The Truth

6

July 26, 2012

Kinsley was not a big fan of this leg of the tour. Stevie had joined forces with Rod Stewart for this leg and they were calling it Heart and Soul. Kinsley and Lori had made it a point to meet up if they had time between dates and they had been spending a considerable amount of time together. Kitty would tag along every once in a while but she was happy leaving Kinsley and Lori alone just the same. 

Lori had talked her into going backstage again, but the VIP tickets for Heart and Soul were odd. It seemed like every two shows they'd switch off. Rod Stewart had the meet and greet the first two dates in Ohio, and the gig in Cleveland-the first one-he tried to hit on her. She was on a high, she had gone to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the day before with Lori and she got to take a picture with the Rumours dress but Rod copped a feel during the meet and greet. Then in Cincinnati, he tried to get her to go back to his hotel room so she and Kitty decided not to tempt fate and would just not go backstage. 

They had a whole day planned for themselves. Lori would be by and then they'd be going to lunch at the Pavilion Cafe and then they'd be going to the monuments and museums around the capital mall in Washington DC. 

"What time is Lori getting here?" Kitty asks. Kinsley and Kitty had both stated matter of factly that they would be taking a shit ton of pictures that day so they wanted to look their best. 

Kitty was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and an off the shoulder white top. She was curling her hair and she was going to be wearing a pair of gold thong sandals. Kinsley on the other hand had left her hair down and wavy and she was wearing a white tank top with a blush colored lace bralette. She was wearing a pair of light denim short shorts that looked slightly distressed and a cream lace duster kimono. 

"She should be here any..." Kinsley was cut off by a knock at the door.  "Minute." 

She opens the door to reveal the redhead and Lori immediately wraps her in a hug. 

"You look so gorgeous." Lori smiles. 

"Kitty and I have decided a photoshoot would be taking place today." Kinsley explains.

"Lucky for you, I love taking pictures." Lori smiles. 

***

Lunch had gone off without a hitch and they were walking away from the Lincoln monument when they heard 'Hi Lori!'

Kinsley cocked an eyebrow and that was when she registered that people were taking pictures of Lori. 

"It's okay, it happens all of the time. Stevie's not with us, so we're not going to get mobbed." Lori assures her rubbing her back. 

"As long as you're sure." 

"Yeah, I'm not going to let this ruin our day...but Kinsley, can I talk to you about something?" Lori asks.

"Do you want me to walk a few paces behind you or..." Kitty starts.

"No, honey you're fine, you might have to help...Chris and Jessica are going to be at the shows in Florida...They're getting in on the first in Greensboro and they're going to travel through the night with us to Orlando. On the second we're going to Disney...Sharon, Jessie, Chris, and I...I can get you girls two tickets...but that's only if you're comfortable meeting Chris and Jessie." Lori looks at her. 

"I don't know, Aunt Lori, that's...getting closer to Ms. Nicks and you've been great holding out and not telling her but that's her brother he might feel obligated to tell her and I'm not...I don't..." Kinsley starts. 

"You still have a while to think about it, but I would really like you to consider it." Lori sighs.

"I will and I'll let you know." Kinsley nods.

"Thank you honey." She grins.

***

When Lori gets back to her hotel suite, Sharon and Stevie are sitting in there.

"Where did you go?" Stevie asks.

"The National Mall...Played tourist..." Lori shrugs.

"Oooh, did you take pictures?" Stevie asks.

"Oh um...I..." 

"Come on show me." Stevie stands up and takes the Camera out of her hand. Lori took pictures on the girls phones for them, but then she took her Nikon and had taken the same photos on her  camera. 

Lori gnaws on her lip as Stevie works the camera. That was one of the only technologies that she could actually work. 

"Those are the girls that had come to my first few meet and greets." Stevie crinkles her eyes. 

"Yeah, yeah Stevie they are...I've been keeping something from you." Lori sighs.

"Lori..."Sharon warns.

"I have to tell her, just to assure her that I'm not befriending a set of stalkers." Lori shakes her head.

"I guess you're right." Sharon sighs.

"What are you hiding from me?" Stevie inquires.

"It's Kinsley, Stevie..." 

"Yeah the short haired one said her name was Kinsley." Stevie nods.

"No, it's Kinsley...Stevie...Kinsley." 

It takes her a moment before it finally hits her. "Kinsley...my Kinsley?" 

"Yeah, your Kinsley...that's what those letters were...I don't have the copy she gave me anymore it accidentally got thrown away but I do have this." Lori digs in her purse and pulls out the polaroid that was enclosed in the envelope. 

In the Polaroid it's homecoming day at School. She has her much longer blonde waves pulled back in a navy blue and white ribbon. She has black stickers under her eyes that say senior and she's wearing a navy blue shirt. Most of it is hidden but they can make out Blue Devils. Stevie takes the polaroid and she just looks at it tears starting to fill her eyes. 

"Is she trying to meet me or..." 

"I don't know anymore." Lori shakes her head.

"What do you mean you don't know anymore?" Stevie inquires.

"She wanted to meet you to just ask questions...to get to know her family history a little bit more. She wants to know who her dad is. Sharon and I took her to lunch when we were in Niagara Falls. She said that part of her wants to meet you, but the other part wants to run away as fast as she can. Today, I asked her if I could tell Chris and Jessica about her and she said that she didn't want Chris to know because he's your brother and he'd feel obligated to tell you about her...I've given her the history that I know...but I kept her father a secret. At this point, I don't know if she wants to meet you anymore." Lori shakes her head.

"Oh, um...could...could I..." She holds the picture up. 

"Yeah, go ahead." Lori nods.