Love Notes ((Book Two of the Heartbeat Series)) (12 page)

My mother knocked at the door, “I hope you’re not on your cell phone talking while you are in the tub.”

I hollered back, “No I’m just talking to myself!” It was nice having my mom right outside the bathroom door after so many years without her near. I did pull my phone off the counter and I sent a text to Rand –

Morning, I miss you but I’m sure your fans did too. I know where you are at this very moment you are filling my thoughts and heart. I love you so much. By the way we were in the newspaper today, Cecile released our engagement announcement. I guess it’s official! I know you have weeks ahead but you’ll be back soon. Love your wife to be one day soon.

Rand sent back a quick reply –

Good morning Love, had a late night, our show got a late start because of rain. The guys and Killjoy send their best to you. I’m surprised she hasn’t reached out and called you or sent you a text yet. She talks about you a lot. So we hit the papers? Tell Cecile thank you as I want the world to know you are going to be my wife. These next weeks will be long without you but I will be back home to you soon. I Love you so much, every moment, every day.

As I sat on the vanity stool, I hugged myself. Here I sat, black and blue, and still – I felt so great. Sore but so joyful because of all of the things ahead for us together.

My phone sounded and I looked at the screen to see another text from Rand –

Just in case I didn’t make myself clear, I LOVE YOU!!!

I typed out –

Got it, loud and clear and my feelings are the same.

There was another light tap on the bathroom door. Now who was this?

“Madison, are you getting dressed? You have a visitor. I invited them in for coffee.”

“Mom I will be right out.” I was wondering if a neighbor stopped in, that had to be who it was. I pulled on some fresh smelling warm ups and ached in every movement just getting myself dressed. I swept the sides of my hair back into a loose hair tie to cover the baldness on the back of my head. Not that it did, but from the front I looked normal without a huge chunk of hair missing and a long line of stitches. I slipped into my flip flop slippers and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. I had to take the steps one at a time as my ribs stabbed back at me with each movement. I was three steps from the bottom when a male voice spoke to me and extended his hand to steady me and help me. It was Connor.

“Madison, I was out jogging and heard from Thomas that you were staying back here at your house. He told me the address and said to jog on by and say hello. Plus he said you make great coffee although I didn’t expect any in your condition.”

“I’m surprised to see you, come on in. We can have a cup on the deck.”

I introduced my mother and uncle to Connor and told them he and I met the night before I got hit in the park. I explained he was a new acquaintance of mine and actually he was Thomas’s coworker and friend. My mother smiled and she and my uncle were going to run some errands. Before she left she commented on all of the handsome men in my life. I laughed at that but then clenched my waist as my ribs shot pain through me. It was so wonderful having her near me especially in the hospital knowing my mother was back in my life. We missed out on a lot of precious time in the past, but now we were surely going to make the most of all our time together. Inside my heart was smiling.

“Well, Connor help yourself, I see my mother made coffee and has many homemade goodies here too.”

“Madison is this okay that I stopped by here unannounced?”

“Well I am surprised, but yes it’s fine as I am happy to have the company, first though I have to ask you, I heard in the bar when I first met you that the guys called you Cabe what’s that about?”

“Actually Madison my full name is Connor Allen Benjamin Evans so I was nicknamed Cabe early on, but we all have our pasts. I just go by Connor now, trying to forget what I did while I was Cabe, but enough about me, tell me about the accident. What happened?”

I began to tell him all that I remembered. I did tell him thank you for the flowers as I remembered reading a card from him in the pile of all the cards that my mother brought in a basket back here to the house. On each card or note she wrote what they sent me, if it was flowers and what kind. She really is so thorough. I now see where I get it from. After our conversation about the hospital stay we went into another direction.

“I know I only briefly met you before this happened, but I wanted to tell you that I think Thomas was a very foolish guy to walk from you.”

“Well he did and we all move on. I guess he shared with you that I am engaged to Rand.” I flashed my ring.

“Wow! He sure knows how to make a statement. That there is an impressive ring. Looks like that man is really in love.”

“Have you ever loved anyone?” I asked Connor out of curiosity.

“I’ve loved two girls,” and he laughed.

“What?” I had to know this story.

“One was my sister that you remind me of and the other well, I had a girl, the best girl long ago. Her name was Avery, and she truly loved me. I know she did and I screwed up. I cheated on her. We had a disagreement and I left and hooked up with the first girl I picked up.”

“Connor you can talk to me, if I can help I will, or I can at least be a good listener.” I smiled trying to boost what seemed to be a snag in his self esteem as I once was left feeling very low.

I heard the doorbell, and although my getting up was slow, I excused myself and told Connor I would be right back. I got to the front door and Cecile had a pile of things for me to work on and review. She was getting my book,
Rock Notes,
out there and keeping me busy in the process. She said she had to get going quickly as she had a meeting and hugged me gently and told me she would call me later. I set the pile of my writings on the key table near the front door. As she left down the driveway with her back toward me, I glanced to see Connor coming in and he stared out the door past me.

“Hey, Connor that was my agent Cecile, she dropped some work for me to look over, she had a meeting or I would have introduced you both, next time I will as she is a super girl.” I realized he probably hadn’t heard a thing I said. I waved my hand in front of his face as he was in a daze.

“Oh, sorry, it’s just she so reminds me of someone I once knew.”

As I shut the door, I asked if he wanted another cup of coffee and he did and we continued our conversation out back. What had begun with Connor coming over that day followed with more new conversations with him, as he was always checking in to see that I was okay. I guess we had become friends and I wanted to share this with Rand each time we talked or sent a text but I didn’t want him to think it was more that a friendship. I decided I would tell him on his next return home.

The most recent conversation that I had with Connor he really started to open up, he said, “I can never take back what happened when I stormed out from my girlfriend Avery’s apartment. I went and drank too much, I smashed my car and hurt a random girl that I just picked up. I got a DUI and a bad reputation. The worst part is, the other girl meant nothing, it was just I was angry and hurt by my girlfriend and I acted out in the wrong way.” I could see the anguish on his face that this still hurt in telling me this as if it just happened. I realized while he spoke to me that I never had a brother or sister growing up and suddenly I think this is how it must feel when a sibling shares their thoughts and moments with you.

“Connor we all have messed up. At least you realized you did wrong and you have a lifetime to make it right.”

“Madison I only hope I can this time around.”

I thought that I knew for Connor this would pass one day in the future as it had for me and now I was getting myself much better from my most recent life setback. I wanted to get back to my home now with Rand and let my mother and Jake have their space. My life was suddenly so full of people that were concerned about me every moment. My concern though was for Jillian and how she was recovering. Jillian was back in her condo moving about as best as she could, we chatted often. I think the fact that we could have lost one another we didn’t want to miss time together anymore. I also needed my daily Rand fix. I got so excited with every call, text or thought of him. Today I woke up feeling really good, no head pain, just heart pain from missing him. I reached for my phone and held it to my chest for a moment.

Rand, I’m heading back to your home today, I meant our home. I miss you. Everyone has been so helpful in my recovery. Cecile has been keeping me busy with my book and I am looking forward to getting back to writing my Love Notes to pass the time till you are near.

Madison, I wish I was right there with you. I will be soon. Please take it easy and be careful. Invite Cecile to come stay at the house with you or even Jillian so you have company until I can be the only one in your presence. All I think of is you. And I hope I am the inspiration of these Love Notes. Killjoy will hit me with her drum sticks if I don’t say hello to you from her…Ouch!

I like your idea of having the girls over, this may be fun. I will even tell them you suggested it.

Love, spend some time with them because when I return I am not letting you out from under me for a long time. By the way Raeford is hanging his head real low, I know he’s feeling very sad. I tried to start up some conversations but he is even quieter if you can imagine that.

I’m sure it will take time with Jillian and him and what they almost had, but hopefully they will be strong and make it work between them. She really cares for him. He shuts her out though. Don’t you ever shut me out I am in your life like forever now.

Madison, first you are mine and definitely you are my forever.

Chapter Seven – Girls Night In

I
t didn’t take me too long to dial their phones and I wasn’t going to take no as an answer. I told them I wanted them to come for a day, a night or the week and it would be our girl’s night in.

“Okay, so Jillian, Rand suggested that you and Cecile come stay with me. I know it sounds like an old version of a slumber party but it will be fun. I know you’re not back to work so pack some things, and I’ll pick you up.”

“Madison I can’t think of anything better. This will be fun. Come get me now. I’m climbing these walls already!”

“Girl, you sound like you are overdue for friend time. Let me give Cecile a holler and I’ll be picking you up in a little while.”

“Thank you Maddy, I need this, to be with friends now.”

As soon as Jillian was on board I dialed Cecile. “Cecile, listen I am heading to get Jillian and bring her to stay with me for a few days, I want you to come here as well. Pack some things, and get here soon. I should be about two hours.”

“Madison, count me in! I’ll stop and get some food for us tonight. I need to talk with you both about Kent and maybe you can give me some advice.”

“Cecile I’ll see you in a bit, food, drink, girl talks…can’t wait.”

What a great suggestion this was from Rand. Here we were, us three girls, all together having simple “fun”. Each of us dressed in our best sweat pants and cami tops except for Jillian who cut her sweat pants off to make them shorts for her cast. But we were just glad to be around each other. I let out a moan when the first bite of the cheese quesadilla hit my lips. Cecile was spot on in bring us a huge selection of Mexican food. I decided to make a batch of frozen Mojitos to wash it down.

“So ladies here we are, all three of us without our men…funny we are all in relationships with the band boys.”

“Madison, Raeford and I are…I don’t know what anymore. I try to talk to him and he hardly says a word. There are too many pregnant pauses in our conversations lately. I know I lost the baby, our baby, I feel I let him down. He says he let me down. We can’t get past that in our talking.”

“Jillian, he’ll come around, Rand has been talking to him too lately.”

Cecile broke into our conversation about Raeford asking, “Madison, by the way who was the hunk guy I saw at your house the last time I dropped by? I saw him out on the back deck. He looked really hot but I only got the backside view.”