Part
7:
Real Life
“Leslie?”
Lily was feeding Nate a bottle in the livingroom when Kristin called her name.
“It’s the strangest thing.” Coming around the corner Kristin held the cordless
phone from the bedroom in her hand.
“I
dropped my wedding ring under the bed in my bedroom and while I was down there
picking it up I noticed that the phone cord was pulled out of the wall?”
“That’s
bizarre?” Lily answered shifting Nate up onto her shoulder. “Maybe that’s why
Kevin hasn’t called?” Patting the tiny infant on the back she was able to get
two big belches out of him as well as a tiny smile.
Walking
through the livingroom into the kitchen Kristin opened the pantry door.
“The
phone in here is unplugged too?” She shouted. Lily could hear Kristin leave the
kitchen and make her way back upstairs.
“You’re
Mommy is brighter then I gave her credit for.” Lily cooed to Nate chucking him
under his double chin. “I guess we’ll have to be more clever in the future,
won’t we baby boy.”
“This
is ridiculous.” Kristin called out making her way back downstairs. “Every phone
in this house was unplugged? Who would do that?”
“Maybe
the maid? She was here today.” Lily answered casually, sinking back into the
pillows on the sofa. “Hey what’s this.” Reaching behind her Lily pulled
Kristin’s cell phone out from beneath the cushion.
“Missing
something?” She smiled tossing it to Kristin.
“Oh
Kevin is going to kill me!” Slapping herself on the forehead Kristin quickly
turned on the cell phone checking the call log. “I didn’t even notice it was
gone.”
“So
did he call?”
“Only
like three dozen times.” Kris answered chewing on her lip. “He is going to be
pissed.”
“No
he won’t, he’ll be so happy to hear from you he won’t even care.” Standing Lily
cradled Nate close in her arms. “Give him a call and I’ll go put Nate to bed.”
“Oh
Les let me put him to bed okay.” Tossing her cell phone to the couch Kristin
reached for her son. “I’ll go and put him to bed and why don’t you go and put
on swimsuit and I'll put mine on and meet you by the pool. I love to take an
evening swim before bed, I can call Kevin before I jump in.”
“Sounds
good, I’ll meet you outside.”
*
* *
“How’s
your dinner?” Kevin sat at the head of the table, lost in the din of the
conversation running back and forth between the twenty or so people crowded
around their banquet style table.
Everybody
from hairdressers to wardrobe people, from publicists to potential one night
stands for the other guys sat close, consuming too much wine and too much food
that would all be paid out of the group’s expense account.
“Did
you say something?” Looking over at his cousin Kevin smiled.
“I
asked you how your dinner was?” Looking down at his cold T-bone steak and
half-eaten baked potato Kevin sighed. “I dunno, I’m really not hungry.”
“Hey
you’re not hungry?” Snapping to attention Nick’s hand shot out as he speared
the steak with his fork. “Thank you very much!” He beamed slapping it down on
his plate while the curly red haired woman beside him burst out in a fit of
giggles.
“Do
you really think any of the fans would miss me if I weren’t here?” Turning back
to Brian Kevin gave another heavy sigh.
“I
know it’s hard Kev.”
“Do
you have a wife and baby at home?” Pulling his napkin off of his lap Kevin
wadded it up and dropped it on the table.
“That’s
a low blow.” Brian and his wife Madelyn had divorced the year before. While
Brian’s dream had always been to have a house full of loud happy children
Madelyn’s dream had been to have a lover in Tampa, so needless to say Brian’s
dream had never come true.
“I
didn’t mean it like that Bri.”
“I
know you didn’t.”
“So
what are we talking about?” Dropping his hands on Kevin’s shoulders A.J.
stooped down between the two men a smile on his face.
“We’re
talking about real life, not fantasy tour world.” Kevin answered.
“Ahhhhh
I see. Look Kev, why don’t you call your wife. She’s got to be home by now and
I know she’ll be happy to hear from you. Besides if you get your ass up and
give me your seat I’ll have a perfect view of that hot brunette in the corner
booth when the waiter delivers her the drink I sent her way.” Laughing Kevin
slid his chair back standing up as A.J. slid his skinny ass into the seat a
twinkle in his eye as the brunette reached for the drink on the waiters tray
and sent a shy little wave in his direction.
“You
guy’s have fun, I’ll see you at he hotel.” Grabbing for his jacket Kevin pulled
out his cell phone and began dialing before he was even out of the restaurant.
*
* *
Lily
sat out by the pool that overlooked the calm and peaceful ocean. It reminded
her of St. Thomas a place she hadn’t been in many years.
Swishing
her feet around in the water she glanced up to the master bedroom where Kristin
had gone to find a swimsuit for an evening swim before going to bed.
The
phone rang on the table beside her. Reaching out she snatched it up after one
ring.
“Hello.”
“Um….”
There was a pause as the unmistakable sound of Kevin’s voice filled the other
end of the line. “Is this….Leslie?” Smiling Lily could feel her heart pounding
double time in her chest.
“Yes.”
She answered in a soft voice.
“Oh
man, you have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice!” When he laughed she
felt her heart skip a beat. “I thought that you and my wife had taken Nate and
skipped off to Mexico.”
“I’m
sorry if we scared you.” Finally finding her voice Lily made a conscious effort
to keep her tones soft and airy, unrecognizable from her once enthusiastic
accented tones.
“So
how’s my son?” Walking down the sidewalk Kevin was oblivious to the activity
around him as people moved in and out of the shops and restaurants.
“He’s
a wonderful boy, just wonderful.”
“Isn’t
he great!” Kevin answered. “You know there are some days I can hardly believe
he’s really mine.”
“Being
away from him is hard on you isn’t it?” Standing up Lily walked to a deck chair
and sat down.
“Oh
Leslie you have no idea. It’s literally killing me.” Kevin liked the sound of
the woman on the other end of the line. She sounded kind and caring, just the
type of woman he would want looking after his wife and child while he was away.
“I
bet it was hard for Kris today, having you there to help. I’m she could hardly
tear herself away from the little guy.”
Looking
up at the bedroom window Lily saw the light in the Kristin’s bedroom go out and
she knew the woman was on her way down to the pool.
“Actually
she’s been doing just fine with me here. She went to the gym for a couple of
hours today and then she headed over to Bloomingdales for a wild shopping
spree. You should have seen all of the bags she brought home with her. Oh
whoops, maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything!”
Stopping
Kevin could feel his face get hot. “So she went to the gym and shopping huh?”
Lily
detected the hint of irritation in his voice and it made her smile.
“You’re
mad aren’t you, oh Kevin I feel horrible.”
“Not
mad,” He answered. “Just……..surprised.”
“Leslie
was that the phone?” Walking out onto the patio clad in a two piece baby blue
bikini Kristin wound her hair up onto her head and secured it with a wide
silver clip.
Turning
Lily smiled.
“Is
that Kris?” Kevin’s voice was hard.
“Yes, hang on. It was nice talking with you.” Lily stood holding
out the phone to Kristin mouthing the words “it’s your husband” as she headed
inside.
***
