Jeanie
settled into a comfortable routine back in Dallas. She had strict orders from
her physician: no more flying. Secretly, she was relieved. Her phone seemed to
ring constantly; she was buried under with cards and email from people all
wishing her the best. She was amazed at how many people knew she was pregnant
and how many people cared.
A.J.
helped Lindsay find a good manager taking a big load off Jeanie. She was
delighted when, after their tour ended in December, A.J. spent a long weekend
at the ranch with them. Jessie was like a kid with a new bike, bringing every
friend she had over to show off A.J. He took it all in stride, charming as
usual and affectionately referred to Jessie as "Blondie."
Kevin
called almost daily and came to Dallas when he could. He never would commit to
Jeanie and she never again brought up his other love.
On
January 4th, Grammy nominations were announced. Jeanie gave a small party.
Guests included the 3-Ms (Mac, Mike and Megan), Lindsay and A.J., Jessie and
her friends, studio people from Dallas, as well as Dek Allen.
The
room broke into mass hysteria when the nominations included Lindsay Connings in
the category of Best Pop Female Artist as well as Best New Artist. A.J. almost
knocked over a table swinging her around. Jeanie cried when the nominations for
Song of the Year included "Edges of Your Heart."
The
winners would be announced on February 23, 2000.
*******************************
For
the first time in her life Jeanie really did WANT to go to The Grammys. She was
certain Lindsay would win. Lindsay's honesty, sincerity and wide-eyed innocence
were like a breath of fresh air. Everyone loved Lindsay and A.J. was at the top
of the list.
Megan
temporarily moved her office and base of operation to Dallas for the month of
February because she knew that's when the baby was due. She wouldn't depend on
Kevin being there when the time came. Jeanie didn't depend on him, why should
she?
A
little after nine in the morning on February 23rd, Megan went to check on
Jeanie. She should've been up by now. She tiptoed into the darkened room.
"It's
okay, I'm awake," Jeanie mumbled. "I've been up all night." She
fought to sit up.
Megan
laughed and pulled her into a sitting position. "I hope to hell you
haven't been laying there all this time waiting for someone to lift you
up!"
"Megs,
can you read my mind?" Jeanie tried to smile.
Megan
grinned. "Yeah, you're thinking...go to hell, Megan. Right?"
Jeanie
giggled, "Something like that. You know what?" Megan sat down on the
edge of the bed. "My back hurts so bad..." Tears rolled down Jeanie's
cheeks.
Megan
hugged her. "Hey, hey...that's just pregnant fat-lady hormones
talking." Then she thought about it. "Wait...do you need to go to the
hospital?"
Wiping
her tears, Jeanie nodded. "It's time, Megs."
*********************************
Lindsay
sat in the auditorium between Mike and Dek. Record company executives, her
manager and her parents sat next to and behind them. She wished she could have
sat with A.J., but the Backstreet Boys were sitting front row center. All the
boys, except A.J., sat with girlfriends...including Kevin.
Mike
must have read her mind. "Yo'," he laid on his thickest New York
accent, "You wan I should bust his kneecaps?"
Lindsay
laughed, "Would you?" She wished she would hear something. Megan
called earlier from the hospital and said Jeanie was in labor. Still, there was
no word.
Kevin
had no idea he was about to become a father.
***********************************
The
birthing suite at Baylor was warm and comfortable with soft lights and soothing
music.
"I'm
tired...I don't want to be pregnant," Jeanie groaned as she felt another
contraction coming. It was almost five o'clock. She'd been in labor all day.
"I
know," Megan squeezed her hand. Mac, standing on the opposite side of the
bed, looked worse than Jeanie right now. He grabbed Jeanie's other hand as she
cried out from the pain.
"GOD
DAMN IT, I HATE KEVIN RICHARDSON!" Jeanie screamed.
"ME,
TOO!" Megan screamed.
"ME,
TOO! MEN ARE PIGS!" Mac screamed.
With
that, the doctor, nurses and everyone within earshot burst out laughing. Jeanie
wanted to laugh, but she couldn't...now...
The
doctor, still smiling, sat down on a stool at the foot of the bed. "Okay,
kids...let's have a baby..."
6
lb. 3oz. Madison Kirkpatrick was born at 5:34 p.m.
********************************
Mike's
pager, set on vibration, went off around seven o'clock. He pressed the message
button. The display screen glowed softly and read: IT'S A GIRL.
He
passed the beeper to Lindsay who held her hand over her mouth to keep from
screaming. They continued to pass the beeper from person-to-person up and down
the rows. People were quietly smiling and patting each other on the back.
Eventually,
the beeper found its way to the front row. A.J. saw it first, spinning around
to look at Lindsay. She nodded and grinned. He passed it to Nick...from there
it went to Howie, Brian and then, finally, Kevin. It seemed the whole
auditorium was watching as Brian wrapped his arm around his cousin's shoulders
and Kevin hung his head and cried.
Kevin's
date, reading the beeper, stood and walked out.
**********************************
This
was Lindsay's night. She won in both of her nominated categories. Jeanie was
heartbroken that she missed her acceptance speech. Megan turned on the television
just after ten o'clock. The show was still going on, apparently running over.
Jeanie
her hair in a ponytail and wearing a pink gown was propped up in bed. Megan and
Mac were propped up in bed with her, vowing they never wanted to have another
baby. Little Madison had been sleeping blissfully in her crib nearby. When she
stirred, Mac jumped to pick her up. "God almighty, this kid has
hair!" he laughed as he gingerly placed the infant into Jeanie's loving
arms. Madison was a mass of pink wrinkles and long, dark hair...she had Kevin's
hair.
She
kissed her tiny head. "I love you so much," she whispered. With that,
Mac started crying.
"Shush
you two," Megan pretended to scold. The final nominations were being read
for Song of the Year. They held their breath.
"The
Grammy for Song of the Year goes to: "Edges of Your Heart," Jeanie
Kirkpatrick and Mike Levine, Songwriters; Dek Allen, Producer; Lindsay
Connings, Artist."
The
auditorium exploded, the audience jumping to their feet. A.J., unable to
restrain himself any longer, rushed to Lindsay as she sat in her seat crying.
Mike, Dek and A.J. pulled her to her feet and they made the slow walk toward
the stage. Every step they took, they were being hugged and grabbed and
congratulated.
In
Dallas, the quiet hospital room also erupted. Nurses who had filled the room
were hugging and kissing each other. Megan, Mike and Jeanie couldn't believe
it. Tiny little Madison, not appreciating all the commotion around her, opened
her sleepy eyes, trying to focus.
Jeanie
felt like her heart would explode with pride as Mike, Lindsay and Dek walked
across the stage and accepted their statues. The guys stepped back to give
Lindsay first shot at the thank you. Just as she began to speak, a tall and
very handsome man in the front row stood up. He looked briefly at Brian and
A.J. and smiled. They could read it in his eyes. Kevin had finally made the
decision they'd all prayed he would make. He slowly made his way toward the
stage.
The
auditorium fell silent.
Jeanie
cried as she watched Kevin brush a tear from his cheek as he made his way to
the podium. "Madison, look! That's your Daddy," she whispered.
Lindsay
stepped back and handed Kevin Jeanie's Grammy. He leaned close to the
microphone, clearing his throat. "My-my fiancee, Jeanie Kirkpatrick, can't
be here tonight. As most of you already know, she was a little busy having our
baby this afternoon..."
The
audience laughed a little and then applauded.
Kevin
looked into the television camera. "Jeanie, baby, I know you're watching.
I just wanted to say that...I love you," Kevin looked toward the Boys in
the front row and returned their smiles. He held up her Grammy and continued,
"Jeanie...I'm coming home."
The End
Want more?
Read the next part in the trilogy, “Broken Promises
& Lies”
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