Chapter 7
Amber was
having fun with Rick, Ralph, Jessica, and their group, but she missed her mom.
She liked the talks she had on the phone with her for the past days but she was
getting anxious she need her here with her. But, she still had two days of
loneliness to handle. She loved her aunt Gracie but still she needed her mom.
“Amber are
you listening?” asked Rick waving his hand at her.
“Yeah, I’m
sorry I was thinking about my mom I really miss her lately,” said Amber smiling
at him to reassure she was listening.
“So, you’re
in?” he asked her as he opened the door to the restaurant for her.
“Yep, as
long as you promise to win,” she said as she walked toward the table where the
rest were at, already waiting. A lot had happened in a few days for her; she
and Rick definitely had a connection. She had taken a seat when she notice two
new people added to the group she hadn’t met yet. Just as she was going to ask
about them Ralph introduced them to her.
“Hey, Amber
I want you to meet my cousins Victor and Vince as you can see twins run in our
family. They are transferring to our high school.” he said as he patted one of
them on the back.
“Hi,” said
Amber as she shook their hands. She smiled at Rick as he sat beside her; she
really liked Dallas after all. She pushed away her thoughts on her mom and
decided to have fun that day.
*****
Alex hadn’t
spoken to him in a long time but he needed to he was still his best friend. He
sighed and drove up to his driveway and stopped his car. He sighed and walked
up to the door and knocked, in less than a second it seemed there stood to
gorgeous little girls. He smiled and said, “hey munchkins where is your daddy
at?”
“Girls, I
told you not to open the door like that you need to see who’s…..AJ how are you
man?” asked Howie as he walked up to him and gave him a hug. He had debated on
calling him after he heard about Christine, but then he got busy with these
songs he needed to write for someone and kept postponing his call. Now there he
was standing in his house but he didn’t look well what was going on in his
friend’s life? All he knew was that his friend was a mess; he knew it right
when he said he was going to marry Christine. He personally didn’t understand
why out of the girls he met he decided on Christine, that’s why he preferred
common law marriage that way if you didn’t get along there was no paper in the
middle to keep you from going. Nellie and he had been living together for quite
awhile now and yeah he popped the question on her but they still hadn’t made a
date for the wedding, which was relieving to Howie. He guessed, it probably was
because just like him Nellie preferred the way they were living now.
“Look,
Howie I’m sorry for dropping in like this but, I need to talk to you.” said
Alex as he rubbed the back of his neck. He knew why he was there he needed
advice and someone who would listen to him unconditionally. He watched as Howie
took is two daughters to their play room and put one of his house keepers to
watch them. Then he followed Howie to his recording studio in basement.
“So what’s
up Bone what’s bothering you?” said Howie as he took a seat on a chair.
Alex
couldn’t help it he had to smile as he heard his friend call him Bone it had been a long time since he
had heard that one. AJ he still heard from some of his fans, even though he did
not call himself that now that he did his solo act. “You have no idea what has
happened to me D during these past weeks, but I need your advice. First off I
know you heard about me and Christine but let me assure it’s a mutual decision
we both knew this was going to come. We tried to save our marriage but it
didn’t work out, oh and as much as the press says I cheated on her I didn’t. I
also have to let you know that I and Christine were going to have a baby but,
she lost it right before we split. That is one of the reasons we decided to go
our separate ways. I am very devastated about that, you know how much I’ve
wanted a baby, and I had come to a conclusion that maybe I am meant to not be a
father.” said Alex as he took a break for air.
Howie took
that moment to assure his friend that he would be ok. “You’ll be fine AJ just
take it slow and before you know it you’ll have someone by your side who will
give you a child. I know you didn’t cheat on her; she called me a few days ago
and told me to keep an eye on you. She cares about you still you know.”
“I know I
care about her too just not like a husband and wife should. Listen D there’s
more, three days ago I got a visit from someone who I had lost hope in ever
seeing again. Pam, showed up in my house, I was surprised to see her you know.
All these emotions came back I felt angry at first, I felt happy to see her
though that sounds crazy right? I think I’m confused D, but that’s not all; she
came to visit me for reason. So, she tells me that the night me and her were
together she conceived.” Alex sighed as he said that he couldn’t believe it
himself, I mean he did; it was just overwhelming…
*****
Pamela
looked at her watch it was 11:30 a.m. she must have been tired from these past
days she wasn’t able to sleep well. Thank God Alex had a meeting to attend and
told her he would call her later today. She felt well rested so she decided to
get room service and maybe she could call home and see how her baby was she
missed her so much. First she needed a shower though. While showering she
thought about the past few days she didn’t know why she felt the way she did
but, it was like seeing Alex again made her realize that once Amber graduates
and goes off to college she would be alone again. She had for many years denied
herself of any dating or getting involved in a relationship. She had gotten
some offers but she always turned them down. She was 39 and she looked decent
right? She could still get someone to love her; maybe if she did she could get
the thoughts of Alex and her being together now out of her mind! That wasn’t
right back then it wouldn’t be right now.
She had just stepped out the restroom when there was a knock on her door
it was room service.
****
“Man, AJ
that is a lot to take at once, wow, you a father? Pamela just now telling you
about it isn’t right are you sure she’s yours?” asked Howie concerned for what
his friend had told him. He knew Pamela too and he knew most likely it was
AJ’s. Pamela was not a liar and definitely she wouldn’t go through this trouble
just to screw up AJ’s life but still the question popped out.
“Of course
she’s mine D, make the calculation she’s 17! Seventeen years ago I slept with
Pam I know you remember that mess. Besides, there is another reason I know
she’s mine but it’s personal! You know I am going to go and meet her soon, look
Pam gave some pictures of her, and this is how she looks now.” said Alex
showing Howie his daughter, his daughter… “That’s not all D. I think I still
have feelings for Pam,” said Alex in a subtle tone trying to make it sound like
it was a normal thing.
“What! Are
you crazy or what AJ? I think you’re just confusing yourself because of this
situation you can’t seriously still like her. She left you seventeen years ago;
what makes you think that it’s ok for you to feel like that towards her now?
Look AJ you and her were a Mistake
long time ago and out of it came Amber that’s all. Take it slow don’t start
getting crazy ideas, your going through a divorce, your grieving for someone
you lost, and at the same time your happy you are a father. You know if I was
in your situation I would consider psychological help big time! Hey, don’t look
at me like that I am just saying you should try it or if not talk to your mom.
Holy crap! Does she know about all this?” Howie was starting to get a headache
with this entire situation. He couldn’t believe his friend would think he had
feelings towards Pamela still. He shrugged it off as he heard Alex speak again.
“Howie
maybe your right but what if I never really stopped liking her? You know I
could really be angry at this situation but I’m not. I mean, I am but not the
way the Alexander James McLean you know and I know would. Instead I have these
feelings that because of this I may finally be with Pamela, I know that is a
stupid idea but that’s how I feel. Its like I want to be angry but I can’t
instead I feel happy and hopeful. I don’t know D. I think maybe I should see a
psychologist. My mom doesn’t even know yet oh, my god life is a b***h!”
“Ok, so we
have come to a conclusion that you’re crazy, but what are you going to do when
the press finds out about all this mess?
I’m sorry I shouldn’t be so sardonic, but have you thought about what
you’re going to do when they get a hold of this story? And what about Christine
how is she going to take this? I know that even though you’re getting a divorce
she deserves an explanation. What about your mom she needs to know also. Have
you thought about this yet?” asked Howie as he rubbed his temples; he now had a
big headache…
***
