Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The wind was cold and sharp as it rippled across the incoming tide.  Annie shivered and pulled the coat collar up against her neck.  ‘A few more minutes,’ she thought, as the disappearing sun began its sullen descent from the early fall sky.  She mournfully wondered when she would be back to the island to see another sunset.

Behind her she heard the crunch of car tires in the driveway and the slam of a car door.  Without looking, she knew it was Michael.  Her back stiffened at the thought of seeing him and she squeezed her eyes tight, visualizing his approach.

In her mind, she saw his tall, dark image pass between the sand dunes and the wind pushing his hair off his broad shoulders.  Then she hard the clomp of his boots as he made his way down the wooden boat pier.  She could clearly imagine the heavy swagger of his hips; his long legs encased in tight jeans, and an unzipped biker jacket flapping in the breeze.  She felt the thud of his suitcase hit the dock a few feet behind her and quickly wiped the tears that bit at her cheeks.  Deep furrows of frustration creased her forehead.  Her body instinctively wanted to turn around and greet him, but her strong will kept her gaze pointed toward the endless ocean.

“Hi, Annie,” he said in a composed voice.

She turned to face him and offered a weak smile.  “Hi.”

His eyes were full of emotion.  “I’m sorry.  I never meant to hurt you by not telling you about Lacey.”

Again she smiled weakly.  “I know.  But by not telling me, you made it harder than it has to be.”

“I know, I know,” he replied, his gaze dropping to the dock.

“I called Taylor and told her about you and me being married.  I asked if that was going to be a problem for Lacey.”

“And?”

Annie shook her head.  “She says she doubts Lacey will have a problem.”

“I didn’t think it would be.  It was a long time ago.”

“Taylor said she’d talk to Lacey for me but I’ll still have to deal with the initial awkwardness when I get there.”  Annie turned back to the ocean.  “All of this could have been avoided had you been honest with me.  It’s that simple.”

“I should have said something immediately, but I was afraid my past relationship with Lacey would effect your decision to work with them and I didn’t want that to matter.”

“They want me in New York to start work,” she stated, turning toward him again.

“Good.  I’ll fly down with you.”

“No.  I need to deal with this by myself.  The last thing I need is for you to make an already awkward situation worse by being there.”

With her stride full of determination, she headed for the house.

Michael grabbed his suitcase and followed.  Inside, he dropped his bag on the floor and tossed his coat onto a chair.  His eyes watched Annie disappear into their bedroom.  His hands balled into nervous fists.

A few feet from the door Michael stopped in his tracks.  Neatly lined up against the wall were two packed suitcases and a small backpack.  He stomach began to knot.  Something didn’t feel right.

“Annie, what’s going on?” he asked.

“I have a plane to catch in a couple of hours for New York.”

“I thought you said you wanted to talk.”

“And we did.  Now I need to go to New York and iron things out with Lacey.  Once I get settled, I’ll call you.”

“Annie, I don’t like the feel of this.  It’s like you’re leaving me.”

She stood in front of him.  “I’m not leaving you.  But I do need some more time to process everything that’s happened over the last few days.  I’m still struggling to come to terms with it.  So let me go fix this and I will call you in a few days.  Okay?”

They rode in silence to the airport.  A thousand times he started to speak then changed his mind.  It all seemed pointless.  Annie sat beside him, silent too, lost in her own thoughts.

He found an empty parking spot near the terminal and brought the jeep to a halt, then cut the engine.

“What time does your flight leave?” he asked flatly.

She glanced at her watch.  “Not for another hour but you don’t have to wait.”

“I don’t mind,” he replied.

An empty stillness hung between them.  Michael stared blankly out at the tarmac.  From the corner of his eye he could see Annie fidget in her seat.

“Michael, I just need some time.  Is that okay?”

“It’s all right,” he replied softly.

She could hear the hurt in his voice and reached out, nervously touching his thigh.  His eyes dropped to his thigh and then placed his hand on top of hers.  “Take all the time you want,” he said, his eyes drifting up to meet hers.  “I’m not going anywhere.”

Another awkward pause fell between them and Annie glanced at her watch.  “Well, I guess I better go inside and let them know I’m here,” she said, stepping out of the jeep.  Michael pulled her luggage out of the back and set it on the curb, then signaled for a porter to come and collect it.