Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

Beth answered the door and swung it wide for Michael.  The years hadn’t changed her much.  She was still blond, although Michael was intelligent enough to know that it was no longer natural.  The only evidence that time had passed were the tiny laugh lines around her blue eyes.  He forced a weak smile on his face and stepped inside the suite.

“Hi, Michael,” Beth smiled broadly, flashing her perfect white teeth.  Teeth he was sure he’d paid to be capped and bleached.  “Still using the baseball hat for disguise, I see.”

Michael ignored her comment and looked beyond her into the living room.  “Where’s John?”

“He’s in there watching television,” she answered, turning her back toward Michael.  “Jonathan, your father is here,” she called to the boy.

Seconds later the boy appeared in the foyer.  Michael’s face instantly lit up with happiness.  “Hey, John, how have you been?”

The boy gave a reluctant nod and smiled shyly at Michael.  He was a pre-teen now and his appearance reflected as much.  His head was still covered with a thick matting of dark curls, the same color as Michael’s, but his face displayed more of his mother’s sharp features -except for the eyes.  There was no doubt John shared the same distinct shade of pale blue eyes as his father.  Michael smiled proudly.  By anyone’s standard, his boy was turning into a handsome young man.

“Do you still play video games?” Michael asked.

“Yes and I’m better than all my friends too,” he answered with conceit.

“Oh yeah?  That sounds like a challenge to me,” Michael smirked, turning the ball cap around backwards as if preparing for conquest.

Beth watched from the doorway for a few minutes then retreated into the sanctuary of the master bedroom.  Hours went by before Michael and John appeared in the bedroom.  Michael fidgeted with his car keys.

“It’s getting late.  I should get going,” he commented.

Beth sat upright on the bed and closed the book she was reading.

“Are you coming back tomorrow, Dad?” John asked his father.

Michael laid an arm around his son’s shoulder and tossed an inquisitive look toward Beth.  “As far as I know,” he answered.  “Let me speak to your Mom for a minute and I’ll talk to you before I leave.  Okay?”

John dropped his shoulders and trudged back to the living room.

“So, what’s the deal with tomorrow?” he asked, trying to keep the attitude out of his voice.  “Do we still have an appointment at noon?”

“Yes,” she replied, sliding her legs over the side of the bed to stand.  “We have a lot to talk about.”

Michael nodded.  “Okay, I’ll be back then.”  He turned to leave the room then stopped, pivoting his head over his shoulder.  “Thanks,” he mumbled.

“For what?” Beth asked.

“For letting me see my son.”

Michael called Annie when he returned home and again she ignored his call.  He cursed loudly and tossed the phone onto the bedside table and drifted into the shower.  The next day, Michael arrived on time for his meeting with Beth.  A babysitter was just leaving the suite with John, on their way to the infamous FAO Schwartz toy store.  Michael gave the woman a stack of money and promised to see John when they returned.  Then the door closed and Michael was alone with Beth.  The mere thought of it sent a cold shiver down his spine.

She was dressed in a short silk skirt and button down blouse with her blond hair piled up on her head.  A knot began to form in his stomach.  He followed her into the living room and took a seat on the couch.  Beth chose a chair located in front of him and sat, slowly crossing her long legs.  Michael turned away, refusing to fall for her manipulations.

“You look wonderful, Michael.  You’re so tanned.  Have you been working outside?”

“No.  We’ve been living at the beach.”

“We’ve?  Are you referring to that girl from the accident or is this a new one?”

“She has a name, you know, and it’s Annie.”

“I didn’t know you two were still together.”

“No thanks to you,” he mumbled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she replied defensively.

“I heard about your phone call while I was on tour, Beth.  Not particularly smart.”

“I spoke the truth as I knew it.”

“That was twenty years ago!  You have no idea who I am now,” he answered, throwing his arms over the back of the couch.  “At any rate, it doesn’t matter now.  Annie and I are still together and things couldn’t be better.  In fact, we were married a couple of months ago.”

“Yes, I think I might have read something about that somewhere.  I can’t remember,” she lied.  Not only had she read the article, she cut it out of the newspaper and put it in her private scrapbook.

Beth studied his face, so handsome and ageless.  “Do you love her?” she asked suddenly, her voice so soft it was barely audible.

He locked his eyes onto hers and answered quickly.  “Yes, very much.”

Beth turned away, as if his words knocked the wind from her lungs.  “Wow, I never thought I’d live to hear you say that,” she said, moving to the window.  “I didn’t think you were capable of it.”