I sat, curled up next to Brian watching the activities in front of us. Brian's arm was affectionately draped around my shoulder, his head close to mine as I lay my head on his shoulder. It was our tenth anniversary and we had invited our friends around to celebrate. Everything was ready for the celebration as we awaited their arrival.
It had been a wonderful ten years, with many more to follow. Brian kept all his promises. He never left me in the true sense of the word. There were times he had to leave for his work, but when I needed him, he was always there for me.
Two months after Brian proposed to me, we got married. It was a beautiful wedding, everything I ever dreamt my wedding would be. Brian was the only one I ever imagined I would marry and that August day, my dreams came true. It had been a glorious day, the Orlando weather perfect for a wedding. Jac and Kerry had been my attendants, and Harold and Kevin were Brian's. We'd kept it fairly small. We had partied well into the night before leaving on our idealic honeymoon on a deserted island in Hawaii.
Management had kicked up a fuss, but Brian was sick of them running every little part of their lives. A week before the wedding Brian and I discovered I was pregnant, a baby conceived out of the love we had shared that first night we had made love. I had thought that night that there was a new life beginning, I didn't know just how literal that was. We were both so excited at the thought of becoming parents, as were all our family and friends. Management however went ballistic.
With Kevin's help, Brian instigated the dismissal of the former management, and after careful consideration, they found new managers, those who allowed them all to have a private life to go along with their very public life. It was a necessity to all of us.
Weeks into my pregnancy, it was discovered I was carrying twins and the excitement began all over again, along with the fear of whether I could cope with two babies, especially at times when I couldn't join Brian, or he had to be away. Brian assured me he would be with me all the way to bring up our children.
And he had. 4 weeks early, in late February, 5 days after Brian's birthday, our two daughters came into the world, bringing with them chaos and disarray, but also a newfound love and joy. The nine and a half years since their birth had had it's trials, but also fun and laughter. Kirralee, the first born, and Brianna, were the image of their daddy and took after him in so many ways.
I watched them now, frolicking in the pool with our son who came along 4 and a half years after the girls. Christopher, aged 5 idolised his sisters and followed them everywhere, sometimes much to their annoyance. He too was the image of his daddy, but possessed a lot of my nature. All three of them understood what their daddy did for work and to them it was as normal as dad being a banker or lawyer.
I turned to look up at Brian placing a kiss on his chin. He smiled at me and shifted our newborn baby, another daughter, in his arms before pulling me closer to him, lowering his lips for another more passionate kiss.
"Don't you two ever get enough?" Kevin asked me, leaning down to give me a hug, stroking the back of his finger over Tamara's soft cheek.
"Never Kevin." Brian told him. "I bet you and Jac are still the same too." Kevin knew Brian was right and his face took on the look as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"You got that right Brian." Jac said, one of their two sons Patrick trailing behind her closely. He too was the image of his dad. "How is this little princess then?" she asked of Tamara who was happy to sleep in her daddy's arms.
"This little princess is exactly that. A princess." Brian said proudly.
I sat up and called Patrick over. He climbed up on my lap, looking curiously at Tamara who he had only seen in hospital up till now. In his 3 year old mind she was a novelty to him. I cuddled him close. "Patrick, this is your cousin Tamara." He wouldn't understand the logistics of second cousins.
"Tamara," he repeated perfectly and Kevin smiled proudly at him. "Baby."
"Yes Patrick, a little baby. Now how about you go and play with Connor and the other kids." Connor was Jac and Kevin's eldest, a seven year old dynamo, who hadn't even come to say hi yet. We were all used to his excitement. He was like Jac in his features and her personality.
He climbed down. "Swim!" he yelled excitedly.
"Patrick wait." Jac yelled getting his floaties out of the bag she was carrying. He was appropriately suited up and both Kirralee and Brianna took delight in watching him in the pool. They were accomplished swimmers, but our adult eyes were always on the lookout. The little ones always stayed in the small section we had got put in this pool, a little wader for them to play in.
Jac took Tamara off Brian and sat down cuddling her close. "Aww, Kev, can't we have another one of these." She asked pouting.
Kevin laughed. "I don't know Jac. We can practise some more before we decide if it would be a good idea or not." That made Jac smile. She liked practising.
AJ came bouncing around the corner carrying his two year old daughter Madisyn in his arms. She giggled and laughed as he bounced her. "Hi everyone," he called out. Tamara flinched in Jac's arms and she settled her down. "Ooops, sorry, I forgot there was a little one here."
"That's okay AJ. Where is Kerry?" I asked.
"Out there still, fighting with CJ to come in. He bumped his head as he was getting out. I brought Maddie in so she doesn't get upset too."
As AJ spoke CJ, short for Corey James, came flying around the corner and I held my arms out to him. "Aunty Sue," He screamed out before throwing himself into my arms, his six year old body landing with a thud on me. Brian was quick to drag him off, telling him he was going to throw him in the pool to fix his sore head. He was giggling and screaming as Brian carried him. He finally got Brian to concede he needed his swimmers on or his clothes would be all wet.
"Oh yeah, you're right buddy. Go get your swimmers off mom and you can go in with the others." He patted him on the butt as he ran to Kerry.
"Me too Uncca Bian." Came Maddie's cute little voice."
"Yes, you too Maddie. The girls will look after you." Brian told her. Kerry got them ready and they were soon running to join the others in the wading part of the pool.
Brian got everyone drinks and we sat around the pool talking and watching the kids. Nick and Howie and their beautiful families were unable to join us today, having called in a week ago, before heading off on well deserved vacations. We all deserved this down time, a forced spell in their careers brought on by the birth of Tamara.
The Backstreet Boys were still touring, though not to the crazy scenes that followed them in the past. Things had settled considerably as their legion of fans matured. They always gained new fans, of all ages, but for the most part, touring was not as stressful anymore. We were even able to travel as a family many times. Summer vacations though were always spent at home, always using that time as quality family time. It was an agreement between the guys when children came on to the scene. Not so much when the twins were babies, they travelled with us a lot, but when the others began starting their families and they were getting closer to school age.
They had been recording lately again. A new CD for a new recording company, having finished with their Jive deal. It kept them close to home, doing most of the recording in Orlando this time. They were all song writing now, having convinced the record company a long time ago to actually listen to their talent. One of Howie's songs was always close to me. It was as if he had written the song for us. He merely winked at me when I asked him about it. It was called How Did I Fall In Love With You, all about young friends falling in love. Brian on the other hand always sang me a song that had been written for them called I Promise You. My heart always swelled with love when he sang it to me, his eyes never leaving mine as he sang with sincerity.
The night wore on, we all had a wonderful time, reminiscing, looking forward to the future. We were all happy, all content with our lives. I said as much to Brian after we had tucked the girls in, then Christopher, both of us now standing over Tamara, contentedly sleeping in her crib in our room.
"Life's good isn't it Brian?" I said to him.
"It is good. And it will stay good. I promised you forever, and that's what we have."
"I know, you once told me the years we were apart would be just a minute in time. It feels like that now." He nodded and lowered his lips for a kiss. He led me to the bed, holding me close as he slept. I lay in his arms and remembered. I remembered all the years that had gone past. Our childhoods, becoming teenagers and the time I fell in love with Brian. That love had never diminished, only ever grown stronger as the years went by. The tears I cried while he was away, busy with his career, and by his own admission, too absorbed by his career at the time, those tears had long dried. All that was left was an undeniable love between us, between all our friends. Life was indeed good, full of love, life, and promises.
