Circling

Tristan Trilogy- Story 3

CHAPTER 19

Kevin was pleased to learn that the flight to Sweden wouldn't be leaving until Friday night. He would be able to go with Tris to her OB appointment and they would have the early evening to be together. She was officially into her third trimester now and the risk of miscarriage had diminished significantly. Other dangers still lurked but hopes were high that the pregnancy would continue to go well. Dr. Malone had told Kevin that it was time to let Tristan know what was going on. He planned to tell her about the eclampsia on Friday and do a sonogram during her four PM visit.

The weeks after the party had been happy and peaceful. Kevin had spent time on BSB work and business almost everyday but he had found the time for some serious songwriting, too. He browsed hardware stores and came home with bags of sandpaper, caulk, spackling and the occasional new tool. He played handyman and took care of some minor repairs that needed to be made. These domestic duties helped to ground him and made him feel 'normal'. He drew nursery floor plans trying to decide where furniture should go and if the babies should share one room for a little while. Tristan supposed that this was Kevin's way of participating in the pregnancy. He seemed to have a greater nesting instinct than she did. Tristan thought it was kind of cute.

It soon became unusual for Kevin to come home without some kind of baby paraphernalia. He brought car seats home one day (after doing extensive research in Consumer Reports) and had a 'more suitable' vehicle delivered three days later - a navy Suburban that had been outfitted with a third seat. 'We'll need the room' Kevin had explained. The truck looked more like a bus to Tristan who had been used to driving a small car. 'You'll get used to it.' Kevin had said. 'Besides, it's big and safe.' He had taken Tristan outside to demonstrate all of the truck's wonderful features. He sounded like a Chevrolet commercial.

They didn't go out very often, preferring to stay at home and read or watch movies. On weekends, Kevin watched sports in his boxers while Tristan cooked or puttered in the yard. Their life was calm, easy and idyllically boring. Kevin knew he would miss this comfort when the group left for Sweden. He also knew that he would worry. Tristan would really be on her own. Everyone would be making the trip except for her.

Kevin had mapped out their last day together almost to the hour. He had obligations at the studio in the morning but he would be free after two PM, except for Tristan's appointment. He wouldn't be picked up to go to the airport until nine PM which would give them time for intimate good-byes. Tristan seemed to have accepted the fact that she wouldn't be going with Kevin and tried to remain upbeat and positive. After all, it would only be two weeks.

Thursday night had virtually been spent in water. They had made love in the shower - twice and then soaked in a tub filled with scented bubbles. They took their standard positions with Tristan sitting between Kevin's legs and leaning her back against his chest. Her hands stroked his hairy thighs while his glided over her growing belly. Tristan laughed when he commented that she was 'getting ripe'. They made love one more time in the tub and went to bed, exhausted, relaxed and satisfied.

Kevin packed most of his things Friday morning so he wouldn't have to deal with that chore before it was time to go. The scene had become common but Kevin doubted he would ever become accustomed to it. Tristan sat in the middle of their unmade bed with the sheets wrapped around her while Kevin scurried around throwing things into a bag.

As soon as he left for the studio, Tristan went into the kitchen and started on a batch of bite-sized, chewy chocolate chip cookies. She was planning to slip a tin of them into his bag before he left - a little surprise. When the last cookie had cooled and been put away, Tristan went out to take care of some errands before Kevin came home. She had promised to come by the symphony for lunch and she still had to pick up Kevin's lollipops. She grabbed her purse and peeked inside to make sure she had her cell. She didn't. Shit…. Then she remembered that she had taken it out of her bag yesterday when she and Kevin had gone out and successfully caught an afternoon movie without ‘fan interruptus’. The phone was still in his truck. Oh well… I'll get it when he comes home. No big deal… Tristan scooped up her keys from the bowl on the counter and went to the door. As it turned out, it would be a very big deal.

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

Kevin was determined to have as much work done as possible before the group left for Scandinavia. He and Brian had already done some collaborating that only needed a little fine-tuning. He knew that Nick had been writing and that Howie had some lyrics down. With a little luck, most of their time would be spent recording. Even that took forever sometimes but at least they wouldn’t be starting ‘cold’.

Kevin and Tristan had ‘discussed’ his conversation with Max. She wasn't upset because she wouldn't be mixing the tracks. She had been angry and hurt because Kevin had taken it upon himself to make that decision for her even though he and the rest of the group had veto power over anyone associated in the production of the album. Tristan had demonstrated an innate talent for mixing but it really wasn't her profession. That was beside the point.

Mixing was stressful and loaded with deadlines. Kevin didn't want her stressed. Besides, they were married now and everything she did would be scrutinized. If Kevin's voice were emphasized on a track, questions could be raised about her objectivity. That potential problem didn't exist when the Millennium album was produced.

Tristan's whole complaint about the matter was legitimate. She resented the fact that Kevin never mentioned any of this to her and that he had prevented her from making her own choices. Chances were good that she would have declined the job without Kevin's interference but Kevin didn't feel that he could risk that. Tristan didn't know about the eclampsia and Kevin was afraid that she might accept the job. He apologized, avoiding any pregnancy-related references and this seemed to satisfy her. One day she would know the whole reason that he had felt it necessary step in.

The group was taking a break when Jack burst into the studio. He was highly excited and was waving his cell around in one hand and a folder full of papers around in the other.

"We've had a major change in plans!" he practically shouted. He seemed discombobulated.

Kevin wasn't sure if Jack was upset, happy or agitated. He sighed and glanced at his watch, hoping that Jack wasn't about to throw a wrench onto his plans. It was noon, now. Only a couple more hours until he could leave and try to soak up enough of home and Tristan to last him for at least two weeks - maybe more. He certainly wasn't prepared for Jack's unexpected announcement.

"Listen up!" Jack shouted. "There's been a change in plans! Our flight to Sweden's been canceled. We have to be there tomorrow - Max has musicians lined up ready to go and arrangers and mixers who are on tight schedules. The only other flight out leaves in less than two hours. We've got to be on it, boys…"

Kevin couldn't believe his ears. Fuck! He'd barely have enough time to run home and grab his bags. Everyone was groaning and that pissed Kevin off. At least they weren't going over there alone. They all seemed to pull out cells at the same time at started calling. He did the same but received no answer. Cursing, he made a dash for the door and soon he was speeding towards home. He tried Tristan's cell on the way and was confused when a ringing in his truck seemed to coincide with the sound of Tristan's cell ringing in his ear. He shut off his cell and warily opened the glove compartment. God damn…… Kevin slammed the glove compartment closed after putting Tristan's phone on the seat beside him. He took several deep breaths and tried to calm himself. Then he remembered the joints he had stuck up under the seat in the metal track. Bobby G's 'gift'. At the next stoplight he reached under the seat and found his little stash and when he pulled away, he pushed in the cigarette lighter. A dashboard lighter probably wasn't the best way to fire up a doobie but, at that point, he really didn't care.

When his truck screeched to a stop near his door, it was 12:37. The airport was a good thirty minutes away and he would have to check in at least fifteen minutes before flight time. That gave him less than forty minutes before he had to leave. Kevin entered the house shouting for Tristan but everything was quiet. She wasn't home. He paused for a few minutes and re-lit the joint. He couldn't believe his bad luck. They were supposed to have more time. He was supposed to see the sonogram today. He was going to be there when Dr. Malone talked to Tristan about the eclampsia. They were going to have a nice dinner. They were going to make love….. Kevin threw the roach down the garbage disposal and ran up the stairs to grab his bags all the while wishing for Tristan to come home. After he threw them in the back of his truck, he paced and waited. Where is she? He couldn't stop checking his watch and it seemed to him that time was passing much too quickly. Finally, Kevin went back into the house and began to scribble a note.

Tristan, baby, where are you? There's been a big foul up with our flight and we have to leave now. I'm so sorry. God damn, I can't believe this fucking shit! We couldn't postpone.
I wanted to do so much with you and to you today. I was looking forward to our time together and seeing the sonogram. I'm sorry, baby. I'll try to make it up to you, I promise.
I'll call from the airport. The flight leaves at 2:00. I love you - LOVE YOU.
Kevin

It seemed like such a completely inadequate farewell.

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

Tristan pulled into the garage and took her bags from the back seat. Kevin would be home in less than forty minutes. She’d been to a gourmet shop to purchase wine and cheese and then to Publix where she picked up fruit and lollipops. She had also bought the new Boys to Men CD and batteries for Kevin’s Discman. It almost killed her that she wouldn’t be making the trip but whining wouldn’t help anything and she had already made plans to keep herself occupied for the next two weeks. She would be teaching a music theory class at UCF and giving a recital to benefit the Orlando Symphony. When Kevin came home, she hoped they would be able to go to Kentucky for a few days and check on the additions being made to their home there. She hurried into the house so she could pack up Kevin’s batteries, CD, cookies and lollipops before he got home.

She went to the laundry room first to retrieve the pink camisole. She shook her head as she held it up in front of her. It was definitely showing signs of wear. It had gotten tight, too, but Kevin had made it abundantly clear that he wanted her to wear it tonight. It would go into his bag later with her scent clinging to the fibers. Tristan skipped up the stairs carrying Kevin’s travel necessities and went directly to her dresser, slipping the camisole under a sachet. It was when she went to pack up the other items that she saw that Kevin’s bags were gone. He must have put them downstairs… She tried to ignore the fact that in order for him to have moved them he must have come home while she was out. There had been no sign of him being in the house. Tristan fought the uneasiness that was creeping over her.

The bags weren’t in the hall closet. They weren’t anywhere. That’s when she saw it. She had turned to go into the kitchen to look for a note and check messages when she spotted the folded paper stuck into the corner of he mirror that hung in the foyer. She didn’t know how she could have missed it. She slowly opened the paper and read Kevin’s message, fighting tears of panic that would soon become tears of sorrow and frustration. She sat down on the small chair beside the table and read the note again. Two o’ clock….. Tristan glanced at her watch. It was 1:20 now. She didn’t think - she just grabbed her keys and bolted out of the door. He couldn’t go like this.

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

Jack glanced nervously at his watch and then down the long corridor to the boarding gate. Everyone was present and accounted for except for Kevin. Jack was getting worried. Surely Kevin wasn’t planning to ‘abandon ship’. He breathed an audible sigh of relief when he spotted the tall, dark figure hurrying towards him.

“Jesus, man! I though you weren’t going to make it! Do you have your passport?” Jack asked as he handed Kevin his boarding pass.

“Yeah. Got it.”

It wasn't difficult to ascertain Kevin’s lack of enthusiasm. He was the only one of the group who would be traveling alone. Jack wished there were something he could do to make Kevin feel better but he couldn’t fathom what that would be.

“How did Tristan take the news?” Jack asked as he pushed Kevin along.

“Didn’t see her.” Kevin responded sullenly. “She wasn’t home when I got there. I just tried to call her, but there’s no answer.”

Shit. No wonder he’s in a foul mood… “Damn, I’m sorry Kevin. Maybe you can call her from the plane.”

“I’m not going to tell her goodbye on the phone with everyone up my ass!” Kevin snapped. “I’ll call her when we get to the villa.”

Jack backed off and stepped over to the group as they lined up to board. Kevin stood away from the everyone else and stared out of the viewing window at the TWA plane that would soon be taking them across the ocean. They would be the last ones to board. He took a moment to speak to Brian who was standing the closest to him and who had been watching Kevin since he arrived at the gate.

“He didn’t see Tris before he left.” Jack whispered. “You guys try to keep an eye out for him. He’s misery personified and we don’t need him spiraling when we’re about to cut an album - especially this album.”

Brian nodded. He would pass the word on to the others. Jack shouldn’t worry so much. Kevin would be all right. He’d feel better before long, especially with a little help from his cousin and a small bag of powder.

Tristan squealed into a ‘No Parking’ zone in front of the entrance to the airport. Thank God she didn’t try to drive that Suburban. It was 1:50 and how she’d gotten there in one piece, she didn’t know. She had to stop for a second when she jumped out of her car as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Not now, not now, not now… she thought, willing the world to stop spinning around her. She ran through the electronic doors and stopped in front of a monitor that listed departing flights. There she found what she was looking for - TWA Flight 292 to Stockholm now boarding at gate 12.

“Where’s gate 12?” she screamed at a passing skycap.

The look on her face must have scared the man to death. His eyes grew wide and he pointed to a nearby escalator.

“Up the escalator and to the left. Not far..” he assured her.

Tristan didn’t even say thank you as she took off for the moving stairway. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. The escalator creeped and was full of people. Tristan couldn't push ahead of them. Finally she reached the next floor and made a sharp turn to the left where she followed an arrow on a sign that read TWA. She felt as if she were trying to run through thigh-high water and everyone she passed seemed to step into her path, causing her to slow down. Finally she started seeing waiting areas that were identified by small signs over the customer service desks. Gate 4…. Gate 6…. Gate 8…. Please! Let him still be there! Please… please…please… Gate 10…. And finally a small seating area -full of excruciatingly empty chairs. The boarding attendant was just fastening the velvet rope that signified that passengers had planed and take off was eminent. Tristan had arrived at Gate 12.

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

Kevin sat by himself and stared out of the window at the tarmac. His mind was a thousand miles away. Tristan would be home by now. He was supposed to be home, too. Nick and Holly sat in front of him while Amanda and AJ occupied the seats behind. He couldn’t understand how a day that started off offering so much promise could turn to complete shit so quickly. He jumped when he felt Amanda slap him on the shoulder.

“KEVIN!”

Nick rose from his seat and glared at Amanda over Kevin’s head. Kevin wanted to be left alone. This was no time for Amanda to try and entertain him. Kevin turned his head to the seat behind him and scowled.

“What do you want?” he spat.

Amanda leaned over the seat and tapped on Kevin’s window.

“Look!” she shouted loudly enough for everyone in first class to hear. “Isn’t that Tristan?”

Kevin’s eyes shifted back towards the terminal as did everyone’s who sat on the left side of the plane.

“Shit…” Nick murmured. “It is her…”

Kevin couldn’t believe it. She must have come home minutes after he left for the airport. Her palms and face were pressed against the large panes of glass and she was shaking her head back and forth. Kevin felt helpless. He couldn’t speak - he could only stare. He was vaguely aware of voices around him.

“Nick! Stop the plane!” Amanda ordered.

Nick looked at her like she was crazy. The engines had already started. Stop a fuckin’ airplane? When his brain shut down, his mouth automatically took over. He had no idea what he was doing. Everything was happening so fast. He shouted to a flight attendant.

“You have to stop the plane! Now! I have to get off!”

The flight attendant came scurrying over. He didn’t want this screaming blond to upset the other passengers.

“What’s wrong sir? We’re getting ready for take off! Are you ill?”

Nick had no idea what to say so he decided to follow the attendant’s cues.

“No..not me…,” Nick swallowed. “It’s my fiancée..”

Holly’s mouth dropped open and she began to stammer. Her eyes darted between Nick and the attendant who was now glaring at her suspiciously.

“You’re sick?” He asked Holly skeptically.

“Uh.. Not exactly…”

Mason jumped into the fray trying his damnedest to push this scenario to its ultimate goal.

“Did you leave your medicine in the terminal again, Holly?” he scolded, raising his eyebrows in an effort to urge her on.

“Yeah… uh, that’s it…”

“What kind of medicine is it?” the attendant frowned. “Is is something you can get in Sweden?”

A new voice entered into the plot and all eyes turned to the rear of the cabin.

“NO!” Leighanne shouted. “It’s your insulin, right Holly? I think I saw your bag in a chair by the gate..”

“Right!” Nick agreed, relieved. “Insulin. She can’t leave here without it.” He said seriously.

The flight attendant glanced around the cabin at ten expectant faces. The guy with the goatee just looked confused. “Just a minute..” he grumbled before stepping into the cockpit.

After a minute or two, he returned to the first class cabin.

“The pilot says you have two minutes - not a second more - before the walkway is disengaged and the door is closed. After that, he’s going to taxi whether you’re on the plane or not. Hurry up!”

Nick threw his arm around Holly as if he were comforting her. “She’s so embarrassed and upset…” He turned around to the seat behind him. “Would you mind running in there, Kev?”

Kevin didn’t have to be asked twice. He bolted from his seat and barreled out of the plane to a rumbling chorus - “Go Kev, Go Kev…”

The flight attendant figured something was up when the remaining passengers in first class all went to the left side of the plane and peered out of the windows. He bent down to take a look, too. All he could see was some blond pressed up against the large window. Then a second later his goateed passenger came into view. He stopped. The woman turned toward him and they ran to each other. It was like a scene from a sappy movie. He watched the embrace become more passionate and checked his watch, wondering how far they could go in the eighty seconds remaining. As the group in the cabin let out a collective “Awwww…” the attendant smiled in spite of himself and shook his head. Sneaky bastards….

Email Grace

Tristan Trilogy - Story III

"Circling" is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious.
Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

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Fiction by Grace

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