Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

“Yes.  I made some chicken soup the other day.  Would you mind heating that up for me?”

“I’ll be right back and I’ll let Taylor know you’ll be staying for another week, too.”

“Of course.  Considering this is her apartment, I think that justifies her getting fair warning.”

Michael came out of the bedroom and crossed the hall into the kitchen.  Taylor saw him approach and stepped off her stool at the breakfast bar.

“Is everything all right?” she asked like a concerned sister.

“Yeah, they’re both perfect,” he said lightly.  “Annie said she made soup the other day?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s in the refrigerator in the blue container,” Taylor replied.

“There’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?” Taylor nervously asked, watching him heat the soup in the microwave.

“Not really, except the doctor doesn’t want her traveling just yet so it looks like we’ll be taking up space here for at least another week.  If that’s okay.  If not, I can get a hotel or something.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!  Of course you’ll stay here,” Taylor blurted.

He looked at her curiously.  “You really don’t mind us staying here another week?  I mean, with all the screaming we’ve been doing, I’d understand if you didn’t want to be dragged into the middle of that.”

“Of course not.  I love having her here.  She’s like a sister to me.  Besides, I’m hoping the fighting is over, now that Sammi is here.  The stress is killing her.”

“I’m well aware of the stress, Taylor, and the source it comes from.  Me!  I’m the cause of everything that led to this and the conclusion that will ultimately come from it.  Don’t think for a second I don’t realize that.  If anything happens to her or our baby, it rests squarely on my shoulders, no one else’s!  And that’s a pretty big piece of fucking baggage that I’ll have to carry around for the rest of my life.”

Taylor handed him a bed tray and placed a bowl of soup in the center with a glass of milk and saltines on the side.  “Here, take this to her and try and relax.  You’ll be no good to her if you freak out now.  Take a deep breath and try and relax.  Okay?”

“Easy for you to say,” he commented.

Annie saw him enter her room and slid up against the headboard of the bed.  “Did you have fun talking about me?” she asked with a half smile.

“Taylor wanted to know what was going on, that’s all.  You said you wanted her to know,” he answered, tenderly placing their sleeping baby into the bedside cradle and setting the tray down over Annie’s lap.

“Of course.  Like I said, I have no secrets from Taylor.”

Michael nodded and took the chair beside the bed, crossing his long legs at the ankle.

“Aren’t you going to eat or would you rather sit there and stare at me while I do? He stood and went to the window.  “I’ll wait,” he sighed.  Exhaustion and emotion burned at his eyes.  His head swirled with thoughts of doubt.

“How’s the album coming?” she suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

He turned and looked at her, amazed she had cared to ask.  “We’ve produced better,” he answered.  “Too much internal fighting this time around.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” she commented, spooning soup into her mouth.

“I think we’ve got half an album of songs done but they’re still in the raw stages.  We’ve got a lot of work left to do.”

“Brian must be upset you’re here with me, then,” she said.

“Not really.  We departed last week on the agreement we all needed a break from each other.  Actually, to be honest, the producers stepped in and told us to leave.  We have two weeks off then we’re supposed to have a meeting and decide where we want to go with the project from there.”

“Did you tell him what you did?” she asked quietly.

“Contrary to what you think, Annie, Brian does not know everything that goes on in my life.  I had no intention of telling him what happened.  It’s none of his fucking business.  But your phone call…”

“My phone call was necessary to end the harassment you were giving me,” she hissed, trying to keep her voice low.

He turned away from her hateful eyes.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“What do you think he said?  He was beyond disgust.  He said I didn’t deserve you and that he hoped you dumped me.”

Annie set her spoon down in her soup bowl.  “He’s right.  You don’t deserve me.”

He spun around to face her.  “What are you trying to say, Annie?  Do you really want me to leave?  Are you asking for a divorce?  What?  Say it and get it out in the open!”

“Why?  Do you want a divorce?” she asked.

“No.  I want another chance!  We haven’t even been married a year yet.  I want this to work.  And if you think I’m going to walk away from you and our baby, then you’re wrong.  I won’t agree to a divorce and I’ll fight you through the whole process.  It won’t be pretty.”