Chapter 8
Irene got home wondering about Kevin Richardson. Not the 'Backstreet Boy', but the man behind that guy.
'Those eyes should be registered as lethal weapons', She thought.
He had the physique of an Adonis. He cared about how he looked,she could tell, but nothing about him was vain or shallow. She'd visited a few websites set up by fans and a few had met him and the other guys. No one had said anything bad about them. Nothing. The fans said how kind they were, how they went out of their way, especially Kevin, to meet them, and how they did nothing but appreciate their fans.
She'd thought it was crock of shit until tonight. They were wonderful with Jessie. Especially when she'd hurt herself. They were as concered as she was. If not more.
It hadn't seemed to phase them either. Her little blond haired, blue eyed 'niece'. She thought she'd feel a little out of place, but it wasn't as bad as she figured it would be. The lone black woman in that crowd of 'lighter skinned folk' as her ex would say.
What really threw her was that the boys weren't phased by her. They didn't even blink! She really liked that.
And Kevin...she definitely liked him.
"Hmm gotta get the house ready. Not sure what they'd like to eat for lunch. Better call Lise and have her whip something up."
'Lise' was Lisel Patterson, of Lisel's Catering. It was the best catering company in Minneapolis and at Irene's insistance, Lise opened up a shop in Miami. She threatened Irene with the type of bodily harm that would make mobsters proud if the store flopped. It turned out to be a waste of time.
The company was a hit. Especially with the ever finicky people of South Beach. Lisel's Catering fit there perfectly.
Irene dialed Lise's number. "She is gonna kill me for this. If I'm the least bit lucky, she'll murder me while setting up a nice lunch."
"Lisel's Catering, Katy speaking. How may I help you?"
"Hey Katy, it's Irene. Is Lise there?"
"Oh hey Ms. Irene. Yes, she's right here. Hang on a second." Irene heard Katy screech for Lise and laughed.
"Lisel Patterson speaking, how may I help you?
"Hey Lise. How are you? Tell me you love me and that you appreciate me convincing you to open a store in Miami?"
"No I'm not doing it. Whatever you need I'm not doing it. I can not create a party for 50 people on five minutes notice. If you love me at all, you will not dare me on this, I beg you, Irene, not now."
"Umm how about a lunch for me, five guys and you? Five really cute, handsome, guys who sing like angels? Oh and Jessie. She may want to come."
"When, Rene? And exactly how fine are these guys?"
"Tomorrow, lunch and the guys are the Backstreet Boys" Irene spoke in a low voice, figuring if she was quiet, Lise might say yes out of pity. She didn't exactly say yes.
"Backstreet?? BSB? As in Kevin, Nick, AJ, Brian and...ulp...Howie?"
"Yea, Jessie met them last night and I may be doing Kevin a favor. I told them to come by my place and we'll have lunch..." Irene couldn't finish her sentence because of the screams from Lise.
"OH MY GOD! Howie is going to be at your house?? Ok, I know just what to make for lunch. Oh my God. Oh, Rene what should I wear? Something purple! It's got to be purple cause that's Howie's favorite color!"
"Lise, you know what his favorite color is?" Irene decided if Lise knew favorite colors that had to be good.
"Of course! Doesn't everybody?!" Lise snapped.
"Uh, Yea, of course." Irene had no idea what Kevin's favorite color was. She didn't really care. It should be green because of those laser tag eyes of his, she thought.
"Hello...earth to Rene...you still there, girl?"
"Yea honey, I'm sorry. So can I assume you'll do the lunch? You don't have to cancel anything do you?"
"Naw, I can have Katy do the lunch for the Mayor and I'll be at your place with Howie." Irene could have sworn she heard Lisel sighing.
"What time should I be there babe?"
"Well I told the guys to be here around one so and you need set up time, so how about..."
"How about I just spend the night! I'll bring everything I need and a bottle of wine for us and Jessie!"
"Jessie's a minor Lise." Irene couldn't help but laugh at her friends enthusiasm
"Oh yea, ok I'll get her some Grape cider, that way she won't feel left out!"
"Fine, honey. You don't know how much I appreciate this. Really."
"Oh Irene, girl, the pleasure is TRULY mine. I'll see you in a few hours, ok?"
"Ok"
Irene couldn't help but laugh as she was hanging up. She could swear that Lisel was singing What Makes you Different, Makes You Beautiful.
OK, now to start cleaning.
Now you would think it would be time consuming to clean a 6 bedroom 5 bathroom home with a pool, jacuzzi and a beachfront view. Not in this case. Irene was nobody's neat freak, but she did have one thing that helped her a lot.
"Marie!"
"Yes, Ms. Irene?"
Marie was Irene's Housekeeper. Irene dispissed the word 'maid' so much it made her teeth ache. Marie had coming knocking on Irene's door the minute the movers finished and said that since the home was so beautiful and that she'd taken such time with having the house built to her specification, she should keep it befitting for her. Marie told Irene that she would happily clean the whole house for an extremely cheap price. She just needed room and board.
Irene gave Marie a long look. She could not have been more than 18, she was filthy and obviously hungry.
"The first time you screw me, I'll kill you. You can have one of the upper rooms. I want some ID kid. I want to know who you are and where you're running from."
Marie blinked and hesitated. She then handed Irene her wallet. She was just 18 and she'd come from Minneapolis, MN. An Abusive mother had caused her to run and Marie thought that Miami would be the place to go. She lucked out and found a shelter one mile from where Irene's home was built. She watched the workers and she watched Irene give them hell. She decided this woman was someone she wanted to know.
She moved in with Irene that night.
"Listen I need you to help me fix up a little. Well not even a little, but I want to make sure the place is tidy. I'm having company tomorrow. You're welcome to stay, as always, but my company is the group Backstreet Boys."
"Oh...Ok, sure if you don't mind." Marie was not a fan of the group, but she thought they were cool and if they were coming to her house, then why not meet them.
Chapter 7
Back to Escape
Chapter 9
