21: RECOVERING
During the next few days, Brian was relieved to see Sammy beginning to act more like his usual self. He was still quiet at times but Brian knew that it would take time for Sammy to recover and he knew that the wounds caused by his mother’s death would stay with him for the rest of his life.
22: HAPPY FAMILY The doorbell rang at eleven. Brian looked up from the ironing. They were early.
Brian made sure that Sammy knew that he was here if he needed him and Sammy often now came down to help him out with the cooking or cleaning or sometimes he would just come down and ask for a hug. Brian almost felt like crying every time Sammy called him ‘dadduy’. He didn’t do it all the time but Brian loved it all the same. He had always wanted children and even though Sammy wasn’t his own flesh and blood, it really did feel as if Sammy were his son.
On the third day, Brian took Sammy shopping again. This time, they just went to the local supermarket, as Sammy had told Brian that he disliked the huge shopping centres with crowds of people.
He seemed much happier in the supermarket and had fun while Brian pushed him around in the trolley. At one point, he noticed Sammy staring at the far end of one of the aisles.
“What’s the matter?” Brian asked.
“There’s was someone watching us,” Sammy replied, pointing at the top end of the aisle.
“Probably just a fan. A lot of them are curious about you.”
Sammy nodded but still seemed a little uncomfortable. Brian noticed the way he looked about them nervously.
*****************************
That night, Kevin went with Brian and Sammy to the cinema. Luckily, it was a fairly quiet night so there were very few fans about. They only had to sign a couple of autographs while Sammy got offered sweets and popcorn from the fans. The attention didn’t seem to bother Sammy. He seemed quite pleased at all of the attention. Either that or he was just too happy being offered popcorn from everyone.
Kevin grinned when Brian bought Sammy a cookie dough ice cream. Sammy chewed on his nails until Brian handed him the cone of delicious ice cream.
“You’re just like Brian, Sammy,” Kevin said.
“Huh?” Sammy asked, more interested in his ice cream.
Kevin grinned as he also saw Brian eating his ice cream, not paying any attention to what was being said. “Nothing.”
The film didn’t finish till late and Sammy was yawning as he happily chatted about the film with Brian. Kevin smiled as he noticed Sammy mimicking Brian’s accent slightly. Brian was definitely rubbing off on Sammy.
In the car, Brian sat in the back with a very sleepy Sammy. It wasn’t long before Sammy was slumped against Brian’s shoulder fast asleep.
“How’s everything been going?” Kevin asked.
“Great,” Brian said grinning.
“You were worried that his mother’s death might send him over the edge, though. How’s he doing?”
“He was really miserable the first day. He wouldn’t talk or anything and I was so worried about him but I think he’s getting used to it. He’s recovering from the shock nicely, but I know that it still upsets him at times.”
“It’ll take time.”
“I know,” Brian said. “He started calling me daddy the other day.”
Kevin stared at Brian. “Seriously?”
Brian couldn’t help smiling slightly. “He asked me if he could and I said yes.”
“Aaaww, he’s such a sweet kid and he loves you more than anything. You got the adoption papers yet?”
Brian shook his head. “I have to wait until the review’s over with. If they think I’m a fit parent, then there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“Only a monster would try to take Sammy away from you. You two are made for each other. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was your own son! He even acts like you!”
“Huh?” Brian asked, biting his nails.
“He does! The little things he says and the way he acts, he’s exactly the same as you!”
“He’s not!”
“He is! He’s even started to bite his nails!”
Brian pulled his fingers from his mouth. “Every kid does that!”
“If you say so!”
Kevin dropped Brian and Sammy back at Brian’s house. Sammy was still asleep, so Brian had to carry him inside.
As he watched them go inside, Kevin smiled to himself. His cousin had really brightened up since Sammy had entered his life. He was much more responsible and mature now. He just hoped that Brian would be able to keep Sammy. If anything went wrong, then he knew that it would tear his cousin to bits. On the other hand, if Brian did keep Sammy then there was no telling what would happen to the band. Could Brian balance everything out? Most important of all, would he be allowed to keep Sammy when they went back on tour?
He bent down to look at Sammy, who had been playing beneath the ironing board with his toys. He wasn’t there anymore.
“Sammy?” Brian said.
Sammy’s eyes peeped at him from behind an armchair.
“Don’t be scared!” Brian said, with a laugh. “My parents are really nice!”
Sammy retreated back behind the chair. He could often be quite shy around new people and he seemed extremely nervous about meeting Brian’s parents.
Brian grabbed the sheet he’d been ironing and wrapped it around Sammy so that he couldn’t escape. Sammy began giggling as he tried to struggle away from Brian.
“You’re coming to say hi whether you like it or not!” Brian said grinning and trying to wrap Sammy up in the sheet.
“No!” Sammy said, laughing as Brian tickled him.
The doorbell rang again. Brian gave up trying to seize Sammy in the sheet and ran to the door instead. Sammy wrapped the sheet about him and made a hood for his head.
“They’ll think the place is haunted if they see you like that!” Brian joked.
Sammy hid himself back behind the armchair while Brian opened the door to be met by his parents, Harold and Jackie Littrell.
“Hey mom! Hey dad!” Brian said, hugging both of them.
“Okay, where is he?” Jackie demanded looking all about for any sign of Sammy.
Brian smiled and let them both in. His mother had been dying to meet Sammy since Brian had first told her about him. Harold rolled his eyes and Tyke came bounding up yapping until he was stroked.
“Your mom’s been talking non stop about him all the way here!” Harold said, petting Tyke. “So how’re you doing? You both all right?”
“Fine,” Brian said, hanging their coats up. “You want a coffee, either of you?”
“Please,” Harold said. “And give your mom one too! It might calm her down!”
Brian turned to his mother. “Okay by you, mom?”
“Yeah, sure honey,” she said, peering about for any sign of her son’s foster child.
“Don’t be scared to sit down!” Brian said, gesturing to the sitting room.
As they both took a seat on the couch, Brian noticed that Sammy was gone from his hiding place. He smiled and shook his head as he made his way to the kitchen where Tyke was excitedly bouncing about the place like a loose tornado. Brian quickly let him out before he bowled him over and then reached for some mugs.
He was making the coffee and finding out some biscuits (noticeably fewer since Sammy’s arrival) when he heard the sound behind him.
“Woo! Woo!” Sammy said, still dressed in the white sheet.
Brian spun around and pretended to jump and scream in fear as Sammy bounced up and down in front of him, waving his arms.
“I’m a ghost, daddy,” Sammy said, proudly.
“I can tell!” Brian said.
He scooped him up into his arms and disentangled him from the sheet. Fondly he played with Sammy’s hair.
“I’ve got you now so you can’t get out off meeting my folks!”
He handed Sammy a cookie and then carefully carried him into the sitting room. His parents were sat together chatting. His mother had found one of Sammy’s toys and was turning it over in her hands. It took them both a few moments to realise who it was that Brian held in his arms.
“Look what I found!” Brian said, smiling at the expression that appeared on his mother’s face at the first sight of Sammy.
“Hey there little fella,” Harold said, after a moment of taking in the sight of the small little boy.
“Hello,” Sammy said shyly. Brian felt Sammy’s arms tighten about his neck.
“Sammy, this is my mom, Jackie, and my dad, Harold,” Brian said.
“Aren’t you a little sweetie?” Jackie said, gently.
Brian knew what his mother wanted and handed Sammy over to her. She held him on her lap for a second and the two of them stared at each other. Then Sammy gave his mother a hug and Brian could tell by the look on her face how thrilled she was.
Brian grinned, happy that the ice had been broken. They were all like one big, happy family now.
He returned to the kitchen and retrieved the coffee and biscuits. He made a cup from himself and poured Sammy a fruit juice. Then he carried it all back into the sitting room, where he found his parents fussing over Sammy as if he were their grandson.
******************************
“Got the address?”
“Yep. I checked it out today. They’re both there – Sammy and the Backstreet Boy.”
“Good, any others?”
“Looked like they had a couple of visitors, but they left around six.”
“So they’re alone?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.”