Chapter 11
"I am so disappointed in you Kev," Nick said.
"Why?" Kevin asked.
"Here you are the oldest member in the group always being the responsible one and you've been like 15 miles over the speed limit and missed a couple of stops signs and ran a couple of red lights," Nick said as Kevin parked in the hotel's parking lot.
"I did not!" Kevin said.
"Yes you did! Believe me, I was watching," Nick said as they got out.
"Hey, we didn't get caught, did we?" Kevin asked.
"No," Nick said.
"All right then. What are you complaining about?" Kevin asked as he put his sunglasses and hat on.
"Now what kind of dad are you going to be?" Nick asked as he also put on his sunglasses and hat.
"Shut up Nicky," Kevin said as they walked into the hotel.
They checked into their rooms and then went up to them.
Kevin sat down at the phone and called Mr. Countrymen.
"Hello."
"I just checked into a hotel."
"When do you want to meet?"
"Now."
"Okay. How about at my office?"
"Actually, I'd prefer if you came here for security reasons. It'd also be more private."
"All right that's fine. What hotel are you staying at?"
"The Pyramid."
"Okay, I know where that is. I'm on my way."
"Just come up to my room. It's room number 513."
"Okay."
"See you then."
Kevin hung up the phone and laid on his bed. Then he heard his door open. He quickly got up to see who it was.
"You know Kev you should really keep your door locked. Some fan could just come in here and attack you," Nick said as he locked Kevin's door.
"Yeah, they could. But I'd just tell them that you were in the room next to me and they'd be gone," Kevin said as he smiled at Nick.
"Thanks a lot Train," Nick said as he sat down.
"No problem," Kevin said as he also sat down to watch t.v..
"So when are you gong to meet him?" Nick asked.
"He's coming over now," Kevin said.
"Nervous?" Nick asked.
"Terrified. I have no idea who this Mr. Countrymen guy is. What if it's her step dad or something?" Kevin questioned.
"Don't worry about it Kev. You're still Lily's dad no matter what," Nick said.
"I know," Kevin said as he sighed.
Then they were quiet for a while.
"Nick," Kevin said.
"Yeah," Nick replied.
"Did you bring your Playstation or Sega Dreamcast, or whatever it is that you have now," Kevin said.
"Never leave home without it," Nick said. "Why? You want to play?"
"Yeah, it'll help to pass the time," Kevin said.
"Okay, I'll be right back," Nick said as he got up.
He quickly ran into his room and got what he needed. Then he went back into Kevin's room.
Kevin watched as Nick began setting it up.
"Need any help there?" Kevin asked as he watched Nick.
"Nope. I've got it," Nick said as he turned the t.v. on.
Then he turned the game on.
"You've done this a few times, haven't you?' Kevin questioned.
"Just a few," Nick said as he handed Kevin the controller.
Then they began to play.
Mike walked into the hotel and went to the elevators.
He walked up to room 513 and knocked on the door.
"Oh god, that's him," Kevin said as he stopped playing.
"It's okay Kev," Nick said. "Just answer the door."
"Good thinking," Kevin said as he got up.
Nick shut the t.v. off and put the video game away.
Kevin opened the door.
"Mr. Richardson?" Mike questioned.
"Yes. And you're Mr. Countrymen?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, but you can call me Mike," he said.
"And you can call me Kevin. Come on in," Kevin said as he let him walk in.
Then Nick introduced himself.
"Hi. I'm Nick," he said.
"Nice to meet you. My name's Mike," he said.
Then Mike sat down on the couch while Kevin and Nick pulled up chairs.
"So who are you to Lily?" Kevin asked nervously.
"I'm her counselor at school," Mike replied.
"Oh," Kevin said as he breathed a sigh of relief.
"And you two are a part of the Backstreet Boys, aren't you?" he questioned.
"Yeah," Kevin said.
"How'd you know?" Nick asked.
Mike smiled. "I work with about 600 fourteen-year-old girls. I know this stuff."
Nick shook his head agreeing with him. "That would explain it."
"Okay, what do you know about Lily? Where is she?" Kevin asked impatiently.
"Why are you looking for her?" Mike asked.
"I told you that I want to see her," Kevin said.
"Yes, I know that. But I need to know your reasons," Mike said.
"I haven't seen her in 14 years!" Kevin exclaimed. "What else do you need to know?"
"Look Kevin. She's been through a lot this last week or so. I don't want you to just pop up into her life and then disappear a couple days later," Mike explained.
"What do you mean she's been through a lot?" Kevin asked worriedly. "What's been happening with my little girl?"
"You don't know anything?" Mike asked.
"No. I have no clue. The last time I saw her was when she was two months old. Her mother took her away from me," Kevin said.
"Okay, well right now she's in a foster home," Mike said.
"What? My little girl is in a foster home? Why?" Kevin asked.
"She was just recently placed there. What we are trying to do right now is place her in a good home, a loving home," Mike said.
"Where was she before?" Kevin asked.
"Well her mother, Robyn, gave her up for adoption when she was about six months old. So she was living with her adoptive parents," Mike told Kevin.
"Robyn gave her up for adoption?" Nick asked puzzled.
"Why?" Kevin asked.
"I was kind of hoping you would know why," Mike said.
"I have no idea," Kevin said.
"Hey, if she was adopted, then why was she just placed in a foster home?" Nick asked.
"Well her adoptive parents ran into some financial problems and. . .," he said as he trailed off.
"And what?" Kevin asked anxiously.
"They abandoned her," Mike said sadly."Abandoned her?!" Kevin exclaimed. "How could they?!"
"I don't know how they could leave that sweet little girl all by herself," Mike said.
"She's okay though, right?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, she has a place to stay, but. . .," Mike said.
"But what?" Kevin asked worriedly.
"That's not what she needs. She needs a home filled with people that are going to love her," he said.
"I do love her," Kevin said.
"Why do you want to see her?" Mike asked.
"Because I need my little girl. There's part of me that's been missing these last 14 years. I want to love her, protect her, tuck her in at nights. Everything a dad does for his child," Kevin said.
Mike listened to Kevin knowing that he was serious about what he was saying.
"Do you want custody?" Mike asked.
"Yes. Definitely," he said.
"Okay then I'll set up a meeting for you with Lily's social worker," he said.
"When?" Kevin asked.
"Is tomorrow morning good? It'll be about 8 o'clock in the morning," he said.
"Yes, that's good. When do I get to see Lily?" Kevin asked.
"I think it'd be best for you to see Ms. Johnson first. Then afterwards she can decide what's best," Mike explained.
"But I want to see her now. I want to make sure she's okay," Kevin said.
"I'm sorry. I think it's best if you wait. But I'll go check on her tonight for you," Mike said.
"Will you tell her that I love her?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah," Mike said as he shook his head.
"Thanks," Kevin said as he shook Mike's hand.
Then Kevin got up and walked Mike to the door.
"I'll call you to confirm the meeting," he said.
"All right," Kevin said.
Then Mike left and Kevin closed the door.
"This close," Kevin said to Nick as he fell back onto the couch. "How much longer am I going to have to wait?"
"I don't know Kev. But it's good to know that he has Lily's best interest at heart," Nick said.
"Yeah, I guess," Kevin said. "I'm just dying to see her. I want to know what she looks like."
"I'm sure she's beautiful," Nick said.
"Of course she is, she's MY daughter," Kevin said.
"Shut up!" Nick said as he threw a pillow at Kevin.
Kevin laughed.
"Want to play a video game?" Nick asked.
"Yeah buddy," Kevin said as he sat up. "Set it up."
Nick went over to the t.v. and set everything up. Then they began to play through out the night.