* Chapter 4 *

Mariah agreed to stay the night once again although it was against her better judgement. She knew their relationship was moving fast and becoming more intense. But she couldn’t deny her senses the experience of sleeping next to and waking up with Kevin.

In the morning the pair attended the Baptist church in Kevin’s neighborhood. He loved that she wasn’t afraid to show her spiritual side. He listened as her nearly flawless voice sang “On Eagles’ Wings.” It was certainly a good thing that he wasn’t Catholic. Kevin felt guilty enough as it was. He hated to even think of the penance for thinking impure thoughts inside the church.

Kevin gladly accepted Mariah’s invitation to join her at the hospital in the afternoon. He had enjoyed the time he spent there a few weeks earlier. Interacting with the children filled his heart and soul with a contentment that could only be compared to performing on stage and loving Mariah.

While Mariah chaired her committee meeting, Kevin led a sing-a-long with her friend Rachel’s aid. Afterward, he walked up the hallway and knocked on the door to room 315.

“Hey, Joey,” Kevin greeted the six-year-old cancer patient he’d met on his first visit.

“Kevin.” The little boy’s face shone with joy. “What are doin’ here?”

“I came to see you, buddy.” Kevin slid a chair from a corner to beside the bed and sat down. “So how are you?”

“Fine, thank you. I can’t believe you came back.”

“Why not? I always come to see my friends.” He glanced around the room smiling when he noticed the Backstreet Boys poster now hanging from the wall.

Joey grinned sheepishly. “I had my older sister bring that to me. She was jealous when I told her I met you.”

“Maybe you can introduce me one of these days….Listen, how about I read you another book?”

“Sure,” the boy said eagerly. “How about this one?”

“Oh, Where the Wild Things Are. Good choice.” When Kevin finished reading his book, he listened as Joey read Danny and the Dinosaur to him. The boy was reciting the last sentence when Mariah appeared.

“I figured you’d be here, Kev,” she said giving him a short peck on the mouth. “Hi, J, how are you?”

“Great, Miss. A. Kevin and I were just reading some books.”

“Yeah, Joey here read me Danny and the Dinosaur. Didn’t miss a word.”

“I’m impressed,” she beamed.

The little boy blushed. “Thanks.”

Kevin stood. “I guess we’re leaving now.” Mariah nodded. “I’ll see you later, Joe.” The two slapped a high-five before Mariah and Kevin started toward the door.

“Miss. A?”

She turned back to him. Joey whispered something in her ear. She smiled and whispered something back.

In the parking lot, Kevin took Mariah’s hand. “So what is so secret that Joey can’t me?”

“He told me that he likes you because you’re ‘a really cool guy’.”

“And you said?” Kevin prompted cocking an eyebrow.

“Nothing…all I did was agree with him,” Mariah teased with a smile.

Chapter 5
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