Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Okay.  Fine.  Believe what you want, Annie.  All I’m asking is for you to be careful and mindful of his reputation.”

Gary’s words hit Annie like a ton of bricks.  It took every ounce of strength she had to maintain herself and not let Gary know how upset he had made her.  Their conversation was cut short by the sound of the front door.  Michael breezed in and quickly crossed the room to give Annie a kiss.

“How’s it going, Gary?” Michael asked without emotion.

“Fine.  How about you?”

The two men shook hands and eyed each other with suspicion.

“Annie tells me that Flesh won the contest?” Gary asked.

“Yeah, they did.  We hit the road with them in a few weeks.”

Gary nodded and glanced back at Annie.

Michael’s eyes drifted back and forth between Annie and Gary.

A cold shiver shot up Annie’s spine.  The thought of him kissing another woman while she slept in his bed made her stomach churn.  Thinking the worst, she dropped her eyes from his and turned toward the window behind the leather couch.

He knew her moods too well.  “Are you okay, babe?” Michael asked.

“Yeah, Gary was just filling me in on some stuff, that’s all.”

“Okay, just don’t get too tired,” he said, his eyes settling back onto Gary and narrowing slightly.  “Don’t go upsetting her, man.  She’s been through a lot, you know.”

“I’m well aware.”

Michael held Gary’s stare for a moment before heading for the doorway.  “If you need anything, let me know,” he said, exiting the room and entering the kitchen.  A few minutes later, lightening fast guitar licks, that had made him famous around the world, could be heard echoing in from the music room.

Gary stayed a while longer until Annie began showing visible signs of exhaustion.  He kissed her good-bye and prepared to show himself to the front door.  Michael was in the kitchen when he caught a glimpse of Gary moving through the foyer.

“Hey, Gary, I’d like to talk to you before you leave,” Michael said.

Gary turned and followed the sound of Michael’s voice back into the kitchen.

Taking a plastic bottle of water from the refrigerator, Michael turned and faced Gary, while breaking the seal on the container.  “Listen, Gary.  I wasn’t thrilled when Annie said you were coming by to visit, but I’d never deny her contact with friends.  However, if your visits are going to upset her, then I’d rather you didn’t come again.”

Gary studied Michael’s face and the coldness in his eyes.  “Why?  Are you afraid of what I might tell her?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Gary shook his head.

Michael leaned against the refrigerator and took another gulp of water.  “Look.  All I’m saying is her emotional state is hanging by a very thin thread.  Did she mention the nightmares about the accident she has almost nightly?”

“No.  It didn’t come up in conversation.”

“I figured as much.  I’ve been trying to get her to agree to see a therapist but so far she refuses.”  Michael swallowed more water, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand.  “Let me bottom-line the situation for you, Gary.  I’ve got my hands more than full getting prepared for the Fall leg of our tour, plus I’m trying to get Annie healthy again.  The last thing I need is for you to cause any regression in her recovery.  Know what I’m saying?”

“If there’s a relapse, the cause won’t be from my visits.  Maybe you should look in your own backyard,” Gary sputtered.

Michael took a step closer to Gary.  “What the fuck does that mean?”

Gary tightened his stare.  “Look, some good friends of mine saw you and Brian at the Bare Bones restaurant last week and the blond ‘scarves’ you were both ‘wearing’.”

“Then I guess your friends should have come over to our table so I could have introduced them to our tour manager's daughters,” Michael stated evenly.

Gary nodded and smiled.  “I’ll see you later, Mike,” and proceeded toward the front door.  “Friendly warning though,” he said, turning around to face Michael again.  “Don’t even think of hurting her.”

“Go home, Gary.”

By the end of the month, Annie was sleeping more than she seemed to be awake.  Michael didn’t like what he was seeing at all.  If he had his way, he would have canceled the tour to stay home with her, but he knew from experience, a road tour waited for no one.  The only choice he had was to accelerate Annie’s home care while he was gone and put Bonita in charge of following it.  If she had any problems, she knew where to contact him at all times.

The day before Michael left for the tour, he was in the process of pulling clothing out of his closet and drawers to pack when Annie hobbled into the room.

“Michael, we need to talk.”

“Sure.  What do you want to talk about?”

“This arrangement.”

“What do you mean?”

“Me staying here while you’re on tour.”

The tone of her voice made him stop what he was doing and face her.  “What is it you’re trying to say, babe?”