Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story
- Автор: Lister Ann
- Серия: Sheet Music #1
- Год: 2011
- Язык: голландский
- Год: Lulu.com
- ISBN: 9781105173578
- Жанр: Прочая древняя литература
Электронная книга - «Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story». Краткое содержание книги:
Five minutes later they were on the sidewalk, Annie still in full protest. Michael ignored her complaints and pulled her against his body as they walked. It was chilly with a brisk March breeze blowing in between the tall concrete and steel buildings but the sun was shining.
He flipped his coat collar up close around his throat and adjusted Annie’s as well. They walked the few blocks to Central Park and Michael flagged down a horse and buggy.
“Take us through the park,” he requested, handing the driver money. Annie turned to him and smiled. It seemed like a lifetime since he had seen her do so and it was brilliant, bright and warmer than the sun on the hottest day of the year.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she commented quietly, as Michael draped a wool blanket across their laps.
“I know. I remember you telling me that,” he smiled back.
They rode in silence with Michael’s arm securely behind her neck and her head resting on his shoulder. “This is wonderful,” she said. “I’m glad we came outside.”
“Sometimes a change in scenery is all it takes to get a different perspective,” he answered, peering down at her.
She gazed up at him and watched as the smile curling his lips relaxed and then grew serious. Without thinking, she reached and stroked the unshaven morning stubble on his chin with her fingers. Her heart began to beat fast in her chest. She closed her eyes when she saw his mouth descend toward hers. It made no sense to try and stop something she wanted more than the air filling her lungs.
He brushed against her tentatively at first, expecting resistance, and feeling none. Then his hand pulled her neck harder against his mouth. He felt her open and reach for him, first with her lips then her tongue. Happily, he reciprocated.
They were so absorbed in each other they hadn’t noticed that the buggy had returned to the spot where they had started. Or that several people had recognized who the famous occupant of the buggy was and had begun snapping photographs of him perched in the seat beside Annie.
Michael signed a few autographs and posed for pictures then hurried Annie down the sidewalk, slipping into a deli Michael frequented when in the city. The owner recognized him immediately.
“Hey, Mike! How the hell are you?”
“I’m doing great, Reuben,” he replied with a smile.
“Who’s the girl?” Reuben asked with a wink.
“This is my wife, Annie.”
Another lewd wink and lecherous laughter broke in the room making Annie blush.
“What can I get for you?” Rubin asked.
“Ah, I don’t know,” Michael replied and turned toward Annie. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really,” she answered, suddenly feeling queasy from the many pungent smells in the deli. She swallowed hard as her stomach began to knot.
“I’ll make you lunch to go then,” Rubin suggested.
“Okay, do that,” Michael agreed.
“What can I make the lady?”
Annie’s face turned white. “Michael, I’ll be right back,” she said and headed toward the bathroom.
Michael waited for the sandwiches and Annie. Several minutes passed. Something didn’t seem right. She was taking too long. He knocked at the bathroom door and called her name but got no response. He pushed open the door and found her inside a stall clutching at her stomach.
Instantly he was on his knees beside her. “What’s the matter? Are you all right?”
She looked at him, tears staining her face. “I’m bleeding,” she cried. “I think I’m losing the baby!”
“God no!”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, quickly dialing 911. In the few minutes it took for the ambulance to arrive, he prayed. He made every promise imaginable for her to keep that baby, their baby, the child that would make them a family.
The ambulance zigzagged through the city traffic, arriving at the hospital with Annie and Michael on-board. Then, the EMTs rushed Annie into the emergency room. After a through examination, the doctors informed Annie she was in the early stages of labor. She was hooked up to a fetal monitor and watched the needle jump every time her uterus contracted. An intravenous line was run into her arm with drugs intended to prevent the progression of labor.
“It’s too soon, Michael. The baby isn’t due for another month!”
“I know, babe. Don’t worry. They know what to do.”
“Can you call Taylor and let her know what happened. If she can come, I’d like her to be here.”
Even with the medication, Annie was feeling the contractions. Helpless, Michael paced the floor to her private room.
“You do realize this happened because of the stress I've been under – that you put me under.”
He spun around to look at her, emotion straining his face. “Annie…”
“If it weren’t for your little indiscretion I wouldn’t be here right now! We’d probably be back home getting a room ready for this baby.”
“I’m sorry. I never intended…”
“Shut up, Michael. Even better - why don’t you leave?”
Michael reached for his coat and headed for the door. “I’ll go call Taylor,” he said softly.
“Why don’t you call her from the plane on your way home!”
Michael went to a private waiting room and dialed Taylor’s apartment.
“Hey, Taylor, it’s me.”
“Where the hell have you two been? I figured you’d be back hours ago.”
“Annie went into labor while we were out so we’re at the hospital now.”
“Oh my God, Michael! It’s too early.”
“I know. The doctors are giving her drugs to try and stop the contractions, but so far, it doesn’t seem to be working.”
“Is she all right?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” he sighed. “But she’s asking for you. If you’re not busy, she’d like you to come down.”
“I’m on my way.”
Michael was still in the waiting area when Taylor breezed in behind him.
“Hi, Michael,” She said, spreading her arms to hug him tightly. “Why aren’t you in with her?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Because she doesn't want me in there.”
Before Taylor could answer, a nurse suddenly appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Wade?”
Michael turned quickly. “Is Annie okay?” he asked.
“Her water just broke. I’m afraid this baby doesn’t want to wait.”
“Oh shit.”
Taylor hooked her arm around Michael’s. “Come on. Lets go see her,” she instructed, dragging him with her down the hall.
As soon as Annie saw Taylor, her face lit up. “Taylor! Thank God you’re here,” she whimpered, breathing through another contraction.
Nervously, Michael hung back by the door. He saw Annie’s eye’s drift beyond Taylor and focus on him. He dug his hands deeper into his pockets.
“What’s he doing in here?” she asked Taylor.
“Annie, he is the father of this baby. He has a right…”
“He gave up his rights the night he cheated on me!”
Everyone in the room turned to glare at Michael. His face burned with anger and tensed, but he stood his ground. He wasn’t leaving before their baby was born.
“I’m staying,” he mumbled quietly with defiance.
Annie was about to protest further when another painful contraction demanded her attention. A doctor quickly moved into place to examine her.
“She’s fully dilated. It won’t be long now,” he said to the nurse beside him.
The contractions came one on top of the next, leaving Annie little time to catch her breath. Out of necessity, Michael took his place beside her head and tried to help her breathe while Taylor kept her forehead cooled with a face cloth. When it was time to push, they each took a leg and coached her through the process. Minutes later, Samantha Logan-Wade rushed into the world with the cry of a healthy full term baby. Annie fell back onto the bed in exhaustion.