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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 13 During the next several days, the two couples continued to get acquainted and enjoy one another’s company. Kevin gave Kristy her own personalized tour of Orlando, which gave her the opportunity to see his home. She fell in love with its country charm. She shared his disappointment upon hearing that after all the work he had done incorporating the Richardson touch in each room, he would have to move. He sighed as he told her, "Some of the prices of fame are more expensive than people are led to believe." Kristy felt her eyes tear as she pulled him into a hug. The duo spent the rest of the evening sharing intimate details of their lives.With some slight suggestion from Polly and John, Howie invited Cheryl to dinner with the rest of his family one night that same week. Paula and Hoke, Howie’s parents, welcomed her into their home without hesitation and later told their youngest child exactly how impressed they were by his new friend. Cheryl felt so at ease in the Dorough home. They were obviously a very loving family. She could sense it in everything from their chatter at the table to Paula’s delicious manicotti entree. Howie couldn’t have been too impressed by the evening’s entertainment. True to her promise, Polly forewarned her mother and several photo albums sat atop the coffee table in the living room. “MOM!" Howie whined with a twinkle in his eye. "She doesn’t need to see my baby pictures." "It's in my job description," she replied. "And you were so adorable then." Cheryl whispered in his ear. "I don’t know about then, but you are certainly adorable now." He had to smile and blush at her comment. Later Howie led Cheryl through the house sharing memories of his childhood. As she glanced around his old bedroom, she spotted a photo on the bureau. "Is this your family?" He nodded. "Me, my brother and sisters...a few years ago." "That’s Polly and John... but who are the others?" "This one is Angie," he said pointing to the one on John’s left. "And that is… was Caroline." There was something in his voice that made her look up from the photo. "Howie..." Their eyes met. She could see the unmistakable gloss within them, a telltale sign of unshed tears. Cheryl knew about Caroline’s untimely death due to lupus just over a year prior. What fan didn’t? She had noticed how close Howie was with John and Polly and imagined he probably had a similar relationship with Angie and Caroline as well. Piecing the puzzle together, Cheryl knew Howie felt his sister’s loss now as if it happened yesterday. "Howie... I’m so sorry," she murmured. The pain was evident in her own voice. "She was such a wonderful person, Cher. I wish you could have known her." "But I do know her, Howie, because I know you." He blinked as if not willing to shed tears in her presence then reached to embrace her tightly. "Tell me about her," Cheryl requested softly. They sat facing one another Indian-style. She held his hand as he talked and their conversation progressed into a discussion of loved ones, hopes and dreams.Kevin guided his 4Runner, containing passengers Kristy, Howie and Cheryl, into a space in the Goofy section of the Magic Kingdom’s parking lot. The night before the guys had called their ladies to talk and then invited them to Disney for the day. Neither Kristy nor Cheryl realized what their men had planned. As they stepped aboard the ferry to cross to the main entrance, Howie squeezed Cheryl’s hand gently. "Hope you ladies don’t mind, but we invited some other people to join us today." Kristy raised an eyebrow. "Who? Tim and John?" "Nope... left the brothers to fend for themselves for the day. Our friends are meeting us at Guest Services in five minutes,” Kevin replied enjoying the looks of confusion and frustration on the girls’ faces. Once they had purchased their passes and filed through the gates, Howie and Kevin led Kristy and Cheryl toward Guest Services. In the midst of all the families clamoring to rent strollers and lockers, they spotted three young men. The women’s eyes widened and they glanced at one another in surprise once they identified their mystery guests. Howie and Kevin couldn’t help but laugh. "Ladies," the latter started. "May I introduce my cousin Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Nick Carter... Guys, this is Kristy and Cheryl." "It’s nice to meet you - FINALLY," Nick said. Brian laughed. "These two haven’t stopped talking about you. Personally, we thought you were figments of their imagination." A.J. stepped forward. "Don’t mind Frick and Frack. You’ll get used to them after a while." "I have younger siblings so I know ALL about it." Kristy smiled. "Mhmm... Somehow I expected it," Cheryl agreed with a grin. "Yeah, someone told us you’re fans." Brian eyed his cousin. "You’ll have to let me know which is my best side." The guys all chuckled as Kristy and Cheryl blushed. "Turn around," Nick commanded his friend. Once Brian had turned his back, Nick quipped, "That one. That’s your best side." "Oh yeah, Nicky? At least I had a good side, I have yet to find yours," the older friend joked. "Uh-huh, just remember that the next time all the girls are screaming my name, NOT yours." Everyone laughed. "So, now that the entertainment is over, where to first?" Kevin asked. Kristy and Cheryl shot each other a glance. "SPACE MOUNTAIN." "Man, girls after my own heart," Nick said. Howie grasped Cheryl’s hand. "Uh-uh, Kaos, she’s spoken for." Nick shrugged. "Worth a shot!"Several hours later the group stood in Liberty Square eyeing the line at the Haunted Mansion. "Jinkies! That’s one long line," Brian quipped. "Zoinks! I’m not up for ghost chasing," Nick added. "Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?" Cheryl teased. Little did Nick and Brian realize but she had grown up a huge fan of Scooby Doo. Behind his Ray-Bans, A.J. rolled his eyes. "Another one? D, I hope you’re happy!?" Howie only smiled at his friend. "Very," he whispered in Cheryl’s ear.Kevin and Kristy boarded one of the black cars inside the Haunted Mansion. No more than seconds later, their car rounded a corner and Kristy was surprised by one of the "ghosts". Kevin smirked as she jumped slightly and took the opportunity to pull her closer. Her eyes connected with his, which now shone with laughter. Not being able to control the situation, she found herself leaning in to kiss him and snuggled even closer despite the bar across her lap. The two were giggling like teenagers when they rejoined the others at the ride’s exit. "What?" A.J. asked, suspecting what had happened by the flush evident in the couple’s cheeks. The pair abruptly stopped their laughter and Kevin took her hand in his. "Oh nothing." As the group walked toward Big Thunder Mountain, Howie turned to Kevin. "Have fun in there?" A knowing smirk and a flush of red crossed his own face. "I think you’d probably agree... that place is better than the Tunnel of Love."Next: Chapter 14 |