
“You think?” Brian laughed. “She can’t exactly marry Kevin while she’s married to JC.”
“I’m glad you guys find this amusing,” Kevin growled from the doorway. He looked over at AJ. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to see what you were up to,” AJ replied. “Wanted to see if you wanted to wallow in self-pity with me.”
“Why would I want to do that?” Kevin asked, sitting down at the table with them. “What happened to you?”
“Sarah broke it off last night,” AJ told them.
“What?!” They both exclaimed.
“Yup.” AJ nodded. “She said she couldn’t marry me while I was clearly in love with another woman.”
“What in the hell are you talking about AJ?” Kevin was thoroughly confused. He’d been so consumed with his own problems lately that he had no idea what was going on in anyone else’s life. “Who are you ‘clearly’ in love with?”
“Sarah thinks it’s Krista,” he replied, sighing. “Apparently, the two of them had lunch yesterday. Krista must’ve admitted that she was still in love with me.”
“What are you going to do?” Brian questioned. AJ shrugged. “I have no idea. I mean, Krista and I…we share this unbelievable history. We weren’t even together very long, either. Just a year. But everything we went through…Some people don’t go through stuff like that in their whole life.”
“Why isn’t anything ever easy for any of us?” Kevin asked, not really expecting an answer. “I mean, think about it. I’m thirty-two years old. No wife. No girlfriend. AJ’s girlfriend’s, once they find out about Krista, they split. Nicky…I mean, Nicky’s juggling two girls that would both do anything for him and he can’t seem to pick one of them. Brian, you and Howie might be the only ones out of all of us that are on the right track.”
They both looked at Brian, who sat there, grinning like an idiot. “What?” AJ asked.
“I’m gonna ask Ang to marry me, tonight,” Brian informed them.
AJ patted him on the back. “It’s about fucking time.” Kevin rolled his eyes at AJ before patting Brian on the back. “Congratulations, man.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ****
New York City
“So, where are we staying?” Katelin asked, as she, Aidan, and Nick sat in the limo in Manhanttan.
“Marriot in Times Square,” Nick mumbled, staring out the window at the passing buildings.
“We could’ve just stayed at my apartment,” She pointed out.
Nick finally looked over at her. “I thought you sold it?”
She shook her head. “Couldn’t bring myself to do it. I mean, that’s my whole life.” Nick opened his mouth to say something but she was quick to cut him off. “Don’t Nick. I swear to God, you say one bad thing about my father, I will never talk to you again. You may think that he was a horrible person but he was still my father.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Kate. I really just don’t understand you sometimes.”
“What the hell is your problem, Nick?” She all but yelled. “You’ve been nothing but a grump since you got up this morning.”
“Keep your voice down before you wake Aidan up,” Aidan hissed. “And I don’t have a problem. I’m just a tired. But if it’ll make you happy, we’ll stay at your apartment.”
“Thank you,” Katelin huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Ellen?” Howie called, entering the DeMarco’s house. Ellen walked out of the living room and into the foyer. “Oh Howie. Thank god. Trevor and I are about to go crazy. We’ve tried both of their cell phones, Melissa’s apartment in the city, her office. There’s nothing.”
“How about Paul?” Howie followed Ellen into the living room. “Have you tried getting a hold of him?”
She shook her head. “We haven’t been able to. There was no answer at his apartment or his cell phone.”
“What about his office?” Howie questioned.
“Oh, good idea.” Ellen reached for the phone and dialed information, getting the number for Paul’s New York City office.
“I’m Howie.” He stuck his hand out to Trevor, introducing himself.
“Trevor.” They shook hands.
“How long have you known Melissa?” Howie asked, settling himself down on the couch.
“About a year now,” Trevor replied. “She told me that you and Christine used to be engaged?”
“Yeah,” Howie sighed, thinking back to the good times he and Christine used to have. “But Paul convinced her that she was better off without me.”
Before Trevor could respond, Ellen hung up the phone and looked at both of them, an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Paul’s not in the office. He hasn’t been for the last three days and no one’s heard from him.”
***** **** ***** ***** **** *****
“Ang!” Brian called. “You here?”
“Upstairs,” He heard in reply. He walked up the stairs, two at a time, and entered the bedroom that he shared with his girlfriend. She was sitting on the floor in front of the television, painting her toe nails. She closed the bottle of red nail polish and glanced up at him. “Hey! What are you holding?”
“Something for you,” He answered, placing the bag down on the floor. “Heard anything about the case?” She shook her head. “Nope. Not a thing. Now, what’s in the bag?”
“I already told you.” Brian laughed, sitting down next to her.” “Something for you. You busy tonight?”
“Hmm…let me check my schedule.” She thought for a second, smiling. “Nothing I can think of. Why? What do you want to do?”
“I was thinking dinner,” he told her standing up. “I made a reservation. And you need to wear that.” He handed her the bag.
She laughed as he stood up and walked into the bathroom. “I see you have this all planned out.”
“Something like that.” Brian grinned as he closed the bathroom door to take a shower.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Do you want to go to dinner or something?” Katelin asked, walking into the room where Nick was watching television with Aidan.
Nick shrugged. “Whatever.” His eyes were on the television but all he saw were pictures of Katelin and Jay swarming through his mind. The two of them stumbling into her room, his lips attached to hers. His arms wrapped around her. Her head resting on his chest. It was all he could see.
“Nick!” Katelin yelled.
He jumped, his neck craning around to look at her. “What? Jesus, why are you yelling?”
“Because you haven’t said two words to me since we left this morning,” she told him, exasperated. “I’m fucking sick of it. What the hell did I do?”
“Will you watch your mouth?” Nick hissed. “My god. Why don’t we just give them every reason to take him away from us?”
Katelin was taken aback by the menacing stare he was giving her. “What is with you?” She whispered, her eyes wide. “Why are you acting like I’m the worst person in the world right now?”
Nick closed his eyes, briefly, taking in a deep breath. He was afraid to answer her, knowing his real feelings would be displayed all over his face. “You’re not the worst person, Kate. I’m just tired. I’m nervous about tomorrow. And I don’t want to fight with you. Especially in front of Aidan.”
Katelin didn’t quite believe him. But there was nothing she could do about it at the moment. She didn’t want to fight with him in front of Aidan either. The little boy was already in such a tenuous position. He was only two years old and he had already been through so much in his young life. He didn’t deserve to be thrown in the middle of what could turn out to be a nasty custody battle between his biological parents and his adoptive grandparents. But he also didn’t need to be thrown in the middle of a nasty fight between Katelin and Nick.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Ang looked around the restaurant, waiting for Brian to come back from the bathroom. They were at a chic, expensive restaurant in Tampa, on the water. Nick had apparently recommended it. Said if you wanted romance, you couldn’t go wrong. So Brian and Ang had made the hour and a half drive to Tampa, and Ang had to agree with Nick. The place just oozed romance.
Brian stared in the mirror. “You can do this,” he whispered to himself. He couldn’t understand why he was so nervous. He had felt fine before. All day and all through dinner. But then, all of the sudden, he began to break out into a sweat. He didn’t think Ang had noticed before he quickly jumped out of seat and ran into the bathroom, needing to empty his stomach. After splashing some cold water on his face, he felt around in his pocket for the box and then walked out of the bathroom.
“Hey,” Brian announced, quietly, as he approached their table again.
“Hey,” Ang looked up as he sat down. “You okay?”
“Fine,” Brian smiled. “I ordered us some champagne.”
“Ooh champagne.” Ang giggled. “What’s the occasion?”
Brian shrugged, trying to bite back a smile. “Nothing. Just us.” He grabbed her hand as he noticed the waiter coming over. As the waiter sat the glasses down on the table, Ang’s eyes widened as she noticed Brian getting down on one knee and the sparkling diamond and platinum ring in the bottom of the champagne glass. “Oh my god…” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
“Ang,” Brian began. “You and I have been through so much. Good and bad. And all I know is that there is no one I would rather be experiencing my life with. Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”
Ang could barely answer, she was so overwhelmed. She had been beginning to wonder whether Brian would ever propose to her. Finally, she wiped her eyes and her mouth broke into wide grin. “Yes, Brian!” she shrieked, catching the attention of the other patrons in the restaurant. She pulled Brian up and threw her arms around his neck as the surrounding customers broke into applause.
“I love you,” Brian whispered.
“I love you too, Bri.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The tears slid steadily down her cheeks the whole time she was on the airplane. It was to the point where three different flight attendants had come over to see if she was alright. She knew what had happened was for the best but she couldn’t help but feel like her heart was breaking. He had been such a huge part of her life for three years. And suddenly, it was gone. She knew in the end it was for the best. They had clearly grown apart. She had begun to give her heart to someone else and she knew that he was starting to also. But it didn’t make it hurt any less.