“Corinne, before you say anything, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about Amber and I… I mean, I guess I was wondering how you were feeling about that…”
Corinne smiled. “To be honest, Kevin, I was kind of jealous. Oh, and sorry I was so rude this morning when I saw you guys. I was kind of bummed out.”
Kevin hid a smile. He was actually happy that she was a little jealous. It meant she still cared.
“But, I’m okay now. I hope you guys will be happy…”
“Whoa, we’re just having fun. She goes back to Minnesota in a couple of days and she’s been kind of vague about even seeing me tonight.” Kevin laughed.
“Well, that’s my sister. Kevin, I hope she doesn’t hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re just having fun.”
Just then Corinne’s cell phone rang. Corinne looked at Kevin and then looked at the display on her phone. Corinne laughed.
“Amber is calling me!”
Kevin laughed. “What timing!”
“I’ll call her back. So, Kev, are you really okay about Nick and me? I mean, I still feel kind of weird when we’re around you and the other guys. I know we talked, but, well, you know, I thought I would check.”
“I’ll be honest, Corinne. It’s kind of hard on me, but you know, I’ll survive, I’ll get over it. I just want you to be happy.”
Corinne smiled. “Thanks, Scotty.”
Just then Kevin’s cell phone started ringing. Kevin looked at his phone and of course, it was Amber.
“Is it Amber?” Corinne asked and Kevin nodded. They burst out laughing.
“She’s probably freaking out because she can’t reach me. You can answer it if you want.” Corinne said.
“No, I’m cool. I rather talk to you.”
Corinne smiled. “Hey, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about, but I don’t know how to begin.” She suddenly got solemn.
Kevin arched an eyebrow. “What is it? You know you can tell me anything.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. This is just really hard. This is something that I never told you when we were together, but I should have and now, I need to tell Nick, but I need your advice about that…” Corinne said and tears started to build up in her eyes.
Kevin saw the affect this was having on her and he reached over and put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
“Are you okay?”
Corinne nodded, trying to pull herself together. You can do this, Corinne. Just say it.
Suddenly, Corinne’s cell phone started ringing again.
“Oh, Damn it! Who is it now?” Corinne looked down at her phone. She didn’t recognize the number, but for some reason she was compelled to take this call.
“Do you mind if I take this, Kevin?”
“Not at all.” Kevin said and got up to grab some bottled water out of the refrigerator.
“Oh my God, Rob! How are you?” He heard Corinne say. “Good. I’m doing well. You won’t believe this, but I just had a dream about you!”
“Really? What about?” Rob asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Why are you calling me? The last time I saw you was at our 10 year reunion!”
“Yeah. Corinne, I found her!”
“You found who?”
“Our daughter!”
Corinne dropped the phone. Kevin walked into the room just in time to see Corinne’s reaction. Not only was her phone on the floor, but her jaw had dropped and she looked pail.
“Corinne?”
She shook her head and held out her hand to signal it was okay. Breathe, Corinne, breathe. She picked up her phone.
“Corinne! Are you there?!” Rob was shouting.
“Yes, I’m here. Rob, what are you talking about?”
“Corinne, you know what I’m talking about. We had a daughter together, remember? For the past few weeks I have been looking for her and I finally found her.”
Tears were streaming down Corinne’s cheeks. “Rob, I can’t do this right now…” she was starting to hyperventilate.
“I know; it’s hard to believe. Where are you? Can we meet somewhere and talk?”
“I live in Glendale, but I’m in LA right now. Where are you?”
“Oh, kind of far. I live in San Luis Obispo.”
“Oh.” Corinne’s heart sank. That was almost 3˝ hours away.
“Where is she?” She dared to ask, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
“She doesn’t live that far from you. She lives in Claremont.”
“Oh my God, Rob. I can’t believe this. I… never dared to hope…” The tears were unstoppable now; she was practically sobbing.
“I’ll call you back.” Corinne choked out, flipped her phone shut and got up to walk away from Kevin. This was just too much to bear. She was just about to tell Kevin about her and then Rob calls. What were the fuckin’ odds that that would happen?! And what was she going to do?! This was something she had shut out of her mind and heart for so many years and now not only would she have to face it, but face it with Nick and if she chose to tell Kevin, with him. At this moment, Kevin was just staring at Corinne’s back, wondering what the hell had just happened.
Corinne suddenly realized that Nick and the guys would probably be returning at any minute.
“Kevin, can you take me somewhere?”
“Sure, wherever you want to go.”
“Good. I need to go home. Can you take me?” She had to get home and think, but she wanted company to keep her from going crazy.
“Let’s go.” Kevin said, pulling his keys out his pocket.
“Wait! What about Nick, the guys and the album?” She suddenly remembered what she was doing there in the first place.
“The guys won’t mind if I leave for awhile. They have tracks they can lay down without me. As far as Nick goes, why don’t you call him right now?” Kevin suggested. He didn’t want to come between them.
Corinne looked at him gratefully and dialed Nick’s cell phone number as Kevin walked outside to his car to give her privacy.
The call went straight to voice mail and Corinne was secretly glad that it had.
“Nick, Baby, hi. It’s Corinne. Look, I need to go home. I’m really tired. I will call you later, okay? Have a good recording session. Love you.”
Nick and the other guys were having lunch at Tony’s down the street, but Nick kept wondering where Kevin was. He had a nagging feeling that Kevin stayed behind to talk to Corinne. His stomach flip-flopped when he thought it. He tried to put the thought out his mind, but it kept nagging at the back of his head. On their way back to the studio, Nick looked at his cell phone and noticed he had a message. Listening to Corinne's voice, he couldn’t help wondering if Kevin had taken her home…
Kevin and Corinne arrived at Corinne’s condo 30 minutes later.
“Hey, Kevin, I really should call Amber and Megan. They’re both probably wondering where I am.”
“No problem."
“So, where’ve you been, sis?” Amber asked Corinne.
“At the recording studio with Nick and the guys. Sorry I didn’t call you sooner. I know I said we would have lunch and go see Megan, but I’m really tired. Can I meet you at the hospital later?”
“That’s fine. Hey, do you think Kevin will check his voice message because I left him one about an hour ago.”
“I guess. Don’t worry, he’ll call you back.”
“Okay, why don’t you call me when you’re ready to meet?”
“Sounds good. Hey, can you call Megan and tell her we will come see her tonight?” Corinne asked. Then she wouldn’t have to make the call.
“Sure. Call me later.”
“OK, bye.”
“You sure know how to put on a brave face, don’t you?” Kevin said, amazed at her resiliency.
“False bravado, don’t you know?” Corinne laughed.
Kevin laughed, too, remembering the book she had written.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Corinne asked.
“Corinne, I used to come here all the time, remember? I can get it myself.” Kevin laughed and grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
“Oh yeah!” she laughed. Then she got serious. “I do miss you, Kev.” She said, but then realized that she probably shouldn’t have said it.
Kevin smiled at her. “I do, too, Rinna.” Kevin sat down opposite her on the couch and looked at her.
“Okay, you’re probably wondering what that call I got earlier was about… well, funny thing was I just going to tell you about that situation and then I got that call. Life is so weird sometimes…” she reflected. "Anyway, my first boyfriend, Rob called me. You know, the one I lost my virginity to?” Kevin nodded. “And he called to tell me that… well, wait a minute, let me back up a minute. Rob and I dated for about a year and half, halfway through our senior year and into our first year in college. And on my 19th birthday, I found out I was pregnant.” Corinne paused and looked at Kevin to see his reaction. He looked shocked, but she could tell he was trying to hide it. Now who was trying to put on the brave face now? She thought.
“Yeah, I got pregnant. I was devastated. I had just started my first year in college and I was very excited to be embarking on a future career in writing, following in my dad’s footsteps. The pregnancy threw both Rob and I for a loop. Neither one of us had jobs at the time since we were going to college, not to mention we were both still living at home with our parents. It was the worst possible time for us. Plus, we had already talked about dating other people, so we were kind of on our way to breaking up. I had met another guy and he had met someone else, too. Anyway, that totally changed all our plans. We talked long and hard about what we should do about it. I didn’t want to get an abortion; I didn’t think I could live with myself if I did, but I knew I was in no position to keep the baby. I was pretty immature and selfish and I knew that about myself. So, adoption seemed like the only other alternative. We stayed together throughout my entire pregnancy. Rob was really good about that, but we broke up right after the baby’s birth. We both needed to forget; it was just too painful to remember that we had a baby together that we gave up. Anyway, even though it was really hard for me, I moved on. I finished college and pursued the career I always wanted.”
“Wow, Corinne. I had no idea. How did your parents take it?” Kevin couldn't imagine how hard that must have been for her.
“Um, well, not thrilled, but they adjusted. They understood my decision and supported me in the end. I think it’s hard for them now because here I am now, 34, not married and have no other children. And although Megan just had her baby, I think they would like me to “settle down” and have kids. So, anyway, Rob called me today to tell me that he found our daughter. God, I just can’t believe it. I didn’t even know he was looking for her!”
“Oh my God. Are you going to see her? Where is she?”
“I guess she lives in Claremont, but I don’t know. I didn’t get to hear many details because I was in such shock. I do need to call Rob back though and find out what's going on.”
“Do you want to meet her?”
“I don’t know, Kevin. I’ve thought about it before, but I really don’t know. I would have to think long and hard about it. A part of me wants to, but another part of me doesn’t. It’s really hard…”
“I can imagine.” Kevin sympathized with her.
“So, do you think I should tell Nick? Is he going to freak out on me?”
Kevin thought for a minute. “I don’t know, Corinne. I mean, I think you should tell him because you guys shouldn’t keep secrets from each other, but I’m not sure how he’ll take it. I mean, I think he’ll be in shock like I am, but as far as how he’ll feel about it; I’m not sure.”
“I was hoping you’d give me some insight. I’m just so afraid he’s going to run screaming for the hills once he finds out. I know he doesn’t want kids.”
“Corinne, if Nick loves you like I think he does, then he will support you and stand by you in whatever situation. I do know that much about him.”
“Really? Thanks.” She smiled gratefully at him. “Kev, I'm sorry I never told you...
"It's okay, Corinne. I understand why you didn't."
"I think I would have eventually."
"It's okay."
"Look, I know you need to get back to the studio and I have to call Rob and Amber back, but thank you so much for bringing me home and for listening.” They stood up and hugged one another.
“No problem. I hope everything work outs for you. And Corinne…” He paused. “For the record, I think you’ll make a fantastic mom.”
Tears starting forming in her eyes and she said, “Thanks. That means a lot. Oh, God, I was fine until you said that!” She smiled through her tears. Kevin instinctively reached out to wipe a tear away and they looked at one another. Shaking it off before things went to another level, Kevin headed for the door. A baby! He thought and then did the math in his head. No, not a baby, a 15-year-old!
