Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Likewise for you.  And my lawyer wants this all put on paper too.”

There was an awkward pause between them and Michael shifted uneasily in place.  He didn’t want to leave until John came back from the toy store but he had nothing left to discuss with Beth either.

Beth crossed her legs again and smiled up at him.  “We made a beautiful boy together, didn’t we Michael.”

Without emotion he nodded.  “That is the only good thing that came out of it.”

“Oh, come on, Michael.  It wasn't all bad.  We did have some good times too.  At least I can remember some.”

Michael plunked himself back down on the couch and stared at his hands.

“It was good in the beginning before the drugs took control of our lives,” she continued.

He looked up into her face.  “I don't ever remember when the drugs weren't in control.”

“It was recreational at first.  That was when you and Brian were getting the band started.  Remember all the great parties we had at our apartment on Lincoln Street?”

Michael smiled and nodded.

“Remember that dog Brian used to have?  What was his name?”

“Shitz,” Michael laughed.

“Yeah, that’s it!  God.  I remember we used to get that poor dog stoned all the time.”

“I’m surprised the dog lived as long as he did,” Michael added.

“And then we moved into the big house,” she sighed.  “That’s where John was conceived, you know.”

Michael stared at her silently, wishing she would stop talking.

“It was still good back then, Michael.  Wasn’t it good for you?”

He began to squirm on the couch and glanced at his watch, wondering when John and the babysitter would return.

“Can I ask you something?  And I want you to be truthful,” she said.

“Depends on the question.”

Beth nodded and carefully considered her words.  “In all the years we were together, was there ever a time when you loved me?”

Michael closed his eyes and dropped his head onto the back of the couch.  “Damn it, Beth.  What kind of question is that?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question,” she smiled nervously.

Michael rubbed at his forehead and eyes.  Then suddenly lifted his head, locked his eyes on Beth and opened his mouth.  “Okay, then my answer is no.”

Beth got out of her seat and went back to the window.

“I was fucked up back then,” he explained.  “I loved the drugs, I loved my band and I loved the lifestyle.  There wasn’t much room left over for anything or anyone else after that.  But that was a long time ago.  I got sober and I’m healthier now than I’ve ever been in my life.  I love waking up in the morning now.”

His eyes dropped to his lap.  “And I love Annie,” he sighed quietly, almost to himself.

“She’s a very lucky girl,” Beth replied, resting her head against the window pane.

Just then, the door to the suite slammed shut and John came breezing into the living room with the babysitter in tow.

“Hey Champ.  Did you find anything cool to buy at the store?” Michael asked.

The babysitter rolled her eyes.  “I didn’t think I was going to ever get him out of there!”

Beth quickly wiped a loose tear from her cheek before John noticed and forced a smile onto her face.  Michael followed his son into his bedroom to view the video games he had bought and stayed the rest of the afternoon letting his son win.

At five o’clock Beth popped her head into the bedroom.  “Michael, we have dinner reservations at Sabatino’s, if you’d like to join us.  That is, if you don’t already have plans with Annie.”

Michael glanced at his son’s wide smile.  “Sure, let me make a quick phone call.”  He stood and pulled his cell phone from his belt.  Then walking into another room for privacy, he dialed Annie’s phone.  Again, there was no answer.

As soon as dinner was over, Michael left the hotel.  It had been a long day and the need to hear Annie’s voice was making his body ache.  A few minutes later, he breezed into his house and immediately checked his answering machine in the kitchen.  Maybe she had called the house instead of his cell phone, he thought.  But there were no new messages from Annie.  He glanced at the wall clock.  It was half past nine.  Way too early for her to be sleeping.  He called again.

In the shower, his thoughts drifted back to his visit with Beth and John.  How different his life was now and how grateful he was for the changes.  He stepped out of the shower and toweled dried, then wrapped the terrycloth around his narrow waist.  With his hair still dripping, he called Annie again and the machine picked up to record.

“Annie, please pick up the God-damned phone.  I really need to talk to you.  I’m sorry and I want to talk to you about this.”  He paused and sighed heavily.  “Come on, baby, talk to me.”  Another pause.  “I love you.”  Quietly he hung up the phone.