Family Ties

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FAMILY TIES


Chapter Fifteen: Memphis


When they finally pulled into Memphis it was late in the evening and a storm was blowing in. Jessi stepped off the winnebago and run thru the drenching rain into the house. Lance stepped out behind her carrying Kendal and the rest of the guys followed. Lynn and Sadie met them at the door giving hugs and towels and they came in. Jessi dried herself off and walked into the den hugging paul and sitting down on the couch. JC came in behind her and fell onto the couch laying his head in her lap. Jessi laughed and ran her fingers thru his hair.
He yawned and closed his eyes. "I am so tired. I want to sleep for the rest of the week."
Paul laughed turning the volume down on the tv. "What took ya'll so long to get here."
Jessi laughed. "Oh your son knew this great shortcut to get us here. Never believe a word he says."
Paul laughed and stood up from the chair. "I think I'll go find out what my boy did wrong."
Lance walked into the den squeezing between the arm of the couch and Jessi. He put his arm around her and reached over thumping JC in the head.
JC tilted his head back and opened one eye. "Leave me alone. I have spent the past couple of days locked up with you people and I need some rest."
Lance laughed thumping him again. "But who do you think you are? That lap belongs to me."
JC closed his eye and shifted getting comfortable. "I am the best friend. I was here before you and i'll be here after you. And don't you forget it."
Lance laughed as Jessi raised JC's head sliding out from under him. "I'm gonna go see what grandma is in there feeding Kendal. I don't need her on a sugar high tonight."
JC opened his eyes pointing his finger at her. "I'm about to starve. Ask momma Lynn what is for dinner."
Jessi shook her head and walked into the kitchen.

Justin stood looking at a magazine as Chris and Joey hovered around him. Jessi walked in grabbing a cookie from the counter and walking over to them.
"Whatcha looking at?"
Joey and Chris stepped away looking at her as Justin handed her the magazine. She took it from his hands looking at the picture of Lance and Kendal. She looked up at Justin then back down reading the first line.
"Lance Bass of the pop group Nsync has been hiding his love child."
Jessi shook her head looking up. "Well it took them long enough. Does it mention my name?"
Justin shook his head. "no they don't know who the mother is or what Kendals name is."
Justin took the magazine back from Jessi. "What do you mean by 'took them long enough'? Don't tell me this damn article is true. Did Lance actually admit this?"
Jessi began helping her mother with dinner.
"Yes. When we came back from Mississippi some fans spotted him at the airport. I tried to get Kendal from him but he refused. She called him daddy when he was signing autographs and the girls asked if she belonged to him. He said yes."
Justin threw the magazine down on the counter. "Look, i'm glad Lance wants to let it out about Kendal. But this is big news sis. Does Johnny know about this?"
Jessi sat the plates down on the table shaking her head. "No Johnny doesn't know."
She placed her palms of the table looking up at Justin. "Look, i'll call Johnny first thing in the morning and let him know. Then i'll type something up and put it on the web site. I'll take care of it Justin."
Sadie sat down at the table with Kendal in her lap. "I think Lance did the right thing. He deserves a family no matter what anyone thinks. Don't you guys give him a hard time. You need to support him."
Justin sat down at the table. "We will grandma. This is just a big issue and should've done it different."
Lance walked in stretching. "Anything I can do?"
Lynn sat some bowls down on the table and patted Lance on the back. "Just go get JC for me. We're ready to eat."
Lance nodded and went to retrieve JC.

After dinner Paul walked grandma and grandpa home next door and Justin pulled the guys aside one by one explaining to them about his solo album while Jessi bathed Kendal and got her ready for bed. Jessi laid her down and read to her and once assured she was asleep she slipped out of the room. Lynn placed her hand on Jessi's shoulder and smiled.
"Your brother is talking to Lance right now. Can we talk for a minute?"
Jesssi nodded wrapping her arm around her mothers shoulder and walked out to the screened patio with her. They sat down on the swing and Jessi looked at her mother smiling.
"Ok. I know that tone. What have I done?"
Lynn laughed shaking her head. "You haven't done anything. You look better. How do you feel?"
Jessi sighed and she stared into a daze. "I feel pretty good. Lance has been really busy the past couple of weeks with work but we still spend what time we can together."
She looked over at her mom and smiled. "I can't believe Lance has been consulting with you all this time and you never told me. What in the world have the two of you been talking about?"
Lynn shook her head and squeezed her lips tight together swiping her fingers across her lips in a zipper motion.
"My lips are sealed. That is between me and him. He'll tell you one day."
Jessi laughed shaking her head.
They sat in silence looking thru the screen at the pouring rain. Lynn sighed and reached over squeezing Jessi's hand.
"Your daddy knows about the miscarriage Jess. You need to go see him while you are here. Jon and Steven have been having a fit to see you and Justin."
Jessi leaned her head back closing her eyes.
"What did daddy have to say about it this time?"
Lynn raised her eyebrow and laughed "Well some of the words I wouldn't repeat. He of course thought it was Chris so he was ready to call and cuss him out because another one of those Nsync boys had ruined his daughters life. But I broke it down for him that you and Lance were together and that Lance was the father."
Jessi opened her eyes looking at Lynn. "And?"
Lynn shrugged. "Well, it made things a little bit better, but not too much. I just think you need to go and talk to him."
Jessi rolled her eyes and nodded. "I will. I promise. Before we leave i'll go over there. Besides Lance said while we were this close he wants to drive to Mississippi and spend two days with his mom and dad."
Lynn smiled. "Well that will be nice. I know Diane will be so glad to see all of you."
Jessi laughed sarcastically. "Well she doesn't know Lance and I are a couple now. She may not be happy to see me."
Lynn hugged her yawning. "She will be so happy. Trust me. Ya'll will have a good time."
She leaned over kissing Jessi's cheek and stood up. "I'm a little tired. I think i'll go and get some sleep. I'll see ya'll in the morning."

Lance hugged Justin patting him on the back. "I think you should go for it man. It's a good idea and we're on a break so now is your best time to see how things are gonna work. Your gonna knock em dead Just."
Justin stepped away from Lance and smiled. "Thanks man. It means a lot to me that you guys are standing behind me on this. If even one of you had said no I wouldn't have done it."
Lance laughed. "So I take it i'm the last one and everyone else has told you to go for it?"
Justin nodded and his smile faded. "Hey Lance. Look i'm sorry about giving you such a hard time with Jessi when she was pregnant with Kendal."
Lance waved his hand in the air. "Long ago man. That was then, this is now. I'm happy with her Justin. I don't wanna lose her. She's my soul mate."
Justin smiled and patted him on the back. "Take care of her man. She's priceless."
Lance nodded and looked down at the floor. "Just, there is something I need to tell you."
Justins brown wrinkled with concern and he motioned for Lance to sit down.
"Sure man. What is it?"
Lance took a deep breath and looked up. "I applied to go to Russia to be a part of a space mission. These past few weeks i've spent in meeting after meeting getting companies to back me up. Everything has finally been approved. I leave the middle of July for Russia to do my training."
Justin leaned back in his chair whistling. "Wow man. This is your big dream come true."
Lance laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah, it is." He sighed slouching in his chair. "I don't want to leave Jessi and Kendal. But this is my dream and i'm getting the chance to make it happen. Jessi doesn't know yet. Justin if anything should happen to me........"
Justin leaned forward slapping Lance on the knee. "Don't you even talk like this. Jessi is going to be so happy for you. She's gonna be just fine. We'll keep an eye on her."
Lance looked down nodding his head as Justin stood from his chair leaning over to hug him.
"Congratulations man. Not everybody gets to make one dream happen and this will be your third."
Lance smiled looking up at him. "Actually, I'm hoping it will be my fourth."
Justin turned his head squinting his eyes. "Whatch you talkin' bout Lansten?"
Lance laughed standing from his chair. "You'll find out. Look please don't say anything to anybody about this. You are the only one who knows."
Justin smiled nodding his head. "You got it man."
They congratulated one another again and went off looking for the rest of the group.

Jessi stretched out in the swing leaning her head back against the chain and closing her eyes listening to the thunder. Lance quietly snuck up next to her and softly began placing butterfly kisses along her neck.
She smiled keeping her eyes closed and softly moaned. "How did your talk with Justin go."
He nudged her making her lean forward as he slid into the swing behind her. "I gave him my blessing. I hope he does really well. I knew he would eventually want to do it. We all did."
Jessi leaned her head back and turned her face toward him. He leaned down kissing her and she laid her head on his should closing her eyes.
"I am so tired. But I love storms. They make me feel so at peace."
Lance laughed wrapping his arms around her.
"You are the only one I know who can find peace in a storm."
She turned slightly snuggling into him. "So when do you want to go to Mississippi?"
Lance sighed loudly. "Weeellll.....what do you say we drive down tomorrow afternoon and well stay two nights and come back here. Is that ok?"
She nodded, her words becoming slurred and she grew more tired.
"Yeah. Gooidea."
Lance laughed lightly shaking her as he felt her breathing become shallowed.
"Baby? Are you asleep?"
She softly moaned and he reached down scooping her into his arms and carrying her inside. He walked into the bedroom gently laying her on the bed next to Kendal and slid out of his clothes. He grabbed a pair of sweat pants and slid them on climbing into bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and reached over gently brushing the curls away from Kendals face.
He sighed and smiled to himself as he kissed Jessi on the cheek.
"Good night my angels. I love you both so much."
Jessi sighed and turned in her sleep facing him. She snuggled up against him buriburied her face between his neck and pillow. He smiled closing his eyes and fell asleep to the sound of his family sleeping.