Chapter 7: A Visit To Orlando
The flight back and the next few weeks passed rather quickly
for Patrick, whose health had continued to improve, much to
his doctor's astonishment.
Patrick stood in the kitchen and opened a package from his
sister, laughing as he examined the contents. He then picked
up the phone and dialed JC's cellular number.
"Hello?", JC's voice said.
"Hi JC, it's Patrick!", Patrick stated.
"Patrick!", JC exclaimed, "How are you?"
"Doing wonderfully...my doctor's are constantly amazed.
I gained back 15 lbs since you saw me at the wedding."
"Really?", JC said, "That's so awesome!"
"I just got some pictures back from the wedding. There's
a bunch of you guys. I'll have to get some duplicates made.
You guys looked so good in your suits!", Patrick grinned.
"Cool", JC said, "You can bring them with
you when you come to see us next week. Hang on...Lance wants
to talk to you."
"Patrick?", Lance said excitedly, "What's
up?"
"I just called to say Hi and to tell you all that I
have some wedding pics of you guys."
"I can't wait to see them....and you!", Lance laughed,
"Did you get my tickets? I sent them yesterday."
"Yep. They were delivered by the same guy who delivered
the pictures from Diana.", Patrick grinned. "I can't
wait to come and see Orlando. It's gonna be really cool."
"Yeah...we're so excited about seein' you guys again.",
Lance said.
"Us too...Mike has even sworn me to secrecy to tell
no one that he's started to listen to your CD in his car.",
Patrick grinned.
"Well...Patrick....I gotta go hit makeup for the show
tonite, OK?", Lance said sadly.
"No problem....I've seen what you looked like without
makeup on when we slept in the same bed at that hotel. You
don't wanna scare the fans...better go get made up!",
Patrick snickered.
"HEY!", Lance said in mock protest, "What's
that supposed to mean?"
"Just kidding Scoopy", Patrick laughed, "I'll
see YOU in a week, make up or not!"
Lance said goodbye and the two hung up.
A week later, Mike and Patrick caught their flight and were
on their way to Orlando.
As they disembarked and headed down the ramp towards the
luggage pick-up, a man grabbed Patrick's hand.
"Hey buddy, lookin' for someone?", the man said.
Patrick looked over and giggled. There, in baseball caps and
dark sunglasses stood Lance and JC.
"Yeah...I am", Patrick giggled and added drolly,
"But I don't know if I will ever find them. They might
be in disguise."
Mike and JC and Lance giggled and then Lance grabbed Patrick
into a hug as JC hugged Mike. JC and Lance then proceeded
to walk with Patrick and Mike to pick up their bags, then
out to Lance's Durango.
As they got away from the airport, Lance took his cap and
glasses off, and grinned over to Patrick.
"It's so good to see you again!", Lance said excitedly,
"You look so good....you have put on some weight."
"Yeah", JC spoke up from the back seat with Mike,
"You look like you gained, what, 20 pounds? That's awesome!"
Patrick laughed. "All my life I had to watch what I
ate and diet cause I was chubby, now people get excited when
I gain 20 pounds. This is way too funny!"
Mike burst into laughter from the back seat and JC and Lance
giggled.
"So, we're gonna head over to Justin's place.",
Lance said, "JC and I sorta live there while we're in
Orlando, and Justin is really excited about seeing you too!
His mom wants to meet you two as well."
"Ok", Patrick said, "Where are we staying.
I don't wanna be a burden on anyone....I can get Mike and
I a room in a hotel."
"No way!!", JC said, "Mrs. Harless insisted
on having you stay at her house with Justin, Lance, and me.
It seems Justin really took a shine to you and has spoken
of you highly."
"OK", Patrick said with some reservation in his
voice.
After getting through traffic and off the highway, then a
short drive later, Lance turns left into the driveway of a
beautiful house. As they park, the door of the house opens
and Justin, Chris, and Joey bound out and greet Mike and Patrick.
Chris and Joey mobbed Patrick first, telling him how good
he looks and how cool it was for them to come and visit. Patrick
grinned as they move on to Mike. As he stood there, Justin
ran over and grabbed him into a tight hug.
"Hey there. We all missed ya!", Justin grinned
as he let go of Patrick, "Welcome to Casa Timberlake."
"Thank you Justin. I missed you each morning as I woke
up!", Patrick grinned. "Are you sure its OK for
me to stay here? With Lance and JC and everyone else here,
I don't wanna impose...I can get us a room at a hotel...."
"Hotel!?!", a matronly voice from behind Patrick
queried, "No need for that...we have plenty of room!"
Justin grinned and turned Patrick around.
"Mom", Justin said, "This is Patrick, and
over there is Mike."
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Harless.", Patrick grinned,
taking her hand in his and putting his other hand on top in
a warm handshake. "Thank you for your hospitality and
letting us stay here while we visit with these guys."
"Oh.", Mrs. Harless smiled as she grabbed Patrick
and pulled him into a hug, "Pleased to meet you as well.
Please call me Lynn. Justin could not stop talking about your
coming to visit for the last two weeks. I am so glad to see
that he and the guys have made friends with such nice, polite
young men....maybe it will rub off."
Patrick looked into Lynn's eyes and the two began to giggle
and laugh.
"Naaah....", They responded in unison.
Patrick and Lynn began to giggle again, then Mike came over
and introduced himself to Lynn.
The telephone began to ring and Justin ran inside the house
and answered it. After a few minutes of conversation, he hung
up and walked back outside.
"Who was it Justin?", Lynn asked.
"It was Lou's secretary.", he sighed, "Lance
and I have to go to the office and sign something as soon
as possible."
The guys groaned.
"No problem", Patrick said lightly, "You guys
can show me around Orlando and I can see your office. JC,
Joey and Chris can stick around here and show Mike the layout
of the house and have some fun. How long can signing something
take?"
Lynn and the guys began to laugh hysterically.
"Sorry", Lynn said, "It might take an hour
or so."
"No problem", Patrick replied, "We're here
for a few days....what's a few hours?"
The guys all nodded and Lance, Justin and Patrick got back
into Lance's UT and took off.
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