Rebecca, Keith's 9 year old sister, ran into Keith's room. “Keithy, she's here!” Keith grinned and stood. He followed his sister downstairs. The front door opened and in walked a girl about 18 years old. She had long brown hair and she carried a backpack over one shoulder.
When she saw Keith and Rebecca she grinned and put her bag down. “Hey guys, ready for a fun night without grownups?” Rebecca ran over and flung her arms around the girl who had knelt so that she was on the same level as the little girl.
Keith walked over and gave her a hug too. “Mom and Dad left money on the counter. They said you could order pizza if you wanted to."
“Well then. Sounds like we're going to have a grand old time. You guys hungry?” Keith and Rebecca looked at each other.
“Not yet.” Keith said as he eyed her backpack.
Rebecca was not so subtle. “What did you bring today Lauren?” She asked bouncing up and down.
Lauren laughed and grabbed her backpack. “Well, I don't know, let's go look shall we?” She grabbed Rebecca's hand and led her into the living room. Keith followed closely behind.
Lauren sat on the couch with Rebecca on one side, Keith on the other. Unzipping the backpack she held it closed and looked first at Keith then at Rebecca. “You guys sure you want me to open this?” She asked a wicked grin on her face.
They both nodded vigorously. “Open it Lauren, open it.” Rebecca cried as she clapped her hands.
Lauren leaned down and opened the bag. Reaching her hand into the opening she felt around for several moments before saying, “My, this isn't mine. I wonder how it got in there. Rebecca, would you like it.” Lauren pulled a homemade doll out of the bag. It was made from cream cotton and had buttons eyes and a calico dress.
Rebecca squealed when she saw it and reached for it. “Thanks Lauren.” She cried as she hugged the doll tightly.
Lauren smiled and reached into the bag again. Rooting around for what, to Keith, felt like ages she finally looked at him and said. “And here's something for you Keith.” Keith did not expect what Lauren pulled out of her bag and laid in his lap. His eyes grew big as he stared down at the blank music sheets laying in his lap.
“I think it's time you start writing down your songs Keith. On real music paper.” Lauren said as she smiled at him. “I have another surprise for you too.” She stood and walked into the front hall.
She returned carrying her guitar case. Walking over to Keith she laid it on his lap. “Take care of this for me. I'm not going to have any time to play it now that I'm going to go to college.”
Keith stared at the guitar case in awe. Slowly he opened the case and stared down at the guitar. Slowly he moved the guitar off of his lap and stood. Then he ran over and hugged Lauren. “Thank you.” He whispered.
Lauren hugged him tightly. When Keith finally released her she turned to Rebecca who was happily playing with her doll. “You ready for dinner Rebecca?” She asked.
Rebecca looked up. “Yes, as long as Lauren can eat too.”
Lauren laughed. “You named your doll Lauren?”
Rebecca nodded. “Yes. So I wouldn't ever be without you even when you go away.”
Hearing the little girl's words, Lauren's heart wrenched. She had been accepted to a college in the states and, with ticket prices the way they were, would probably not get to visit very often. She would miss these two. They were like siblings to her. She had watched them grow up and had been a part of their lives. Now she would miss the biggest parts of their lives. She would miss Rebecca growing into a woman and Keith into a man.
She smiled at Rebecca. “I feel honored. Keith, I'll go order pizza, watch your sister for a sec.”
Keith nodded and Rebecca pouted. “I can take care of myself.” She said crossing her arms.
Lauren smiled. “I know you can sweetie, but it's an older brother's job to take care of his little sister.” Rebecca still wasn't happy but she accepted the explanation and Lauren went to order pizza.
When she came back she found Keith sitting on a bench holding her...his guitar. He was strumming notes then writing them down on his new paper. Lauren walked over. “Do I get to see?” She asked.
Keith looked up and grinned. “Nope, not till it's done.”
Lauren laughed. “Alright then.” She walked over and sat next to Rebecca who was playing with her doll. “Can I play?” Lauren asked.
Keith and Rebecca's parents came home about 9:30 and thanked Lauren for always helping out with their children. Lauren smiled and thanked them for letting her be a part of their lives then went to say goodbye to Keith and Rebecca. She knelt in front of them and took a deep breath.
“I love you both. You know that right?” They nodded and she continued. “I'm leaving for college tomorrow. I'll write to you, I promise. And you have to send me pictures. And Keith, I expect to get a copy of every song you write while I'm away.” Keith nodded. He couldn't speak. Lauren had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. Now she was leaving and he didn't know when he would see her again.
Lauren finished hugging Rebecca then turned to Keith. “Take care of your sister. I want a good report when I get back.” She hugged him ferociously then pulled away and looked him in the eyes. “Don't ever give up on your dream Keith Harkin. Whatever you do, don't throw away your dream.” With that Lauren stood. “Goodbye, I love you.” Then, she was gone. Keith wondered if he'd ever see her again.
Two years passed and the letters became few and far between. Keith knew that she was busy and didn't have time to write much but he missed her. Two years became four, then six, then eight. He was lucky to get a letter every three months. When he did get a letter it was never at a time when he was home. He had joined a group called Celtic Thunder and they were busy touring all around the U.S., Canada and Ireland. He had promised Lauren that he wouldn't give up on his dream. And he hadn't. He just wished that she could see what he'd become.
Lauren sighed as she walked through the grocery store. She hadn't seen her home in eight years. For eight years she'd been wandering around the U.S. Not knowing what to do with her life. Many times she had promised herself that she would return to Ireland. But she never had the money. She was 26 and barely had enough money to feed herself and pay rent on her apartment. There was no way she was going to be able to buy a plane ticket to Ireland.
Her phone rang and she answered it. “Hello?”“Hey girlie, you've been so depressed lately that I decided I needed to do something for you. I bought you a ticket to a concert tonight. Go and have fun. No, don't bother to tell me that I didn't have to do it. Just come over around 5:00 and we'll get you fixed up and ready to go. There was only one ticket left available so I won't be going with you. See you at 5:00” With that, her best friend hung up.
Lauren sighed. She loved her friend but she could be a bit, pushy. No pushy wasn't the word. She wanted to help but sometimes she was a bit overzealous. Oh, well. Maybe she was right. A relaxing night would do her good.
Lauren arrived at her friends house and was pulled into a flurry of clothes, hair and make-up. By 6:00 Lauren felt like the prettiest girl in the world. By 6:30 she had arrived at the theater and was beginning to think that maybe this was a mistake. She'd never heard of Celtic Thunder though it would be nice to have a bit of home. Her friend had told her that the group was made up of four Irish guys and a Scot. Being Irish herself Lauren hoped that she would be happy to see her people and not be homesick.
By the time she was seated it was almost 7:00 and she hoped that it would start on time. She was bored and beginning to feel like a it of a loner. There didn't seem to be anyone at this concert who came by themselves. She guessed that most of these people knew who Celtic Thunder was and knew all the songs.
Finally the lights dimmed and the first notes echoed through the room. When the first person walked onstage and began to sing Lauren nearly jumped out of her chair. His voice was gorgeous. And so was he. At least of what she could see in the dark room. She thoroughly enjoyed the first song and couldn't wait for the next one. The next one, it turned out, was sung by the gorgeous blond.
As he sang she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him. He looked so familiar and his voice was haunting her. She knew it, but where had she heard it before. It took her the whole first half of the show to figure it out.
As she sat during intermission she thought about the blond and tried to figure out who he was. She noticed that the person next to her was holding a program and it was open to a picture of him. Seeing his face close up she nearly screamed. The man who had just been up on stage singing was her own little Keith.
Lauren tried not to cry. How could she have been so blind? She turned to the person beside her and asked, “Is there any way to meet them?”
Her neighbor replied, “Not unless you have a meet and greet. Though, I've heard that if you go around to the back of the building you can wait till they come out to their buses. I've heard of people doing that.”
Lauren smiled her thanks and turned back to the stage as the lights dimmed once more. Now knowing that it was her own little Keith on stage she couldn't help screaming when he finished singing. His voice had matured so much over the years. And boy was he handsome. She understood why the girls in the front row were screaming.
Halfway through the second act Keith sang a song that nearly ripped Lauren's heart in two. She was sure that “Lauren & I” was about her. As she watched and listened tears started to drip down her face. She felt horrible. How could she have abandoned him? She was like a big sister to him and she had left. She hoped that he would forgive her.
After the show she slipped out and made her way around to the back of the building where she found their buses. She sat down on a curb and waited.
The show had gone really well that night and Keith was ecstatic. The only thing that he wished was that Lauren could be there to see how far he'd gone. Every time he sang he couldn't help thinking of Lauren. It had been her influence that had pushed him to become who he was today. After meet and greets, Keith and the rest of the guys made there way outside to the buses. As they walked out the doors, Keith hung back making sure that everyone got out before he followed them.
Since he was behind the others he didn't see the woman who had stood up as they approached. Ryan was the first to see her. “Hello, I'm sorry, but we're really not supposed to give autographs to people who don't have meet and greets.” Ryan said kindly.
The woman shook her head. “I don't want an autograph. I just want to see Keith.” Keith still couldn't see her and didn't really want to see another fan. Using the others as a shield he walked towards the bus.
But before he could enter the bus the woman saw him. “Keithy?” Something in her voice made him turn. She stood in a shadow. He tried to see her but the light was in his eyes and he couldn't see her through the darkness.
Lauren couldn't help herself. She flung herself at Keith. Ryan moved to intercept her but she was to fast for him. Reaching him she hugged him then pulled back. “Wow, I actually have to look up at you now.” She reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of his face. “You're not the little Keith I used to know.”
Keith flinched as the woman hugged him. Normally people weren't this forward. When she brushed his hair out of his eyes he got his first good look at her and his eyes widened. “Lauren?” He asked.
Lauren smiled. “So you do remember me. For a second there I thought you'd forgotten.”
“Forgotten? How could I forget you? Without you I wouldn't be here.” Keith wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. “You don't know how much I missed you.”
Keith looked up to find that Ryan, George, Damian and Paul were looking at him and Lauren. Keith laughed and Lauren moved slightly so that she was next to him. He kept one arm around her as he spoke. “Guys, I want you to meet Lauren. My...babysitter.”
Paul started to laugh. George smiled, “Keith lad, aren't ye a bit old for a babysitter?”
Keith smiled. “Well, she was my babysitter. Now she's my inspiration. She's who convinced me to pursue singing.”
The guys all nodded in understanding. Paul slowly stopped laughing.
Lauren looked up at Keith. “Keith Harkin, where are your manners? You introduce me to them but I have no idea who they are.”
Keith laughed. “You haven't changed, have you?” Lauren laughed and Keith turned to the guys,
“Lauren, I'd like you to meet Celtic Thunder. The bald one is George, the one that makes fun of everyone is Paul, Ryan is the evil one and Damian's the midget. Though he won't be for much longer. He's growing like a weed.”
“You did too mister.” Lauren replied.
“That I did.” Keith smiled down at Lauren. “Now, how about you ride with us to the hotel and we can catch up on the past eight years.”
Lauren smiled. “Sounds like a great idea. But I think we're going to need more than a ride to a hotel to catch up.”
“Then talk fast.” Keith replied leading her onto the bus.
Written by Lone Wolf
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