 |
"Are you sure you won’t come to the concert tonight?
Richard is going to have a few surprises. Gerri said that in her email to
everyone." Tara’s best friend, Trish, asked her. See if you can get your
sister to someone else to go? I'm just not up for it." Tara wanted some alone time.
Away from everyone who had been surrounding her 24/7 since Andrew’s death two months
ago.
"Andrew wouldn’t want you to be this way, Tara. He wouldn’t want you to
stop living. Tell you what. Here’s your pass to the meet and greet and here’s
your ticket to the concert. I will see you there. I know it. We’ve worked too hard to
get Richard to come here. You won’t pass this up." Trish gave Tara an envelope
that contained both her pass and ticket. "All the information is in there and the Eat
and Greet is all set up for the Olive Garden in Springhouse. I gotta get to work.
I’ll see you tonight." Trish gave her best friend a hug and left her alone. Tara
had moved into Trish’s house the night Andrew died and had not even gone back to
their house yet. Andrew had been killed by a drunk driver a week before they were to be
married. |
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, phone’s for you… it’s Steve." Lance handed the bus
phone to a barely awake Joey.
"This better be good. I was having a great dream." Joey commented with a
hoarse voice.
"I have some bad news, bud." Steve told his brother. Joey shot up and hit his
head on the underside of the upper bunk.
"Mom and dad alright?" Joey asked.
"It’s Andy. He’s gone man…" Steve said. Joey interrupted him.
"What do you mean gone? As in not living in Pennsylvania any more, right?"
Joey was beginning to feel sick to his stomach.
"I’m sorry, but I just got off the phone with his sister. He was killed two
months ago. While you were in Japan. She’s still too numb to talk about it and I
still get no answer or the answering machine at his home number. No one is picking up
there."
"Oh man… oh man oh man oh man… Tara’s got to be devastated. He
loved her so much." Joey began to cry.
"I can be down there in four hours." Steve said. It sounded like his brother
needed him. Joey looked at his watch. It was 10:30am.
"Um, nah, I’ll be okay. I’ll see you and mom and dad in a few days.
Could you find out where the grave is and call me back? If he’s buried nearby I want
to pay my respects." Joey wanted to go visit the gravesite before he and the guys had
to be at the venue for sound check.
"I’ll call you back as soon as I find out. Joe?" Steve said.
"Yeah?" Joey tried not to sound like he was crying.
"I’m sorry about Andy. I know how much he meant to you." Steve said
before hanging up the phone. Joey looked at the pictures on his wall of when he was
younger. The ones with Andy and him goofing off or just hanging out.
"I promised you once and I promise you now, Andrew… I’ll look after Tara
for you, bud." Joey said. He sat on his bunk for a few more minutes before drying his
eyes on his shirt and going out to face the guys.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Something’s up with Joey guys. I just heard him yelling on the phone with
Steve." Lance said when JC, Justin, and Chris came back on the bus. They had gone for
a morning run. Lance had sprained his ankle at a show in Virginia a few days before and
was trying not to be on it too much per doctor’s orders.
"You sure? Joey hardly ever yells." Justin commented.
"I know. That’s why I’m worried." Lance told him. Joey came out.
The guys pretended to be working on a song with Lance. Joey was grateful, he went into the
bathroom and turned on the faucet.
"You’re right, Lance. He’s upset about something." JC said.
"Wonder what happened?" Chris said. JC went over to the bathroom door and
knocked on it.
"Joey? Wanna talk about it?" he asked as he looked at his watch. He had to
meet Richard Marx at 11:30 for a working lunch. They were going to write songs during
lunch.
"No…" Joey thought to himself, but knew if he didn’t, the guys
would really worry. He splashed some water on his face and opened the door. Lance handed
Joey a glass of orange juice when he came out into the main area of the bus. Everyone sat
down. Joey stared at the glass. He didn’t know how to start the conversation.
"Remember a few months ago when I had to pass up the chance to be the best man at
a friend’s wedding?" he asked his bandmates and friends. They all nodded.
"You had to say no because we were in Japan for a month." Chris said.
"That friend, Andy, was killed a week before his wedding… two months
ago." Joey broke down. He couldn’t believe Andy was gone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tara went to visit Andy’s grave. She hadn’t been there in a week. She had
promised herself she would stop going so much so that she could try to move on with her
life. She had stopped for flowers on the way there and took them with her when she got out
of the car. She had to smile at the thought of owning a PT Cruiser. They had ordered it a
year ago and it had arrived a few days ago. It was their wedding present to each other.
"I know I said I wouldn’t come back for a month or two, but I couldn’t
stay away. I miss you so much, Andy. Nothing is the same anymore without you." She
said as she placed the flowers on the gravestone. "I still can’t bring myself to
go back to the house. Trish goes and retrieves the mail for me and David and Brandon keep
the lawn mowed. Marxycat is with me at Trish’s. Please help me find the strength to
go back to the house and to move on with my life without you. I need your help Andy.
Please." She cried.
"Excuse me, Miss." Joey said as
he handed her a handkerchief from behind. She jumped and backed away from him.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you." He spoke softly.
"It’s okay. You are?" she managed to ask.
"Joey. Joey Fatone. I was a friend of Andy’s." he
explained.
"You’re the friend we couldn’t get a hold of." She
said out loud.
"You are?" Joey asked.
"I’m Tara. Tara Marshall. I was going to marry Andrew." She
said. "I’m so sorry. We tried to contact you. But no one could find your phone
number. Andrew’s mom said that your parent’s number was disconnected and no new
info was known." |
 |
"Andrew protected my privacy. I can understand why it was so hard for you to try
to contact me." Joey took off his sunglasses and hat. Tara realized then who Joey
was.
"Now I know why. You’re with NSYNC. He would refer to you as Just Joe or Joey
Doe. Never by your last name and the pictures of you two when you were younger look
nothing like you now." Tara told him. She sat down on the bench and offered him a
seat. "How did you find out?"
"My brother Steve, tracked down Suzie this morning and she told him. We came here
for a show tonight and I really wanted to see Andy but my emails had gone unanswered and
the answering machine wasn’t picking up. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.
That I didn’t know sooner." Joey looked into her eyes. He could see the love she
still had for Andrew.
"Don’t apologize. I understand and Andy would have too. That’s the way
he is, I mean was." Both Tara and Joey were crying.
"I have to go now. I have some things I need to do. It was nice to meet you."
Tara stuck out her hand to shake it. Joey, being the gentleman that he is, took it in his
hand and kissed the top of her hand.
"I’d like to talk with you some more about our Andy. Can I call you
sometime?" Joey asked. Tara thought it would be alright so she took out her business
card and flipped it over and wrote her cell phone number on the back.
"It’s always on. Call me day or night." She said softly.
"Thank you." He watched her walk back to her car.
"I’ll watch after her, I promise Andy. I promise." Joey said and put his
hand over his lips and then put the hand on the gravestone. "I’ll see you
someday my friend." Joey said before turning to head back to the car that brought him
to the cemetary. He noticed that the PT Cruiser that Tara had gotten into was still parked
so he waved off his bodyguard and went over to it. She was leaning on the steering wheel
crying. He tapped lightly on the window. He didn’t want to startle her. "Looks
like we could both use that shoulder right now." Joey smiled at her. She nodded in
agreement and unlocked the door for him. He motioned for the bodyguard to follow them and
he got in on the passenger side in the back seat so that he wouldn’t be easily
recognized. He didn’t want her car to be mobbed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Andy said you two met at a Richard Marx show on Long Island but that you had been
talking online for a year."
"Yeah, we met thru an online fan digest. Then we met at my first Richard Marx
concert. For a while he’d come down every other weekend or I’d go up there but
then when it got serious, he was more flexible and transferred down here to a better job
and we settled down. He never told me much about you all he would say is `Wait til you
meet him Tar… he’s amazing’." She giggled. "Lo and behold, his
best friend turns out to be in NSYNC." She said. "So, where are we going?"
she asked.
"I don’t know, but I have to be back at the Keswick for sound check at
3pm." He said.
"The Keswick… isn’t Richard playing there tonight?" she asked as
she pulled out of the cemetary.
"Yeah and we’re going to be singing with him on a few songs. We are also
opening for him, but no one knows because it wasn’t announced. It’s a surprise
so don’t tell anyone. Gerri was only going to tell those who are going to the meet
and greet so that they would know to meet an hour earlier." Joey explained.
"Cool."
"Are you going tonight?" Joey asked.
"No. I’m not ready to see everyone just yet and I’m afraid that I would
just break down again. Everything is still too fresh." She admitted.
"You can’t keep yourself hidden away for ever." Joey said.
"I haven’t been hiding. Friends and family have surrounded me since the
accident. I barely have alone time to sleep let alone to visit Andy’s grave. Thank
god Suzie finally convinced her parents to go back home. I was beginning to feel anger
towards them for not leaving me be. So, tell me… how did the tour do? We had tickets
to both shows in Philadelphia, but I sent my girlfriends in my place. I haven’t
wanted to do anything without Andy. It just doesn’t feel right without him."
"You’re allowed to have fun you know." Joey said.
"I don’t even know the meaning of that word anymore. You must be devastated
to find out two months after the fact. How are you staying so collected?" Tara asked
when they pulled into a parking lot in a park.
"Talking to you is helping. Believe me. I wanted to throw things when I first
found out this morning, but I didn’t want the guys to worry too much. And I had made
a promise to Andy when I turned down the honor of being best man at the wedding."
Joey admitted.
"Can I ask what that was?" she asked. She turned to look at him.
"I promised him that I’d look out for you and take care of you if he
couldn’t. And I mean to follow thru with that." Joey said.
"I see." She got quiet.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no… just something a nurse told me when I got to the hospital that
night." She searched for more tissues. Tears welled up.
"What? What was it?" Joey asked.
"His last words were `keeping your faith when I’m gone’. I now remember
that phrase, it’s from …"
"This I promise you." They said in unison. His cell phone rang.
"I need to get this." Joey said and answered the phone. Tara got out of the
car to give him some privacy.
"Hello?" Joey answered the phone.
"Hey, it’s Chris. You okay?" Chris asked.
"I’m alright. What’s going on?"
"Not a whole lot. Justin and Lance and I are working on this song and we wanted
your opinion on the beat but it can wait. Did you find what you needed to?" Chris was
concerned.
"Yeah, and then some. I’ll explain after sound check. 3pm, right?" he
asked.
"Yeah. We’ll see you at sound check. Don’t be late."
"Nah, that’ll be JC, you know how he is when he’s working with
Richard." Joey managed to laugh.
"We’ll see you in a little bit. Bye." Chris said and hung up the phone.
Joey looked up after putting his phone away and saw that Tara was standing at the bank of
a creek. He went out to join her. While he walked over to her he looked around the park
and noticed how peaceful and beautiful it was.
"Isn’t this the place Andy proposed to you?" Joey asked.
"Boy he did tell you everything, didn’t he?" she chuckled. She was
feeling better. Like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. They found a picnic table and
talked about Andy for the next hour. Joey’s bodyguard finally went over and told him
that they should leave. Tara gave them directions to the Keswick Theater and waited until
they left before leaving to finish up her errands.
After she finished her errands she went home and turned on her computer for the first
time since Andy’s death. Her email was full in both accounts. And the guestbook to
Andy’s website was as well. She lost all track of time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, glad you’re back." Lance greeted his friend when Joey met
everyone at the theater. The rest of the guys agreed.
"Okay, where’s JC?" he laughed as they all embraced.
"I’m not that late." JC ran up from behind them.
"Ready for sound check?" Justin asked everyone. Joey took a deep breath and
said, "Let’s do it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Tara? You home?" Trish asked as she opened the door. Tara looked at her
alarm clock, it was 4:30.
"Yeah, I’m just answering some email." Tara shouted from her bedroom.
"These were waiting for you at the front door." Trish entered Tara’s
room with a bouquet of carnations, baby’s breadth, and ferns. Her favorite
combination. She instinctly reached for the card. It read,
"Who’s Joe?" Trish asked as she read the card as well.
"A friend of Andy’s." Tara replied.
"You’ve got to come now. Please." Trish begged.
"Alright, alright. What time do we have to be there?"
"We have 30 minutes before we need to be at the eat and greet. And the meet and
greet has been pushed up to 6pm. Gerri and Cathy have been making phone calls all day to
let everyone know. Hurry up and get ready." Trish was soooo excited.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, are you sure about this? You sure she is going to come?" JC asked as
they sat in the bus and ate their dinner. Joey had told the guys about meeting Tara and
how the day had evolved.
"I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t. She was to be the wife of my
oldest and best friend. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. And I need her in my
life right now. I need her to help me as much as I believe she needs me to help her.
Please guys." Joey begged. He wanted them to sing THIS I PROMISE YOU a little
differently that night. He wanted to go out into the crowd to find her and bring her
closer to the stage. Richard’s manager came onto the bus.
"Okay gang, this is what I know. Gerri said the Repeat Offenders’ managed to
get good seats in the center section, rows B, C, and D. She wasn’t able to find out
what seat Tara will be in though. And Tara is scheduled to be backstage for the meet and
greet. Gerri is going to arrange for Cathy to take Tara aside and bring her to her seat so
that you’ll see her from the stage. Richard also said that you’re more than
welcome to join him backstage for the meet and greet. He’s positive that the fans
would love it as well." Rick Fagan told them.
"This is Richard’s night. We don’t want to crowd him, Rick, but
thanks." Justin said for the guys. They were only there to sing a few songs and then
sing back up on a few with Richard during his set.
"Rick, can I ask you a favor?" Joey got up from the table and took Rick off
the bus.
"What’s he doing?" Lance asked.
"Taking care of his best friend’s girl. Just like the rest of us would do for
him." JC said with a smile.
"In a heartbeat." Chris replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Tara… Trish, you guys ready to go?" Bonnie and Liz knocked on the
apartment door. Liz had flown in from the mid-west to meet Tara, Trish, and Bonnie and go
to the show with them.
"Tara? You ready?" Trish asked as she came out of her room. Tara opened her
door.
"Do I look ready?" she asked.
"You look fabulous." Trish opened the door to greet Bonnie and Liz. Tara ran
to the den to look for something.
"Hey Trish, where is she? Is she doing okay?" Bonnie asked immediately.
"She's actually coming tonight so I think that's a start. Otherwise, she's doing
better than I thought she would be doing. I still can't get her to go back to the house
though. That is still going to take some time.
"Beautiful flowers… who are they from?" Liz noticed the flowers Joey
sent Tara.
"Some guy named Joe. He was a friend of Andy's. That's all she told me. Tara!
Let's go!" Trish said from the hallway. Tara had grabbed her NOW AND FOREVER CD
Single to get Richard's autograph on and a picture of Andy and Joe from when they were
kids to ask Richard to give to Joey. She slipped those in her bag and checked her tissue
supply before joining everyone in the hall.
"Tara… you look great." Bonnie said and gave Tara a hug.
"It's so great to see you Bon… it's been ages." Tara admitted, "And
you must be Liz."
"Yeah, JR is in the car… let's go." Liz gave Tara a hug and led everyone
down to the cars. Bonnie wasn't sure how to get to the theater so she was going to follow
Tara and Trish down. Bonnie had to go to work right after the concert so JR and Liz would
be driven back to her house by Tara and Trish.
"Trish, you're going to have to drive to the restaurant. I can't focus." Tara
admitted when they got into the PT Cruiser.
"You alright?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, just a little shaky." Tara admitted. Her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered her phone. It was Joey.
"Hey… is this a bad time?"
"No, not at all, we were just heading over to the fan eat and greet. What are you
doing?" she asked.
"Just relaxing and hanging out with the guys. Did you…" he broke off.
"Yes, I did. Thank you. You weren't calling just to see if I was going tonight?
What's up?" Tara asked.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. We were both pretty raw today."
Joey admitted.
"I'm better, thanks. How are you doing? I know this all has been quite a shock for
you." Tara was concerned.
"I'm getting by. Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?" Joey
was really trying too hard. He didn't know how to back off a little.
"You've already done more than enough. We're almost to the eat and greet. We'll
talk later?" she asked.
"Definitely. Have fun tonight, okay?" Joey wanted her to have as good a night
as she possibly could.
"I'll try. Good luck and you do the same." Tara said before hanging up the
phone. She thought to herself how nice it was to finally meet Andy's oldest friend. Andy
said that Joey would give you the shirt off his back to make you happy or to help you and
metaphorically, that's what Joey was doing for her.
"Who was that?" Trish asked as they pulled into the parking lot outside of
the Olive Garden.
"A new friend. C'mon, let's get tonight started." Tara gave Trish a smile and
grabbed the poster board and supplies out of the back seat.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, everything's set for tonight. In case none of us has ever told you this.
You are a great person and a good friend." JC said as he came off the bus.
"She's at the eat and greet with the other Roers. She sounds in better spirits
now."
"I think she's helping you as much as you are her." JC said as a smile formed
across Joey's lips.
"She was Andy's girl. He saw something remarkable in her just like she did in him.
I owe him more than my life and I will do everything I can to get her thru this."
Joey explained as they walked to the dressing rooms.
"Just don't sacrifice your own feelings regarding Andy, ok. It's alright to
grieve." Steve, his brother said from behind them.
"Steve! I didn't expect you here."
"You need me and mom and dad right now. How could we not come down?" Steve
said.
"You brought the folks?" Joey asked after they hugged.
"Of course. They're waiting in the last room down the hall for you." Steve
said.
"Thanks man." Joey said and headed off down the hall.
"Thanks for the heads up, Josh." Steve said to JC when Joey was out of
earshot.
"No problem. I need to go get ready. See ya." JC said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Everyone, thanks for coming tonight. This is the best turnout I've been to in a
long time. It's so great to see everyone could make it." Tara said to the group of 40
or so Repeat Offenders. "The poster for RM is on the table near the exit door. Don't
forget to sign it on the way out." Tara explained before returning to her seat.
Everyone politely applauded. Tara caught up with friends she hadn't talked to in months on
the phone, in person, or via the internet. A few had asked how she was doing since Andy's
death and had wanted to express their condolences, but for the most part, she was able to
hold back the tears.
"Tara, you're not eating." Trish had noticed Tara's plate.
"Nervous?" she asked.
"Not really hungry, I guess." She admitted.
"Try to eat some of it. I bet you haven't eaten all day." Trish noticed.
"You know me too well, Trish." Tara chuckled. Shawn and Melanie came into the
room and sat down with Tara and Trish.
"Sorry we're late… we overslept." Shawn admitted.
"It's alright. When did you get in?" Tara asked as they hugged.
"About noon, but you know how I hate to fly. Nicki sends her best and that I'm to
kidnap you and take you home with me for a few days." Shawn said.
"Sounds great, but I can't get away right now." Tara said. It was true. She
was in the midst of getting her designs ready for the spring season for next year.
"Well, think about it, alright?" Shawn asked.
"I will. Mel… how are you feeling these days? You look great!" Tara
asked Melanie. She hadn't seen Melanie in over a year.
"I'm great! Ready for tonight?"
"I'm looking forward to tonight."
"Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Cathy and Jane stood up and
banged a glass with a fork to get everyone's attention.
"As you may know, we've had to move the meet and greet up because RM has a special
guest performing tonight and he knows that you would all probably enjoy seeing the guest
as you do Richard. Don't forget to have your ID ready because security will be checking
it. Check in for the meet and greeters is in 25 minutes and don't forget, after the show,
we've got the Tiki Room at the holiday inn until 2am." Cathy announced. She had
waited until the room started to clear out before going over to Tara.
"Hey Tara, after the meet and greet, I need to talk to you for a few minutes. Is
that alright?" Cathy asked.
"Sure Cath…" Tara said. She and Trish gathered up the poster board and
markers before heading out to her car. Bonnie and Liz and JR were waiting for them.
"Another fine eat and greet, Tara." Liz said.
"Yeah, thanks to Trish and Bonnie. I don't know where I'd be without these two.
Let's get to the theater." Tara suggested. She let Trish drive and cranked up the cd
player. DON'T MEAN NOTHING was blaring within seconds of the car starting.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Tiny, have you seen them yet?" Joey asked his bodyguard that was with
him that day. He got Tiny assigned to check the ID cards of the meet and greeters.
"Not yet J… relax… I’ll let you know when I see her. Now go back
and stay away from the press and the door." Tiny playfully pushed Joey. Lance passed
behind them on a skateboard.
"C’mon Joey… warm-ups." Lance said as he continued on down the
hall. Joey followed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Here’s the change in the set list for us tonight. Any questions?"
Richard asked his band – Rob Lavaque, Bruce Gaitsch, Bruce Atkinson, and Herman
Matthews.
"What’s going on? Why the last minute changes?" Bruce G. asked Richard.
"Just want to emphasize on some of the new music from DAYS IN AVALON."
Richard told him.
"Richard, five minutes." Rick said from a crack in the door.
"Rick, are the guys coming?"
"No, they say this is your night." Rick said.
"Give those kids a raise." Richard chuckled before turning back to the guys.
"Okay, I know you guys all know these tunes. After the meet and greet, I have to go
out and help NSYNC open up their set with THIS I PROMISE YOU. I’ll see you guys in
about an hour." Richard said before leaving the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"J… she’s here. I don’t know what you did to convince her to come,
but she’s here." Tiny said into his microphone after Trish and Tara cleared thru
security into the meet and greet area.
"Does she look like she’s having a good time?" Joey asked.
"Gee Joey, you’re like a protective big brother." Chris said. They were
all just chillin before they had to be onstage.
"Can’t help it. Just want to make tonight special for her. Like a new
beginning of sorts for her." Joey explained.
"Don’t try so hard Joe. Don’t scare her off. Just let things happen
naturally." Lance suggested.
"Speaking of big brothers…" Joey glanced at Lance.
"Can’t help it, we care about you, ya big lug." Justin gave Joey a
noogy.
"Hey, don’t mess up the hair!." Joey joked and picked up Lance and
plopped him down on the nearest coach. They were just messing around. Rick Fagan poked his
head in.
"She’s here, Joey. Everything’s set and Cathy said she’s sitting on
the end on the right hand side, row B." Rick explained.
"That’s a start. Thanks." Joey said as he looked up. He had Justin in a
head lock. "Ya know, Justy… the cornrows are just soooo you." Joey
pretended to swoon over his friend. Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, go on." Justin replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Oh crud! I forgot a camera." Tara was getting caught up in the moment and
realized that she did, indeed, forget her camera.
"No you didn’t!" Trish pulled Tara’s camera out of her bag. "I
packed it this morning, just in case." Trish explained.
"You are too good to me, Trish. Thanks." Tara said.
"Richard’s on his way gang. Form a line. No crowding, and remember, have a
great visit with Richard!" Rick Fagan said when he entered the room. Tara looked
around the room and saw many familiar faces. She saw Pam and her husband, Donna, Helen,
Laura, Jill, Cameron, Corey, Greg and Danielle, Jaymee and Jaynie. Kristin and Christa.
Jane and Tonya, Susan J. and Susan C. Amber and Andrea, Joshua and Jonathan. David and
Katherine. Many faces and people she remembered from meeting at other shows and also
online. She was situated in the middle of the line of fans waiting to meet and greet
Richard. As soon as she saw Richard, she began to panic. She couldn’t be there
without Andy. Both Bonnie and Trish noticed her anxiety.
"It’s okay, Tara. Just think of this as your first time meeting Richard.
You’ll be fine. Think of the first time you heard Richard’s music and that
feeling of going to your first concert to see him perform live." Bonnie suggested.
"Think of how much fun it was to stay up all night before hand with us and laugh
so hard we all thought we would pee our pants. Think of how when Richard talks, it’s
like no one else exists. Now breathe." Trish said as JR brought over a chair. Trish
gently pushed Tara down into a chair. Cathy came over to them when she saw that Tara was
looking flushed.
"Everything alright?" she asked. Tara shook her head.
"I’m not ready for this alone. I’m not sure I can get thru this."
Tara admitted. Richard entered the room and went directly over to them.
"You’re the Tara I’ve been hearing so much about online and thru some
friends, aren’t you?" he greeted her with a hug. Tara was trying not to burst
out in tears. "It’s alright to grieve, Tara. And being here among friends does
help. You’re doing fine. Why don’t you and I get a few pictures and then you can
go to your seat?" Richard was great with her. He gave her a hug. She nodded and
accepted a tissue from Trish. Trish took her camera and Tara stood up with Richard. She
handed him the poster that they had made for him and asked him to give a picture to Joey
for her. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Why don’t you go on ahead and
give it to him yourself? Cathy and his bodyguard will take you inside." Richard
pulled away from her and she looked at him.
"Is it alright?" she asked.
"Yes, go ahead and thanks for coming tonight. I know how hard it is for you to be
here." Richard said. They hugged once more.
"Thank you. You are always so good to me." Tara gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Cathy came over to her.
"Ready?" She asked. Tara nodded. Cathy had told Trish that Cathy was going to
take her to the restroom to freshen up after meeting Richard. When they got to the door,
Tara recognized Tiny.
"Hi Tara, I’m Joey’s bodyguard, Tiny. Do you need a few minutes?"
he asked.
"No, what’s the plan?" she asked.
"Go ahead and find your seat. We were going to have him come out to you, but I
think you might be better going backstage. I’ll go get him. One of the crew will come
out to you in a few minutes. Are you alright? Do you want some water or anything?"
Tiny asked.
"No, I’ll be just fine. Thank you. Thank you both." Tara said. She and
Cathy went to find her seat. Tiny went to find Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Justin, JC, Lance, and Chris were all looking out from behind the curtain.
"Is that her? She’s not really all that pretty." Justin had said.
"Justin, when are you going to learn that beauty is in the eye of the
beholder?" JC commented.
"Yeah, just because she’s not a size 2 with killer legs and long blonde hair,
doesn’t mean that she’s not worth it. Some guys go for girls who have a brain
and know how to use it. Their looks don’t matter." Chris added.
"She must be really special to have Joey this fixated on her." Lance
commented.
"How is she?" Joey asked Tiny. They met up in the hall behind the stage.
"A little shaky. She could use a friend." Tiny reported.
"Thanks."
"Rick is getting Neil to bring her back. Why are you so nervous? Don’t put
her on a pedestal." Tiny said.
"I just want her to enjoy herself. Andy said that they were inseperable since day
one. Her being here without him is a big step for her." Joey admitted.
"Don’t treat her with kid gloves. She’ll hate it." Tiny said before
turning around to go guard the door.
"I promise. Thanks Tiny.
"Joey said that Andy always described her as voluptuous and caring and very kind
to everyone. Let’s not judge her by what she looks like on the outside." JC
suggested as they were still looking at her.
"Try to imagine losing Charlotte, Justin… or Belle, Lance… how would you
react if your whole world had crashed down on you?" Chris asked. He couldn’t
imagine losing his girlfriend or his pugs. He knew he’d not be able to survive
without them in his life. That’s how he felt.
"What about Kimberly? Did Joey tell her about all this?" Justin asked.
"That’s between Joe and Kim, not us." JC said.
"You mean Kim who can’t be happy unless she’s cheating on Joey?"
Lance asked. Justin closed the curtain.
"She is not!" Justin said.
"Yes she is. Belle told me." Lance replied.
"Does Joey know?" Chris asked.
"If he does, he hasn’t said anything to us about it." JC replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Thanks Neil. Hi Tara, I’m so happy you decided to come." He admitted to
Tara. Neil faded into the woodwork.
"Thanks, I brought you something." She pulled the picture out from her purse.
She handed it to him. He instantly chuckled.
"Oh my goodness… it’s us with binky." He laughed.
"Binky?" Tara questioned.
"That was my security blanket. It went everywhere with me until I was like 9 or
10. Andy was so great about it. He never teased me about it. His dad had created a way for
us to bike around with a wagon attached to one of the bikes so that I could keep Binky
nearby. We would put that blanket through so much torture. I don’t know how our moms
managed, but they always managed to keep it looking brand new and sooooo clean. Thank you
for this. This is great." Joey looked at her.
"I’m glad you like it. Thank you for the flowers. I needed a pick-me-up
too." She stated.
"You’re welcome. Hey, do you want to meet the rest of the guys?" Joey
asked.
"I don’t think I could handle that right now… I am barely standing now
as it is." She admitted.
"Okay. How did the eat and greet go?"
"We had a great turnout. Better than ever. The poster board was so filled with
names and notes to Richard."
"So… I meant to ask you earlier… how’s your spring line coming
along? It is about that time, isn’t it?" he asked.
"Yeah, thank goodness I have it finished already. We’re just getting models
fitted with the prototypes for the catwalks now. My assistant and Trish, my roommate, are
so helpful with running everything for me the past two months. I’m slowly getting
back into the routine. It’s not easy though. What about you and the guys? Are you
still touring? Or on a break or something?" Tara asked.
"We go back out in late October. After tonight, we’re just going to relax,
but we have other projects away from each other that we’re working on. I’ll be
going home to New York for a few days."
"That sounds good. You probably need a few days just by yourself." Tara
encouraged him.
"Sometimes. But it won’t be for long though."
"Are you leaving right after the concert?"
"We’re going to go into the recording studio with Richard in Philly for the
next two days first. JC and Richard wrote some new songs today and want to lay the tracks
and vocals for them and see if they’re any good. We’ll be here until Monday I
think." Joey told her. JC came into the room.
"Almost time." He said.
"JC, this is Tara. Tara, this is JC."
"It’s nice to meet you." Tara shook JC’s hand.
"It’s nice to meet you too. Enjoy the show." JC stated before exiting
the room.
"He didn’t want to intrude." Joey explained.
"But he was curious." Tara chuckled.
"Yeah, the others are too. I bet they’re all outside that door." Joey
smiled and shook his head.
"Probably. So, are you ready to go out and sing?" she asked.
"Yeah, I’m ready. How about you?"
"Yeah, I’m looking forward to my first NSYNC concert." She agreed with
him.
"Well, let’s get you back to your seat." Joey said and put on a hat and
sunglasses. "Think anyone will notice?" he asked.
"It’s your beard, it’ll give you away every time… and your smile
too." She said.
"Well, that’s okay. I’m escorting you out anyway. Just follow my
lead." Joey said. There was a knock on the door.
"Let’s go." Rick said and opened the door. Joey’s plan was to be
the last one on stage. During the beginning of THIS I PROMISE YOU, he was going to sing as
he walked Tara to her seat from the stage.
Tara stood behind Joey. She wasn’t sure what was going on or why he was doing what
he was doing, but she was enjoying it. Richard was onstage.
 |
"Hi everyone, I have a special surprise
for all of you out there. Some friends of mine and I are working together on some songs
and they asked if they could come and do a few songs tonight. Ladies and gentleman, please
welcome *NSYNC." Richard introduced the guys and started playing the opening to THIS
I PROMISE YOU. The crowd went nuts. Lance, JC, Chris, and Justin all got into position on
stage as Joey started the song… he brought Tara out onto the stage and turned to face
her.
|
"When the visions around you.
Bring tears to your eyes…
And all that surround you,
Are secrets and lies
I’ll be your strength,
I’ll give you hope,
Keeping your faith when it’s gone."
Joey led her to her seat. She had started to cry. He took out his handkerchief.
"The one you should call has been standing here all along…"
Joey wiped away the tears that were falling down Tara’s face and then handed her
the handkerchief before kissing her on the cheek and looking upwards toward the ceiling.
The rest of the guys turned around and joined in on the chorus.
"And I will take you in my arms,
And hold you right where you belong…
(Justin) Every word I say is true…
This I Promise you. Oohhh, I Promise you."
(JC)"I’ve loved you forever, In lifetimes before…
(Joey) "And I promise you never, Will you hurt anymore."
Joey did not take his eyes off of her for the remainder of the song.
Trish couldn’t believe it. The Joe that sent Tara flowers was Joey Fatone from
NSYNC. She just snapped away role after role of film. The next song was their acapella
song "I THOUGHT SHE KNEW". Richard had left to go backstage for the remainder of
the set. They also sang "Space Cowboy", "Tearin Up My Heart",
"Together Again", and before finishing with "God must have spent a little
more time on you", Joey spoke: "How is everyone tonight?" He asked. The
audience screamed. "Who wudda thunk you come to a Richard Marx concert and his
opening act is none other than NSYNC!" He continued. "I have a true story to
tell you about before we sing this next song. Let me first start off by saying that these
four guys, Lance, JC, Chris, and Justin, have been wonderful to work with and I am so
honored to be their friend as well. They’ve been great to me today. See, today, I
found out that my best friend in the whole world died. It’s not easy being in a group
that is so busy and so popular. See, this best friend died a few months ago. He not only
left me behind, but he left behind a wonderful fiancé. We’d like to dedicate this
next song from Andy, to Tara." Joey said. Tara had tears running down her cheeks. One
of the guards came over to her and led her back up to the stage where she hugged each and
every guy and said thank you to them all. JC and Joey took her offstage with them.
"You guys were amazing." Tara said when they all got backstage. She had to
wipe her face again. "Thank you so much."
"Just doing a friend a favor." Chris said, "Hi, I’m Chris."
"I’m Lance."
"I’m Justin."
"And we’ve already met, I’m JC." The guys all introduced
themselves.
"How much has Joey told you about today?" Tara asked.
"All of it. He really does wear his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Andy and
now, you. How are you doing though?" Lance asked.
"It hasn’t been easy. I take things as they come, day by day. He cooked this
all up at the last minute? Didn’t you Joey?" she asked. Joey nodded.
"My way of saying goodbye to Andy and to let him know that I will always be here
for you."
"Well, I should get back out to Trish and the gang. And I’ll see you guys on
stage with Richard in a little bit. Joey, go get a few minutes rest. You look a little
flushed." Tara suggested.
"I’m alright." He insisted. He was just very emotional.
"She’s right, Joe… you do." JC said.
"Is everything alright?" Cathy came backstage to ask.
"Yeah, Joe… thanks again." Tara gave him a hug before disappearing back
out to her seat.
"Joe you don’t look good." Justin said.
"I just need a few minutes. Excuse me." He said and went to the dressing
room. He got his cell phone from Tiny and dialed his girlfriend, Kim’s, number.
"Hello?" a male voice answered the phone.
"Shit… you shouldn’t have answered that…" he heard Kim say in
the background.
"Hello? Hello?" Kim asked.
"Kim? How could you?" Joey said and hung up the phone. He was so upset that
he tossed a table over and threw his duffle bag at the wall.
"Hey, hey… what’s going on in here?" Lance asked. He had gone in to
grab a new shirt.
"Nothing, man… nothing." Joey said and crouched down in a corner to cry.
Lance didn’t leave the room. He wanted to be there for Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"He’s the Joe that sent you flowers, isn’t he?" Trish asked when
Tara and Cathy went back to their seats.
"Yeah, he was Andy’s best friend." Tara admitted. Everyone that Tara
knew had gathered around during the intermission to talk with her. They wanted to know how
it felt to have NSYNC sing to her, to meet them, to hug them, and to talk to them. Some
wanted to know how she knew Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, talk to me… we’re going to be going back on stage in a little
while. What happened between backstage and coming here after Tara went back to her
seat?"
"I tried to call Kim again. For the upteenth time today."
"What happened?"
"Some guy answered the phone and I could hear her in the background telling him he
shouldn’t have answered the phone."
"Shit." Lance said.
"You know she’s cheating on me?" Joey said.
"Belle said she’s seen Kim with other guys while we’ve been gone. She
and Kim don’t really get along." Lance told him.
"Do you think Kim’s cheating on me?" Joey asked him.
"Yeah, I do." Lance was honest with Joey.
"Man, my best friend and my best girl all in the same day… God, this
sucks." Joey said as he stood up. There was a knock on the door.
"Richard’s set just started. We’ve got about a half hour or so before we
should be out there." Chris said from the doorway.
"Thanks… we’ll be right there." Lance told him.
"Gee, what happened here? Looks like a scene from the movie TWISTER." Chris
chuckled and closed the door behind him. Joey and Lance laughed as they looked around the
room.
"He’s right. I’ve made a mess out of this room."
"C’mon, I’ll help you clean it up." Lance said. They began to put
things in their rightful places and turned the table to it’s regular position.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
| "Ladies and Gentleman… the Westbury
Music Fair is proud to present... Richard Marx!" the announcer yelled over the PA
system after introducing the band. Richard came running onto the stage and started the
show with DAYS IN AVALON. Richard continued his set
with Hazard, Chains Around My Heart, Angelia, Endless Summer Nights, Fool’s Game, You
Never Take Me Dancin’, My Confession, Hold on To The Nights, Right Here Waiting,
Eternity, Should’ve Known Better, Now and Forever, Keep Coming Back, and Touch Of
Heaven. Richard also entwined the new songs from his new album DAYS IN AVALON into the
mixture |
 |
NSYNC joined Richard on Children of the Night,
Until I Find You Again, The Way She Loves Me, Don't Mean Nothing Satisfied. Joey continued to be fixated on Tara the entire time he was on
stage. Not only did Justin, JC, Lance, and Chris notice, but so did Trish, and eventually
Tara. Tara didn't mind it. She was glad that she finally met Andrew's best friend and
hoped that they could reminisce about Andrew to each other.
Richard ended the show with Thanks To You and dedicated it
to all the mothers in the audience.
|
As Tara and the gang were leaving, Tiny (Joey’s bodyguard) called out to her from
the stage. He had a note for her from Joey. It read: