Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story (19 page)

Michael shot the young girl an irritated glance and rolled over onto his back as he rubbed at his eyes.  Her voice felt like an ice pick to his brain.  “Thanks.  You can leave the tray on the table,” he grumbled, secretly wishing the hospital would find someone else for the job. 

The girl took his subtle hint and made a hasty retreat out into the hall. 

When he heard the door shut he rolled to face Annie.  She was watching him and when their eyes locked, a shy smile crept across her face.

“Hey,” he said in a soft, silky tone.

“Hi,” she replied, her smile growing wider.  “The girl was right.  You were amazing last night.”

Michael propped himself up on an elbow.  “Thanks.  Coming from you it actually means something,” he teased.  Then swung his legs off the bed and onto the floor.

“How was Brian?” she asked.

“Apologetic.  And he should be, for acting like he did.”  Michael got off his bed and sat on the edge of Annie’s.  “But after I told him our fight brought you out of your coma, he said I should have been grateful.  Can you believe him?  Sometimes he can be such an ass.”

Michael leaned closer to Annie and pressed a firm kiss against her cheek.  “I love you,” he whispered, then began to chuckle.  “You know, us sleeping in separate beds is getting old.  Not exactly how I’d like to be waking with you, if you know what I mean.  Which reminds me, I want to talk to your doctor today about getting you out of here.”

“Yes, it would be nice to sleep in my own bed for a change,” Annie replied.

“Oh,” Michael sighed, a hint of dejection in his voice.  “I was hoping you’d move in with me.”

Annie’s eyes widened.  “Into your house?”

“Yeah.  I’m sure you’re still going to need someone to help you get around until the cast comes off and I’d like to be there to do it.”

Annie didn’t get a chance to answer when the doctor in charge of her case entered the room.  “Good afternoon.  Glad to see everyone is up and about today.”

“Like we had a choice,” Michael snarled, heading toward the bathroom.  “I’ll be in here if you need me.”

A few minutes later Michael returned to Annie’s bedside and watched as the doctor finished up his exam.  “So, what’s the verdict, Doc?  When can I bring her home?”

“Home?  That may be a bit optimistic, Michael.” the doctor replied.

“How do you figure that?  You just told me everything is healing properly.”

“True, but she is still looking at months of major rehabilitation on that ankle if she intends to walk on it normally in the future.  The most likely scenario for her at this point is to get her into a good rehabilitation hospital and into an active regime of physical therapy.”

“Can’t we establish a schedule, such as you’re suggesting, at my house?  That way, I can be there to help her and for moral support.”

“She’ll need a nurse and a physical therapist.  Can you supply all that?”

“Not a problem.  I can arrange for anything she needs.”

“How about wheelchair accessibility?  She’ll need ramps.  How is your house set up with stairs?  There are a lot of issues that would need to be addressed before we even think of moving her into a situation like that.  She is going to need a lot of care.  Are you sure you’re capable of rendering it?  What about your job?  Who would be there while you had to work?”  The doctor shook his head and rubbed his chin.  “Your offer is very commendable but I will have to go with what I feel is best for my patient and at this point, I think I’d rather see her getting round the clock care at a rehab facility.”

“I’m more than willing to do whatever is necessary to make this work.  Give me a list and consider it done.  I can have contractors at my house this afternoon.  Bottom line, Doc, I don’t want to see her go to another hospital.  She’s already been cooped up in here for close to a month.”

“Well, see what you can do with your contractors and we’ll discuss this again in a few days.”

“How soon do you think she’d be ready for discharge?”

“A week, maybe two.  I’ll have to get back to you on that after I have all the results from the tests we ran.  I’ll know more then.”

Michael shook the doctor’s hand and thanked him.  Then he pulled out his cell phone and quickly called the home improvement contractor he used when he remodeled his house.  The plans were set in motion for the installation of an elevator and wheelchair ramps.  The cost of the project was irrelevant but the deadline was non-negotiable.  Michael didn’t care if the construction team worked round the clock, as long as they had the job done before Annie was discharged from the hospital.

The days leading up to her discharge were long and tiring but Annie was determined to take back her life and get healthy.  Her speech was still slow, and at times the correct word remained elusive.  By the end of the first week, Annie was up and walking with the aid of crutches and then a cane.  Otherwise, Michael pushed her around in a wheelchair.  A few days before her release, Annie was fitted with a much smaller cast, which would enable her more mobility.  Finally, after six weeks in the hospital, Annie was ready to be discharged.

Many of the hospital staff stopped by her room to personally say goodbye to Annie and Michael.  Some had tears in their eyes while others requested a last minute autograph from Michael or a photograph taken with him.  It was an inconvenience but Michael didn’t complain.  He was too happy to care.

While Michael was tugged out into the hall for a series of group photographs with the nurses, Annie took the opportunity to talk to her doctor alone.

“I need to ask you a few questions about my recovery limitations, Doctor.”

“I had my nurse write all the instructions for pain medication dosages and other information on paper for you.  Make sure you give this paperwork to your home care professional and have Michael read through it too.  It’s extremely important that you follow the dosage recommendations for the pain meds.  It’s very easy to become addicted and dependent on these drugs so be careful not to over do it - and, call if you have any questions.  Is that what you’re concerned about?” the doctor asked, as he continued to scribble notes into Annie’s case file.

“No, actually I was wondering about…sex.”

“Sex?” the doctor asked, raising his eyes from the clip board and meeting Annie’s.

“Yes.  I was wondering if it would be okay for us to have sex,” Annie blushed and hobbled over to her suitcase to pack the last remaining personal items.

The doctor smiled.  “Annie, sex would be fine - within reason.  I wouldn’t go attempting anything out of the ordinary.  Use your best judgment.  If there’s pain, then stop and I would advise against pregnancy at this point.  It would put too much stress on your healing body to carry a fetus full term, so take the necessary precautions.  Does that answer all your questions?”

“Yes, I guess it does.”

Michael came back into the room pushing an empty wheelchair, his face beaming with happiness.  “I’ve come to bust you out of this place,” he joked.

“I’m not riding in that thing,” she protested.

“I’m afraid so,” the doctor said.  “It’s hospital policy.”

Defeated, Annie obliged and plunked herself into the wheelchair.  “Fine!  But, this is the last ride I take in this stupid contraption.”

Michael nodded at the doctor.  “I can’t thank you enough,” he said, extending his hand to the doctor to shake.

“No thanks necessary, Michael.  It’s my job.”

Michael glanced toward the door and noticed Bull’s bulky body filling the frame.

“Looks like security is here,” Michael smiled.  “I guess this means we can leave.”

After a few last minute hugs, Bull led them to the elevator and out to the curb where a limousine waited.  A crowd had gathered and Michael wasted no time getting Annie safely into the back seat of the sleek car.  Two cameramen snapped photographs and Michael could not have cared less.  Happily, he smiled and waved before disappearing behind the privacy of the tinted windows.

“You’re free,” Michael whispered, moving in close for a kiss.

“Thank you for everything,” she replied, her voice cracking with emotion.  “You were pivotal in me getting out of that place.  I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Michael beamed.  “You had more to do with it than you think,” he said, brushing away a few loose strands of hair from her eyes.  He slid an arm across her shoulders and pulled her close.  Then he took her hand and entwined her fingers with his.  Neither spoke.  The moment was perfect as it was. 

After a brief stop at Annie’s apartment to pick up a few personal items, they began the trek to Michael’s house.  An hour later, the limousine pulled around the circular drive in front of Michael’s estate.

“Wow!  Your house is gorgeous,” Annie squealed with delight, as her eyes took in the perfectly manicured grounds and Italian marble house façade.  Her mouth was still hanging in amazement when Michael picked her up and set her into the wheelchair then pushed her up the ramp toward the front door.  Suddenly the solid mahogany door swung open and Michael’s housekeeper greeted Annie.

“Annie, this is Bonita Blasques.  She and her husband take care of me and the house.”

“Hello, Miss Annie,” Bonita said in broken English, and extended her hand for Annie to shake.  “It is wonderful to finally meet you.”

“Hey, where’s Manny?” Michael asked.

“He went to town to pick up a few things for dinner,” she answered, helping Michael navigate the wheel chair through the doorway.

Annie was now inside the foyer and raw emotion washed over her before she could get it under control.  Embarrassed to be seen crying in front of Bonita, she quickly covered her face with her hand.

“This is it,” Michael stated proudly but Annie didn’t respond.  Curious about her silence he crouched down before her feet, level with her face.  Then he noticed her tears.  “What’s up?  Are you all right?  Are you in pain?”

Annie shook her head weakly.

“Are you two hungry?” Bonita asked, making her way to the kitchen.

“Give us a minute, Bonita.  I’ll get back to you on that.”  Then he turned to Annie.  “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she sobbed.  “It’s stupid.  Really.  You don’t want to hear it.”

“Annie, if it bothers you this much then I want to hear it.”

She closed her eyes and sighed.  “You have no idea how many times I fantasized about coming here with you.  But, not once, did I ever imagine myself getting pushed into your house in a wheelchair.”

“Annie, you’re alive,” he replied seriously, “And that is all I care about.  Besides, once you get acclimated with the house layout, you can use your crutches or the cane.  I even had an elevator installed so you won’t have to use the stairs.”

“You are unbelievable,” Annie replied and forced a smile onto her tear-stained face.  “And this house is too!”

“Would you like to see something other than the foyer?”

Annie nodded.

Michael pushed Annie through the succession of adjoining rooms that made up the first floor.  Her face lit up with excitement when he brought her into the family room.

“And I call this the trophy room,” he teased.

“My God, I had no idea Thrust had won so many awards!”

“We got most of them in the last few years.  The award committees tend to give more trophies to the dinosaurs in the business.  Maybe they figure they better hand them out to bands like us before we croak.”

“Michael!  Don’t’ say things like that!”

Annie’s favorite spot was obviously the music room.  Her eyes quickly darted around each corner and wall stopping on the most extensive collection of guitars, key board, piano, drum kit, and recording gear imaginable, preserving every detail to memory.

“So, this is where it all happens?” she asked in awe.

“Sometimes.  Other times, not.  But, for the most part, our ideas tend to gel here.”

“Do you record in this room too?”

“On a rare occasion, we might.  But, Brian prefers some of the other studios we’ve used in the past.”

“You could probably write a book on the history that has taken place in this room,” Annie commented.

“Yeah.  Historical fights between egos, is more like it.” Michael replied, sitting on the piano bench and pulling her close.  “You look tired.  Do you want to lie down and rest?”

“I’d like to see the upstairs first and I should probably unpack,” she smiled.

“Sounds like a plan,” he answered, and wheeled her toward the elevator.  “I’ve already had the bulk of your things moved into my room, Annie,” he said, as the elevator door closed behind them.

Annie reached up and took his hand.  She was too nervous to say anything and gulped hard. 

“Would you like to see the spare bedrooms first or would you like to see mine?” he asked, stopping the wheelchair in the upstairs sitting area.

“Yours.”

“Good.  The other bedrooms are pretty basic.  The guys in the band use them from time to time and that’s about it.”

“Oh, Michael,” Annie gasped, as he pushed her into his room.

“I had most of the house re-done after my divorce - especially this room.  I didn’t want any traces of Beth left in here.”

“I’m speechless.  This is so beautiful and it is sort of like I imagined it would be.”

Michael smiled.  “How so?”

“Well, it’s very dark and masculine - like you.  And that bed, well, that speaks for itself.  Typical of a bachelor on the prowl,” Annie giggled, a shiver of arousal creeping through her body at the thought of being in that bed with him.

Michael laughed as he pulled open the vertical blinds to the wall of windows.  “I’ll have you know, you are the first female, besides Bonita - and she doesn’t count, that has seen this room redecorated.”

“Hmmm,
after
it was redecorated?  What about before that?” she teased.

“I don’t remember that far back,” he laughed.

“That’s okay.  I’m not sure I want to know,” Annie replied, her eyes darting around the room and then stopping on his guitars.  “I can’t wait to start playing again,” she sighed.

“All in good time.  Maybe you should think about having that rest now.”