Chapter 7
After Joey was gone, Kevin and Tyler went to the dining room where Hoke and Paula were waiting for them.
Hoke said gratefully, "Thank you, Kevin."
"You're welcome. Before we eat, Tyler, you need to make a phone call."
"Go ahead, Ty," said Paula.
Tyler led Kevin to the kitchen and Kevin said, "Call Joey and tell him you're in Tampa."
Tyler dialed Joey's number and waited. The phone rang a couple times and as Joey answered, Tyler took Kevin's hand. "Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?"
"Tyler! Where are you? I looked everywhere for you."
Tyler could hear the concern in his voice. "I'm in Tampa. Busch Gardens has been after me to help them and since I'm leaving in two weeks, I figured it was now or never."
"You should have called or left a message. How long will you be?"
"I won't be back until Saturday."
"Ty, we're leaving Friday."
"I know, sweetie, but I can't help it. I'll see you at the Grammy's."
"Okay! Ty, I love you."
Looking at Kevin and squeezing his hand, Tyler said, "I love you."
Tyler hung up and Kevin asked, "Did he believe you?"
"I think so. You do know I was telling you that I love you?"
"Of course, I know!" said Kevin as he kissed Tyler.
The couple joined Hoke and Paula for dinner and had a wonderful time. Afterwards, Kevin and Tyler went for a walk around the lake behind the house so they could be alone. When they returned, Kevin decided that he should go. It was getting late and he was going to have to explain to the guys what had happened, or rather what hadn't happened.
Tyler walked out to the truck with Kevin to say goodbye. Kevin leaned against his truck, his hands in his pockets, and Tyler stood in front of him with her hands on his sides.
Kevin said, "I'll try to get by here tomorrow but I can't promise anything."
"Will you at least call?"
"I'll try," said Kevin softly. In his pocket, Kevin had slipped his ring off and was playing with it now.
"Kev, I wish the next two weeks were over. I don't think I can stand being away from you any longer."
"It won't be long, baby." Kevin pulled the ring out of his pocket as he took her hand in his. He put the ring in her hand and said, "This is my promise of forever to you."
Tears rolled down Tyler's cheeks as Kevin closed her hand on the ring. She whispered, "This all feels so right."
"That's because it is, Tyler. I love you and I want to be with you."
Kevin put his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her ever so tenderly. With his thumbs, he wiped the tears away.
"I love you, Kevin."
"Go get some sleep."
"I'll see you later."
"Definitely. What time Friday?"
"The appointment is at nine."
"I'll be here at eight then."
Tyler watched Kevin get in his truck and pull away. Then she went back inside and joined her aunt and uncle. They talked for a while about different things, catching up. After an hour or so, Tyler decided to go to bed. She was exhausted from the last four months.
Before cutting off the lights, Tyler looked at a picture beside her bed. It was of her and Howie when they graduated from high school. As she looked at it, Paula came in and sat down with Tyler.
Tyler looked up at her and said, "I really hurt Howie, Mami. All he was trying to do was protect me, like he's always done."
"Ty, you and Howie have always been close and he'll forgive you. What's important is that you're okay, you're with the man of your dreams, and things are going to be okay."
"I hope so."
"Why are you waiting so long to fix things with Howie and break up with Joey?"
"Well, I want to be sure that I AM pregnant before I say anything to Joey. As for telling Howie," laughed Tyler. "I'm just putting off the inevitable 'I told you so' from him because I know that's what he'll say once he gets over being so mad at me."
Paula laughed too. "You're right about that. I'm just so happy to see you happy. Kevin is the only man I've ever seen that makes you this happy."
Tyler had put Kevin's ring on a chain and was wearing it around her neck now. She took it in her hand now as she said, "He gave this to me tonight as a promise that we'll always be together."
"Why don't you get some sleep? You look so tired."
Tyler settled into the pillows and Paula pulled the covers over her. She turned the lights off as she left the room and Tyler rolled over, drifting off to sleep. It was the first night in four months that Tyler had fallen asleep easily and slept peacefully through the night.
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When Kevin got home, the only one around was 'Quincy', his cat. He was relieved that he didn't have to face the guys just yet because he wasn't sure if he could be convincing. He scooped up the cat and headed to the studio to work on some music. Seeing Tyler and holding her close had given him some ideas.
Kevin worked all night in the studio and at eight the next morning, Brian found him at the piano.
"Hey, cuz! How long have you been up?"
"All night. I couldn't sleep.
"How'd things go with Ty after we left?"
Thankful for the lack of sleep, Kevin was able to pull off the scam. "It went."
"So, are you two together? Where is she? Joey came by her looking for her yesterday."
Kevin managed to sound angry. "Ty's in Tampa and no, she's staying with him."
That floored Brian. Everyone had been certain that Tyler and Kevin would get together. Weakly, Brian asked, "Why?"
"She didn't explain. She simply said that she did love me but that she was staying with him."
Kevin and Brian heard the others coming in and Brian said, "I can't believe Tyler would stay with him."
"Well she did! I'm going to get a shower before we practice."
Kevin left as the others came into the studio and they noticed the mood he seemed to be in. Nick asked, "What's up with Kev?"
Brian shook his head, "Ty stayed with Joey. He's been up all night working on music because he couldn't sleep."
Howie felt like he'd been hit by a freight train. In disbelief, he said, "I was sure Kevin would get through to her."
AJ said, "We all thought that too!"
"Then where was he all day?" asked Nick.
"He didn't say," said Brian. "He did say that she had told him she did love him but didn't offer any explanation for staying."
"This doesn't make any sense," said Howie. "Tyler loved yesterday and we all heard her tell him she loved him too.
Brian shook his head, "I don't know but I think that until Kevin is ready to talk we need to let it drop."
All the guys agreed and went about getting ready to practice. When Kevin returned, they were all business. They spent the next 13 hours working on songs and practicing dance steps. They took breaks for lunch and dinner and at nine, they called it quits.
Before Kevin left the studio, Howie asked Kevin, "Where is Tyler now?"
"She's in Tampa on business," said Kevin. He was exhausted so he didn't explain any further.
Howie said, "I'm really sorry, Kevin. We shouldn't have pushed you."
The others echoed their apologies.
Kevin looked at them and said, "It's okay, guys. One day, I'll have Tyler and all of this will be worth it."
"Why don't the five of us take off tomorrow for the beach or something? Just hang out," suggested Nick. "The girls have their plans for tomorrow."
Kevin said, "I'm not up for it. I'm taking off early and going flying."
The others knew this was Kevin's way of dealing with things so they didn't push it. They said good-night and watched Kevin go to his room.
Kryss, Fiona, Lex, and Sonja were there watching television when the guys joined them. They had seen Kevin go upstairs and were somewhat confused since Tyler wasn't around.
Kryss asked, "What's up with Kevin?"
"Tyler stayed with Joey," said Howie.
"And Kevin's really bummed," said AJ as he took Lex in his arms. He kissed her on the neck and settled down to be comforted.
All of the guys were hurting for Kevin and Tyler right now and the girls knew it.
"You know, I could kick Joey's butt!" steamed AJ.
"You aren't the only one," said Nick.
Sonja said, "Did you know that Tyler had turned in her resignation to Mr. Burton?"
"She did what?" asked Howie.
"Tyler quit Disney World, effective immediately. Mr. Burton asked me to take over until he could find a replacement for her."
"Where was she today?" asked Brian.
"Tampa. Busch Gardens has been after her to come down and give them some pointers on their shows."
"I wish I knew what my cousin was thinking."
They all sat around talking about Kevin and Tyler. They were extremely disappointed in the news Kevin had given and surprised that Tyler would leave Disney.
Meanwhile, Kevin was in his room making plans for Friday and for what he was going to do once Tyler was with him. He fully intended to propose to her and what he wanted was to propose to her on stage. He fell asleep thinking about how he would do it.
The next morning, Kevin was up by six and showered quickly. He then pulled on his jeans, his Giants jersey, and boots. He grabbed his leather jacket, sunglasses, wallet, and keys.
As he was leaving, Kevin passed Sonya in the hall. She said, "Kev, I'm really sorry about you and Tyler."
Kevin was about to bust but he said, "It's okay, Son! Things will work out. What are you up to today?"
"The girls and I are going out today. What about you?"
"I'm going flying."
"You always take off when you need to think.
"It's quiet time."
Sonja looked at Kevin and realized that he was wearing what Tyler loved to see him in. In fact, it had been Tyler who had given Kevin the jersey for Christmas several years ago. She said, "There's something different about you. You don't seem quite as upset as I thought you'd be."
"Tyler means the world to me but I have to be happy for her."
Sonja eyed Kevin suspiciously and said, "Uh huh, and I'm a monkey's uncle. I'll see you later."
Kevin gave Sonja a kiss on the cheek and that's when she noticed Kevin's ring was missing. She didn't say anything and watched him leave. She suspected something but she couldn't pinpoint it.
Kevin drove to the Doroughs and thought about Tyler all the way. When he got to the house, he ran up to the door and practically had to hold himself back to keep from breaking down the door.
Tyler answered the door and Kevin took her in his arms lifting her off the ground. He held her tight, her arms around his neck, as they kissed.
Setting her down, Kevin said, "God! I missed you.
"I missed you too, baby! How did it go with the guys?"
"They all bought it except for Sonja. I think she knows something is up."
Tyler laughed, "She knows us too well. What are we going to do today?"
"Well, first we're going to the doctor and then to the mall shopping."
"For what?"
"I want to buy you something. Then we're going flying."
"We have all day together?"
"Yes! I told the guys I was going flying."
Tyler was excited by the prospect of spending the day with Kevin. He'd taken her flying before but it had been a while since she'd been. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere special," said Kevin.
Paula came into the hall where the couple was talking. "Good morning, Kevin. How did things go?"
"Okay. Howie's really hurting though."
Tyler didn't like hearing that and Paula asked, "Don't you two think you should reconsider waiting to tell Howie?"
Kevin looked down at Tyler who said, "I guess after I know for sure about the baby that we could tell Howie."
"Can I make a suggestion?" asked Paula.
"Of course," said Kevin.
"Why don't you ask him to meet you at the doctor's office?"
