Following Trouble (15 page)

“
What about your songs?”

“She won’t get them.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me close. “
We’re fighting it.”

“What if she does?” I put my head on his chest, miserable at the thought. “Oh Rob, y
ou’ll blame me for the rest of our lives...”

“No!”
He grabbed my arms, holding me out from him so he could look into my eyes. His were dark, as dark as I’d seen them. “Sabrina, this isn’t your fault. None of it is your fault. It’s mine. All mine.”

Something in him broke. I saw it in his eyes. They clouded as his head dropped with his gaze. His voice was a bare whisper, choked, like he couldn’t get the words out.

“I’m sorry,” he managed. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, Rob…”
I reached out and touched his cheek, shaking my head, feeling tears coming to my eyes in the face of his pain.

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered, his hands falling to his sides.
He stood there, helpless, defeated. “I don’t deserve any of this.”

“No, no…”
I protested, grabbing his hands in mine, urging life back into them. “Don’t say that. Rob, don’t. You’re my whole world. You are everything to me. Everything.”

He looked so unsure for a moment—so unsure and lost and yet still just a little bit hopeful, like he wanted to believe, he really wanted to—it broke me wide open. I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.

“Don’t you know that?” Now it was my turn to cup his face in my hands, to make him look at me, as if I could convince him, if not with my words, then with my eyes. “Don’t you know how much I love you? I’m so yours. All yours.”

“Sabrina.” He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against mine, still not touching me, his hands at his sides. I wanted his arms around me, I wanted my sure, confident, determined Rob back. Had she broken him down so far? Had I?

“I would give this all up right now for you,” he whispered, not opening his eyes. His lashes were wet. “None of it matters. I don’t care about the money. She can have it all. I just want you.”

“Oh Rob.” I wrapped my arms around him, tight, tight, my cheek against the hard beat of his heart in his chest. “You already have me.”

“Mine.” His arms encircled me, his voice a whisper. “You and our baby mean everything to me. Everything.”

“I know
.” I knew because it meant everything to me too. “But Rob…”

That rational part of my brain wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t settle for just this, just us.

“I don’t want you to lose your soul, too,” I pleaded with him. “Your music, your songs. I don’t want you to resent me five, ten years down the road.”

“Say that again.”
His arms tightened around me and his lips touched my forehead.

“I don’t want you to resent me,” I choked out.

“No, baby.” His lips touched my temple, my cheek, little feathered kisses down to my lips. “Five years, ten years, twenty, fifty. Forever.”

“Forever.”
I kissed him back, tasting my tears on our lips.

“Whateve
r happens, Sabrina, you’re mine. Now and forever.”

“Yes.”

I knew then that I wasn’t going “home” after the tour was over, that the life I’d lived in my little yellow house in Ferndale, teaching kids music in Detroit, that was already part of my past, and my mind just hadn’t caught up yet. My heart already knew.

We belonged together, doing this, and whatever trepidations I had about having a baby in the midst of
it were assuaged by this man who loved me more than, maybe, I even deserved to be loved, this man who broke my heart and put it back together every single moment of the day. This man was my world, had been for years, and now I lived here. He was mine and I was his and we were forever.

“What about Celeste?” I asked. It was very different deboarding from the band’s private plane than it was when we flew commercial. We hadn’t made that flight on the beginning of the tour because Rob had decided to take us on a detour through Florida and then to Aruba, I remembered, smiling fondly as Rob took my hand when we hit the tarmac.

California was as beautiful as ever, cotton clouds floating through the sky above, the warm breeze on my face welcome after t
he stale plane air. Twelve hours was a long time to fly, even if you did have a bed on the plane.

“She’s coming on a later flight. She always stays an extra day
or so to tie up loose ends.” Rob slipped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “It’s all taken care of, baby. I had the movers tow your car and haul all your stuff. It’s here in storage. We’ll go over and sort it out after we’ve had some time to unwind.”

“And Katie and Sarah flew in last night?”
I asked, even though he’d told me already, a hundred times.

“Safe and sound. Sarah texted me when they landed.”

“Are you sure you have enough room for all of these people?”

“Have you
seen
my house?” He snorted. “Sarah and Tyler have lived with me for over a year and we can all go days without even running into each other.”

“And… who is Sarah again?
” I nudged him. “I mean, besides your transition management specialist when Tyler gets some girl hooked on drugs?”

Tyler I’d known about, of course—there had been plenty of articles and even and MTV’s Cribs show on Rob’s. They billed it as their “bachelor pad,” Tyler and Rob being two of the most eligible bachelors in the country. It made sense, because h
e and Rob were close and had been bandmates since they were teens. But I still couldn’t fit Sarah into this living arrangement puzzle.

“
I told you. She’s an old friend.”

“She’s awfully young,” I mused. “
How long have you known her?”

“Are you jealous?”
He grinned down at me as we walked.

“No.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.

“You have no reason to be jealous.”
He gave me an extra squeeze as we approached the car waiting for us, getting close to my ear to murmur, “I can’t wait to get you back to our bed.”

“I’ll have to be quiet, with
all those people in the house.”

He laughed.

“Jesse!” I cried, when the limo’s driver got out and I saw who it was. I ran up to him, putting my arms around his neck. “It’s so good to see you!”

“
Glad to see you too.” He smiled, looking over at Rob, who scowled in his direction.

“I didn’t get that kind of reception.” Rob complained as we climbed into the limo and settled together in the corner. It seemed like such a waste, this giant car for just the two of us, but Rob said their record company insisted. There were appearances to keep, apparently.

“Do you want me to say ‘welcome home’ to you now?” I purred, sliding my hand along his denim-clad thigh.

“I’ll save my strength for tonight.” His eyes lit up when I unbuttoned the top button of my blouse, teasing him. “I’m gonna rock you. All. Night. Long.”

He punctuated each word with a kiss. Jesse must have loaded the bags because the limo started moving. I tucked my head under Rob’s chin, watching L.A. fly by, remembering the first time I’d arrived, late at night, in a limo like this one. It looked very different during the day. And so much had changed since then.

“So Tyler’s home already?” I asked. I was surprised when he wasn’t on the band’s plane with the rest of Trouble.

“Yeah, he flew commercial.” Rob stroked my hair. “He couldn’t wait to get back to Katie.”

That made me smile. If anyone deserved some happiness, it was those two. I closed my eyes, letting the miles fly by. I thought I would be homesick at the thought of not going back to my little house, but I wasn’t. I had a little twinge of guilt and sadness thinking about all my kids, but I would fly back, some time after the baby was born, to say an official goodbye. And maybe Rob and I could play and sing our new song for them. But mostly, I was just glad we were on the ground and going home.

Home.

“Is that your stomach rumbling?”
Rob murmured,

“I’m starving.” I opened my eyes, seeing he had his head tilted back, half-asleep.

“Here, drink more water.” Rob sat up, reaching to open the little refrigerator and pull out a bottle of water.

“I’m not dehydrated.” I rolled my eyes, opening the water bottle and taking a drink to appease him. “
I’m just hungry. Does Daisy know we’re coming?”

Daisy—and Daisy’s food!
I hadn’t even thought of it until now and my stomach rumbled even more loudly. My mouth literally started to water. And the baby, for good measure, decided to kick and let me know she was hungry too!

Rob laughed.
“She’s got pork roast cooking right now.”

“Oh m
y God.” I screwed the lid back on my water bottle. “I just said yesterday how much I was craving pork roast.”

“I know.”
He grinned.

“You spoil me.”
I tossed the water bottle aside and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You’re mine to spoil.”
His mouth was warm and full and open under mine, making me moan and slide closer to him on the seat, as close as I could get. Would I ever stop wanting this man?

“Hey, I think we’re home.”
I murmured as the limo rolled to a stop. I leaned over to look out the tinted window on the driver’s side. “Huh. That’s new.”

There was still a keypad at the gate, but now there was also a camera, a monitor and a speaker. Jesse waved. I could see him on the monitor.

“More security remember?” Rob’s arm tightened around my shoulders.

“Y
ou don’t really think Catherine—?”

“It’s just a precaution,” he assured me.
“But she hates to lose.”

“I still can’t believe we won.”
I sat up, watching as the house grew bigger in the window, the big double gate closing automatically behind us. “So how long before the divorce is officially final?”

I hadn’t asked him yesterday, when we got the call from the lawyer. We’d all been in the middle of packing and getting ready to go home and the news had brightened Rob’s spirits considerably. I hadn’t wanted to dampen that, even a little.

“Well, she can still appeal,” Rob said. They’d struck her lawsuit down based on the copyright information Rob’s lawyer had presented, proving the songs were his. “It’s a victory, but it may be temporary.”

I sighed.
“This baby is going to be illegitimate at this rate.”

“I’m sorry, Sabrina,” he apologized, looking guilty.
“I’m pushing them as fast as I can, believe me.”

“You know what, I used to care but I don’t anymore.”
I smiled, squeezing his hand. “We’re a family already. Me, you, the baby, Tyler, Katie, Sarah, Celeste… no wonder you hired a cook.”

He laughed.
“Thank God I have a twenty car garage.”

“And six bathrooms.”

“Look, we’re home,” he said as the limo stopped in front of the house.

I remembered seeing it for the first time, how beautiful, how intimidating it was. Now it was home. Except it didn’t matter, in the end, where it was. We’d lived in my little yellow house in Ferndale, we’d lived in hotel rooms all across Europe, and we’d lived here, but none of those places were really home.
Home was where Rob was in the world, and I would follow him anywhere.

“Thanks, Jesse,” I smiled and took his
offered hand when he opened the limo door.

“I’ll get your bags,” Jesse said,
waving me toward the house. “You go on inside.”

Rob took my hand as we walked over the cobblestone bridge up to the front door. It opened just as Rob was reaching for the handle.

“You’re home!” Sarah practically jumped into Rob’s arms and he laughed as she hung on him and kissed his cheek. “I hope you’re hungry because Daisy’s been cooking since dawn!”

“I don’t know about him but I’m starving.” I stepped into the foyer as Sarah disengaged herself from Rob to hug me too. I
could smell something delicious cooking and my stomach rumbled again.

“Welcome home.” She gave me an extra squeeze, smiling at me as we parted.

She hadn’t been this affectionate the last time we’d met, but of course, then we’d been dealing with a very sick Katie.

Katie!
Where was Katie?

“Daisy!”
I exclaimed, seeing her rushing around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron.

“I thought yo
u might be hungry, so I put a little snack up in your room,” Daisy informed us, still out of breath. “But don’t overdo it because I’ve got a pork roast cooking. And I made a
tres leches
cake.”

My mouth was watering at the thought.

“You’ll want to shower and change before dinner.” She nodded toward the stairs. “I’ve got to get back to my roast.”

“Thanks, Daisy!” I called but she was already gone, like a whirlwind,
back around the corner toward the kitchen again.

“Where’s Katie?” I asked Sarah,
watching Jesse as he moved past us, carrying our bags up the stairs.

“Right here.” Katie appeared
around a different corner. This house was so big!

“Katie!”
I met her halfway into the foyer and we hugged. Tyler followed her, giving me a little wave before heading past me.

“Glad to be home, bruh?” Tyler asked, slapping Rob on the shoulder.

“Beyond.” Rob clasped him in a one-arm hug.

“You look so good,” I said to Katie as we parted. “Really… healthy.”

“I am.” She laughed. “And you look pregnant!”

“I know right?” I stood sideways, smoothing my shirt over my belly. “Finally starting to really show.”

“Hey Katie, good to see you.” Rob hugged her too. “Did you run that errand for me?”

“Oh… uh.” She flushed, glancing at Tyler, who just grinned. “
I was actually just heading out now. I got… distracted.”

“Really?” Rob looked at his watch. “Jesse co
uld have done it by now!”

“No, I want to do it!” she protested. “I’m going, I’m going!”

“I’m coming with you.” Tyler started after her, but Rob grabbed his shoulders.

“Oh n
o, you’re not.” Rob steered him in the other direction. ”I have to talk to you.”

“Aw man, what did I do now?” Tyler protested as Rob steered him down the hall.

“Can I have your keys, Sarah?” Katie asked, holding out her hand.

“Maybe I should drive you…” Sarah frowned, digging in her jeans pocket.

“No, I want to talk to you too!” Rob called over his shoulder. “Follow me!”

“Fine.” Sarah sighed, rolling her eyes and handing over her keys. “Just be careful with it, okay?”

“Will do.” Katie waggled her fingers at me as she headed to the door, keys in hand.

“What is this all about?” I called after her but she just mimed locking her lips and disappeared out the front door.

“Go ahead, Sabrina,” Rob called from down the hallway. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

I was tempted to follow Katie and drag it out of her, whatever it was—or follow Rob and find out what he so urgently had to tell Tyler and Sarah—but I could almost hear Rob’s big, giant bed calling
my name. Upstairs, I found Jesse had put my bag just outside the door to Rob’s room—our room. I couldn’t help thinking of my little yellow house, which now had a
For Sale
sign out front. I’d seen it on the internet. And most of my stuff was now in storage here in California. This was home now.

We’d flown all night and I was exhausted. I grabbed some che
ese off the tray Daisy left, climbed up onto the bed and curled up while I waited for Rob. I knew he’d want to shower together, a prospect that made me smile in anticipation, remembering the last shower we’d taken here together. It felt like a million years ago now, so much had happened. My life was entirely new, something I’d never imagined and living it now was like heading down a road I’d never traveled before.

I must have drifted off
because the next thing I knew, Rob was kissing me awake like Sleeping Beauty. I smiled, kissing him back, not opening my eyes, just feeling the warmth of his body, the soft press of his lips, smelling that scent I’d come to associate with him, leather and aftershave and sweet cloves.

“Come on, beautiful,” Rob whispered against my lips. “It’s almost time for dinner.”

“I’m hungry,” I agreed, smiling. “So’s Esther. Feel.”

I took his hand, pressing it to my belly, where the baby was doing gymnastics.

“Esther?” He raised his eyebrows. “We’ve decided then?”