~*Chapter 64*~

Howie knocked on Kari's hotel door.When she answered,she didn't say anything. "Is something wrong?Why did you need to see me?," he asked,closing the door. She went into the living room and sat down,and he sat down next to her.She turned and faced him."Howie,I've been doing alot of thinking lately.About us," she said,her voice shaking. He took her hand."Kari,just tell me what you need to say," he pressed. She took a deep breath."Howie,I don't think we should get married," she told him. He felt like he'd been slapped."Why?I thought we loved each other," he said,not understanding what she had just said. She looked up at him as she wiped the tears from her cheeks."I do love you Howie.But I'm just not ready to marry you," she stated.She waited for him to say something,but he just sat there. Finally he asked,"What's this gonna do to us?" She squeezed his hand."I still want to be your girl," she reassured him. He shook his head."You break off our engagement but say we can still continue to see each other?That's not gonna be easy to do Kari.I'm sorry but that's just the way I feel," he told her. She sighed."So you're saying we should only remain together if we get married?," she asked."Howie..." He stood up and faced her."I can't deal with this right now Kari.I've got way too much going on," he told her. She pulled the engagement ring off her finger and threw it at him."Fine!Don't deal with it then!I thought we could work this out,but I guess I was wrong Howie!," she yelled. She turned and ran into the bedroom then,slamming the door so hard the walls shook. Howie stood for a moment without moving,then turned and left.
***************~*Chapter 65*~***************
Kevin and Kelly were in the middle of breakfast when there was a knock on the door.he went and answered it.It was Nick and Blane. "Hey man.What's wrong?," he asked when he noticed Nick's blood~shot eyes.Blane was holding his hand and rubbing her other hand up and down his arm. Nick raked his fingers through his hair."I gotta go home for awhile.My dad had a heart attack," he told him. Kelly had walked up behind Kevin and heard Nick's words. "Oh Nick.I'm sorry,she said,and gave him a hug. Nick pulled away and gave her a small smile."Thanks Kel," he said,his voice shaking a little.He turned to Blane then as he broke down,and she folded him in her arms. Kevin patted Nick on the back."Take as much time off as you need.We can do the shows without you," he said. Nick nodded as he pulled away from Blane."Thanks man," he said. A few minutes later,he and Blane left to go make plane reservations to Orlando.
***************~*Chapter 66*~***************
The earliest Nick and Blane could leave for Orlando was the next morning.They took a 7:15 flight and were there by 1:30. They took a cab to Orlando General and the second it pulled up,Nick shoved some money into the driver's hand and he and Blane ran inside. They found his mom,and Lesley,Aaron,Angel,and BJ all sitting in the waiting room.He ran over to them and Jane Carter stood up. "Hey honey.How you doing?," she asked,as she hugged her son tightly. Nick pulled away and looked at her."I'll be alot better once you tell me how Dad's doing," he said. She squeezed his hand."He's doing better.They're trying to decide if it was serious enough to have to do open~heart surgery or not.If it was,they want to do it soon." Nick went over and sat down in the chair next to Aaron. "Oh man.How could this have happened?Dad's in such perfect health," he moaned,running his fingers through his hair and sighing. Blane ran her hand up and down his back,and he leaned into her,and she kissed the top of his head.
~*Chapters 67 & 68*~
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