Sarah and Kevin 48

August

It was nearly midnight when they arrived home from the airport. The house was dark except for the light outside the back door. Kevin smiled, thinking about sleeping next to Sarah tonight. He hadn't hardly slept the entire time they were in California.

When he tried to open the door to the attic, it was locked. Kevin stared at the doorknob for a minute. He tried it again. That's when he saw the letter taped to the door. He tore it off the door and opened it, already knowing the gist of the message.

"Kevin,
I'm glad you made it back safely and I hope the trip went well.
As mentor for MourningStar, this is where I back out. I brought your things back to your room. I will still be fulfilling my obligations regarding room and board until it's time for you to move out. I will also continue to bring Peter to his meetings.
Please don't pound on the door. I'm not going to open it and there's nothing more to be said. You've earned your wings and now you get to fly. I am not going to be the sandbag holding you down.
Sarah"

Kevin turned his back to the door and leaned against it, looking up at the ceiling light.

"Whoa. What's wrong?" Scott said when he walked into the hall. Kevin handed him the letter.

"I don't know whether to be sorry or grateful." Scott said after reading it.

"What?" Kevin asked.

"Well, from a business standpoint, this is the best for the band. Having you run back and forth between here and wherever we land could cause trouble." Now Peter and Tom had arrived and Scott handed them the letter.

"I just thought she'd come with me." Kevin's heart hurt.

"Oh, c'mon, Kev. Do you really think she'll give up her home and her writing to chase you around the country?" Peter asked.

Kevin stared at Peter for a moment. He looked down at the floor. Now he felt angry, afraid and frustrated all at once. Somehow it just didn't seem right that he had to choose between his muse and his music. They were supposed to go together.

Peter put his hand on Kevin's shoulder and handed the letter back to him. "She really loves you. Just cut her some slack. Maybe she'll come around." Peter went into his bedroom. Scott squeezed Kevin's shoulder and went to bed as well.

Kevin looked up at Tom. His expression was grim. "If you really love her, fight for her. If you 'cut her some slack' , you'll lose her. And probably to Peter." Kevin blinked at him. He'd never seen him so adamant about anything.

"Thanks, Tom," Kevin went in and laid down on his old bed. It was starting to become light outside when he finally fell asleep.

***

"Hello?"

"Hi Mom," Kevin said dejectedly.

"What's wrong? Are you stuck in California?"

"No, we're back home. Sarah broke up with me."

"Why? What happened?"

Kevin read his mom the letter.

"She doesn't want to go with you?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her yet. I don't know what to say to change her mind."

"Maybe she'll come to her senses. She may not have even considered going with you."

"I hope so. I feel like I have a knife in my chest."

"You really love her, don't you?"

"Yeah, I love her a lot."

"She must love you a lot too if she's willing to sever ties with you so that you can move on with
your career. I'll bet she cries herself to sleep at night over it."

"That doesn't make me feel better, Mom. I just want her to come with me."

"All you can do is try to talk to her. I think she'll come around."

"I hope you're right."

"Me too. I love you."

"Love you, too."

***

Kevin tried to take Tom's advice, but Sarah would have none of it. He tried talking to her while she was making dinner, but she ignored him. She had stopped eating dinner with them and was getting up early in the morning to do the dishes and make breakfast. Every night when he came upstairs from practice, her door was locked. After a week of this, he was just about beside himself.