the first day something like this happened to him. At what point do you tell yourself that the money and fame isn’t worth it? Even though I was

thinking it, I didn’t say a word to him about it. I knew he was beside himself; it was clear that the turmoil was wreaking havoc on his brain.

“How do I get on the interstate from here?” he asked excitedly.

“Turn right in three lights.” I tried to remain calm. “Do you have their address?”

Ryan locked up my brakes and made a quick right turn through one of the neighborhoods. I grabbed the seat with one hand and the door

armrest with the other as he wove my car through the streets.

“We’re being followed,” he growled. “Don’t let me hit any dead end streets!”

My heart was pounding and I was slightly petrified.

“Taryn!” Ryan shouted. “Where to?”

“Left,” I breathed.

He handed me a slip of paper that he took from his coat pocket. “That’s where we need to end up. Direct me.”

“Turn right at the gas station. Down there, get on the 103. See the sign?”

Ryan nodded. His lips were pursed tightly together. I could tell he was seething.

“Ryan, it’s okay. There’s no one behind us,” I whispered, patting his leg with my hand. As soon as I said it, a large SUV turned the same corner.

“Wrong!” he shouted, making a right turn through a red light.

“Make a left and then a right and get on the 103. It’s a highway.”

I felt the car accelerate even faster.

“Ryan…” I breathed and slid my hand onto his leg. We were going almost ninety miles per hour.

“I’m just trying to put some distance between us,” he muttered. His tone was still irritated.

I looked over my shoulder and out the rear window. “Are we still being followed?”

“I don’t know if I lost them but I’m not taking any chances.”

I entered the address into the navigation system; soon the computer was giving him driving directions. He let out a big breath of air; I noticed he

calmed down a little. He dropped the speedometer down to seventy-five.

“You okay, Babe?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He smiled at me briefly and then patted my thigh.

During the next ten minutes of complete silence, I thought about all the crap we removed from my car and how it was just laying there in the

parking lot. Even though I didn’t want to know what his fans had to say in them, the fact that they were laying all around my monthly rental space

bothered me.

“Ryan, when we get back tonight, I need to pick up all that paper in the parking lot. That lot doesn’t belong to me; I have to pay a monthly fee to

park there and I can’t leave my spot all littered like that.”

He nodded at me. “I’ll take care of it.” With one call, he made arrangements to have Jason clean it up.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He loosened his grip on the steering wheel. “Did you talk to Marie about covering the bar while my parents are visiting?”

“Not yet,” I replied. I had been putting that conversation off.

“Tar, please. Can’t you take a couple of days off?” he pleaded. “I finally have a normal weekend and I really want you to be with me.”

“What were you planning on doing?” I asked, wondering how I could be in two places at once.

“I don’t know,” he answered. “I was sort of hoping that you might have some ideas. I want to take us all out to dinner Friday night though –

someplace very nice for my mom’s birthday. Do you have any suggestions of where we can take them?”

“I know a few nice restaurants.”

“Just one request… some place outside of Seaport,” he added.

“Have they ever been to Boston? It’s not too far of a drive from here. There are some things we can do in Providence too,” I suggested, thinking

it would be easy to take day trips and still work the bar at night.

“I know what I’d like to do this weekend.” His tone was mischievous.

“And what would that be?”

“I’d love to take my parents up to the lake.” He looked over at me and raised his eyebrows. “I’d love to take my dad out on the boat. Can we do

that?” He was so excited.

“Ryan, it’s Halloween. I have bands scheduled. It’s one of my biggest weekends of the year. Let me see if I can rearrange coverage for the pub

first, okay?”

We drove up the coast for almost a half-hour, then turned into a gated beachside community. I was relieved to see the security guard on duty

and a huge metal gate blocking the rest of the world from entering. I never knew we had gated communities so close.

The homes were typical three story beach houses, all placed very close together. The house that Cal and Kelly had rented was only three homes

away from the beach. “This must be really neat in the summertime.” I smiled over at Ryan.

“Yeah, too bad it’s October,” he said in agreement. I was glad to see that he was almost himself again.

He opened my car door and held my hand as we walked up the sidewalk to the front door.

“Hey guys, come on in!” Cal greeted us and took our coats.

Behind him, the most adorable little girl with long blond hair came running down the hallway. She hid behind her daddy’s legs.

I peeked behind Cal and smiled at the little cutie. “Hi,” I said softly, crouching down to her level. “You must be Cami!”

She giggled at me and hid her face. “Cami, are you being shy?” Cal asked, tickling her head.

“Hi!” Kelly said as she joined us at the door. “Glad you could make it!” She gave me a big hug.

“Thank you so much for inviting us.” I returned her hug.

“Whyin!” Cami pointed at Ryan. Slowly she came out from behind Cal’s legs.

“Come here you!” Ryan scooped her up and kissed her on her cheeks before spinning her around in his arms to tickle her belly. Her giggles

were precious. They obviously knew each other very well.

We walked through the front entryway and down the hall to the large family room that bordered the enormous kitchen. Something smelled

wonderful. The house was decorated in shades of white, blue, and beige with hints of seashells and starfish; typical for a beach rental home.

“How was your ride over?” Cal asked Ryan.

Ryan set Cami down and looked at me before answering. “It was a bit crazy, but we made it. Taryn’s car was covered with notes.” He looked at

me like he was guilty of something.

“You’re kidding?” Cal said. “How the…”

“The pop were waiting for us when we got back from the marina last night - they were at both doors. And then when we left to come here, the

fans were waiting as well. The paparazzi even chased us for a couple of miles.”

Cal inconspicuously looked over at me. “How’d she do?” he whispered to Ryan, but I could still hear him.

“She did great. I was the one who flipped out!”

Even though I was interested in their conversation, I was distracted by a pair of big blue eyes and a naked Barbie doll staring at me.

“Is that a Barbie doll?” I asked Cami.

“Uhuh, wanna see?” She held the doll out to me.

“Hello Barbie, my name is Taryn. It’s very nice to meet you!”

Cami giggled. “Her name not Barbie! Her name Dora!”

“Dora? What a pretty name! It’s nice to meet you, Dora. Dora, Dora, Dora, the Explorer.” I sang, making Cami giggle at me again.

“How do you know the Dora song?” Kelly asked as Cami ran back down the hallway.

“There’s not much else on at two o’clock in the afternoon. Sometimes I’d rather watch cartoons than the other choices.”

Two minutes later, Cami came running back with another naked Barbie in her other hand. “Here, you be Beauty and I’ll be Dora.”

I took the Barbie into my hands and danced her around on my leg.

“Cami, don’t be a pest!” Kelly announced from the kitchen.

“Come on Cami, let’s take our dollies on an adventure.” I danced the doll over to the kitchen counter where several large chairs were poised.