Chapter 59
The flight to Kentucky was smooth and Kevin flew the whole way. Tyler had to go back and forth between the cockpit and the cabin in order to spend time with Kevin and with her friends. This wasn’t that big of a deal because the guys were doing the same.
When they landed, Kevin, Brian, Sonja, Tyler, and Tiffany were headed to Kevin’s mother’s for dinner and the others were going to get rental cars and go to the hotel. Kevin’s brothers had brought his jeep to the airport so that he would have a way to get to the house.
At Kevin’s mother’s, the whole family was there; Brian’s parents, his brother, both of Kevin’s brothers, their wives, and children. It took thirty minutes just to greet everyone and introduce Tiffany. Then they separated with the men going to watch television, the children going off to play, and the women going to the kitchen to help finish with dinner.
Over dinner, Kevin told about his accident and both guys told about what had been going on with the tour. The rest of the week was also discussed; the shower on Thursday, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday along with the bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the wedding on Saturday.
"Kevin, you and Tyler aren’t staying together Friday, are you?" asked Stephanie.
"Nope. The guys are having my bachelor party at the hotel so Brian and I will crash there."
Tyler mumbled, "As long as it’s with one of the guys and not some tramp."
Kevin heard her and laughed, "I’m the one who should be worried."
"What’s that suppose to mean?" asked Sonja innocently.
Brian laughed, "Don’t play innocent, Sonja. We all know what you, Kryss, Fiona, and Lex have cooked up for Tyler."
"Well, tell me!" said Tyler.
Sonja gave Kevin and Brian a dirty look, "Don’t you dare!"
Everyone laughed as Brian said, "Okay! Okay! I’ll stay quiet but you know, Tyler has a way of getting what she wants from Kevin."
After dinner, the group moved outside to watch the girls playing in the yard. Kevin decided to sit so that he could prop his leg up on the steps so Tyler sat with him.
Jackie said, "Darling, wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a chair?"
Tyler was leaning against Kevin as she said, "I’m fine, Mrs. Littrell."
The adults talked for several hours telling stories about Kevin and Brian as little boys. Several times, they were both embarrassed but Tyler and Sonja were enjoying it. They both felt like they knew the guys so much better after hearing the stories.
Near the end of the end of the evening, Anne asked, "Tyler, how are you doing with the pregnancy?"
"I have my good days and my bad. The baby is fine though, a very strong heartbeat."
Kevin looked at Tyler adoringly which everyone saw. He said, "Mom, as soon as the baby is born, I’m having Christine file a petition of adoption."
Anne was pleased but Brian’s father said, "Kevin, this isn’t your child. It’s one of your biggest rivals in fact. Why in the world would you want to give it your name?"
"Harold!" said Anne shocked that her brother would say such a thing. "This is their decision and we shouldn’t interfere."
"Uncle Harold, Tyler was raped and as far as I’m concerned, Joey has NO claim to this child."
"Tyler should have pressed charges and put the baby up for adoption then."
Brian said, "Dad, Tyler didn’t press charges because she was being blackmailed by Pearlman. She was protecting us!"
Kevin said, "As for giving up the baby, it’s a part of her too and I for one would never ask her to do that. Joey may be the biological father of this baby but where it counts, I’m the real father. I’m the one Tyler came to when she thought she was pregnant and I’ve been there from almost the beginning. I intend to stay by Tyler’s side and when the baby arrives, I’ll be there for him or her too."
Tyler was on the verge of tears listening to Brian’s father so she said, "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."
Kevin looked at her and saw the tears. He said softly, "Do you want me to go?"
Sonja had seen the tears too and said, "Ty, I’ll go with you."
Sonja followed Tyler into the house and when they were out of sight and hearing of everyone, Tyler began to cry. Sonja put her arms around her friend to console her.
"How could he be so mean?" sobbed Tyler.
"I don’t know. I don’t think he completely understands the whole situation."
"GOD! Why is this happening to me?"
"It’s going to be okay, Tyler. Kevin’s mother and his brothers seem to be very supportive. Don’t let one person’s uninformed opinion upset you."
"But he’s Kevin’s uncle! How hard is it going to be for me and the baby at family gatherings?"
"It’s not because everyone will see how much Kevin adores you and the baby."
Tyler knew Sonja was right. Kevin had defended her so far and she knew he’d continue. "Thanks for listening, Sonja."
"No problem. Now go wash your face and let’s get back out there."
Tyler did that and when they rejoined the others, Tyler could tell Kevin was furious with his uncle. Nothing more was said about the baby. In fact, when the girls came back, Kevin and Brian said they needed to get back so they could get some rest since they were tired. Tyler was thankful for the reason to leave and they all said their good-byes.
Anne had walked with them to the door and she took Tyler’s hand in hers. "Sweetheart, don’t let Harold upset you. I support you 100% as do Kevin’s brothers. I’m thrilled to be getting a new grandchild."
"Thank you," said Tyler as she hugged her.
Kevin gave his mother a hug too. "Thank you, mom."
"You two are so much in love. Hold on to that with both hands."
Kevin hugged Tyler as he said, "I intend to, Mama."
The drive to Kevin’s was quiet mainly because everyone was tired. When they got there, Brian, Sonja, and Tyler got the bags from the jeep and then headed to the house. Kevin showed them to their rooms and Tyler went with Tiffany to make sure she got settled in for the night.
Kevin was waiting for her in their room when she came in and closed the door. With his crutches lying on the floor by the bed, he limped to Tyler and took her in his arms.
"Baby, are you okay?"
"I’m fine now but I wasn’t at your mother’s."
"Uncle Harold doesn’t fully understand all that went on. You’ll be
happy to hear that Mama and Aunt Jackie both let him have it."
"I’m sorry that this caused problems."
"Don’t worry about it, baby. Now, you need to focus on the next few days and what’s at the end. You’re just a few short days away from being my wife, Mrs. Kevin Scott Richardson."
"Ummm....I like the sound of that."
"I have something else you might like the sounds of," said Kevin mischievously.
"What’s that?"
"Let’s go to bed and make love until the morning," said Kevin as he nuzzled her neck.
Kevin was growing his beard and mustache back so the hairs tickled her neck as he nuzzled her. She couldn’t help laughing. "I like that idea too."
"Why are you laughing then?"
"Because your beard tickles."
Kevin turned her around and started walking her to the bed backwards while he unbuttoned her shirt. Tyler stopped and stepped closer to Kevin. She stood on her toes and began to kiss him along the neck as she unbuttoned his shirt as well.
With their shirts open, Kevin reached around Tyler and unhooked her bra and took it and her shirt off. Then he pulled Tyler close to him pressing his body to her and kissing her deep.
As they kissed, Kevin moved them towards the bed. Not knowing where they were, Tyler tripped over Kevin’s crutches and fell backwards onto the bed pulling Kevin with her.
"Oh my god! Baby, are you okay?"
Tyler buried her face in Kevin’s chest as she began to laugh. "I’m fine, ‘Boo’. What about your knee?"
"It’s okay."
"What a way to ruin a moment!"
Kevin kissed her as he put his hand on her stomach. "The mood’s not ruined."
Tyler was still laughing as she put her hands on his chest.
Frustrated, Kevin said, "You keep laughing and the mood will be ruined."
"I’m sorry, ‘Boo’," laughed Tyler. "But it just hit me as being funny."
Kevin chuckled, "It was kind of funny. Are you sure you’re okay?"
"I’m positive."
Kevin began kissing Tyler along her neck as he cupped one breast in his hand. He toyed with her nipple and then licked it.
Tyler moaned, "Oh, that’s delicious."
"You’re what’s delicious, baby," murmured Kevin against her skin as he did the same to the other breast.
Tyler fumbled with Kevin’s jeans trying to unfasten them but she had trouble. Kevin stopped to help her and the two finished undressing.
The couple made love slowly, tenderly, passionately; their eyes locked on each other giving the other their full attention. The intensity of their love radiated in every kiss, every touch.
Afterwards, the two lay together holding each other and talking. Kevin wanted to change their wedding vows and he told her how he wanted to change them. She agreed and Kevin said he’d talk to Tim about it.
Kevin also moved down to Tyler’s stomach and put his head down. He talked softly to the baby about little things. He sang to the baby and then he sang Tyler to sleep as well.
The next day was busy going over final details for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the reception. Tyler was extremely pleased with it all and she hadn’t had to do much.
Kevin also showed everyone around the farm. It had been quite a while since the guys had been there and Kevin was proud of all the changes that had been made in that time period.
The guys decided to hang out at Kevin’s that night while the girls went to Mrs. Richardson’s for the shower. That’s when they started hatching their plan.
AJ said as Howie was shooting pool, "Lex has hired several male strippers for Tyler’s bachelorette party."
"Yeah, we know all that," said Brian who was fiddling with the stereo.
"Well, I say we give the girls a little surprise," said AJ.
Kevin knew AJ had something good cooking. As he moved to look at what shot he had, he said, "Spill it, ‘Bone’."
"I say we take their places."
"The girls are going to know it’s us," said Nick. "Especially you, AJ, when you take off your shirt."
"But they’ll be so crocked they won’t know what’s going on," said AJ.
"Not Tyler," pointed out Howie.
"True, but she loves a good prank as much as we do. Besides, we’ll wear masks and they won’t know it’s us until we start taking off clothes," said AJ.
"How far are we going to go?" asked Nick.
AJ grinned, "All the way, baby!"
Brian said, "Count me out, guys."
"Oh man! Bri! Come on! You’ve got to do this. Sonja would love it," urged Nick.
Kevin spoke up to say, "If he wouldn’t pose with us for Rolling Stone, what makes you think he’s going to do this?"
"You guys go ahead and have fun," said Brian.
"I’m in," chorused Howie and Nick.
AJ looked at Kevin, "Well, what about you?"
"I’m in but I’m the one who strips for Tyler. You clowns have your own girlfriends."
"Cool. I’ll get the rest of the information from Lex and we’ll get together after the rehearsal."
