Tristan Trilogy- Story 3

CHAPTER 13

“Why don’t you jump in shower and get the chlorine out of your hair.” Kevin suggested when he and Tristan got back home. “I’m going to call Brian and make our apologies.” His arm was still around her shoulders and she had begun to shiver in the air conditioning. “I’ll order in some supper. We’ll eat in bed. How does that sound?” Kevin asked as he rubbed her arm, producing a mild heat.

“That sounds great.” Tristan sighed appreciatively. “Be sure and tell Brian that I’m sorry, too.”

Kevin nodded and pushed her towards the stairs. He remembered seeing some clean laundry folded and ready to be put away on top of the dryer and he went there now to change out of his wet clothes before he made his calls. The first call he made was to Brian’s house. Thankfully, Brian answered the phone and so he was not forced to make up half-witted explanations for what had happened in the pool or why he and Tristan had left the party. If Amanda or AJ had taken his call, he would have found himself in the middle of a game of ’20 Questions’. All Brian had mentioned, in reference to the earlier backyard conversation, was a hope that he would see them both at the party. Next, Kevin called a local Chinese restaurant, placed an order and asked that it be delivered at 8:30. It was barely six now but neither he nor Tris were very hungry at the moment. They probably would be later.

Kevin called a friend next, talked for several minutes and after hanging up, made his final call to Dr. Malone, who had been kind enough to give Kevin his home number. Tristan’s state of distress today over Kevin’s remarks had been real enough but it had also been a subconscious smoke screen used to cover extreme disappointment. Dr Malone had told her today that, in his opinion, she should not make the trip to Sweden with the group. Tristan had been devastated. He had left his office quickly after Tristan’s check-up the day before on an emergency and had promised Tristan that he would call her as soon as he’d had a chance to go over her routine lab tests. She had been expecting his call when she and Kevin were getting ready to go over to Brian’s. The call came after Kevin had left. Kevin didn’t learn any of this until he had moved Tristan against the side of Brian's pool and forced her to talk to him out of earshot of the others.

Kevin was disappointed as well. The trip was supposed to last for two weeks, but he knew that the label had seen to it that their schedules had been cleared for up to a month in case they needed more time. That hadn’t concerned Kevin too much before he learned that Tristan wouldn’t be able to go, but now the prospect of a two week separation seemed like torture and the idea of a month apart was unthinkable. He wanted to know what was wrong.

Dr. Malone had been expecting Kevin’s call. He explained to him that Tristan’s blood pressure was still a little high, even with medication. Her blood sugar levels had risen slightly as well and her urine test still showed traces of protein. The babies seemed to be doing well and his main concern at the moment was Tristan. Dr. Malone felt it was best if she stay nearby. She still needed close monitoring.

Kevin bent his head forward and then from side to side and closed his eyes, trying to relieve some of the tension he felt creeping up his back. When his eyes opened they fell to the torn wedding photograph that still lay on the corner of his desk. Kevin smiled wearily. This was a temporary problem and would pass. He and Tristan had gone through separations and worse before. They would be okay. She would be okay.

***************

Tristan was pouring through her concert wardrobe in the cedar closet when the doorbell rang. She was starting to panic and silently cursed Mason as she moved hangers across the iron bar for the third time. Everything Mason had ever picked out for her to wear on stage had been very form fitting. She wondered why she never noticed this before. Kevin would get the door. She still had to find something to wear. It was almost time to go.

"Baby, we gotta get going. We're already going to be late.." Kevin said from the doorway.

Tristan pulled a few dresses from the rack and turned to hurry back to the bedroom. There was no more time for decisions. She stopped in her tracks when she turned to face Kevin. He looked….amazing. The suit was a new design from D & G. The cut was simple and tailored but a few subtle changes had been made in traditional details. The charcoal silk blend featured a slightly longer fitted jacket with a shawl collar. The pants were tighter than what Kevin usually wore but still loose and easy. His shirt and tie were a mossy green color that seemed to match his eyes exactly and Tristan could see a sparkle on his ear lobes. He was wearing his diamond studs.

"God, Kevin! You look good enough to eat.." Tristan laughed as she fingered the smooth silk. "I don't think I want to go to this party, after all. Let's stay home. We can have our own party…" she whispered suggestively.

"Get thee behind me, woman!" Kevin ordered dramatically as he pointed out of the door. When Tristan responded with a dramatic sigh of her own, he added, bending down to murmur in her ear, "If you're a real good girl tonight, I might allow you to eat me later…"

"What if I'm a real bad girl?" Tristan pouted provocatively as she tugged at the zipper of his fly.

"Then I might allow you to eat me sooner…" he smiled.

"Maybe sooner than you expect." Tristan teased. "I can be very, very bad…" She gave Kevin a gentle squeeze and was rewarded with a small gasp before she hurried away down the hallway to their bedroom. "You [are] bad!" he shouted after her and then followed her down the hall.

When Tristan threw her armload of dresses on the bed, she noticed the boxes. One large and one smaller box had been placed at the foot of the bed. They were both marked 'Versace'. A single Tropicana rose lay on top of the larger box. She felt a burning in her eyes and her throat hurt. She turned to see that Kevin was leaning against the doorframe, watching her.

"When did you do this?" She asked him softly, trying to control the tremor in her voice.

"Yesterday…" he answered, glancing to the floor. He could barely stand to look at her right now. It had been such an easy thing - such a simple thing to do, and yet he could tell by her voice and by the look on her face that his gesture had touched her in a profound way. He was almost embarrassed when he realized how long it had been since he had surprised her this way.

"I was with you all day yesterday…"

"I made a call when we got back from Brian's. No big deal. " Kevin was practically shuffling his feet. "Let's see what Donatella sent over.." he smiled.

Tristan wiped her eyes and grinned. "Is Donatella in the flower business, too?" she asked, picking up the rose and holding it to her nose.

Kevin looked a little sheepish. "No…. That came from the backyard…"

Tristan skipped over to the door and threw her arms around his shoulders.

"Nice touch…." She whispered into his neck. "Thank you, Kevin…"

"I'll touch you nicely later…" he half joked and squeezed her body against his. "Now get out of that robe and get ready!" he laughed, unwrapping her arms from him. He turned her around by her shoulders and swatted her behind. "Go! I'll wait downstairs."

Kevin was about to call her when he heard her on the stairs twenty minutes later. He didn't know what to expect. He had given Donatella a brief overview of the 'problem' and she had asked a few questions about Tristan's shape, coloring and sizes. He met Tristan as she came to the bottom of the stairs and found himself at a loss for words. All he could do was check her out. His brow had furrowed as his eyes roamed over her body in a type of distant examination mode.

"You don't like it?" Tristan swallowed. This was not the reception she had expected.

Kevin still looked very serious. "You look…."

He still struggled for the right word. She looked hot, very hot. Kevin felt movement in his groin. She also looked glamorous, feminine, chic, sophisticated and beautiful. He owed Donatella - big time.

"….perfect."

The Versace dress was really very simple with no bells or whistles. It suited Tristan perfectly. It was shortish and made of Chinese silk brocade in a watery amethyst color. Tiny, pale designs had been woven into the fabric which had been cut on the bias. The bias cut allowed the dress to slide down Tristan's body, accentuating her figure, while allowing room for her expanding tummy. The cut also created a flare at the hemline that seemed to almost sway when Tristan moved. The House of Versace was becoming well known for it's revealing designs. This dress was more modest than most but it was still revealing. The thin, spaghetti straps that were attached to a low cut bodice seemed to accentuate the creaminess of Tristan's throat and breasts.

The shoes that Donatella sent only added to the heat of the ensemble. High, strappy, patent leather sandals completed the outfit. When Tristan was upstairs, she had clipped her hair up to get it out of her way. Now it hung long and loose, parted on the side. She had blown it dry and so it lay against her back - straight and thick and golden. Kevin didn't resist his urge to hide his fingers in the silky strands.

"There's one more thing you need.." he said slowly as he guided her to the mirror in the foyer. "Let's take the pearls out of your ears."

Kevin stood behind her as they both faced the mirror and he unfastened the studs that Tristan had pushed through her ear lobes. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box and removed the contents. He leaned forward again and replaced the earrings with new ones that he had selected himself two days ago. When he stepped back to appraise his selection, Tristan gasped. Her pearls had been replaced with pear shaped diamonds that dangled from her ears and were held in place by diamond studs. The total weight of the diamonds was easily six carats. Kevin was very pleased with his selection. Tristan had very few pieces of 'important' jewelry. Aside from the ruby and diamond ring that Kevin had given her last year, the only other piece she owned was a pearl necklace that had belonged to her mother.

"They're beautiful.." She whispered, gazing at their reflection.

"Only because they're on you, baby." Kevin moved in front of her and wiped away the wetness that was forming on the edges of her eyes. "I love you…"

***********************

The Jive party was no small event. Last year's gathering had taken place while the boys were on tour and Tristan had missed it. Since then, Jive had become a force to be reckoned with due in large part to the success of Backstreet's Back and, more significantly, Millennium. After Millennium, the label was further strengthened by record breaking albums by 'Nsync and Britney Spears. Everyone connected with the label, its parent company and subsidiaries were very happy and wealthy.

There were over a thousand people at this little get together and the party was in full swing by the time Kevin and Tristan arrived at 9:30. It took them another half-hour to get to their table as they stopped at chatted with well wishers along the way. Tristan received many appreciative stares from the men in the room and comments from several women about her earrings. Kevin felt good. His pills were already working wonders. He was proud, happy and ready to party. He pushed Tristan along until they reached their table, which sat twelve. They filled two of the three empty seats and as Tristan glanced around the table, it became painfully obvious who was missing. Tristan took a seat next to Nick. The empty chair was reserved for Holly who had not yet shown.

Nick looked absolutely fabulous. Tristan had never seen him like this and she wondered how he had managed to pull it together. His suit was a deep wine color, almost black, and the double-breasted Jacket covered a cream colored silk shirt and tie. He looked mature and older than his twenty years but his self-confident style was diminished by the preoccupation that clouded his facial features. Nick had been at the party for an hour and there had been no word from Holly.

"Damn, girl, you look pretty hot for an old married, pregnant lady.." Nick smiled as he gave Tristan a hug.

"Me?" Tristan grinned. "Look at you! I am thoroughly impressed!" She leaned forward at whispered. "Did you get dressed all by yourself?"

Nick turned a little pink. "Actually, no. I had some help from our resident fashion expert." He pointed across the table to Mason who had been watching the pair and had caught the gist of their conversation. He bowed in his chair and patted himself on the back.

It was hard to talk to Nick when his eyes continually swept over the floor. Tristan was beginning to worry a little, too. She didn't think Nick had had too much to drink but she suspected that if Holly didn't show soon he would be on his ass. This was going to be an important night for them if Holly didn't screw it up.

"Tris, I need to talk to you…" Amanda said seriously, leaning across Nick so that she wouldn't have to yell. She was nodding her head towards the veranda doors directly behind their table.

"In a minute. Nick's gonna dance with me first."

Nick glanced up at Tristan, surprised. "I am?"

"Come on, Nick…"

Kevin was a little surprised when he saw Tristan leading Nick to the dance floor. He thought that he would get the first dance. He'd been caught up in conversation with Howie while his date was away from the table. Oh, well….

Leighanne turned and whispered to Amanda. "Did you tell her?"

"Haven't had the chance.." Amanda answered, staring out at the floor. "Damn, Little Nick looks pretty hot tonight, doesn't he?" she said, changing the subject.

"Yeah.." Leigh nodded. "Where's his fiancée?"

"Don't have a clue…" Amanda shook her head. "Tristan looks pretty damn good, too. Did you see those rocks in her ears?"

Leighanne nodded and then laughed. "I wonder if they were a SHISU present?"

Amanda looked at Leighanne like she was crazy. "Shisu? What in the hell is that? Japanese or something?"

"No…" Leigh murmured. "SHISU - 'Sorry, honey. I screwed up."

"Oh… I suppose you have a few of those.." Amanda smirked.

"Oh, yeah…"

Amanda rolled her eyes and sipped on her gimlet. "Hey, Leigh…"

"What?"

"You'd better go fix your dress."

Leighanne glanced down the front of her white, haltered dress. "What's wrong with it? Did I spill something?"

"No. Tris is showing more tits than you tonight and we can't have that, can we?"

Leighanne jerked her head up and glared at Amanda. "God, you are so low, Amanda!" She snarled.

"Look who's talking, Miss SHISU…"

"I'm sorry I ever told you that!" Leigh snapped. Amanda dipped her finger into her glass and sucked the vodka off the tip. "You should be…." She smiled.

******************

Holly stood at the entrance to the grand ballroom with her invitation in hand. She had no idea the party would be this huge. After she was admitted she found a quiet spot by the wall and surveyed the crowd. There were so many people! She caught a glimpse of a hand waving in her direction. Justin Timberlake. Great. She didn't see her father. Where was Nick? Finally she spotted a blond head on the dance floor. Shit, he's on the other side of the room… Holly began to make her way through the crowd. She spotted some familiar faces from the classical field and nodded. She felt like she was moving against the current and wished that she could just cut across the dance floor. Who is he dancing with, anyway?

Holly jumped when a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

"Hey, Holly-berry! Where have you been hiding, baby?"

Holly groaned and glanced back over her shoulder at the blond head across the room before greeting her captor.

"Hi, J.C……"

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