Stephanie went back into Kevin's room. She knew it had been too easy. They'd been being kind, civil. Their concern was for Kevin, and Kevin only.
She didn't blame them, but she felt, open, vulnerable. She didn't like that feeling.
"They don't mean to be rude." Ann Richardson was looking at Stephanie. It was the first time since Stephanie had been in Kevin's room that she'd looked up from his face.
"They are his little brothers. He's looked after them since they first started. Brian will take this the hardest, since he's family, but they all want to make sure that your..."
"Not some gold-digging bitch, pardon my language." Stephanie finished for her.
"Mrs. Richardson..." Stephanie started.
"Ann, please."
"Yea, right, I call you by your first name and my parents would kill me. How 'bout we compromise on Miss Ann?"
Ann looked at Stephanie thoughtfully.
"Ok Miss Ann is fine. Do you have family Steph? May I call you Steph?"
"Yes ma'am to both questions. Steph is fine and yea, I have three sisters and a brother. I'm the oldest. My brother is in the middle."
"How often did you all beat him up?" She asked knowingly.
Stephanie laughed.
"Only when he left the seat up! You don't know how many times we'd tell him not to do that, and he'd never listen. My dad tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. He learned after one night in particular, that's for sure. We jumped him and beat him to a pulp!"
Ann laughed out loud.
That was a beautiful sound to Stephanie. It meant something to her, that she was able to give Ann joy, if only for a moment.
"Stephanie?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Do you love my son?"
Damn. "You don't beat around the bush do you ma'am?"
"No, not where my children are concerned." She smiled gently at Stephanie.
"Honestly, yes. I do love Kevin. Very much." There was a catch in her throat.
"So why don't you let him tell people about you two?"
Stephanie was stunned. "Huh? Ma'am?" She knew exactly what Ann was asking, but she needed a bit of breathing room.
"Please, you don't think I would think Kevin was holding out on me? I would wring his neck, hiding such a beautiful young woman from me. No dear. This is all you...but why? Why don't you want people to know that you are seeing my son?"
It was the truth. She was the one who hadn't wanted people to know about them. It was the last arguement she and Kevin had. How could she explain to his mother of all people, what she was scared of?
"The fans make you nervous?"
"What are you a fu...uh freakin mind reader? The fans and...yea...the fans. It's a little overwhelming."
"And? You said 'and'. And what?"
"I'd really rather not talk about it, ma'am. Let's just say it's the fan's and leave it at that." She wasn't ready to tell about the email she'd received. Stephanie knew Kevin would have a fit if he knew about that, but she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.
Ann knew there was more, but she'd let it go for now.
"Look. Most of the fans will be fine. Some will be a little...disappointed that Kevin is seeing someone and yes, some will be very disappointed that he is seeing someone who isn't white. You have to know that he won't stand for that. That he won't let anyone or anything cause you harm. You do know that don't you, Stephanie?"
In her heart, Stephanie knew that. She knew Kevin wouldn't let anyone or anything harm her. He probably wouldn't be thrilled with his boys, for wanting to find out about her, but she'd deal with that later.
"I have to make a phone call. Excuse me ma'am."
She grabbed her purse and went out the room heading for the elevator bank.
"Stephanie? Stephanie!" Brian called for her, but Stephanie wasn't having it. They had each other to lean on. Ann had her boys and other family.
Stephanie decided she needed some back-up for herself.
Outside the hospital she speed dialed one number.
"Ronnie? Have you ever been to Kentucky?"
Back to Chapter 5
The Call
Chapter 7