A Twist in My Story

Kevin had been back home from Brittany Nicole's short tour for almost a week now and he felt like a chicken with its' head cut off - running around, bouncing between work and home. Brittany Nicole's tour had been a much bigger success than most people had anticipated which meant she and Kevin had begun writing and recording new songs since the day they got back. They would spend long hours in the recording booth until she had to go home and then he would spend even more hours in his office fine-tuning their music so it was just right. And to add more pressure to his life, Mr. Rich and the other CEOs wanted Brittany Nicole to release an EP album by Christmas, giving him and Britt just a month to get the songs recorded so they could go into post-production.

Due to all his long work hours, Kevin had left Riley at his parents' house until his schedule slowed down, which didn't look very promising at the moment. He had avoided his dad at home and work because he wasn't sure he was completely over their little blow-out before the tour. He still got the feeling that his dad was trying to live through his life and it was annoying. Kevin also had little desire to talk with his mother who couldn't stop gushing over the ultrasound picture Dani had sent her. It was the same one he had, but for some reason it made him feel awkwardly guilty to see it on his parents' fridge. It just was BAM! in his face seemingly staring him down and he couldn't escape it. He'd even had crazy dreams about the baby talking to him! He chalked those up to lack of sleep and then got up to start his day hours earlier than normal.

However, with the baby on his mind 60% of the day that also meant Dani was there too. The talk he'd had with Brittany Nicole on tour about compromises had opened his eyes to how little he'd compromised with Dani since they'd been married. She'd been the one to move to the city for his job. She'd been the one to quit her job to save gas money to and from the city. She'd been the one to sacrifice a lot and in return he'd thought letting her decorate the apartment and then moving out of the city was enough. He was just beginning to reluctantly realize how unbalanced the whole exchange had been.

On the flight back to JFK after the tour, he'd seriously reflected on his talk with Brittany Nicole and had decided that if he was going to convince Dani to come home he needed to put some more effort into making their house a home. After all, he rationalized to himself, they were having a baby and it deserved a home to grow up in.

To make this goal a reality, Kevin had been heading to stores on his way home from work every night. And not just any stores...Halloween stores. Thankfully most stores were open late. There were two weeks until Halloween, Dani's favorite holiday, and he'd made up his mind to woo her home with decorating the house for the holiday. So he'd bought spooky lights, ghoulish gravestones, white ghosts, spider web material, and of course some pumpkins. He'd even gone so far as to buy a costume for himself, Blackbeard the pirate, because he intended to pass out candy to all the trick-or-treaters. No way would Dani resist that, but he wasn't going to tell her any of this. He didn't want to appear desperate though his laundry still wasn't faring very well and fast food wasn't becoming him. He wanted her to come home for him.

On Sunday Kevin finally got the opportunity to put up all his decorations and, on a whim inspired by his mother, he asked Frankie to help him.

"That looks stupid there," Frankie stated bluntly, pointing at the dangling spider web Kevin had just put up.

"It does not. It's a spider web, Frankie. They hang wherever the spider builds the web," Kevin argued.

"Well that's one stupid spider then because that's a stupid place to build a web."

Kevin sighed in frustration, ripping it down. They hadn't been at it but an hour and Frankie didn't like the placement of many of the decorations. "Where would be a better place, O wise one?"

Frankie ignored the sarcasm. "Stretch it really thin and put it over the bushes so it catches the wind as it blows across the bushes or something and doesn't just hang stupidly there."

"I don't want to scare the little ones though."

"That's what parents are for. Duh."

Kevin frowned at his tone, but let it slide. Frankie had been out of sorts since Nick went to college and Denise had arranged for this brothers activity in hopes it would get him out of his funk. Kevin stretched the fake web and put it over the bushes as instructed. He had to admit it did look better there. The orange and purple lights he'd draped around the railing and front window would do nicely bouncing off the web strands.

Frankie placed the pumpkin he carved on the step. "What is that?" he asked with a quirked brow as he looked at Kevin's pumpkin.

"Riley," Kevin said as he placed the second pumpkin on the opposite side of the step.

"Seriously? It looks more like a gremlin. Dani was so much better at the pumpkins than you. Why'd you kick her out?"

"I didn't kick her out. She left," Kevin gritted out, trying not to lose his temper.

"That's not what Dad says, but he also says she can stay gone because you work better without her. I don't think so," he said matter-of-factly.

"Dad doesn't know what he's talking about so you should just ignore whatever he says about me and Dani."

"Mom yells at him when he says stuff like that and he yells back. Everyone is always yelling," Frankie said with sadness leaking unintentionally into his voice. "You yell at Dad about Dani. Mom and Dad yell about you and Dani and Joe. Nick's gone and never calls. Dad is always working. You are always working. I'm invisible."

An enormous weight fell on Kevin's heart hearing his baby brother's rant. He felt even worse because all Frankie said was true. It seemed everyone had forgotten about Frankie except for Denise and what 11 year old boy wanted to hang with their mother all day.

"Frankie, sit with me," Kevin patted the stone step beside him. "Just because we get wrapped up in our own lives doesn't mean we've forgotten you. It's physically impossible to forget you. You're Frank the Tank. And I promise that we will start doing more things together again."

"Thanks for trying to make me feel better, Kev, but don't make promises you can't keep," Frankie said sadly.

Kevin's heart wrenched at that. He didn't know what to say to that and moreover, what did that say about the kind of father he would make for his own child?

"Let's make the graveyard so you can take me home. Timmy's coming over to play Minecraft with me this afternoon."

Kevin stood and did the only thing he knew to do...build a graveyard with ghosts lurking behind gravestones, literally and figuratively.

That night as Kevin lay sprawled on the couch as one of the Halloween movies played on TV, he thought back on his day which took him back to Halloweens past when he and Dani had just been married. Kevin had his foot in the door to achieving his dream of producer....

"Kev, are you sure we're dressed okay? Were you given a dress code for this?" Dani asked for the fourth time. They were on their way to Rich Records Annual Halloween Bash. This would be their first time attending.

"We look fine. The goal is to have fun. Mr. Rich will like our costumes, Dani. Don't worry so much," Kevin assured her, slipping his arms around her waist as he snuggled her from behind.

"I just want it to be perfect for you."

"It will be because you are there with me."

Dani melted at his sweet words and turned to give her husband a kiss. Ten months into their marriage and they were still in the honeymoon phase so their kiss deepened to more than a little chaste peck.

Kevin pulled back. His hands had nested in her fluffed hair and their breathing was not steady at all. "You drive me crazy, Wilma Flintstone."

Dani smiled lovingly at him. "And you rock my socks, Fred Flintstone...if I had socks on!"

They shared a laugh. Dani fixed her hard and they left the apartment to head to the party. When they arrived on the top floor of Rich Records, the party was in full swing. Kevin immediately waved at some co-workers and steered Dani toward them as she tried to take in the atmosphere. He whispered their names to her but it was lost among the music blasting through the speakers.

The first hour Dani met many of Kevin's co-workers and their spouses/dates. She had no hope of remembering all of them, but she and Kevin got many compliments on their costumes. Some people even asked Kevin to impersonate Fred by saying 'Yabba dabba doo!'...which he did with a blush creeping up his neck.

As Kevin led her to the punch bowl for refreshments he spotted his boss, Mr. Rich, with several of the CEOs of the company. Seeing his opportunity, he pulled Dani in their direction much to her objections. The punch looked so good.

"Happy Halloween, Mr. Rich," Kevin greeted his boss with a nod to the other CEOs.

"Happy Halloween to you, Kevin, or should I say Fred," Mr. Rich said with a relaxed smile. "And who is this?"

"Oh this is my wife, Danielle...or Wilma for tonight," Kevin introduced her.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jonas," Mr. Rich shook her hand as she returned the sentiment.

"Was Mrs. Rich able to come tonight?" Kevin asked conversationally.

"Oh yes, she's around here somewhere. However, you must call her Marilyn as she's channeled Marilyn Monroe tonight."

"I will be certain to. I really like this music. Is it one of our artists?" Kevin asked.

"Of course. We aren't too sure it's ready to go mainstream yet, so we are testing it out here. What do you think?"

"It has a nice beat to it though at some points it feels off between the music and the lyrics. Though perhaps that is just me. It's meant to be a dance number, right?"

"Yes, and you're hearing it correctly; it is off. We just can't convince the artist. He thinks it's great the way it is and refuses to even consider coming in to try to revamp it," Mr. Rich explained.

Danielle tapped Kevin's arm. "Kev, I'm thirsty. I'll be back with punch." He nodded and continued his conversation with his boss.

Danielle walked away mindful of the dancers as she made her way to the punch bowl. She was glad Kevin was getting face time with his boss. He needed it. But she didn't like feeling pushed aside, though she was probably just being silly. Kevin would never push her aside. He loved her.

She grabbed two cups of punch and slowly made her way back to where she'd left Kevin. Only he wasn't there.

As midnight approached, Danielle started to think Kevin had completely forgotten about her. She hadn't seen him in several hours. Just as she was about to call a cab for herself, he showed up, laughing with his boss.

"Kevin!" she rushed to his side.

He looked at her with no visible shock or remorse that he'd abandoned her for hours to schmooze with his boss. "Hey, honey, are you about ready to go? Mrs. Rich called Mr. Rich to say the party was dying down and she was ready to go."

Danielle couldn't believe her ears. Did he even realize she was upset at being left alone with people she didn't know for hours on end?

"Margie keeps me aware of the time. I can get lost in the music. Not surprising since it's my life passion and business," Mr. Rich laughed. Kevin joined in too. Danielle didn't see what was so funny.

Margie Rich chose that moment to appear at her husband's side in all her Marilyn magnificence. After farewells, the couples departed and left to their separate homes.

Kevin opened their apartment door to let Danielle in. She walked in and headed straight to their bedroom. Kevin followed her.

"That was a great party, didn't you think?" Kevin asked her.

"Uh huh," she responded, brushing down her Wilma hair.

"I got to tell Mr. Rich several ideas and he listened to them. He said I have a good ear for music and he sees me going far in the business, Dani. This is so amazing!" he scooped her up and spun her around.

"Put me down, Kevin," she said, pulling his arms off her.

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy for me?" he frowned

"I am happy for you, but you abandoned me, Kevin. I didn't like that."

"But I had to. Mr. Rich wanted to show me something and you don't tell your boss to wait for the punch to arrive."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She walked away.

"Where are you going?" he called after her.

"To change and go to bed. It's late."

After they'd both changed and had settled into bed, Kevin pulled her against him.

"You know I'm nothing without you, right? You're my best friend and right-hand man. I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Danielle sighed. Her walls fell down with his gentle words. "I love you too," she said, turning towards him.

He kissed her and then fell into blissful sleep.

Kevin roused from his trip down memory lane to realize it was 1AM. The movie was long over so he shut the TV off. He hadn't realized how awful he'd treated Dani that Halloween. Had he really abandoned her? She'd definitely felt so, as she'd frozen him out for hours afterward, but he only though it was her. Had he done this a lot?

He was too tired to analyze his past choices and actions tonight. He shut the lights off and climbed into his cold, empty bed. As he turned to click off the bed lamp, his gaze fell on their wedding photo. He picked it up, running his thumb over Danielle's upturned face. How could he let her go? He loved her.

With a resigned sigh, he replaced the photo on the table, turned the lamp off, and grabbed Dani's pillow to hug. Her perfume was still faint on the pillow and he drew comfort and hope from it.

As he fell asleep he vowed he would do what he had to do to get her back. He just had to figure out what that was first.