Chapter 62
It had been a week since the pain I felt. I didn’t speak a word to anyone about it, and since I hadn’t felt it again, I just ignored it. I knew that I should have called my doctor, but I didn’t. I figured that everyone would make such a fuss, that I couldn’t take it.
“Heather hon, are you ready to go?” Nick questioned as he came around the corner to the bathroom.
“Yeah, let’s get going.” I said.
Nick and I soon hopped in the Durango and proceeded to the meeting that was scheduled for 10:00 am. We were to meet some new management members for us. We knew that the new members were put there to help with all the arrangements for the new tour. Although we had plenty of management, we figured that adding a few new team members would be good. Afterall, in a few months, there would be TONS of stuff to suddenly become worried about.
“Nick, do you know anything about these two guys?” I asked, trying to make conversation.
“Well, I just know their names and a few things. Umm, one of them is Mr. Bishop, who also manages Limp Bizkit and then there is Mr. Trevino. I don’t know much about him. They figured that the two of them could help us with some of the upcoming arrangements. But, from what I hear, the two of them are kinda bigshots, and well, appealing to the ladies.” Nick finished, glancing over at me.
“Well, don’t worry babe. I got you...and there isn’t any man in the world that I would want other than you.” I smiled sweetly and then glanced out the window.
Nick laughed as we finally approached the building where The Firm was located.
*** *** ***
“Just as usual, Mr. and Mrs. Carter are running late.” Mike said.
“Mike, aren’t you supposed to be with them?” Dee asked curiously.
“Hey, I have been put on light duty since they got married. You know, they need their privacy. Umm, well, that is what Nick thought. So, I offered to stay in the background. When I last checked, they were half way here.” He replied and then stood back in his corner.
The two new members of the team were already seated, waiting impatiently. “It is apparent that we need to talk to Heather and Nick about this.” The tall thin man said.
“Excuse me sir, but that is Mr. and Mrs. Carter, until they tell you otherwise.” Kevin replied.
“Oh, excuse me.” The man said sarcastically under his breath.
“Just because you manage Limp Bizkit and others, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some respect for us. If you have something to say, then you need to say it loud enough for us all to hear.” AJ snapped. “Now, like Kevin said, you are to address them as Mr. and Mrs. Carter.” He finished then sat back down.
They could all see how this was going to go. First the management would try and run the meeting, however, the Boys were supposed to have full control. After everyone sat around for about 10 minutes, the two men grew impatient and decided to start the meeting.
Suddenly, Nick and I came bursting through the door. I apologized to the guys for being late, and then Nick helped me to my seat.
“Oh God, no one told us she was pregnant! What the hell is this all about?” The shorter of the two men asked, seemly frustrated.
“Where have you been, man? It’s been all over the news for the past three months. How could you NOT know!?” Nick questioned, frustrated that there were no introductions.
“Excuse me sir, but is there some problem? Yeah, I am pregnant, so get used to it. It will be your job to help manage all the details for this.” I snapped.
The two guys seemed a bit unnerved, but the meeting soon got underway. After the formal introductions were made, everyone seemed to loosen up a bit. The tall thin man had introduced himself as Jean Louis Bishop, but told us to just call him Jean. Then the shorter man, he told us to call him Ivan. The initial stress seemed to go away. As the two guys put their ideas to the group of us, we heard a knock at the door. Howie got up and answered the door and we heard a bit of commotion.
“Sorry for not making it on time.” Kat said. “There was a ton of traffic on the freeway. Sorry.”
“Not a problem. So, we have the entire group here now. Let’s see, we need to first find new bus arrangements for everyone. Now, what we need to know, will Ms. Winchell, Ms. Huerta, Ms. Wallace, and Mrs. Carter be traveling on the buses with you all?” Jean asked.
Dee and Leighanne had decided that they would not be traveling much on the buses, rather, they would fly out to the venues as often as possible. Kat would travel along for the time being, and I would be with Nick as much as possible. After a short discussion, a new bus was to be fitted with everything Nick and I needed, as well as the others. Everyone decided that three buses would be needed, not including the ones that the dancers and crew needed.
Three hours had passed by, and I had to excuse myself. “Umm, excuse me please, but the baby seems to be playing kick ball with my bladder. I will be right back.” I said, as I blushed.
Everyone else decided that it was time for a break anyway. It was past 1:00 pm and everyone was hungry. The meeting recessed until 3:00 pm, so that everyone could go their ways to eat.
*** *** ***
“Nick, how would you and Heather like to go out to eat with us?” Howie asked.
“Well, why don’t we all go out together?” AJ suggested. “I mean, hell, aren’t we all just going to head to McDonald’s anyway??” he joked.
The four guys just smacked AJ over the head and gave him an evil look.
“Sure, why don’t we all go to Carino’s. I can get pizza, and everyone can order whatever they want!” Nick offered.
After a few moments of arguing, Dee and Kat noticed that I hadn’t returned from the restroom. “Hey, has anyone seen Heather, by the way?” Dee asked.
“Um no, she said she would be right back.” Nick said, his voice filling with fear.
“Hey, don’t worry Nick, us girl’s will go look for her...” Leighanne said, as she pulled Dee and Kat behind her.
*** *** ***
After a few minutes of searching all the ladies rooms in the building, they finally found me. When they opened the door, they heard sobbing, and immediately got concerned.
“Heather, honey, are you in here?” Dee questioned.
Sobbing was the only response they got. After looking under each of the stalls, they saw me sitting on the floor in the end one. “Heather, please come out. What is wrong?” Kat asked softly.
“I...umm...I am scared.” I responded.
The three of them looked at each other, not understanding a word I was saying. “Please, Heather, come out. What ever it is, we can fix it.” Dee said.
After a few minutes, the prodded me enough to come out. The three of them looked at me, waiting for some answer.
“Look, last week, after AJ’s show, when me and Nick got home, I went to take a shower, and well, when I raised my arm to undo my hair, I felt a sharp pain in my underarm. I didn’t think much of it, but I didn’t tell Nick. And now, I have the pain back, and it is worse, and there is a bit of swelling.” I blurted out.
“What?” Dee questioned fearfully.
“Well, I haven’t seen the doctor about this...and I am afraid. What if it is something bad. You have all said I didn’t look good, and I didn’t listen. What am I going to do?” I cried.
“Well, the best thing is to just make yourself all pretty, and come with us all to lunch. The whole group of us is going out. Then, as soon as that is over, we will tell the guys that we need to go run a few errands while they finish the meeting. We will take you to the doctor, and see what they say.” Dee spoke firmly. “However, do not say anything to the guys. All it will do is get Nick in a panic, and make the others worried.”
We all agreed, and made our way back to the group. After a few minutes of trying to convince them that nothing was wrong, we all went out to eat. The four of us stuck with our plans, and the guys thought nothing of it.
*** *** ***
We arrived at Dr. Christine’s office and she immediately took me in. The girl’s waited for what seemed an eternity, and then Dr. Christine asked to speak with them.
“Umm, ladies, Heather is going to need your help. She will have to go through a biopsy, in two days. I unfortunately cannot do x-rays because of the baby, however, there is something that is serious.” She proceeded.
“What?” Leighanne asked in shock.
“I found a mass just above her breast on the left side. The pain she was feeling was because the mass was irritating a nerve bundle under her arm. Now, she has requested that only you three know about this. I advised her to inform Mr. Carter right away, but she refused.” Dr. Christine finished.
“Oh dear God, is she going to be okay?” Dee asked, feeling nothing but fear and despair.
“I don’t know. I won’t know anything until the biopsy. But, I will tell you this...if it is cancerous, then there will be many decisions she will have to make. Just be there for her, and support her. She needs her friends and family now, and lots of prayers.” Dr. Christine finished and then walked away.
“Oh God, what are we going to do?” Kat asked.
“There is nothing we can do, except support her.” Dee said as they stood
in shock.