The
summer of '98 was a blast. Lindsay made the big move from New Jersey to Texas.
Jeanie was a little afraid that Lindsay wouldn't adjust, but she adapted
beautifully.
Even
though Lindsay was taller and had shoulder-length raven hair and dark eyes and
Jessie was just over five feet with blonde hair and hazel eyes, it took the
girls a little over thirty minutes to decide they HAD to be long-lost sisters.
Much
to their delight and Jeanie's dismay, Lindsay was as big a Backstreet fan as
Jessie was. Jeanie suffered through many a "who's cuter" debate.
Jessie stood her ground...it was Brian and those blue eyes. Lindsay was adamant
that it was A.J., because well...he's just so damn sexy. Armed with Jessie's
extra pictures and posters, Lindsay's guestroom soon became BSB central. Jeanie
knew she was hopelessly outnumbered when she turned on the computer in her
office to find a BSB screen saver.
By
the end of summer, Jeanie wasn't sure how she would survive without Lindsay.
Lindsay was a delightful dichotomy. She could be as professional, mature and
competent as a veteran administrative secretary and then the next minute
dancing around the office to Blink 182 or the Foo Fighters as she sorted mail
or did filing. Jessie loved her, Mike and Mac loved her, Megan loved
her...everyone adored Lindsay.
To
Jeanie, Lindsay had become an indispensable part of running her business. She
was also the little sister she never had. To Jessie, Lindsay was a big sister
and an ally. She'd secretly confided to her about Kevin. How he'd called
several times, but Jeanie always found excuses why she couldn't talk to him.
***********************
It
was hotter-than-hell in August 1998. Typical Texas weather. It was already in
the high eighties and it was only a little after ten in the morning.
Jeanie
was cuddled under her comforter wearing only a pair of gray panties and a gray
tank top. The bedroom was chilly because of the air conditioning and ceiling
fans. She was cozy and drifting...half-awake and half-asleep. She could hear
music coming from Jessie's room and music coming from downstairs in Lindsay's
office. She'd gone out with Mac the night before and didn't get to sleep until
well after two in the morning.
The
phone rang twice. Lindsay apparently picked it up downstairs in the office. A
few minutes passed when there was a light tap on the bedroom door.
"Jeanie?"
Lindsay said softly, barely opening the door. Normally, she would never open
Jeanie's closed bedroom door, but this was an emergency...sort of.
"Jeanie?" she said a little louder.
Jeanie
fought to open her eyes, trying to focus. "Yeah...what, babe?" she
mumbled. Her mouth felt like it was packed with cotton. Then she remembered how
many margaritas she and Mac had the night before. She and her hangover sat up,
her blonde hair spilling down over her green eyes.
Lindsay
rushed into Jeanie's bathroom, returning with a small cup of cold water and two
aspirin and offered it to her. While she drank, Lindsay nervously put Jeanie's
long hair up with a giant clip. She sat down on the edge of the bed. "You
awake now?"
"Um...sort
of, thanks," Jeanie tried to smile. That's when she noticed the light
blinking on the multi-line telephone beside the bed. "There's someone on
hold. Did you forget?" She took another sip of cold water.
"No...um...no,”
Lindsay nervously chewed her fingernail. "Jeanie, I love my job. I hope
you don't fire me."
Now,
Jeanie was wide-awake. "Linds, there isn't anything in my life that
complicated or that important," she tried to smile. Ouch. "What's
wrong?" Lindsay stood up, unconsciously began smoothing the sheets, and
then began pacing. Jeanie tried not to panic. "Linds?"
Lindsay
walked to the side of the bed where the telephone silently blinked. She picked
up the receiver and handed it to Jeanie, holding her index finger on the
blinking button.
Jeanie
took the receiver, but continued to stare at Lindsay. She'd never seen her like
this. She looked scared to death.
"Jeanie...it's
Kevin," she whispered. With that, she quickly depressed the button
connecting the call and ran from the bedroom.
********************************
Kevin
sat patiently on the side of the bed in his hotel room.
Talking
to Jeanie Kirkpatrick had gone from something he wanted to do...to a personal
challenge...to an actual goal. For almost eighteen months he'd pursued this
woman. First, he couldn't find her. That, alone, took over a year. Then when he
found her, there was always a reason they couldn't connect. His schedule, her
schedule...you name it.
Closing
his eyes, he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. What the hell was
taking so long? Jeanie's secretary said she was there. He wasn't even sure what
he was going to say. It had been so long. Things had changed both career-wise
and personally, for The Boys. It wasn't the same as back in '97. Kevin doubted
it would ever be the same again.
He'd
been waiting almost ten minutes. Had it been anyone else, Kevin would have hung
up. But for Kevin, who had waited a year-and-a-half for this moment, it was no
time at all. Finally...a click...
"Hello?
Jeanie said softly.
Just
hearing her voice after so long brought all his feelings back with a vengeance.
So many times, women trying to impress him would lower their voice trying to
sound sexy. Not Jeanie. Her voice was delicate, soft and laced with a sexy southern
accent.
"Hey...I
don't believe it. Jeanie Kirkpatrick," Kevin's heart was racing.
"I...I told you I would catch ya' later." Jeanie giggled and Kevin
felt as if he was melting.
"That
you did...that you did," she said sweetly. "Well...look at you guys.
You're big-time stars now!"
"Yeah...we've
been lucky. Blessed." Kevin paused. He was drowning in his memory of her.
He would give anything to touch her right now. "So...you doing okay? I've
been seeing your name a lot lately."
Jeanie
assured him she was great, keeping very busy. The small talk continued, random
thoughts leading nowhere. A compliment here...an observation there.
"Kevin?" Her voice was like honey, sweet, coating each and every word
she spoke. "I suppose I should let you go. I know you're much busier than
I am. I really appreciate the call..."
"No!"
he interrupted. "I mean...I wanted to tell you that I'm looking forward to
seeing you at the VMAs in Los Angeles." Kevin wasn't ready to end the
conversation...not yet, not after all he'd been through. "We're going to
be performing...Everybody, I think."
"Oh?"
Jeanie's mind shifted into high gear. The MTV awards. She knew about it, of
course, but couldn't remember telling anyone she would go.
"Yeah,
your publicist said she was dragging you along."
"Megan?"
Jeanie was shocked. Megan had been talking to Kevin? Megan, her best friend
that she'd confided everything in...everything about losing weight...and her
secret fantasy of someday blowing Kevin Richardson out of the
water...Megan...oh no...
"Yeah,"
Kevin took a deep breath. "So Ms. Kirkpatrick...it looks like you and I
have a date. I'll see you in September..."