Birds In Your Garden - Chap. 7

Message Board Posts for Chapter 7 (fictional)

Kevin walked in, leading Jana with his hand on her shoulder as the waitress walked to a table. He let go of Jana as he passed by a table and looked at the two girls sitting there, looking back to him with wide-eyed excitement. He took a step and then turned back, leaning his hand down on the table. "They're not smothered here, are they?" he asked with a wry grin.

"No!" one of the girls whined playfully.

"We're suffering!" the other answered. "I can't believe you remember us!"

He sat down next to the girl with the long dark hair and leaned an elbow on the table, eyeing both of them with amusement. "So, what is it then? You two go to a show and get a craving for home fries?" he teased, winking at the girl across the table. "We either make you hungry - which I have to say would be a first, I think -- or you're trying for a record of eating at every roadside joint known to man." He watched them blush as they stammered over answering and smiled to them. "Well, enjoy your meal. I'm heading over to my friend." He stood up and leaned over the table again. "Alex and Nick are joining us in a bit, so you might want to prepare yourself," he teased, winking at them again. "Have a good one."

"Friends of yours?" Jana asked as Kevin took the chair next to her. She watched as the girls huddled over the table, trying hard to contain themselves.

"Roadside groupies," he answered, looking to them and waving. "It's fine."

"Coffee?" the waitress asked, coming over to them.

"How are you tonight?" Kevin asked politely with a smile. "I'll have coffee. Jana?" She nodded and hunched over a bit, shivering. "That's two." The waitress wandered away and Kevin stretched his arm across Jana's shoulders.

"Damn! This place is so damn cold!" AJ exclaimed, making his way over to the table and sitting across from them. He let go of Sarah's hand, and she excused herself to go get a sweater from the bus.

"I've got some on the bus too," Kevin said, turning to Jana. "Want me to go get you one?"

"I'll go," she said. "Just tell me where."

"Bedroom, somewhere in a suitcase. You'll have to dig."

She slid out from the table, and Kevin watched her walk down the aisle with a smile, turning to see AJ grinning at him as he leaned his chin on his hands. "I take it she's feeling a bit better? Hmmm?" AJ asked with a goofy grin.

"We talked," Kevin said, settling back in his seat. "It's cool."

"We might have a Nick and Wanton Sex Goddess sighting," AJ said. "She's got her friend James with them, I think."

"It's love, man," Kevin grinned, "if she drove all this way just to see him. I take it he didn't tell her about the other night?"

"Hay-ell, no!" AJ laughed with a firm nod.

"Geez!" Nick exclaimed, walking through the door, immediately hugging himself. "Cold enough?"

"I told you," Rachel said knowingly, pulling the sleeves down from the sweater she was wearing. "Come prepared!" she laughed.

"That's my sweater! Give it back!" Nick teased, attempting to pull the sweater up before she pushed him away.

"Bite me," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Kevin, this is James, my friend and band mate. James, this is Kevin, someone who actually tolerates Nick on a daily basis. Ow!" she laughed as Nick swatted her playfully. Kevin stood up and shook James' hand with a quick hello, and Sarah and Jana came back in a fit of giggles.

"Oh, no," Alex said. "The giggling has started."

Jana made her way back to her seat but stopped in front of Rachel, extending her hand. "You're Rachel Conner," she smiled, "and you're James Packard! I saw your gig years ago at the Artful Dodger in Huntington, and my room mate and I went out and got everything you've ever released since then."

"Give her an autograph," Nick giggled, elbowing Rachel. "She's a real fan! She knew you before she knew us!"

"No, she didn't," Kevin interjected. "She knew me before she knew any of y'all." He rested an elbow down on the corner of the table and pointed around the table with his other hand. "And before there was a Sudden Silence." Nick stuck his tongue out at Kevin, and AJ reached out to grab it, but missed.

"Here, let me try," Rachel said, taking Nick's face and leaning in for a kiss while the rest of them groaned.

"They've been doing that since we left," James announced, waving his hand to them. "I think I've memorized each and every hair on the boy's head." He reached out and started mussing up Nick's hair.

"Hey, dude!" Nick laughed, slapping James' hand away.

"More coffee?" the waitress said coming over to the table.

"Coffee!" AJ said with finality. "Lots of coffee, darlin'. And could you do something about the air conditioning?"

"The cook gets hot behind the grill," she replied, looking to Sarah and waiting for her order.

"Now she's definitely a fan," AJ said, looking to Rachel over the rim if his sunglasses and pointing to the waitress and nodding. "Of all of us."

Kevin looked over AJ's shoulder and tapped him. "They are, though," he said, pointing to the two girls and waving at them. AJ turned around and looked over the rim of his glasses again, lifting his eyebrows, also waving. The girl with the short, dark hair nudged her friend and pointed to the table, and both of them waved back with a giggle. "See?"

"You're not Don Henley or Robert Plant, I don't care and I'm not impressed," the waitress replied with a bored intonation. "You ready to order?" She took their orders and walked away as the table laughed at her bitter attitude. Kevin attempted to break into a Led Zeppelin song, but Jana covered his mouth with her hand and shook her head with a stern look.

"Hey, Jana lives on Long Island, too," Nick said, draping an arm around Rachel's shoulder.

"I figured that when she said Huntington," Rachel said, patting Nick's hand. "How long have you been there?"

"Years," Jana answered. "My room mate grew up there, and we've been living together now for about eight years, I think. It's definitely not Kentucky, but you can't beat the beaches."

"Yes, you can," Kevin protested. "Doe Creek!"

Jana turned and blinked at him in complete disbelief. "You're a freak," she said plainly. "Doe Creek is nothing compared to a beach!"

"I had plenty of great summers going out there!" Kevin argued. "Don't be dissin' the hometown!"

"Don't be turnin' all home-boy on me, homey! You be a Kentucky backwoods boy, bay-be," she teased, wagging her finger in his face and snapping a 'Z' with a wag of her head.

"You just said, dawg, she knew you before we all did!" Nick howled with laughter.

"And she used to be so nice, too," Kevin lamented with a shake of his head, wrapping his elbow around her neck playfully. "Remind me to keep you quiet somehow."

AJ dipped his chin and looked at Kevin, his eyebrows appearing over the rims of his glasses. "Well, I know one way…"

"And what would that be?" Kevin asked, kissing Jana's forehead before releasing her.

AJ wrinkled his nose. "Nah, it's not appropriate here," he teased with a shake of his head.

"What are you suggesting, Mr. McLean?" Rachel giggled.

Almost as if planned, the two fans had gone to the jukebox, and music soon blasted through the empty restaurant. "That's what I meant!" he exclaimed, pointing a finger up. "Dancing! What all did ya think I meant? Hmmm?"

"Dancing, right!" Nick and Kevin nodded skeptically. AJ reached his hand out to Jana. She slid behind Kevin and put her hand in his, letting AJ draw her close and started dirty dancing in front of the table. Kevin sat back, folding his arms and lifted a shoulder as he dipped his chin, watching them with lifted eyebrows.

"Well that's a little inappropriate," Sarah giggled.

James leaned over to Nick and Rachel, pointing to AJ and Jana. "Am I missing something?"

"Not really," Nick said with a shake of his head. "She's one of our dancers. AJ's always making her dance with him."

Kevin stood up with a sigh and shake of his head, noticing the fans watching in amusement. "Someone should show them how to dance properly in company," he commented, walking around them and going over to the fans table. "Can I interest one of you to help me out here?" He extended his hand out and looked to either of them.

The long haired fan slid from the booth and looked back to her friend with wide eyes. Kevin stepped back and bowed slightly. "I'm Kevin," he introduced himself.

"Lisa," the fan answered, turning bright red with a blush.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lisa," Kevin said. "May I have this dance?"

"Um..yes," she answered. He stepped closer, putting her hand on his shoulder and taking her other hand. He placed his hand on her waist and looked at her.

"Hey, we've got another professional!" Kevin commented, impressed by Lisa's abilities. He motioned with his head to AJ and Jana, kicking it up a bit and getting fancy with dips.

"You're such a dad, dawg!" AJ teased, twirling Jana easily. "Where's the fun in that? Are you having fun?" AJ asked Lisa. "You can't be having any fun!" He let go of Jana and stood in front of Kevin, tapping him on the shoulder. "May I?" he asked sarcastically.

Kevin looked at Lisa, still blushing and looking wide-eyed. "I don't think she'd mind. Would you?"

"No," she answered, looking between them. "I don't think so."

"Good," AJ said with a nod, pushing Kevin aside and taking hold of Lisa's hips, placing a leg between hers and swaying her hips with his. "Much more fun, don't you think? Be honest now, baby."

"I'm gonna die," Lisa whimpered with a laugh. "I can't dance like this!"

"What're we doing then?" AJ exclaimed, jumping back in mock horror playfully before taking her back into his arms and swaying with her.

Kevin went over to the other fan and extended his hand out to her. "I so can't dance," she said with a shake of her head, letting him take her into dancing stance.

"It's easy," he said with a smile and wink. "Just follow my lead. I'm allowed to do this. I'm a professional," he teased. "Unlike this guy over here. What's your name, darlin'?"

"Beth," she said, trying not to step on his feet as he led her over to Lisa and AJ. "You call that dancing?" She nodded as she laughed. "Well then…" He pretended to study AJ and Lisa before mimicking them with Beth until the second song ended.

"We don't have a dance floor," the waitress scolded, coming around holding their plates. "Do you mind?"

"Lisa, Beth," Kevin said with a polite nod, kissing the back of their hands, "our food's arrived. It's been a pleasure. Thank you." They went back to their tables, but Kevin stood up and went over to the waitress for a moment and sat back down.

"What'd you do?" AJ asked, looking over to the waitress.

"We're buying them their breakfast," Kevin said, digging into his food.

"Thank you!" the girls called as the waitress told them their bill was taken care of.

Kevin waved and smiled to them. "That was sweet," Rachel said, looking around Jana to Kevin.

"Yeah, he's da man!" Nick teased. "Mr. Manners."

"It'd do you some good to pay attention on occasion, little man," Kevin answered with a nod. "Might come in handy to know how to behave like an adult in public." Nick scrunched his face, sticking his tongue out full of food. "Yeah, Nicky, prove my point a little more."

Jana nudged Kevin with her elbow. "Oh, stop pickin' on him," she scolded with a smile. "Let the boy have some fun."

"See!" Nick pointed to Kevin. "That's why I like her! I kinda like havin' an older sister instead all these nasty older brothers around."

"You're not allowed to flirt with him," Kevin said in a loud whisper. "His girlfriend's right there." He nodded his head towards Rachel.

"Like Nicky's going to notice someone else in the room with the Wanton Sex Goddess next to him?" AJ asked sarcastically, pointing his fork at Rachel.

"Aren't I paying enough attention to you?" Jana asked, pinching Kevin's cheek with a pout. "I told you, you were my favorite."

"Hey!" Nick called, tossing a french fry at her. "I thought I was your favorite!"

"Now, see," Jana said with a sigh, turning to Rachel and looking at Sarah quickly, "y'all back me up on this one, okay? The way it works is, everyone's got a favorite Backstreet Boy. You've got Nick," she said to Rachel, "and you've got AJ," she said to Sarah. "Brian's got Leighanne and Howie's got someone in every state. That leaves, who?" She motioned both hands towards Kevin. "Does that help?"

"Well, all right," Nick said reluctantly, glancing to Kevin and Jana. "But what if we were all free then? Who'd you choose?"

"Yeah," AJ said, lifting his eyebrows a few times and grinning at her. "Who would you choose?"

"Who?" Kevin asked, nudging Jana with his elbow.

Jana picked up her fork and cleared her throat, glancing up to them. "JC from Nsync," she said triumphantly. Everyone looked over to James as he gagged.

"You okay, man?" Nick asked, patting him on the back.

"Yeah, sorry," James said, clearing his throat and looking at Rachel. "Wrong pipe."

"Chew first, dude," AJ teased. "It's better that way."

"I'll try to remember that," James said with a laugh. "Thanks for the tip."

"Do you know JC?" Rachel asked, glancing to James quickly.

"A bit, yeah," Jana answered.

"Traitor," AJ coughed.

"I filled in for one of their dancers awhile back," she said. "Just like, a two week deal kind of thing. They were really nice," she said, poking AJ across the table.

"It's like incest," James commented with a shake of his head. "Everyone interlocks with everyone in the boy band world, don't they? In some way?"

"Oh, let's not have this conversation," Kevin said, shaking his head.

"We really don't want to have this conversation," Nick said emphatically, looking at James with warning.

"I was kidding," James said weakly.

"Oh, I know," Kevin said with a shake of his head. "It's cool. We just don't want to go there."

"I'll tell ya later," Nick whispered to James.

"Do you want anything else?" the waitress said, coming to the end of the table and sighing.

"Come on, darlin'," AJ said, looking up to her. "Just one smile? Pleeeeease?" he begged, folding his hands under his chin.

She glared at him and barely lifted the sides of her lips. "Anything else?"

"Tough crowd," AJ commented to the table.

"More coffee, please?" Kevin asked politely before she stormed away. "Wonder what she'd be like if we were Don Henley or Robert Plant."

"Total groupie," Rachel said. "She'd quit her job on the spot and hide away on their tour bus."

"Do I o-fend?" AJ asked, pretending to smell his armpits. "I thought I was a nice guy!"

"You're a doll, baby," Sarah cooed, rubbing the back of his neck and kissing his cheek.

"Can't please 'em all," Kevin said easily, sitting back and stifling a yawn.

"Ah, there's the first one!" AJ pointed at Kevin. "It's beddy-bye time."

"Belly's full," Jana said knowingly, reaching over to rub Kevin's stomach.

"Yeah," Kevin agreed. "It is. It's also four in the morning."

"Well, there's that," Sarah agreed, resting her head on AJ's shoulder.

The waitress came back and poured more coffee, put the pot down on the end of the table and scribbled something in her pad before dropping the checks on the table. "Have a good night," she said dryly before taking the pot coffee and walking away.

"Have a happy day," AJ called after her ironically, waving as she glared over her shoulder to them.

The two fans stood up and hesitantly made their way over to the table. "We just wanted to say thanks again."

"Our pleasure, darlin'," Kevin said with a nod and a smile. "Drive safe, okay?"

"See you in Ottowa," Lisa said.

"Y'all hitting every show?" Kevin asked.

"Well, the mid-west shows, and the ones in Canada. Possibly Buffalo," Beth answered. "You're our vacation."

"Well, thank you," Kevin said as AJ and Nick chimed in. "Here…" Kevin took a napkin and stood up, heading over to the cashier, coming back with a pen a minute later. "Write your names down and we'll get you on the guest list for tomorrow's show."

"You're kidding!" Lisa exclaimed.

"It's the least we can do," AJ said, motioning for them to write their names. He took the pen from Kevin and handed it to Lisa. "We want your autographs! Please? Please? Oh, pretty please?" he begged, jumping up and down in his seat.

"You guys are the best!" Beth said, taking the pen from Lisa and writing their names down. "We might have to name our unborn children after you."

"That's Nickolas, 'k' and 'c'," Nick said playfully.

"Alexander James Kevin Scott Nickloas, 'k' and 'c', Gene?" AJ asked. "What're you? Royalty?"

"We'll have to be to give that name to a kid," Lisa laughed. "Thank you so much!"

"See y'all tomorrow," Kevin said, taking the napkin and putting it in his pocket.

Sarah tugged on AJ's shirt and yawned. "Baby, please?"

"Yeah, okay," he said softly, kissing the top of her head. "She's droppin'. Gotta go. You got this?" he asked Kevin.

"Let me guess," Kevin said giving him a look, "you left your wallet on the bus?"

"Yeah!" He pointed to Kevin with a grin. "That's exactly it!"

"Go." Kevin waved him away with a shake of his head. "But you owe me, dude!"

"I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go…" He started whistling, taking Sarah's hand, and headed out of the diner.

James reached over to hand Kevin some money, but he waved it away with a scowl. "You get next time," he said.

"Thanks," James said with a smile. "He's okay. I don't know what you're talking about." He winked to Kevin and Nick playfully.

"Ah, he's just showin' off," Nick said, standing up. "I can pay for us."

"You paid last time," Kevin said. "Go. See you at the hotel."

"You're just an all around nice guy," Jana said, patting his cheek and kissing his nose.

"Oh, no, now, you?" he said, standing up and taking the checks. "You're gonna pay." He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I'll take it in trade."

Kevin couldn't avoid it any longer. Jana had snuck back to her room, and he was wide-awake, watching Ottowa wake up and make its way to work. His mother would have been up for hours already, always an early riser. I so did not inherit that gene, he mused, rolling over on his side to splay himself over the emptiness Jana had left in the bed. Better to have the conversation with her not in the room, though. He had no idea what kind of conversation this would turn into, and felt the dread coating each muscle.

He liked to be efficient, but this time, he had a problem being efficient. By the time he had made his way into the suite room, he had talked himself into a quick workout, just to clear his head so he'd be more settled and calm for the conversation. So he made his way down to the gym and met up with Howie, then decided to have breakfast with him in the dining room because, well, he had to eat, right? It was hours before he was back in his room, and then he needed to shower. After his shower, then he'd call home and have this talk with his mother.

As he dialed the number, all he could do was pray he'd get the answering machine and be left off the hook for another day. His wishing almost kept him from responding to Ann's voice when she answered. "Hi…mom, hi. It's Kevin. How's things at home? Sorry I didn't call you back sooner. It's been kinda hectic here."

"I got the strangest call from Kristin the other day," Ann said, and Kevin felt his shoulders tense in anticipation. "She was crying on the line, very upset… You left her at an airport, Kevin? With all that destruction happening, you let her stay at the airport?"

"I…huh?" he asked, confused.

"I know I raised you better, Kevin Scott Richardson," she scolded. "Leaving your wife at the airport! Honestly!"

"Mom, I didn't leave her…she was on the flight when… What are you talking about?"

"All those flights originated from Boston, Kevin. You left her at the Boston airport?"

"She was on her flight well before any of that, mom. I talked to her on the plane when it happened and they were landing in Ohio. I didn't leave her in Boston."

"You didn't?" Ann asked, her turn to be confused. "She called me from an airport."

"Ohio, mom," he said. "She had a six a.m. flight."

"Oh," she said, her voice trailing off. "I must have misunderstood."

"Yeah, you must have," he agreed, settling back on the couch.

"Did I misunderstand what she said about you two separating?" Ann asked knowingly. "She was crying about that too."

He took a deep breath, releasing it quietly and closed his eyes. Here it goes… "No, you didn't misunderstand that."

"Kevin!" she admonished. "No!"

"Yes, mom," he replied patiently with a nod, knowing she probably knew that he was nodding. "I don't want to stay in my marriage with her anymore, and it's a very long, complicated story that I don't think should be done over the phone."

"Well, you're going to have to give me some kind of an explanation, young man," she said firmly. "You can't just announce you want a divorce, have your wife telling me instead of you and expect me to accept that. What are you thinking, Kevin? You took vows! You married Kristin! After everything you two have been through? Losing that baby? Your father and I raised you better than this!"

"Yes, mom, you and dad raised me to be a gentleman, and you have no idea how hard I've tried to live up to that expectation. I think I have. Again, it's complicated and I don't think it should be done over the phone. I think you'll understand once I…"

"I don't agree with divorce, Kevin. Unless she's tried to kill you or threatened you in some harmful way, you'll work out whatever it is if you try hard enough."

"Mom, no…just, no," he said firmly. "I don't need permission for this, do I?"

"She told me you were cheating on her, Kevin. Is that true? Is that what started all of this?"

"It's not what started it, no, but yes, I'm seeing someone. Jana Williams." He closed his eyes, waiting for the reaction, but all he heard was Ann sigh heavily. "But she has very little to do with why I want to leave Kristin. Well…everything and nothing. She just made me realize how wrong everything's been for the past few years."

"Jana?" Ann asked with surprise. "Jana Williams?"

"I've been faithful to Kristin since we were married, until now," he said, feeling his stomach twist slightly. His mother knew he'd never been the best boyfriend to Kristin; he was sure she was questioning if he'd been a good husband. "I tried, mom."

"You need to keep trying, Kevin," she said in that motherly tone she used when she was annoyed.

"Mom, please," he said, trying to remain patient, "you don't know the whole story. Neither does Jerry, either. And I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. Hopefully you'll understand when I can explain better. But even if you don't…I'm sorry. It's the right thing."

"Eight years, Kevin?" Ann asked. "You're going to just throw away eight years?"

"I shouldn't have let it go on for eight years," he said with a sigh, feeling that twist in his stomach solidify into guilt. "If I was half the person I was trying to be, I wouldn't have let it go this far."

"But you did, Kevin. And you owe it to her to make it work. After all that time…"

"It never would have worked, mom. Even if Jana wasn't involved, there are bigger problems here."

"Problems you need to work out," Ann emphasized.

"Mom…" He caught himself from yelling and took a deep breath. "Mom, I can't work out not loving her like I should. I've been trying for the last year and a half to work around the lies she's told."

"Lies she told?" Ann asked skeptically.

"She was never pregnant, mom," he said, feeling his mouth dry out. "She lied about the whole thing to you, the family…me. She told me she was pregnant so I'd marry her. She told me about three months before the wedding, and I went ahead and married her anyway because I thought it was the right thing to do. But I haven't been sure of it since then. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to marry her in the first place, but if there had been a baby, it was the right thing to do."

"There was never a baby?" Ann asked, her voice light with shock.

"Never," he answered.

"Then why did you tell us that she lost…" her voice trailed off.

"We didn't want you to think anything bad about her," he answered. "That's what I'm trying to tell you, Ma. There's a lot you don't know."

"You married her anyway, though," Ann said, trying to put the pieces together.

"I tried to be the husband she wanted, and I tried to make the relationship what it should be," he said slowly. "It wasn't meant to be what we've been trying to make it. I can't get around the lie…lies. All of it. I made a mistake and I need to fix things, Ma. I know I'm hurting her and other people, and I'm letting a lot of people down, but…I have to do this."

"But you married her anyway," Ann said. "At one point, you thought you could get over it."

"I thought I could, yeah."

"You're married though, Kevin. You said for better or for worse. I was there. I have it on video. Better or worse."

He exhaled deeply. "I'm not asking permission, just understanding, mom."

"You're right," Ann said, "we need to discuss this further, and it shouldn't be over the phone."

"We can discuss it, but I'm going ahead with this," he said with finality. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I need to do it."

"We'll talk when you have time to come visit," Ann said. "Christmas, right?"

"Yeah, Christmas," he answered tiredly. How had such a short conversation drained him so quickly?

"I'm sure you have things you need to do," she said, hearing his reluctance to talk further.

"Yeah," he said quickly. "Love you, mom."

"Love you too, Kevin," she said. "Just…think about this a bit more, Kevin."

"I'm not thinking of much else."

"Consider your actions, Kevin, that's all."

"Love you, mom. Gotta go. I'll call soon."

Message Board Posts for Chapter 7 (fictional)

Birds In Your Garden Disclaimer | Email Coriander

Read the companion story:
Oreos for Breakfast (Nick Fanfic)
by The Pumpkin Coach & Paperbag Princess

c. 2001, 2002 by Coriander
Some content not suitable for children. You have been warned.

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