Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

He moved over beside her, shoulder to shoulder.  “I understand and I won’t push.  I’ve waited for you before and I’m happy to wait again.  Just let me share your life.  Let me watch our baby grow inside you.  That’s all I’m asking.”

She nodded and laid back down.  “Hold me?”

“Come here.”

A long time passed and neither spoke until Annie began to fidget.

“What’s on your mind, babe?” he asked.

“Did you wear a condom with her?”

He sighed heavily.  “No, I didn’t.  It was only oral…”

“It doesn’t matter!  I want you tested - for everything before you touch me again.”

“I’m sure everything will be negative but I’ll get tested if you want.  I’ll go tomorrow.”

“I don’t care when you go, that’s up to you.  But until you get the test results back, you’re not touching me.  It’s not just my health I have to worry about now.  I also have a baby to think about and I don’t think she or I should have to suffer because of your stupidity.”

“I understand.  I’ll go.  I promise.”

He cradled her in his arms and for a brief moment he thought everything was going to be okay.  Then he felt her sobbing again.

“Are you all right?”

“No, and I’m not convinced it will ever be ‘right’ again.”

“Don’t say that.  I know we can make this work,” he replied.

“How so?  How do you see this working?  Make me understand and see your vision because I’m not seeing it.”

Annie got off the bed and began to pace the room.  “Look around you.  How many marriages in this business do you see working?  And, I’m talking about the ones that are being truthful, not the ones that are married on paper only!”

Each word that left her mouth grew louder and more intense.  In minutes she was shouting.  She spewed a continuous unstoppable dialog that left his head spinning and then it ended with her leaning up against the window.  Immediately he went to her.

“I refuse to live, wondering every time you go on tour or into the studio, if you’re being unfaithful to me.  And I refuse to be your babysitter, shadowing your every move, trying to give you a conscience.”

“No more long separations, Annie.  I’ll have to do a better job scheduling our tours and studio time to work around your jobs.  I don’t like being without you.  It drives me crazy to wake up and not have you beside me.”

She faced him again and her vision blurred.  She blinked hard to focus then swayed slightly on her feet.

“What’s the matter, babe?” he asked, extending an arm to catch her.

“I’m fine…just hungry.”

“Then let’s get something to eat,” he suggested, leading her from the bedroom.

Taylor was in the kitchen, reading the newspaper, when they appeared.  “Well, I guess it’s safe to say you two made-up last night?” she asked.

Annie plunked herself onto a barstool beside the breakfast bar and rolled her eyes at Taylor.  “Hardly.  He wants me to go back to Boston with him so he can take care of me.”

“Sounds good to me,” Taylor replied.

“I don’t need him to take care of me.  I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she answered defensively as she prepared to toast some bread.

“I’m still in the room, you know,” Michael interjected, taking a seat beside Taylor at the table.

Annie narrowed her eyes and looked at him across the room.  “I have no secrets from Taylor.  She asked me a question and she deserves an answer.”

Suddenly Taylor felt like an unwelcome guest in her own home.  “I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t asked the question.”

Annie ate the toast and made scrambled eggs which she reluctantly shared with Michael.  “I guess this would be considered taking care of you, now wouldn’t it?” she sneered, tossing the plate in front of him, pieces of egg splattering onto table.

Taylor leaned in toward his ear.  “Don’t give up on her yet, Michael.  I can tell she’s weakening by the minute,” she teased.

He laughed loudly, nearly choking on his eggs.  “Absolutely.  I can feel the love!”

After breakfast, Michael grabbed Annie’s coat and handed it to her.  “Come on,” he said.  “Put this on.”

“What’s this for?”

“It’s cold outside, you’ll need it.” “I have no intention of going outside,” she said, tossing the coat back onto the chair.

He picked the coat up again and threw it back at her.  “You and I are going outside for some fresh air.  Now, put on the coat,” he demanded with a smile.  Then he slid his dark sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose.  “Lets go, the daylight hours are waning,” he teased.

“You want to go for a walk out there, downtown New York City, in broad daylight with no security?”

“Correct.  Now, lets go.”

“You can’t be serious.”

He shrugged his shoulders and slid his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.  “I like living dangerously.”