Part Two
As days go by...
A/N: I still own nothing.
"Hello." Jordan mumbles as he puts his phone to his ear. It's 8 a.m., Friday morning in Pennsylvania, but Jordan is in Salt Lake City in his bunk on the bus. Salt Lake City is 3 hours behind Three Rivers. Their show ended late the night before and they had one more performance before they moved on to Las Vegas.
"Good morning, Daddy! Happy Birthday!" He rolls over onto his back as he listens to an excited Maddie tell him about the birthday party Graham was having for him at the restaurant when he gets home next weekend.
Jordan VO: What? It's not my birthday, is it? I'm still sleeping right?
Maddie tells him goodbye and Angela gets on the line. "Happy Birthday, Jordan!"
"Hey, babe. It's not my birthday, is it?" He sleepily rubs his eyes.
"Oh my god, Jordan. Yes, it is your birthday. It's June 23, the same day we celebrate your birthday every year, silly." He can hear her chuckling. "Dad wants to have you a small birthday party at the restaurant next weekend, if that's fine with you. He wants you to invite the guys. Sharon and Kyle are coming with their boys and Rayanne will be there. I don't think Ricky can make it, though. Of course the family will be there. Is that ok?"
"Yeah, whatever you want is fine." He yawns and pulls the covers up over his chest.
"Damn, honey. I forgot how early it is out there. I should have waited until later to let Maddie call you. She was a little excited, you know? How about you just call me when you get up. I'll let you get back to sleep."
"Angela, it's ok. I can talk for a few minutes." He pushes the blanket back and jumps down out of the bunk. He walks into the bathroom and pulls the door closed. "How are you feeling this morning? You're sure your morning sickness is gone? Everything else ok?"
Angela laughs to herself because she can hear that he's in the bathroom. "I'm fine, Jordan. You worry too much. Mom stops by once a day to check on me and I know you asked Dad to check on me, too. I'm pregnant, my dear, not sick." She can hear the toilet flush.
"Well, until I'm home for good, you can get used to it." He washes his hands before opening the door and climbing back on to his bunk and under the covers. "I worry, it's my job."
"I know. I love you and I'm gonna let you get back to sleep. Happy Birthday, baby. I wish I were there with you."
"Thank you, and I wish you were here with me, too. I'll talk to you later. I love you, Red." He hits the end button on his phone and tosses it down on the bunk beside him before snuggling down under the covers and closing his eyes to dream about his wife.
Angela zips her overnight bag and walks back into the bathroom. She grabs her tooth brush, tooth paste and prenatal vitamins and carries them back into the bedroom and puts them down in her purse. She grabs everything and heads down the hall to Maddie's room.
Angela VO: He doesn't suspect a thing. I've got to get Maddie on the ball so that I can get her to Danielle's before I head to the airport. He's going to be so happy. I don't want to wait until next weekend to tell him.
"Maddie, are you ready? We've got to get going, honey. I've got to be at the airport by 11 o'clock and it's almost 9 now. Do you have your ipod and your dsi? You know Aunt Dani doesn't have that stuff at her house."
"Yes, Mom. I've got everything. Would you quit rushing me, please?" She slips her backpack over her shoulders and picks up her bag. "Why do I have to go stay with Aunt Dani and Uncle Brian? Why can't I go with you?"
"Maddie, please don't start this again. I've already told you. I'm going to surprise your dad. You'll get to see him next weekend when he's home. Now, you need to get your butt in gear. I'll meet you down at the car."
Angela can hear her grumbling all the way down the stairs. She just shakes her head and continues to the garage.
Angela makes it to the airport with only a few minutes to spare. After making it through security, she gets to the gate just in time to board the plane. She stows her bags in the overhead and takes her seat by the window. She buckles in and lays her head back on the seat. She doesn't even realize that plane has taken off because she's lost in thought remembering the last time she surprised Jordan this way.
June 23 1998
Angela stepped off the elevator on to the 14th floor of the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas. It was Jordan's 21st birthday and she wanted to surprise him. Residue had been invited to take part in the annual Battle of the Bands this year, being held in the lounge of the bar downstairs. The guys had already been in Vegas for 4 days and they had been provided a suite by the record company that was sponsoring the competition.
She entered the suite and turned on the light. Angela and Shane had talked before they had flown out earlier in the week. He knew she was coming and he left a key for her at the front desk so that she could go straight to the suite to wait for Jordan. It was the last night of the competition and she wanted to be there for him, whether they won or lost. And she wanted to be with him on his birthday. You only turn 21 once and she wanted it to be special for him.
She had to hurry because Shane told her they were on early tonight, so Jordan would be back to the room anytime. Shane and Tommy were going to go out on the town to give them some time alone. She opened the door to the first room on the right and realized that it was Shane and Tommy's room. There were two unmade double beds and clothes everywhere. Angela couldn't help but laugh. She pulled the door closed.
She walked across the sitting room and opened the door to the other bedroom. All she could do was stand and stare. The lights were off, but there were lit candles everywhere. There were rose petals strewn across the comforter and a bucket with champagne and ice on the table beside the bed. She walked in the room and ran her hand across the rose petals before picking one of them up and bringing to her nose. She dropped her bags to the floor and turned back to the door with a smile on her face.
When she looked up, Jordan was leaning against the door frame, smiling back at her. "Hey, beautiful. It's about time you got here." He walks up to her and pulls her to him. "I've missed you, babe." He leans down to give her a lingering kiss.
"Jordan! How did you know I would be here? It's supposed to be a surprise!" She wraps her arms around his waist and leans back to look at him. "Where's Shane? I'm gonna kill him! He was supposed to keep it a secret!"
He just laughs and pulls her closer to him. He buries his face in her hair and whispers to her. "It was a surprise. My surprise. He helped me get you here." He moves her hair aside and kisses her neck. "Are you surprised?"
"Well, yeah. But I wanted to surprise you for your birthday. Now that's all ruined." She pulls back and pouts up at him. "I had it all planned out!"
"Aw, babe. It's not ruined. You're here, I'm here and we have this fancy room all to ourselves. I'd say this is a great birthday present." He takes her hand and sits on the side of the bed with her standing between his knees. "Why don't you let me unwrap my present?"
He starts to untie the strings on the side of her dress that hold it together, but she puts her hand on his to stop him. "We'll get to that, Mister. Right now, I need to go to the bathroom and freshen up. I came straight from the airport and I feel yucky. Why don't you just relax in here for a little bit while I take a shower." She leans down to kiss him and then pushes him back on the bed. Before he can reach for her, she grabs her bag and runs into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
When Angela comes back into the room a few minutes later, she's wearing a long white nightgown. It has spaghetti straps and it's cut low in the front. Her now blonde hair is hanging softly down her back. Jordan is sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard. He doesn't notice what she's wearing at first because he's looking at something in his hand. When he looks up at her, he quickly jumps up from the bed and shoves his hand in his pocket.
He stands there staring at her so long that she starts to get nervous. She takes a tentative step towards him. He slowly starts to smile. "Wow, Angela. You're beautiful."
"Happy Birthday, Jordan. This isn't how I planned it, but I do want tonight to be special for you. I love you." She walks up to him and slips her arms around his neck before kissing him deeply.
Just as she's about to pull him down on to the bed with her, he takes her hand and sits her down on the edge of the bed. He takes a deep breath. Still holding her hand, he kneels on the floor in front of her. He reaches into his pocket with the other hand and pulls out a diamond ring.
He touches her face as he looks into her eyes. "Angela, I love you so much. I'm where I am today because you saw something in me that no one else ever did. You make me want to be a better man. Will you marry me?"
"Oh, Jordan, do you even have to ask? Of course I'll marry you. I love you." She smiles softly as he takes her hand and places his ring on her finger. She lays back on the bed and pulls him down on top of her.
Present day
Angela makes it to Energy Solutions Arena halfway through Residue's set. She has the cab driver drop her off behind the arena next to the guys' tour bus. Ron, the bus driver opens the door to the bus for her so that she can leave her bags. He calls in to the stage manager so that they'll let Angela in the back door so that she can go backstage. She's walking down the hall when she runs into Deborah, Residue's manager.
"Hey there, Angela! I didn't know you were coming." She walks up and hugs Angela.
"Hey, Deborah. No one knew I was coming. This time, I didn't even tell Shane. He's not good at keeping secrets." They both laugh.
Deborah gives Angela a knowing look. "Speaking of Shane and secrets, I hear you and Jordan are expecting."
"Yes, we are. I'm due around Thanksgiving. I should have known Shane wouldn't be able to keep that to himself." Shaking her head, all Angela can do is smile. She loves Shane like a brother, but he can be a pain.
"That's great, Angela. I'm happy for you guys." She starts to walk toward the sound of the music. "You want to hang out in the dressing room and wait on the guys?"
"If it's ok with you, I'd really like to stand on the side of the stage and watch the rest of the show. I haven't seen their show in a while." They come to a long corridor on the right and Deborah motions for Angela to proceed.
"No problem. Continue to the end and take a left and you'll come out right next to the stage. I'm going back to the dressing room. Come and find me if you need anything." She turns and heads in the other direction.
Angela follows her directions and ends up standing just off the stage, hidden from the audience by the curtains hanging on either side. Jordan had just finished a song. He had his back to her, so he didn't see her. She stood there looking at the sight her husband made. He's all hot and sweaty. His hair was wet and hanging down in his face. She loved it.
Angela VO: Wow, THAT is my husband up there. Listen to all those women yelling his name. Dream on, ladies. He's all mine.
She's standing there grinning, leering at her own husband when he turns and notices her. She can see that he's surprised. He smiles at her and then he speaks into the microphone.
"Hey, folks. I'll be back in just a second. Hold tight, 'cause the show's far from over." He puts down his guitar and starts walking over to her.
Tommy, confused as to what's going on, turns to look at Shane. Shane has no clue what Jordan is up to. He yells, "Hey, Jay. What the hell?" Jordan just walks by like he didn't hear. When Shane turns his head in the direction Jordan's walking, he spots Angela. He motions to Tommy to look in that direction. When Tommy sees Angela, he looks back at Shane and shakes his head. They both start to laugh.
Jordan walks up to Angela and wraps her in a hug, picking her up off the ground. He whispers softly to her, "Red, what are you doing here?" He gives her a quick kiss before setting her feet back on the ground.
"Happy Birthday, Jordan. I'm your birthday present. Do you like it?" She pulls him back down for a kiss.
"Hell yeah, I like it! How am I supposed to go back and finish this show knowing that you're here waiting on me?" He kisses her nose and hugs her tight. "Gotta go. You stay right here, ok?" He turns and runs back out on stage.
She looks at Shane and he gives her a thumbs up. She smiles back at him. Tommy looks over to her and nods and she blows him a kiss. These guys are like family to her and Jordan and she's very thankful that they're with him when she can't be.
Jordan picks up his guitar and walks back to the microphone. "Sorry, guys. Today is my 34th birthday." He has to pause as the crowd starts cheering loudly. "See, I had to take a break because I just got my birthday surprise. My beautiful wife, my beautiful, very pregnant, wife whom I haven't seen in close to a month, decided to come all the way from Pennsylvania to surprise me."
Angela is standing there in shock. She just shakes her head. The crowd is going wild.
Angela VO: Did he just tell this audience of 20,000 people that I was pregnant? Oh my god, Jordan!
He looks over at her and winks. "Ok, ok. This next song is one I wrote for my wife, long before she was my wife. I was an ass to her and I did some really unforgivable things, but she did forgive me. She made me who I am today. Angela, babe, I love you."
He looks back at the guys and they start to play The Kill. Angela stands there listening with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.