Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

Annie made a face.  “A few weeks?  You mean six weeks and I can’t wait that long.”

“Jesus!  Why are you doing this to me now?”

“Because you won’t listen!  Every time I’ve brought up this subject you’ve selectively tuned me out because you don’t want to hear it.  Well, now you’ve finally heard me and you don’t like what I have to say.  I’m sorry about that, but when you get back from the tour, I won’t be here.”

His arms slid around her waist again.  “Annie, Annie, Annie.  Please.  I love you.  If you leave now, I will spend the entire tour out of my mind with worry.”

“It's okay.  I'll be okay.  While you're gone, I will put all my energy into getting my head straight and my body healed.  Maybe I'll even talk to a therapist.  When you come back, I'll be a whole new person.  By then, I'll have my cast off and I'll be getting physical therapy.  I'll take care of all of it.”

Annie sat on the edge of the bed again.  “I would be too lonely waiting for you here, Michael.  At least I’d be surrounded with familiar things in my old apartment.  I can’t bear the thought of sleeping in that bed without you.  I can’t do it,” she said, softly rubbing the comforter.

Michael exhaled loudly.  “Okay.”

“I’ll call and set up the physical therapy sessions.  You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

“When do you think you’ll move?” he asked, his voice full of hurt.

“In a few days, maybe a week.  I’m not sure.  I’ll see how it goes.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes!”

As soon as Michael left for the tour, Bonita noticed a remarkable change in Annie’s demeanor.  Gary had been to the house several times and each visit had left Annie emptier than the last.  They had set a move date for the end of the week and Annie couldn’t have been happier.  The sooner she was out of his house, the better, and Gary was only too happy to help.

Three days after Michael’s departure, Annie forced herself out of bed to endure another visit from the in-home nurse.  Bonita had left to run some errands in town, leaving Annie alone in the house, when the phone rang.  On the fifth ring, Annie finally managed to reach it.

“Hello,” she sighed through clenched teeth.

“Bonita?”

“No.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  I wasn’t aware Michael had hired a new maid.  What’s your name, honey?”

“My name is Annie and I’m not the maid.  Who the hell are you?”

“Ohhh, I’m sorry, Annie.  This is Beth - Michael’s ex-wife.  Is he there?”

“No, he isn’t.  He’s on tour,” Annie replied, her face flushing with nerves.

“Right, the tour.  I was hoping to catch him before he hit the road.”

“Sorry, you missed him, but I’ll tell him you called.”

“So, you must be the girl from the accident,” Beth pushed on, sensing Annie’s intent to end their conversation.  “I didn’t think you’d still be together.”

“Why would you think that?”

Beth laughed.  “Michael’s never been known for longevity in relationships, at least since we’ve been divorced.”

“He’s different now,” Annie retorted.

Beth giggled again which annoyed Annie immensely.

“So you think you’re the one that changed the man, Annie?  I hope you’re right and don’t get your heart trampled.  I’ve known Michael a lot longer than you’ve probably been alive and his patterns have never changed.”

The conversation went downhill from there, leaving Annie close to hysteria.  In twenty minutes, Beth had managed to paint a picture of Michael so ugly and distasteful, Annie didn’t know what to believe.

“If you don’t believe me, call the hotel where he is staying.  Use the code names I told you about and see for yourself who answers the phone.  Don’t bother with his cell phone.  Call the hotel room.  I’m telling you, Michael will never change,” Beth warned.

Through her medication-induced paranoia, Annie became confused by Beth’s cruel words.  Rationalizing what was real to her and what Beth described became distorted.  In a distrusting moment, Annie relented and called the hotel Michael had listed on his itinerary.  It was early in California and Annie figured he’d probably still be sleeping.  She used the code names Beth had mentioned and, to her surprise, the front desk quickly rang his room.  After several rings, a female voice answered the phone.

“I’m sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number,” Annie apologized.

Again, she had the front desk put her through to Michael’s room.  The same female answered somewhat more annoyed by the second disturbance.

“I’m looking for Michael Wade,” Annie proclaimed, her voice shaking with emotion.

“She’s looking for Mike,” the woman whispered to another person in the room.  “What do you want me to tell her?”