Sunday, May 26, 2002

Hey Justin, it's me, Cathy. Since I got your answering machine, I'm guessing your pretty busy with tour preparations. But uh anyway, I was just calling to tell you that my boss loved your idea and was more than willing to give me the time off to help you out on the road with Kayla...said something about a good opportunity for me. But um anywhoo, call me back when you get the chance. Or else I'll see you next Sunday for our weekly inspection....Bye!

"Tuesday, May 14. To repeat this message, press one."

"It looks like somebody's been a little preoccupied."

After hanging up the phone--figuring he'd listen to the rest of his messages later--Justin turned away from his office desk and couldn't help but smile in amusement as he caught the first glimpse of his mother and daughter dressed up in identical cowboy wear gear. "Preoccupied isn't even the word. Right now, I'm feeling more stressed out than anything else."

Frowning slightly at the pure exhaustion that was written all over her son's face, Lynn couldn't help but hope, for Justin's sake, that this Cathy woman wasn't a bitch; so when tour time came and Justin needed a little time to himself--to sleep or maybe just to hang out with rest of the guys for a couple of hours--the older woman wouldn't mind watching Kayla; giving the younger man some time alone to do so.

"Anyway.." Justin continued; snapping his mother out of her thoughts while doing so, "Should I ask why you and my one year old are parading around the house looking like runaway cow girls?"

Smiling slightly, Lynn waited until she had scooted Kayla further up on her hip before replying, "Well, to be honest, sweetheart. Even though I love you and thank God everyday that you've been given the opportunity to do what you so love to do, I have to say that two weeks of having to continuously watch video tape after video tape of you and the guys performing the same songs over and over again is enough to make anybody want to run for the hills. That's why last night I decided that today Kayla and I are going to dress up in our new cowboy digs, which I just had Lonnie buy from that little store down the street, and we're going to watch the Sunday afternoon rodeo show together. That is, if Mr. Timberlake doesn't have any problems with his face not being all over the TV screen for a couple of hours."

After shaking his head and chuckling slightly at his mother's explanation, Justin opened his mouth to tell the older woman that he didn't know if he should be offended by her comment or not. But as the grandfather clock beside him chimed--telling him that it was going on three o'clock--he stopped himself and replied, "No, I don't have any problems with my face not being all over the TV screen for a couple of hours, Mother. I hope you two have fun. But can you please make sure that you and Kayla are done in the living room by at least five-thirty. I have a conference call with the guys at four and this week's inspection is supposed to be at six. Which means that if I want anytime at all to clean up this place before Cathy gets here then I'll have to do so then, all right?"

While nodding in agreement, as if to say "All right", Lynn couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in questioning; wondering to herself if it was just her imagination or was her son, at the moment, trying to impress--the much talked about--Cathy.

Be serious, Lynn. Justin's just trying to show the social worker that he's a fit enough parent to take care of Kayla by himself. And besides, everyone knows Justin would've told me if he felt anything more than just friendly feelings towards Cathy the first time they met. Hell, he would've told me if he felt anything more than sexual feelings towards Cathy the first time they met. It's just my always overanalyzing mind that's picking this up....but then again, he does seem just as nervous now as the first time he introduced me to Debra; which makes inquiring minds want to know.

"I sync?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Lynn smiled down at her granddaughter who was now looking up at her with a hopeful expression on her face. "No, we're not going to be watching N'sync this afternoon, Sweetheart. The boys are tired and have asked for a break. Which means you and I will get to go in the living room and watch my favorite program, The Rodeo Show. Now, how does that sound?"

If someone was to question whether Justin was really the father of Kayla or not, the question would've immediately been put to rest as the small girl in Lynn's arms stuck out her lower lip; imitating a movement that Lynn had seen Justin do so many times as a child.

"I sync."

Adverting her eyes from the pouting girl, Lynn rolled her eyes at Justin; who was at the moment trying to hide his amused grin with the palm of his hand.

"Should I even ask where she picked up that little trick from?"

While shrugging nonchalantly, Justin shortened the gap between him and the two women in front of him. Then afterwards waited until he was an inch in front of his mother before bending down and kissing each one--of the most important women in his life--on the cheek; afterwards giving each one of them his famous Cheshire grin. "Let's just say she learns from the best."

After rolling her eyes at her son's comment, Lynn waited until Justin had fully made his way out of the room and half way down the hall before bringing her attention back towards her granddaughter and commenting with a slight funny expression on her face that Kayla had a very silly daddy.

"No silly, you silly."

After smiling in amusement as the little girl in her arms began giggling wildly, Lynn could only think to herself.

Yeah, I am. And I defiantly know where I got that from.

(Six O'clock)

"So just to make sure I've got everything down, we're all going to meet at the compound Tuesday morning around Seven o'clock, correct?"

Already feeling the anxiety of the tour hitting him, even though the guy's hadn't officially begun yet, Justin waited until everyone else had replied to the older man's question before saying, "Correct."

"Well, gentleman, it looks like we've finally covered everything."

And it only took us two hours. Justin sarcastically thought to himself as he eyed the digital clock on his night stand. Must be my lucky day.

With that as his last thought, Justin absentmindedly listened in as the other men expressed their genuine relief over the fact that all the behind the scenes labor was finally finished.

"Now, it's just two more wild and free days of slouching around in my tighty whities."

After wincing inwardly at the image that was just portrayed in his mind, Justin replied, "Well, with the topic of Joey's underwear preference--at the moment--being the last word, I'm going to have to bid you guys ado. Miss. Jones is going to be here soon, which means I've got about two minutes to clean up."

"All right. Bye J." The four men responded respectively before Johnny cut in, saying, "Son, call me later, I want to make sure I've got all of Kayla and Miss. Jones' backstage passes with me."

"Will do, Johnny." The younger man replied; continuing to hold back the tired groan, that had been trying to itch it's way out of his mouth, until after he hung up the phone. "Will do."

After running a hand through her slightly tangled hair, Cathy let out the huge sigh that she'd been holding in, for what felt like, the entire weekend. Then afterwards, catching sight of her bag-heavy eyes in the rearview mirror, she couldn't help but mumble to herself, "Does it get any easier?"

She had spent the majority of yesterday shipping all of her office supplies to the local storage warehouse and receiving tearful good-byes from surprisingly all the coworkers, who Keith said couldn't stand her. But when questioned about that particular statement, they all commented that they really couldn't stand him; especially given the fact that he was firing the one person who they knew wouldn't stand for any of the B.S he'd been putting everyone through as of recently. Cathy didn't know why, but just from those few remarks alone, she knew in the future she wouldn't only miss working in that particular building but she'd also be putting each and every last one of those people in her prayers; knowing full-well that if any of them so much as mentioned her name in Keith's presence, they'd probably all be fired on the spot.

But it's time for me to move on from that. She thought to herself as she finally opened the door to her jeep and stepped out onto the darkish gray black top of Justin's driveway.

Pressing a button on her keys, Cathy waited until her truck made it's final locking sound before making her way towards the front door of the large manor. Afterwards, to her surprise, not even needing to ring the doorbell, as the front door was quickly opened as soon as she had placed both feet on the porch. What the...

"Hi, you must be Miss. Jones."

While trying not to raise her eyebrows in surprise, Cathy was slightly taken aback by instead of being met at the door--once again--by Justin, she was greeted by a slightly young looking older woman. Tell me this is not his girlfriend.

"Please, call me Cathy." She replied absentmindedly. Then afterwards, noticing the woman's familiar dark blue eyes, she quickly brushed her previous thought aside before replying, "You must be Justin's mother."

Smiling even wider than before, Lynn nodded her head slightly before saying, "That is correct, but you can just call me Lynn. I find Justin's mother to be a little too formal, don't you agree?"

After slightly laughing at the words, Cathy took the older woman stepping aside to mean that she should come in. And after doing so, she couldn't help but perk up slightly at the aroma that seemed to be drifting from the kitchen, through the house. "Something smells wonderful."

"That's my mother's famous Peach cobbler. I've been refusing to make it for Justin for two weeks now, but since tonight's my last night here in Orlando, I figured that the poor boy's suffered long enough. I just hope you'll be able to stick around and join us for some after dinner."

Knowing that she shouldn't intrude, especially since it was their last night together, Cathy opened her mouth to say that that was okay and that she could just pick up something on her way home. But stopped herself as she noticed the look in Lynn's eyes and realized the previous comment was more of a statement than a question.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Great." Lynn responded; afterwards preparing to continue on with the conversation, until footsteps--coming down the stairs--were heard. "Theirs Justin now."

Looking towards the stairwell where Justin was now reaching the bottom step, Cathy couldn't help but smile as she noticed the little girl in Justin's arms. Or better yet notice the outfit that the little girl in Justin's arms was wearing.

Seeing this, Lynn said, "I'm trying to get Kay to start watching something other than the guy's videos. I bought the outfit as sort of a prop for our afternoon TV Rodeo show together."

Slightly smiling at this, Cathy couldn't help but say, "Well, I thank you for that. Because even though I've been impressed with the couple of performances of theirs that I've seen, I don't know if I can deal with watching nothing but the guy's performances for two months. No offense to you or Kayla's choice of entertainment."

"None taken." Lynn said, while laughing--drawing the attention of her son--who hadn't until now noticed the two women standing in front of him.

"Miss....Cathy, I didn't know you were here already. I didn't hear the doorbell ring."

Before she even had a chance to open her mouth to say that was because it didn't ring, Lynn spoke up saying, "I was outside watering the plants when she pulled up." Causing Justin to hit his mother with a knowing look before replying, "That's funny since I don't own any plants, Mom."

Noticing the I've just been caught expression on Lynn's face, Cathy had to hold back the slightly amused grin that screamed to take over her face. This beats dinner with Robert, any day.

"How about Kayla and I just go set the table while you two talk amongst yourselves." Lynn quickly replied. Afterwards, not waiting for an answer as she took her granddaughter from her son's arms and made her way towards the kitchen; Justin's unbelievable stare chasing after her.

"Sorry about that."

After shaking her head slightly, as if to say It's okay, Cathy replied, "Your mom seems nice. She looks just like you."

"Don't tell her that." Justin teased slightly, before biting his lip in, what looked to be, nervous concentration, "So, how does this second inspection work? I mean, do you go through the house again making sure all the light sockets are still covered?"

Knowing that the younger man in front of her was not only nervous because of the inspection, but also because of his tour which would be coming up in a few days, caused Cathy to slightly smile before saying, "No, actually this inspection is just mostly to see if anything's changed since the last time I was here and also to note how closer you and Kayla have become in the last two weeks."

After nodding his head in understanding, Justin stuck his hands in his pockets before asking, "Where do you want to begin?"

"Upstairs." Cathy said, then after realizing how bad that sounded, she quickly followed the word with an explanation. "That way I can go in the same order as I did last time."

While nodding his head, as if to say "Okay", Justin couldn't help but smile; having noticed the slip-up and the slight blush that was evident on the older woman's face. "After you."

Smiling slightly, Cathy gripped her clipboard tighter in her hands as she made her way across the room; towards the stairs. Then afterwards one by one, she climbed the marble floor case until she found herself at the top landing.

"Kay's room first?"

After nodding slightly, Cathy let Justin lead her down the hall and to the first door on the left. Once inside, after noticing the crib, which was situated in the middle of the room, she couldn't help but raise both eyebrows in surprise. Afterwards stating that it looked like Justin had finally bought the few pieces of furniture that he said he'd get around to buying on her first visit.

"Well, actually.." Justin began; blushing slightly as he realized he couldn't lie, "My mom and a friend of mine went shopping the other day and bought back a few things for Kay. I guess they figured with the tour coming up and all, I wouldn't have as much time as I would've liked to shop around for a few essentials. You know what I mean?"

After smiling slightly, as if to tell Justin she understood completely, Cathy furrowed her eyebrows before saying, "And no reporters asked them who they were for? I mean, I probably am wrong, but I've seen a few reports about you and the rest of the guys on the news. And to me it seems like if you even cross your eyes the wrong way some tabloid is contemplating why you did it."

While chuckling slightly at her statement, Justin had to stop himself from saying, You don't even know the half of it.

"The tabloids, they probably would've investigated the situation more had the friend of mine--who went with my mom--not been Kelly; Joey's girlfriend. They also have a one year old."

Understanding the situation more clearer now, Cathy nodded her head before writing a small note on her clipboard; a reminder to ask Joey, given the same circumstances he was in, if Justin was to come out to the world about Kayla, would the public react to the matter just as weakly as they reacted to Joey's beforehand situation. I sure hope so, at least for both Kayla and Justin's sake.

After checking out Justin's room and the two other guest rooms upstairs, Cathy was amused to hear Lynn call out from downstairs, "Stinky, dinners ready!"

Immediately adverting her gaze from her clipboard to Justin's eyes after the scream was heard, Cathy couldn't help but smile as she noticed the slight blush on the younger man's face. Poor popstar.

Figuring that the right thing to do would be to lessen up the embarrassment for him a little, Cathy replied, "I don't know about you, but I haven't been called that one in a while." Causing Justin to laugh in agreement; while all the while inwardly reminding himself that he'd have to hurt his mother later. "Well, we better head down before she remembers another one of my more embarrassing nicknames."

After smiling slightly, Cathy replied, "After you." Before following Justin down the stairs; towards the kitchen where Lynn was, at the moment, placing Kayla in her highchair.

"There you two are! I thought Kayla and I were going to have to polish off the fried chicken and peach cobbler all by ourselves."

Not missing a beat, Justin replied, "Over my dead body." Afterwards, taking a seat next to his daughter; and after a second causing the little girl to laugh as he playfully stuck out his tongue and crossed his eyes in a comical sort of way.

"Kids!" Lynn mumbled teasingly, before taking a seat across from her son; a movement which caused Cathy to take a seat next to him. "Anyway, you two eat up, while I feed this growing child over here."

"You sure, Mom?" Justin asked, already having been prepared to cut up a small slice of chicken so Kayla could eat along side him. "I can manage."

"I know you can, sweetheart, but still I'm feeding my grandchild." Lynn said, in her best don't mess with me voice. "You three are going to be all over the road come Tuesday morning and I at least want Kayla to be stuffed to the brim before that day gets here, got it?"

As Justin nodded, giving into his mother's words, Cathy couldn't help but stifle the grin that so much wanted to come across her face. This definatly beats dinner with Robert.

"So, Cathy.." Lynn began, as she fed Kayla a couple of peas, "I hope this is not too personal, but what background are you. Your features say Puerto Rican, but I'm really not quite sure."

Having been asked this question so many times before, Cathy replied that it wasn't too personal. Afterwards confirming that she was half Puerto Rican. "I'm biracial, actually. My father's part African American and part Puerto Rican. My mother, on the other hand, is purely Caucasian."

After raising both eyebrows in surprise, Lynn replied, "That's some mix." Then after a second passing, she asked the younger woman, in front of her, if she spoke any Spanish. Causing Cathy to smile slightly before replying, "Only when I'm angry."

While laughing at the comment, Lynn wiped a speck of pea juice off of Kayla's bottom lip. Then afterwards, continued the getting to know you conversation by saying, "I don't mean to be nosey, but what caused you to become a social worker."

Noticing the slight posture change that Cathy seemed to be experiencing at the moment, Justin opened his mouth to advert the topic of conversation but stopped himself when the woman beside him began to speak.

"When I was thirteen, both my parents were killed in an automobile accident and because we didn't have any other family here in Orlando, my brother and I were sent to a foster home where the people didn't know the first thing about taking care of a child. So, I guess you could say after that my life's goal was to make sure any child moved from their home was placed into a good home; surrounded by loving parents, or in Justin's case, a loving parent."

After catching the raw emotion on the woman's face and also noticing the pure irony of the situation, Lynn realized she could only respond to the story with the words:

"Wow..that's some reason."

(An hour and a half later)

"All right, so will you and Miss. Jones be taking two cars to the compound or just one?"

"I don't know." Justin quickly responded, while absentmindedly trying hard not to let the annoyance, he was feeling at the moment, show in his voice. "Probably one. I'm thinking of asking Miss. Jones to stay in one of my guest room's tomorrow night. I haven't really decided yet."

"Well, whatever you choose is fine with me as long as all three of you are safely at the compound come Tuesday morning."

Knowing that the reason behind the older man's aloof comment was the quickly approaching tour, caused Justin not to call Johnny out on how uncaring his previous statement seemed to be. "Dully noted. But um, not to sound rude or anything, but I have to get going if I want to spend some more time with my Mom before she heads out tomorrow. So, if that's not all you wanted to tell me then I can try and call you later or stop by the compound after I drop her off in the morning. Is that cool with you?"

After a small pause was heard on the other end, Johnny confirmed that that was indeed cool with him before saying his good-byes. Afterwards quickly hanging up with the younger man; leaving Justin with the fleeting thought that his manager desperately needed an Enima. Or better yet, a stronger dose of Valium.

With that thought in mind, Justin quickly hung up his end of the phone, before making his way back towards the kitchen table; which he had almost immediately left after his cell phone began playing it's third ring.

Four seconds before I finished polishing off the rest of my peach cobbler.

Unfortunately for the young man, as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, the only thing he saw at the table was a plastic bowl of fruit that his mom had bought him as a center piece. First she refuses to let me feed my own daughter, now she gives me fake fruit in place of my dessert. The woman needs to be stopped.

With that being his last thought, Justin made his way towards the main kitchen area; where he found his mom, just as he expected, elbow deep in sudsy water. Without so much as a pause, he opened his mouth and asked his mom if she threw away his cobbler. Causing Lynn, who figured Justin would come looking for her soon, to move her head towards the refrigerator; afterwards responding, "No, I did not disturb your precious cobbler, Mr. Timberlake, it's in the refrigerator waiting to be touched by your greedy paws."

After smiling slightly, Justin made his way towards the older woman; throwing his arms around her waist in a slight hug before resting his chin on her shoulder. "Thanks, Mom."

Smiling just as slightly, Lynn turned her head to kiss her son on his forehead. Then afterwards replied, "Don't mention it, sweetheart."

After a couple seconds passing, Justin interrupted the silence by asking if Cathy had left yet; which Lynn responded back with, "No, after you left the table, Kayla started drifting off, so Cathy volunteered to put her in her crib while I tended to the dishes."

"Oh." Justin said, then after another couple seconds passing, he straightened up; figuring he should probably say goodnight to Kayla before she was officially knocked out for the night. "I'll be back."

Interestingly enough, before Justin even had a chance to make it halfway towards the stairwell, he had to stop himself as Lynn called out her son's name; causing him to turn around and look at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, Mom?"

After smiling slightly, Lynn paused for a second before saying, "I just wanted to say that I really like Cathy and think that she'll be a good influence in yours and Kayla's life."

What the.. Not knowing how to take that comment, Justin--instead of saying anything out loud--just simply nodded his head in agreement before turning around; continuing to make his way upstairs. All the while leaving his mom to look after him in amusement; while inwardly thinking to herself:

He doesn't even realize it yet.

When we are together, the moments I cherish...with every beat of my heart.

Staring down at the little girl in her arms, Cathy couldn't help but smile slightly as she watched Kayla fight a losing battle with her eyelids. To touch you..to hold you..to feel you..to need you. There's nothing to keep us apart....

Noticing that Kayla's eyes were now fully closed, Cathy waited until the very last line of the song she was singing had finished before carefully standing up--from the rocking chair she was seated on--and putting Kayla, just as carefully, into her--big enough for the both of them--crib. Beautiful.

Watching as the little girls chest moved up and down, Cathy couldn't help but think to herself that everyone should be just as lucky as Justin was. Then after a second of that thought being in her head, Cathy couldn't help but follow it with one filled with self-pity. I almost was...until I let Keith take it all away from me.

It was another few seconds of inwardly kicking herself before Cathy was startled slightly by a male voice heard saying, "I think she's asleep."

Looking behind her, at the source of the voice, Cathy smiled slightly before saying, "Yeah, I know. I was just watching her for a second. She's beautiful."

After slightly nodding, in agreement, Justin placed a hand in his daughter's crib; pulling the small blanket, his mother had bought Kayla, over her small legs. "She's my everything."

I know. Cathy inwardly said to herself, before letting the small silence that had been in the room--before Justin had walked in--take over once again.

Well, actually she let the slight silence that had been in the room earlier take over once again, Justin didn't. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but I heard you singing before I came in here. And while the song sounded oddly enough familiar, I still can't quite put my finger on what the song is called."

After slightly blushing at the revelation that he had heard her sing, Cathy shrugged before replying. "It was Three times a lady by Lionel Richie. My parents used to sing it to my brother and I before we went to sleep at night. And I guess it sort of stuck with me through the years because I don't think I can have a full nights sleep without hearing it before I turn in for bed."

Slightly smiling at this, Justin asked the older woman if she was close to her brother. Causing Cathy to smile slightly before saying, "I guess you could say we're close. We live together."

"Right on!" Justin replied, before turning fully away from his daughter's crib; hitting Cathy with a questioning stare in the process, "I don't mean to sound repetitive, but do you think you could maybe do me a favor tomorrow."

After turning around, so her entire body was facing Justin's, Cathy slightly smirked before saying, "It depends on what it is."

Grinning slightly, Justin licked his lips unconsciously before replying, "Well, usually I would ask Kelly if she could do this for me. But after thinking about it and realizing that you're going to have to be spending a lot of time with Kay sooner than later, I figured I'd ask you instead."

Having already figured out what he was going to ask, caused Cathy to slightly smile as the younger man continued to run on with words. But instead of the older woman interrupting Justin and agreeing to watch Kayla, she instead inwardly thought to herself, Just ask me already.

Which he did..after a second.

"So, anyway, if your not busy tomorrow, do you mind watching Kayla while I drop my mom off at the airport and go see Johnny at the compound. It doesn't have to be all day, it-"

Before Justin could finish his slight blabbering, Cathy put her hand over his mouth; silencing the younger males words while, also, making him see that she was nodding her head in agreement, at the same time. "I'd love to, Justin."

After waiting until Cathy took her hand off his mouth to smile in embarrassment, Justin replied, "Thanks. I appreciate it."

Throwing a genuine smile back at Justin, Cathy coyly replied, "Don't mention it. It's my pleasure."

**