Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story (45 page)

Michael had three limousines waiting to take them and their guests back to their hotel suite for the party.  Michael and Annie rode alone in one limo, while the other two vehicles transported their guests.

Annie sighed loudly as soon as the door of the car closed, blocking out the noise of the busy city street.  Finally, they were alone.  She rested her head back against the cool leather seat.

“Wow,” she exclaimed.  “Never in a million years did I think performing before a live audience could feel like that!”

He smiled and pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles.  “You were amazing, babe.  Every man in the hall was begging to take you home.  And, here you sit with me.  I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

Annie rolled her head to the side and gazed dreamily into the warmth of his eyes.  “I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me leading up to this night,” she sighed, stroking the side of his smooth face.  “Your patience and understanding was so comforting.  I know I could not have gone out there tonight if it weren’t for you.”

“You’re giving me too much credit, Annie.  Tonight was something you worked your ass off for, and it showed.  Everyone loved you and I love you too.”

She slid closer and kissed him lightly on the mouth.  “I also want to thank you for inviting my White Rush guys.  It meant the world to me to look out and see their familiar faces smiling up at me from the front row.”

His mouth descended upon hers again and held it firmly, his tongue darting out to tease.  “Did I mention how hot you looked on stage tonight?” he asked, sliding his long fingers up the inside of her thigh and under her satin skirt.  His hand stopped when it felt her heat.

She grinned and pulled him down on top of her in the seat.  “Have you ever done it in the backseat of a limo?” she asked coyly.

“You won’t want to hear the answer to that question,” he smiled.

“Nothing is sacred to you, is it?” she teased.

“Besides, you don’t want to miss your opening night party, do you?”

“No, I suppose you’re right,” Annie sighed with regret.

Michael sat up and patted her on the leg.  Then pulled his cell phone from his pocket, calling the hotel kitchen to have a light buffet sent up to their suite.

Everyone arrived at once and Annie took the elevator with Gary, Buzz and Ivory.  Where are you staying?” she asked.

“Mike booked us rooms right here with you.  We’re only a few floors below you,” Buzz replied.

Annie turned to face Michael.  “You booked them rooms, too?”

“He took care of all the arrangements,” Ivory added.  “All we had to do was show up at the airport.”

“First class, all the way,” Gary added.

Annie squeezed Michael’s hand.  “He’s too good to me,” she replied, never removing her eyes from him.

Once inside their hotel suite, Annie made a mad dash for the bedroom to change out of the confines of her stage outfit and into the comfort of her jeans.  When she returned, Buzz and Ivory were waiting.

“Annie, we can’t tell you how proud we were to see you in action tonight,” Buzz remarked, leaning in to give her an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

“Yeah, it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person,” Ivory chimed.

“Thanks guys.  It means a lot coming from the two of you, it really does.  And I can’t thank you enough for coming tonight.” she replied.

“Hey!  Anytime Mike wants to foot the bill, we’ll come and see you,” Buzz laughed.  “I guess it pays to have a rich husband!”

Annie rolled her eyes and smiled endlessly.  “What can I say, it’s not like I stalked him.  It just sort of happened.”

“Hey, don’t apologize to us.  We couldn’t be happier for you,” Ivory answered. 

“Years from now, Ivory and I can say we were witnesses to the first sparks flying between you two.  Remember that?  We were at Sir Morgan’s Cove and Michael breezed in and shook your hand.  Now, you’re married to him and expecting a baby,” Buzz said with a laugh.  “We’re thrilled for both of you.”

They continued making small talk until Gary appeared beside Annie.  Buzz and Ivory made a quick exit and went to mingle with Brian and the rest of Thrust, whom had just arrived.

Gary stood uneasily beside Annie, nervously sipping his drink, until Annie opened the conversation.

“Hi Gary.  It’s been a long time,” she said.

“Yeah, too long.  You look amazing,” he replied, noticing how beautiful she was.

“Thanks.  So, what did you think of the show tonight?”

Gary smiled from ear to ear.  “First, let me say how shocked I was to get a personal invitation from Mike to come to this.  As for your performance, you took my breath away,” he said touching his chest.  “It made me realize how right Mike was when he said you should be lead singer and center-stage.  You were born for the stage, Annie,” he said with a sigh, and feeling a hint of regret she was gone from his life.

Annie’s eyes filled with tears as she suddenly threw her arms around Gary’s neck.  “You have no idea how much that means to hear you say that,” she whispered in his ear.  “And I’m very glad you came to the show.”

“What’s this I hear about you and Wade expecting a baby?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes, it’s true,” she answered.  I’m due in April.”

Gary squeezed her hand and forced a smile onto his face.  “I’m happy you found someone that loves you the way you deserve to be loved.  And I can tell he truly loves you, Annie.  It’s obvious every time he looks at you.”

Annie started to cry and wiped at her cheeks.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry, Annie.  I guess in my own way, I’m saying I’m sorry for all the crap I gave you both in the beginning and helping you disappear.  I have no excuses for my behavior except to say it scared the hell out of me when I saw you together and so happy.  Something inside told me he was ‘the one’ and I had lost you forever.  I had never felt that before Mike entered your life.  Until then, I honestly thought eventually we’d get back together.”

Annie shifted uneasily.  “It’s all in the past, Gary.  Forget about it,” she answered softly, searching the room for Michael.

“I know, but it’s important to me that you hear me say that and I couldn’t be happier about the baby.  You’re both going to make great parents.”

Annie smiled through her tears.  “Are you still playing in a band?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“No.  I’m working as a booking agent for a couple of clubs in the Worcester area.  That keeps me pretty busy.”

Michael came up behind Annie and slid a welcome arm around her waist.  “Hey Gary.  I’m glad you decided to come tonight,” he said, extending a hand for him to shake.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he answered.  “Thanks again for inviting me.  In spite of all the trouble I caused, I’m not sure I deserved it.”

“Forget about it,” Michael said.

The party went on until the early hours of the morning.  Annie let out a long sigh after the door closed for the last time, letting Brian out into the hallway.  Finally, they were alone.

“I should pick up,” Annie commented, surveying the cluttered room.  Exhaustion was written all over her face.

A low chuckle escaped from Michael’s mouth, as he pulled her tired body against his chest.  “Annie, that is what housekeeping is for.  They’ll pick up after we check-out tomorrow.  Come.  You and our baby are going to bed,” he said, and led her into the bedroom.

A month on the road was beginning to take a heavy toll on Annie and her growing baby.  Unaccustomed to the constant travel, living out of a suitcase and eating nothing but room service was proving to be too much.

Yes, she was the opening act for the band, Crosby, Stills and Nash but she hadn’t even met them all.  She had managed a short visit with Graham Nash and passed Steven Stills in the hallway, but that was it.  After one show, she had walked into her dressing room and found Michael swapping war stories from the old days with David Crosby.  Michael quickly introduced her to David, who smiled politely, but then continued to laugh it up with Michael, as if she were invisible.

The tour didn’t hold the glamour she had expected it to.  The travel was exciting but tedious.  After each show she would beg to be taken back to the hotel and fall into bed, sleeping hours straight, only to wake feeling more tired than when she had gone to bed.  She was still suffering through the occasional bout of morning sickness and circles had begun to appear beneath her eyes.  Michael didn’t like what he was seeing and voiced his concern with Lacey.  It was obvious the entire band needed a break - especially Annie.

“After tonight we have three weeks off for Christmas and New Years.  That is the best I can do for her,” Lacey said to Michael.

The holiday break couldn’t have come soon enough for them.  Annie and Michael spent their first Christmas and New Years Eve together as a married couple and surrounded themselves with family and friends.  It was a welcome relief to both of them.  They formally announced Annie’s pregnancy and embraced the joy everyone showered upon them.  It was a great time for all and the happiest Annie could remember.

But all too quickly her tour resumed and Michael’s scheduled time in the recording studio was closing in on them.  As the days grew closer to his departure with Brian and the band, Annie noticed his mood swings begin.  He was becoming

short-tempered and reclusive.  When he left, their contact for the next three weeks would be limited to the phone only.

The recording sessions took Michael and his band to San Francisco.  They stayed in an old two-story motel beside the studio.  Years ago the band had dubbed this place as, ‘The No-Tell-Motel’.  The motel was on the outskirts of the city, nothing fancy, but it’s close proximity to the recording studio made it desirable for their session schedules.  The rooms were sparse, consisting of two double-beds, table and two chairs and a television that was probably as old as the motel.  This was a place Thrust had stayed on many occasions in the past while recording but not one Michael remembered with fondness.

“What’s the matter, Michael?  You seem so down,” Annie asked during one of their many long phone conversations.

“Nothing really,” he sighed.  I guess I’m tired and I miss you.”

“How’s Brian?”

“Screw him.”

Annie smiled.  She didn’t have to question further, she already knew what Michael’s problem was.  “Is it that bad?”

“You have no idea.  This is the worst he’s ever been.  He’s acting like a little dictator, micro-managing everyone and everything.  I can’t take it.  In fact, if it weren’t for the other guys, I’d already be gone.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said with sincerity.

“Wanna know the worst part?” he asked.

“What could be worse than that?”

“Me lying here and wanting you when you’re so far away.”

“Lonely?” Annie asked.

“More than you know.”

“Well, I’m sorry I can’t be there.”

“Me too and I won’t do it again either,” he replied.

“Do what?”

“These long separations.  They’re not healthy.”

“It’s less than a month.  We can handle that.”

“It’s too long for me, Annie.  It drives me crazy to wake up without you.”

His voice grew weak.  “It's been...
difficult
.”

Annie’s heart began to race.  She could hear the desperation in his voice.  His silence spoke as loudly as his words.  In the background, she could hear laughter and chatter.

“Your television is awfully loud,” she commented.

“It’s not turned on.”

“Then what’s all the noise I hear?” she asked.

“Brian is entertaining in his room - again,” he answered begrudgingly.

“Ohh.”

“So, how’s our baby doing?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

“
She's
doing great; very active, kicking me all the time.”

He sighed loudly.  “I wish I could be there with you, babe.  I hate the fact that I’m missing this.”

“Don’t worry about it.  You’ll have plenty of time before the baby is born to be a part of everything.”

“I still feel bad.”

“I’m getting so fat, Michael.  You won’t recognize me.  And I still have two months to go!”

“I bet you’re sexy as hell,” he said, his voice low and seductive.

Annie giggled loudly.  “I sincerely doubt that!”

“Do you really think it’s a girl?” he asked, rolling over onto his back and staring at the stained ceiling.

“Yeah, I do.  And if it
is
a little girl, I'd like to name her Sammi,” her voice trailed off.

“I think that would be a really nice tribute, Annie.”

By the end of the conversation, Annie made a mental note to make arrangements on her next day off to make a surprise visit to Michael.  She only wished she could make it happen sooner.  She could tell with each passing day that Michael’s moods were growing darker.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Michael dialed Annie’s phone number and was somewhat relieved when she didn’t answer.  After the argument he had with Brian earlier, it was probably best he didn’t speak to anyone for fear he might say something he would regret later.

Just after midnight he heard a knock at his door.  Thinking it was Brian, he ignored the first several bangs.  When the visitor showed no signs of disappearing, he decided to see who it was.

She was a groupie by the name of Jill, standing beneath the overhead light of the second floor balcony and looking like she’d lost her puppy.  Jill was well known to everyone in the band and their road crew.  At one point, she traveled with them as their professional massage therapist.  She was dark-haired, older than her face or body revealed and always had a smile to share.

“Hey, Jill.  How are you doing?” he asked, swinging the door open only wide enough for his body to fill.

“I’m doing good, Mike.  Where’s Brian tonight?  He told me to meet him here at midnight and he’s not answering his door.”