Suddenly Jim, her publicity director from the record company, was standing beside her. She looked up and almost fell over. "Jim! Oh my god! What are you doing here?!" she said in amazement, stepping towards him as he wrapped her up in a big bear hug.
"Jennifer, you look great!" he said, looking her over as he held her arm's length.
"Thanks!" she said, beaming up at him. And then, "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" And then suddenly she put two and two together. She turned her head, looking out onto stage and then turned her head back towards Jim. "What's going on?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, shaking his head at her. "It's the last concert, last stop, and I wanted to come catch the show."
"Dallas is a long way from Orlando," she said, not sure she believed what he was saying. "We'll be home in two days."
"I know," he said, smiling at her. "But you're not performing in Orlando. You're performing in Dallas." He watched her for a moment, knowing she doubted every word that was coming out of his mouth. "Just relax and enjoy the show," he said, draping an arm around her shoulder. "This is going to be great." She eyed his one last time at that last remark. There was definitely something going on . . . she just wasn't sure what it was!
She could tell the last number was coming up because the crew were all running around, getting the fireworks and special lighting for the last number. They usually sang a fast song for their last number, hence the fireworks. She was surprised when the music stopped right before their last number and the lights came up a little more on the guys. 'Here it goes, whatever it is,' she thought to herself. Looking over at Jim, she said, "They're up to something, but I don't know what it is." She chewed on her thumbnail nervously, wondering what the hell they were up to. "I hope they don't do something really stupid." She hadn't meant for her thoughts to come out orally and was surprised to hear herself saying them.
"Don't worry," Jim said, smiling down at her. "They're professionals. Let them do their job." She looked over at him, feeling a little bit better. If Jim wasn't worried, then she was going to try to relax about it as well.
"How y'all doin' out there?" Kevin called out over the mike. He was answered by thunderous applause and screaming. Jennifer couldn't help but smile. They had made it! They had really made it and it made her beam! Despite all her reservations and the problems they had faced, The Backstreet Boys had come out on top and she had found a new life!
"We're going to do something a little different tonight," Kevin explained. "So we just want y'all to hang with us." Then he handed the mike over to Brian as the crowd sounded their approval. Whatever it was they were planning, the crowd was willing to go along with it.
Suddenly, Jennifer recognized the music that she had heard the band working on for the past couple of weeks. It was the same song that Brian had sung to her that night on the bus. She was surprised they would introduce a new song on the last night of their tour, and their final song at that! As the music swelled and the crowd swayed in tempo, she couldn't help but smile. This was a beautiful song.
She saw the guys walking around on the stage, switching places as Brian took his place in the middle and front. He had the solo lead on this song. She smiled at the words . . . "Don't pretend you're sorry, I know you're not. You know you've got the power to make me weak inside. And girl you leave me breathless, but it's okay ... 'Cuz you are my survival, now hear me say ... " And then the rest of the group fell in harmony and Jennifer smiled at the reaction the crowd gave them. They loved it!
After this first verse, A.J. turned to where Jennifer stood with Jim on the wings of the stage, out of sight. Jennifer was too busy watching Brian until Jim nudged her, saying, "I think you're wanted on stage."
Jennifer turned to look at him. "What did you say?" she said, suddenly feeling A.J.'s hand grasping her own. "What . . .?" She turned, imploring Jim with her eyes.
"Go on," he said, smiling at her. Only then did she relax and follow A.J. out onto stage, her hand clasped in his. The crowd went crazy, throwing things onto stage like teddy bears, roses, whatever they could get their hands on. Jennifer stopped, picking up one of the teddy bears in her hand before A.J. deposited her before Brian, his eyes boring into hers.
"And every time I breathe I take you in and my heart beats again. Baby I can't help it, you keep me drowning in your love." She smiled at him as his hand came out to clasp hers and she heard the rest of the band singing in the background. "And every time I try to rise above, I'm swept away by love ... Baby, I can't help it. You keep me drowning in your love." The rest of song was spent right at the front of the stage, Brian singing directly to Jennifer. She would smile at him and then look out into the audience, surprised at the encouragement she felt and heard throughout the song. This was okay! They had accepted the fact that Brian was taken and not given it another thought. They still loved The Backstreet Boys and Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief.
As the song ended, Brian leaned over and kissed her as the crowd went crazy. "I love you," he mouthed to her and she smiled.
Suddenly Nick was there, standing beside them as the rest of the band made a half circle around Jennifer and Brian. Looking out into the crowd, he said, "Y'all have been great Dallas!" Once again the crowd went crazy and Jennifer waited for the fireworks to go off, signaling the end of the concert, but they didn't and the crowd was going crazy. It was if they sensed something else was going to happen as well.
Then she heard A.J. tell the crowd, "We have one last surprise up our sleeve!" and the crowd answered with a loud cheer. "We need it quiet first," he announced as the rest of the band used their hands to quiet down the crowd. Eventually it did get quieter but every once in a while you could hear someone yell out that they loved Nick or A.J. or the whole band.
Suddenly Brian turned towards her, his hand caressing hers and her heart skipped a beat at the look he gave her. She clutched onto the teddy bear still in her hand as he brought her hand to his lips. The auditorium stood quiet, watching the drama unfold before them like a scene out of a movie. He was still wearing his headset from the concert so everyone in the auditorium could hear every word he said. "I love you Jennifer Matthews," he said, his lips caressing her hand.
She could hear a muffled mutter whisper across the crowd as her heart caught in her throat. "Brian, what are you doing?" she whispered.
"What am I doing?" he repeated for the audience's sake. "I'm laying my heart in your hands. You want the stars? I'll get them for you." He pointed towards the top of the auditorium. "Just say the word Jen, and I'll give you anything."
"You spoil me terribly, Brian," she said, tears forming in her eyes.
"There's only one thing I ask in return," he said, suddenly bending down on one knee and the crowd erupted. Jennifer's heart skipped a beat. Did this mean what she hoped it did? He let go of her hand temporarily as he reached into his pocket, extracting a small velvet box. As he opened it, her hand fluttered to her mouth. Nestled inside the velvet box was the same exquisite ting she had chosen at the Houston jewelers. Plucking the ring from its nest, Brian reached for Jennifer's left hand once more. "Marry me, Jen. I love you more than I've ever loved any other woman, or ever will again. You're that other half of me that's been missing all these years, and now that I've found you, I don't want to ever lose you. Please say you'll be my wife." The crowd's thunderous applause drowned out any answer Jennifer might have had at that moment.
The teddy bear that Jennifer had been holding suddenly dropped to the floor as he hand flew to her chest, as if to keep her racing heart from leaping free. "Oh god, Brian!" she breathed. "I love you with all my heart and every fiber of my being!" The tears that had been filling her eyes suddenly swept down her cheeks as Brian slipped the ring onto her hand.
"Then, you'll marry me?" he repeated, not sure he understood her the first time.
"Oh, yes!" she declared, her eyes glowing with joy. He'd scarcely slipped the ring onto her finger as she launched herself at him, her arms flying around his neck. His headset screeched in protest and he reached up, flinging it to the ground as his arms went around her, in her hair. He kissed her quivering lips, tenderly and lingeringly as the crowd roared their approval.
