Chapter Four-Hundred-Five
Jerald stood there watching Kristin, her sister who he learned was named Tina, and the two children pick out movies until they were standing in line waiting to pay. Jerald looked down at Ellie then and whispered into her ear.
“Play along with me. Uncle Jerry is going to tell a little white lie.” Ellie looked up at him incredulously but otherwise didn’t argue as he turned around and walked all the way around the shelf before coming out and standing in line behind them. It only took a second for Kristin to notice them and when she did she turned and looked at them with a big friendly smile on her face.
“Ellie, Jerald! What a pleasant surprise…we just keep running into each other all over the place don’t we?” she greeted causing Tina to turn her head and look at them curiously as she stood beside Kristin holding her daughter in her arms and Kristin held the little boy called Nate.
“Oh hey Kristin I didn’t even see you there” Jerald lied easily. “How are you?”
“Pretty good I’m just out with my family renting movies as you can see,” Kristin answered and she turned her attention on Tina.
“You two were never really formally introduced huh? Jerald this is my sister Tina, the other waitress you’ve seen around Denny’s. Tina – Jerald.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jerald insisted while smiling politely and he held his hand out toward her to shake it.
“Likewise,” Tina replied while accepting the handshake.
“And these two adorable munchkins here are my absolute favorite niece and nephew Nathan and Jessie – Nathan, Jessie these are my friends Jerald and Ellie.”
“Hi Jerald and Ellie” Both children replied in unison.
“Hi” Ellie replied happily and Jerald smiled at them both. Kristin beamed and hugged Nathan closer to her while gently cradling Jesse’s face in her hand and kissing her forehead softly. There is no way Jerald could possibly doubt that this isn’t all just an act. He can tell she really does love her niece and nephew very much because of the very candid moment he caught her in. The way she was playing with them earlier completely surprised him. He seriously thought that her bringing them up in conversation in Denny’s was an attempt at winning him and his mother over because maybe she just knows how Kevin is and is a better conniving little bitch then Summer is. But, he is wrong and a small part of him feels horrible for making that judgement.
“Jesse is Tina’s daughter and Nathan is our brother’s – we’re babysitting him for the evening,” Kristin explained. “Where is Kevin? Is he here somewhere?” she asked while looking around the movie store.
“Nah, he’s at home ordering pizza and getting the guestroom ready. We’re babysitting this evening too – Howie’s former foster child is coming to stay with us until tomorrow” Jerald explained and Ellie scowled at the reminder but otherwise said nothing.
“Howie had a foster child?” Kristin asked in such genuine curiosity that once again had Jerald surprised and he couldn’t stop himself from arching his eyebrow at her slightly. How could she not know about Ryan? There is not a single fan in the world that doesn’t know about the kids. Huh. Interesting…
“Yeah he and AJ both took responsibility of two children who recently lost their father to a heart attack and their mother was in a special hospital for trying to commit suicide. She’s out of the hospital now and is currently staying with Howie and he is helping her on her road to full recovery. Ryan thought it would be sweet to give them the night alone, so he’s staying with us.”
“Yeah, real sweet” Ellie sighed rolling her eyes some as she looked away and Jerald shook his head smiling as he hugged her close to him.
“Much to Ellie’s dismay.”
“Aww…” Tina replied while laughing some at the look on Ellie’s face. “How old is he?”
“Ryan is nine and his sister Laila is two.”
“Too cute,” Tina replied and Ellie shook her head.
“Laila yes, but Ryan isn’t that cute” She insisted and Kristin laughed.
“Ellie hush” Jerald chuckled and Elenore stuck her tongue out at him and looked away.
“I remember what it was like at that age. The whole girls vs. boys phase. You’ll grow out of it soon enough” Kristin insisted and Ellie shook her head in disagreement.
“I will always hates Ryan.”
“I knew a boy like Ryan when I was your age,” Kristin replied amusedly. “The kid drove me nuts but what everybody didn’t know was that on the inside I just thought he was cute.” Ellie looked at her not being able to hide her surprise and Kristin winked at her.
“Was he a big meanie head like my Ryan is?”
“Oh he was the biggest.”
“I don’ts like boys who are meanie heads – an’ I especially don’ts like them in my house,” Ellie informed while narrowing her eyes at her uncle.
“Yeah they definitely aren’t fun I know how that is. But he’ll grow out of it honey I promise. He won’t always be so mean you’ll see.”
“Did the boy you fought with when you were little grows out of it?”
“He sure did,” Kristin reassured gently. “He’s married now and has two little girls himself. One of the sweetest guys I know and he’s a really good friend of mine.”
“Cool,” Ellie replied and she rested her head against Jerald’s shoulder and now wore a small smile on her face. Jerald chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. When Tina finished renting their movies and buying their candy and popcorn Kristin smiled at Ellie and gently ruffled her hair as she still balanced Nathan on her hip.
“Bye sweetie, I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” Ellie replied happily and Kristin looked at Jerald in the eyes.
“Tell Kev hi for me?”
“Will do,” Jerald promised and she searched his eyes needing to know if he means it or not. When she saw that he did she smiled happily.
“Thanks Jerald” She told him and then hurried after her sister. Jerald couldn’t help but grin when he saw her eyes light up just at the mere fact that he said he’d tell Kevin hi for her and he turned his attention on the person behind the counter who was waiting patiently to tend to him.
“Why didn’t you tell me Howie and AJ had foster children? He looked at me like maybe I’ve been living under a rock or something” Kristin complained to Tina when they were in their car and headed for home.
“Well, you didn’t ask” Tina insisted while looking at her sister amusedly.
“Is there anything else I should know?”
“They all work in an orphanage when they aren’t doing BSB stuff. Nick has two adopted daughters named Dakota and Sarah while his girlfriend – who is AJ’s adopted sister and has a very long story of her own has a three month old baby girl named Bella. Brian has two boys named Josh and Chris. All of these kids have been on television in interviews with them twice – The Ellen Show, I believe.”
“That would explain why he looked at me funny. He probably expected me to be a fan who is only interested in Kevin because he is a Backstreet Boy.”
“Don’t take it too personal honey…his brother just came out of a really bad relationship. I would be worried if he wasn’t skeptical of you.”
“Yeah I know, I’m not offended. I was just catching onto his confusion that’s all.” Tina looked at her sister worriedly.
“Really I’m fine. He does not intimidate me in the least bit. If I start spending a lot of time with Kevin I am fully prepared to show Jerald that I am not a money craving witch.”
“Well if it comforts you at all I think you really made a good start back there,” Tina reassured while gently reaching over and taking her sister’s hand into hers as she used her other one to drive.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm. He looked very impressed.” Tina glanced over at Kristen briefly and noticed the small smile on her face and her confidence go up a bit and couldn’t help but smile herself as she continued to drive. She knows her sister cares very deeply about Kevin – more then Kristen herself even realizes. She just hopes that even though his family has already suffered so much…Jerald will find it in his heart to give her a chance. She deserves a chance to prove herself worthy and she knows he won’t regret it if he does.
~*~*~*~*~
“Daddy, Daddy, guess what!” Ellie exclaimed happily as she ran into the house with Jerald not too far behind her. Kevin came out of the kitchen then and smiled at his little girl lovingly.
“What princess, what’s so exciting?” he asked curiously as he knelt down before her and she threw her arms about him for a hug causing him to return it affectionately.
“Jerry an’ I saw Kristen at Blockbuster!”
“You did huh?”
Yeah!” Ellie answered while beaming happily. “She was with her niece an’ nephew an’ her sister – the other waitress from Denny’s.”
“Ooh I see,” Kevin replied while kissing her cheek softly. “How very exciting. I wish I had been there to see her” he told her and Jerald saw just exactly how much he wished he was. Ellie beamed even bigger. “Go on upstairs and wash your hands okay? The Pizza will be here shortly and so will Ryan. You can tell me all about your encounter with Kristen when you come down. Okay?”
“Kay,” Ellie replied and then ran on upstairs and Kevin stood and looked at Jerald curiously.
“Kris told me to tell you hi,” Jerald explained and he watched Kevin’s reaction closely only to find his eyes light up the way Kristen’s had. “She seemed very disappointed when she discovered you weren’t with us. It was almost the very first thing she did when she spotted us – was ask for you and look around.”
“Yeah?” Kevin asked attempting to sound casual about the whole thing but Jerald saw right through him. He knows he is exploding inside.
“Yup. And I must admit that just by watching her with her niece and nephew it is easy to see that they’re both the center of her world. She really truly loves them. Anyone would be a fool not to see that.”
“So what does that mean? Where does Kris stand on Big Brother Jerald’s Imaginary Clipboard of Standards huh?” Kevin teased somewhat.
“Id say she earned herself fifteen kudos tonight. Five for appearing to be a family person, five for the way she interacted with Ellie, and another five just because I liked the way her eyes lit up when I promised her Id tell you she said hi,” Jerald answered and he gently squeezed Kevin’s shoulder before walking away.
“How did she interact with Ellie?” Kevin asked curiously.
“I’ll let her tell you,” Jerald answered before disappearing in the office.
“Hey Jer?” Kevin asked while stepping into the doorway of the office where he found him on the computer.
“Hmm?”
“How come we never see Hope around here anymore? I liked her.”
“I really liked her too,” Jerald sighed. “But she and Summer were best friends and things didn’t really go over too well when I made it very clear that I hated her best friend.”
“Well…surely now that the truth about Summer is out things could be fixed between the two of you couldn’t they?” Jerald shrugged his shoulders.
“You should give her a call bro. She seems like someone who would understand. I’m sure she was just blind like I was…”
“Ellie only needs one woman in her life right now.”
“But what about what Jerald needs? Don’t you deserve to be happy?”
“Some day. I would rather think about my niece and put her needs first though. Maybe once the aftershock of Summer blows over and everyone starts to feel comfortable with Kristen I’ll consider it but not right now.”
“The only person not comfortable with Kristen yet is you,” Kevin reminded amusedly. “I mean I know I’m having some major trust issues, but I’m very content in having her as a friend. And mom has made it perfectly clear that she loves her and so has Ellie.”
“She hasn’t met everybody else yet,” Jerald pointed out. “She has to meet Brian, AJ, Howie, and Nick and the real test of all – Ashley.”
“Yeah, and she will eventually” Kevin shrugged. “Maybe I’ll bring her to the Orphanage tomorrow after our picnic. But I still think you are being ridiculous in not letting Hope back into your life.”
“I’m not being ridiculous. I’m being what I believe is a good uncle.”
“Ellie liked Hope if I remember correctly.” Jerald shrugged his shoulders. Kevin eyed him for a long moment, and then walked further into the office and over to Jerald’s things. He began rummaging through it all and Jerald sat at the computer only just barely paying attention. After a few moments, he found what he wanted and he walked over to the phone. He picked it up, dialed a number, and placed the phone to his ear.
“Hey…is this Hope?” Kevin spoke into the phone when someone picked up on the other end causing Jerald to drop the pen in his hand and look at Kevin with a no way you did not just go there look.
“…Kevin? Yeah this is Hope. Hey…how are you? I heard what happened, I’m so sorry. I honestly didn’t want to believe she was like that…”
“It’s okay…I’m fine…as to be expected. We’re healing. But anyway, I called to talk to you about Jerald,” Kevin explained while grinning at his brother.
“What about him?” Hope asked, the tone of her voice suddenly sounding wounded and upset.
“He really misses you,” Kevin answered sincerely.
“Then why didn’t he just call me himself?”
“Because he was scared you would hang up on him after the things he said to hurt you,” Kevin answered while looking at Jerald and guessing what might have went on. Judging by the sound of her voice though he has a feeling he’s not that far off. “Thing is he’s really sad and depressed…he misses you so much that all he does is mope around.”
“He does not…” Hope insisted doubtfully.
“He does so,” Kevin insisted. “Its downright miserable and heartbreaking having to watch him. Sometimes when I walk past his room at night I hear him crying himself to sleep.” Jerald snorted quietly and arched his eyebrow at Kevin and Kevin just smirked.
“Well what do you want me to do about it?” Hope asked trying to sound hurt and angry but Kevin could tell his guilt trip is working.
“Please come over here tomorrow and work things out between the two of you…put the poor guy out of his misery.”
“…You are sure he wants me to come over there?”
“I’m positive. The man is completely heartbroken without you. I knew if I didn’t do something soon we would all go nuts around here.” Hope was silent for a long moment on the other end.
“What time should I come over?” she asked softly.
“I think eleven thirty will be good,” Kevin answered after thinking about it for a moment. He made plans for Kristen to meet him and Ellie at his house at 11:45. So he would be around to make sure Jerald wakes up and gets ready and doesn’t try to make any escape attempts before Hope arrives.
“Okay, I’ll be there…”
“Awesome,” Kevin smiled. “Thank-you so much Hope. I know you won’t regret it.”
“I hope not…” Hope replied. “I’ve gotta go. Bye Kevin.” She waited on Kevin to say bye, and then hung up and he did as well. He smirked at Jerald who sat there staring at him with narrowed eyes.
“I could strangle you right now.”
“You’ll thank me soon enough,” Kevin insisted.
“I told you I didn’t want to bring anymore women into Ellie’s life just yet, I—“
“—You let me worry about what’s best for Ellie,” Kevin insisted. “She’s my daughter it’s my job and I think it’s high time that I took responsibility for her. You came out here to be her uncle and spend time with her – there is no where in your job description as an uncle that says you are to give up your love life.”
“Yes but—“
“—You are going to fix things with Hope tomorrow afternoon and you’re going to be happy. It’s an order. If you don’t then I am throwing you out of the house. Got it?” Jerald narrowed his eyes amusedly.
“It’s the least I can do after putting you through hell these past few weeks. I only want to make things up to you. Please tell me you will fix things with Hope and make yourself happy.”
“Okay…fine…” Jerald sighed and Kevin grinned triumphantly.
Author's Chapter Notes:
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