Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

Annie slowly emerged into the kitchen and Bonita made instant recognition with a loud squeal of happiness.  “Miss Annie, you’re back!” she shouted, pulling Annie against her ample bosom.  “It’s good to see you - and so healthy, too!”

Michael laughed, completely enthralled with the sight.  “She showed up at the first show and hasn’t left yet!”

“I’m sorry I upset you when I left, Bonita.  You were the last person I wanted to hurt,” Annie said, embracing Bonita tightly, as emotion quickly collected in her eyes.

“Oh, you don’t worry about it, now.  We all forget about that,” the rotund woman consoled.  “The important thing is, you two are back together, no?”

Michael reached for Annie’s hand and squeezed it tightly.  “Very much so, Bonita.  In fact, Annie and I are getting married…this week.  We both have breaks, so we figured we’d do it now.”

Another ear-piercing screech rose from Bonita’s body and she kissed them both again.  “Very good then,” she said, clapping her hands in affirmation.  “You go unpack and I prepare a huge celebratory meal for dinner!  Wait until Manny hears the news!”

Annie’s eyes darted to Michael, their minds sharing the same thought.  “Ah, Bonita, we’re only staying until the wedding.  After the ceremony, Annie and I are moving to the Vineyard for a while.”

Bonita stopped her assault on the kitchen cookware and stared at Michael.  “What do you mean, move?”

“Annie still has commitments on the Vineyard so I thought we could live at my beach house until, well, I’m not exactly sure.  But at least we’ll be together.”

Bonita glanced at Annie then back at Michael.  “But you two still stay together, no?”

He pulled Annie firmly against his body.  “Yes, as long as she can stand to have me around,” he joked.

“Ah, okay then.  I take care of things here for you until you come back.  Now out of my kitchen so I can work,” she scolded, her arms flapping wildly in the air.

Michael guided Annie up the front staircase and into his bedroom.

Annie stopped in the doorway and took a deep breath.  Her heart crashed loudly in her chest.  Starting on one side of the room, her eyes slowly made their way to the bed.

“Are you all right?” Michael asked from the center of the room, worried by the look of distress on her face.

She nodded.  “I’m fine.  Just give me a minute,” she replied, dropping her backpack and coat onto the floor by the door.  Then slowly she began to move about the room.

Basically, it remained the same.  He hadn’t changed anything “that she could tell”, and that pleased her.  Michael came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist.

“It’s still the same,” she commented.

He softly kissed her neck.  “What did you expect?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m glad it’s the same.”

A few minutes later, Michael excused himself to make the arrangements for their wedding and subsequent move.  The first call he made was to Bull.

“Hey, boss, how you doing?” Bull asked.

“Couldn’t be better.”

“Glad to hear it.  Rumor has it, you and Annie hooked up again in Boston so, I figured you must be flying high right now.”

“For once, your rumor is correct.  In fact, we’re getting married, but keep that bit of news to yourself.  I don’t need the press showing up at the ceremony.”

“Excellent news, Mike.”

“Listen, I need you to do a favor for me.”

“Name it.”

“I need to have Annie’s bed and couch removed from the storage facility and shipped to my beach house on the Vineyard.  I’ll give you directions, but I need it delivered before Wednesday.  Think you can do that?”

“Not a problem.  I’ll personally take care of it myself.”

“Great.  Oh, and Bull, only a handful of people know I own a place on the Vineyard, so I trust you’ll be discreet about this.”

“Goes without saying, boss.  Consider it done.  So when’s the big day?”

Michael smiled to himself.  “Sometime this week.  It will be small and simple, maybe here with a justice-of-the-peace or something.”

“Sounds great.”

Michael gave Bull a few additional instructions before ending the call.  Then he contacted his lawyer and gave him the news and asked him to take care of the legal issues behind everything.

“What about a pre-nuptial agreement, Mike?” his lawyer suggested.

“Not necessary, Arnie.  Besides, I don’t want to wait.”

“Don’t be a fool.”

“I’m not.”

“Famous last words, Mike.”

His final call was to the caretaker of his beach house.  Michael discussed arrangements to prepare the house for this arrival with Annie later on in the week.  He also asked the caretaker to leave his jeep waiting at the Edgartown airport for their transportation.

The next day Annie and he obtained a marriage license at the town hall and had their blood tests done at the doctor’s.  They circled Wednesday on their calendar, hired a minister that agreed to do the ceremony at Michael’s house, and invited a small group of family and friends.  Later that day, Barbara took Annie into Boston and helped her select a beautiful cream-colored linen suit with matching shoes while Michael bought their wedding rings.  It was all coming together so quickly it made Annie’s head spin.