Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story

The next day he excused himself after breakfast, saying he had errands to do.  Annie knew without asking he was on his way to his doctor’s office to have the blood tests done.  At least she hoped he was.

When he was gone, Bonita poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table across from Annie.

“Okay, now we really talk,” Bonita smiled warmly.

“What do you want to talk about?  I’ve already told you the details of my tour and all about the unexpected birth of Sammi.  What else is there?”

“Why don’t you tell me what happened between you and Michael?”

Annie dropped her head to the half-eaten plate of scrambled eggs Bonita had prepared for her.  “What makes you think something happened?”

Bonita reached across the table and touched Annie's forearm.  “Let me tell you something, Dear.  I've known Michael for a long, long time.  He's the son Manuel and I were never fortunate to have ourselves but I couldn't love him any more if he were my blood son.  I know his moods.  I know his body language and I know something dreadful has happened.  It was written all over his face this morning and it pours from your eyes now.  So, tell me, Annie.  Tell me what happened and maybe I can help.

Annie wiped her cheeks.  “It’s too personal, Bonita.  I don’t think Michael would want me talking about it.”

Bonita nodded and patted Annie’s arm again.  “You’re probably right.  But if it makes you feel better to talk about it, I’m a great listener.”

Bonita stood and took Annie’s plate to the sink.  Annie cradled the coffee mug between her hands, studying the liquid inside it.  Then without raising her head she blurted her statement.

“I caught him with a woman out in California.”

Bonita dropped the glass she was washing and jumped when it shattered.  Muttering a string of heated Spanish slurs she began picking up the pieces of broken glass.

“Bastard,” she finally said in English.

“He can’t know I told you, Bonita.”

As she dried her hands on the apron tied around her wide waist, Bonita slowly turned to face Annie.  “Anything you say stays between you and me.  Okay?”  She went back to the table and sat.  “Are you okay?”

Annie nodded.  “Funny, everyone keeps asking me that.  I guess I’m okay.  I think a better way to put it is, I’m coping with it.  He begged for another chance but, to tell you the truth, I’m not sure I’m strong enough to follow through with it.”

“You should at least try for the sake of the baby.”

“Yes, I know.  Part of me wants to believe he can be faithful but reality tells me differently.  I’m not sure he’s capable of it or that I should try and force him to attempt a lifestyle that is obviously unnatural for him.”

Annie took a sip of her tea and shook her head.  “I can tolerate a lot, but it ends with cheating and lying.  I won’t raise a baby in that type of environment.”

“What are you saying?”

“I told him if he cheated again I was gone.  Simple as that.”

“He loves you Annie.  That woman means nothing to him.”

“Maybe so, but it hurts too much to share him.  I won’t put myself through it again.  It’s been months now and I still can’t bring myself to touch him or let him touch me.  The thought of touching him makes me think of her and then I feel sick.”

Bonita forced a smile onto her pudgy face.  “It will work out, you’ll see.”

“I’m not sure I share your positive thinking, Bonita.”

At the end of the week, Michael received word of a band meeting Brian was holding at his house.  On impulse, he arrived early in hopes of resolving a few of the open issues between them from their stay in California.  Brian’s housekeeper let him in and instructed him to head out to the sound studio.  When Michael opened the door to the studio the lights and sound boards were off, the place was remarkably quiet.

“Hey, Bri, it’s me,” Michael called out, as he switched on the lights.  When the rooms became illuminated, he heard muted curses from a back office.  Then a young girl, no older then sixteen and dressed in a school uniform, slammed into him on her way out of the studio.

“What the hell are you doing?” Michael asked his friend in disgust.

“I should be asking you the same.  The meeting isn’t scheduled for another hour,” he replied, tucking his shirt back into his pants.  “Why the hell are you here so early?”

“I didn’t know I needed an appointment to see you,” Michael sneered.

“Yeah, whatever.” Brian answered, flopping his body onto a leather couch.

Michael picked up the latest issue of ‘Guitar World’ magazine and began flipping through the pages.  “Does your wife know you’re screwing the babysitter?”

Brian shifted his weight on the couch.  “She’s not the babysitter.  She’s my sister-in-law’s step-daughter.”

Michael spun around and tossed the magazine back onto the coffee table.  “You are one crazy motherfucker!  She doesn’t even look legal, not to mention she’s related to you!”