I sighed as I packed the rest of Brayden’s things
and set the box to the side with all the others. I sat
down on his bed and for the thousandth time since
I convinced my mom to move back to Orlando
wondered if I had done the right thing. The past
five years were a complete blur and I wasn’t really
sure if going back to where it all started would be
better or worse. At first I thought if I went back I
could find closure and move on, but as I got closer
to moving back I was starting to feel more and
more apprehensive. What if I ran into him? What if
he recognized the resemblance between himself
and Brayden? But at the same time Orlando is a
huge city right? And his life has done a complete
180 since the last time I saw him. He’s a famous
musician with a demanding career and I’m sure he
doesn’t have a lot of down time to just hang out.
Plus who’s to say that if I did run into him that he
would even notice me. Yeah, I would notice him, but
I’ve been following his career since my mom made
me leave Orlando and move to my Grandmothers
in Washington. The funny thing was she wasn’t
punishing me for getting pregnant at thirteen, she
was protecting me. She never once made any
degrading comment or even got upset about the
situation. However, after seeing how upset I was
she decided that it would be best to move all the
way across the country so I didn’t have to face him
or anyone else that I knew. She gave me a fresh
start. She has been the most supportive and helpful
person a daughter could ever ask for. Then again
we’ve always been close since my dad died when I
was only five, so I shouldn’t really be surprised that
she was anything but supportive. Brayden’s my life
and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it
definitely was not the ideal situation for anyone. I
mean when you’re thirteen and completely
infatuated with a guy all you think about is being
with them and not any of the consequences that
could follow. Brayden knew way more about his dad
than he had any idea and that was fine by me, I
didn’t want Brayden to know who his dad was. It
would bring to many questions that I didn’t want to
answer. Just then I was broke from my thoughts
“Momma, come quick Nsync’s on TV!” Brayden
excitedly exclaimed as he ran out the room and
back down the stairs again. I sighed as I followed
him downstairs to see what was going on now. Sure
enough there he was standing with the rest of the
guys on the set of TRL looking just as handsome as
ever. I gave a weak smile towards Brayden as I sat
down on the floor beside him to see what the latest
was in his life. After finishing up their tour a couple
weeks ago the guys all decided to head home to
Orlando and take a six month break to get back in
touch with reality. HA! I thought. Back in touch with
reality…I’m sure that’s what they’re all concerned
with. Well actually they probably are. Well at least
J.C. and Justin. I’ve known them since I was ten
years old and they are probably two of the most
down to earth people in the showbiz I’ve ever met
and I have a lot of respect for them for that.
However, I was not expecting them to be in Orlando
for any extended period of time. Especially right
when I was getting ready to move back down there.
This might not have been my best idea. I couldn’t
tell my mom I didn’t want to go now though
because I’d been bugging her for the last five
months since I graduated high school to let us
move back. Not to mention that everything was
packed and the last U-haul was on its way to grab
the beds and the last odd items of furniture that
were left around the house. Well at least I would
have a week to wrap my head around the idea of
possibly running into him as we were driving down
instead of flying. Just then my mom walked through
the house with the movers showing them the last of
what they needed to pack and I sighed as I stood
up to go put the last few boxes in the back of my
blazer. “Brayden you ready to go?” I asked walking
back into the empty house where Brayden was
sitting playing with his stuffed Elmo. “Yeah
momma.” Brayden said as he smiled up at me and
ran outside to the car. I gave him a faint smile as
he passed by then sighed as I looked around the
empty house one more time. Now or never I
thought as I walked outside. “I’ll meet you at the
hotel.” My mom smiled as she got into her car.
“Yeah.” I mumbled as I strapped Brayden into his
car seat then climbed into the driver’s seat.
“You ready?” I asked Brayden as I finished tying his
shoe and stood up. “We’ve got to get going
Grandma Deb is already in Orlando. It will only take
us about four more hours to get there.”
“Yay!”Brayden exclaimed jumping up and down. I
smiled at him as I ushered him out the door and
towards the car. “Momma can we listen to Nsync?
Please! Please!”Brayden asked bouncing up and
down in his car seat. I smiled at him through the
rear view mirror. “Sure.” I said as I popped the c.d.
in and the familiar sounds of Tearing up my Heart
filled the car. I smiled as Brayden bounced around
to the music and started to sing along with it. The
closer and closer we get to Orlando the more I
rethink my decision to want to move back here.
Brayden may only be four but he’s definitely smart.
He made the connection that we were moving to the
same place as Nsync when he heard they were
going to be in Orlando and has already asked if we
could go see them. I had to explain to him that I
didn’t know where they lived and that they didn’t
want to be bothered, but what if I do run into one of
them? Brayden will definitely recognize them. Not to
mention he looks so much like his dad anyone
could make the connection. I don’t know what I was
thinking by moving back here but the closer I get
the worse of a feeling I get about the whole
situation.