Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

Jill was in the process of dressing when she heard the knock on the door.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Ah, I’m looking for someone but I think I must have the wrong room,” the pregnant woman said.  “I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

“Wait.  Who are you looking for?” Jill asked the striking blonde.

“Never mind.”

“Are you looking for Michael?”

“Yes, Michael Wade.”

“Come in.  He’s in the shower,” Jill stated, opening the door wider.  “You can wait if you want.  I’m on my way out.”

Jill glanced up from zipping her boot and saw tears trickling down the woman’s face.  “Are you okay?  What’s your name?”

“Annie.”

Jill’s eyes dropped to the woman’s belly.  “Is that Michael’s baby?”

Annie nodded and wiped at her cheeks.

Jill began to giggle.

“What the hell is so funny?” Annie asked, seeing no humor in the situation.

“A few hours ago, Michael was telling me he wasn’t a player anymore and now you show up, obviously very pregnant with his child.  I wonder what his wife must think.”

“ I'm his wife!”

Jill stopped adjusting her clothing and spun around to face Annie.  “Oh shit!  I’m sorry.  I had no idea.  Really, I didn’t,” she babbled, slipping her purse over her shoulder.  “I thought maybe you were a jealous girlfriend or something.”

“Get the hell out of here!”

Michael came from the bathroom, freshly showered and shaved.  He pulled a clean t-shirt over his head and stepped into the bedroom area.  The curtains were still closed which made the place dark and quiet.  He hoped Jill was gone and reached down to finish zipping his jeans.  It was then that he smelt her perfume floating in the air and his heart immediately stopped.  Slowly, he lifted his head and saw her, almost cowering in the corner by the door.

“Annie?”

“You piece of shit,” she cried.  “How could you?”

His spine turned to liquid as he watched her reach for the doorknob.  “Annie, please don’t go.  Talk to me.”

“Fuck you!  I can’t believe I flew all the way up here to spend my day-off with you!  My God, I am such a fool.”

“No you’re not,” he answered, taking a few cautions steps toward her.

She turned the knob and flung open the door.  Instantly the room was flooded with sunshine.  Tears streamed down her face.  Her belly pouted with their growing baby, and yet, she looked like a child herself.

“You begged me to come up here and visit you.  Is this why?  Did you want me to catch you with her?  Did you want me to see this?”

He took a tentative step closer to her.  “It’s not what you think,” he said softly.

“I was a fool to think a marriage with you could work,” she said, her eyes locked onto him and filled with hate.

“Don’t say that, Annie.”

She studied his face with contempt.  This was the man that had slumbered in her arms professing his love and faithfulness.  He stood before her now with the scent of another woman still lingering on his skin.  Her stomach churned at the thought of it.

He moved closer and with each step he took, she backed away.

“Come back inside and we’ll talk,” he said quietly.  His eyes reflected apprehension, guilt, and dread.  She had never seen him appear more vulnerable and still she backed away.

Defiantly she shook her head.  “There is absolutely nothing you have to say right now that I want to hear.  You disgust me, Michael, and the thought of going anywhere with you makes me want to vomit.”  She turned on her heel and proceeded down the stairs to the parking lot.

“Annie!  Where are you going?” he called to her from the balcony.

“As far away from you as I can get!”

Annie quickly made her way to her rental car and headed back to the airport.  The flight back to Los Angeles was nothing more than a blur.  By the time she arrived at her hotel in Los Angeles, Michael had already left numerous phone messages at the front desk.

Inside her room, four dozen pink and white roses awaited her along with a simple note card that read: ‘I love you’.  She crumpled the card, called the front desk and demanded they stop taking his messages.

She felt queasy and dirty.  Her stomach churned with anger and morning sickness.  She darted into the bathroom and vomited.  When she was done, she sat on the edge of the tub.  Tears stung at her eyelids.  Exhaustion made her thoughts blur.

She tried to push the images of Michael and the girl from her head and lay on the bed.  A few hours later, Lacey was knocking at the door.

Annie sighed heavily and let her inside her room.

“Well, judging from all the flowers, I’d say your day with Michael was marvelous,” she teased, as she pressed her face into the fresh rose buds.