Music Notes (Heartbeat #3) Read online

  I’m lying in bed coming out of that awesome dream. I remember that moment like it was yesterday, I reach out for her now and I see that she is already out of the bed and seated in the chair next to me with a white box. It looked like a pastry box of some sort.

  “Hey Love, sorry I dozed off with you. Come here, let me feel those lips I have missed for so long.”

  “Rand, I have missed you more than I thought a heart could, but first things first. I have a present for you.”

  “Love, you’re all I ever need.”

  “Well, I think you will like this present.”

  “Okay I give. You brought me a cinnamon bun all the way from Philly with real cream cheese on it?”

  “No something far better—cupcakes,” and she licked her lips and made them glisten.

  “Okay, let me at them.” I sat up and opened the box of goodies and watched her eyes, not even blinking. In the box were two cupcakes, one blue and one pink iced.

  “Are you kidding me?” I shouted with happiness and pulled her in dropping the delightful cupcakes to the floor but taking in all the sweetness this woman could give to me. We were having a boy and a girl. It had slipped my mind that she was getting the ultrasound and finding out. I hadn’t asked because I didn’t know if they had told her or if she decided to wait. She feathered her lips slowly across mine, savoring this moment, but I couldn’t wait. I crushed mine into her and also began to rip her clothing off. I looked at her chest. That too had grown more than I ever thought it could. I gave each nipple some long overdue attention. I wasn’t going to last, and had no patience for long foreplay. “Love, I need to be in you now. I can’t wait one more second.” There was a part of me that wanted to be gentle, but I drove in full throttle. Thankfully, she was so wet that I slid right on in. I groaned out loud and shouted, “Oh Hell Yeah!”

  I was moving so quickly inside her until Madison said, “Oh, Rand, it hurts…” I immediately stopped the motion within her and then I heard her continue, “It hurts so good. Please don’t stop.” I didn’t have to hear her ask a second time, I was back to moving inside her so deeply and taking my wife all the way to bliss right along with me.

  I took my wife a few more times before we both were more than exhausted and definitely in need of food. Madison was surprising me by how she ate room service early and was again famished. I suppose there is truth to her needing to eat for three now. Before I let her leave the bed to freshen up so we could go out to eat, I pulled her back into my arms. I didn’t hesitate taking her hand to my heart, a gesture that would never get old. I felt the pulse beating into her hand. She held my heart forever. It felt electrifying. These were the best moments—just holding onto one another and feeling alive. I then took my hand and smoothed her messy hair. I know we got a little crazy in this bed earlier, but I couldn’t keep my hands off her.

  “So Love, let’s get you cleaned up and we’ll see what the others are doing for food.” I said tenderly not really ready to let her go from the bed. As she left me, I realized I didn’t want her to head back to Philly. I wanted her here with me for the rest of the tour. “I have a great idea, I think you should stay here with me. What do you think?”

  “Silly I am here with you.”

  “No I mean really stay with me… stay on with me the rest of my shows.”

  “As much as I’d love to stay with you, being pregnant and sick sometimes, I’m sure I’d be in the way.”

  “Madison you will never be in my way.” I reached out to her but she was already a bit too far out of my reach. “Think about it, please stay.” I didn’t want to beg her, but with Meila squirming around me on the prowl and Madison so far away I was worried I would fuck this up. I needed her like I required oxygen.

  “I’ll stay on here in California for a bit, but then I have to get some writing done, and you can head to Texas. Then I will definitely be right by your side in New York. I promise. Is that enough?”

  “Madison it will never be enough when it comes to how I feel for you, but for now I will settle for that and all that you give to me.” I winked at her, and listened to her feet patter across the floor to the bathroom. I watched her from behind, as yes, her ass had also gotten a little larger. I liked that too. My lady was filling out in all the right places. I was really digging this whole pregnancy thing. It didn’t seem like it took Madison long to change and she was standing before me ready to head out of the room for a little while. I felt like I just got her into my arms and I had to share her with others, but I knew I’d have her all to myself later. Even if we just laid with one another, I just wanted to hold her near. “Love, you look beautiful,” I gave her a wink. She stood before me in a long simple black tank dress that hugged her newest curves and of course showed off her belly. She could be wearing a paper bag and pull off the look that would make you glace twice at her, but for me, I would never stop looking.

  It felt like we were all back home as the gang was all here and it felt like old times. We were all laughing and having a great dinner together when suddenly the table fell silent. When I turned behind me to see what the pause of conversation was for, I was greeted with a kiss to my cheek from Meila as she leaned into me catching me off guard. “So nice to see you here tonight Rand. This is a great restaurant I hear,” again she had this way of purring with her words.

  “Meila,” I quickly got my shit together, “this is my wife Madison. I’ve wanted to introduce her to you.” I leaned back so Meila could take in the full appearance of Madison and clearly see that she and I were expecting.

  “Oh Madison, what a pleasure to meet you. I love traveling with Rand, he is one great guy. I guess since you are pregnant we will be seeing less and less of you at the upcoming shows.” She definitely had her claws out.

  Madison didn’t miss Meila’s intent and said, “Well, Meila he is a great guy. The best. You never know when I will surprise him and show up to support him…I love my husband.” It was awesome, so composed, Madison did not let Meila rattle her in the least. She made her point perfectly clear as Madison sealed the deal by turning my head, and even though we weren’t done with our meal added, “Babe, can you please take me now? I’ve had enough food and want you for my dessert. Let’s head back to our hotel room and see what we can whip up.” I didn’t waste a second, her pregnancy was making her horny, and I was there with her and glad she gave it back to Meila.

  “Good night. I hope you all have a great night ahead, me I am going to be deep into my wife—I meant with my wife.” I helped Madison up, taking her hand in mine, never looking back. I did hear a huff coming from Meila, and I mentally said score one for Madison. That evening the dessert that Madison and I shared couldn’t have been any sweeter.

  We only had a day and a half to get around Los Angeles before the first show there. We spent most of it in the bed. As we fluffed our pillows up and lay in each other’s arms, today’s topic took a detour from our usual playful sex talk and went to baby names. “So what shall we name our children?” Madison was very surprised I was the one who initiated the conversation. Well now that you brought it up, I was thinking perhaps Killjoy and Thomas?” she laughed. I too had to bust out laughing.

  “Although I don’t mind Killjoy, definitely not Thomas and not even for a middle name.” I hadn’t even thought about him in quite a long time.

  “Okay then, how about we switch things up? I’ll get us the hotel note pad and some pens and you write a name for our daughter and I will select a boy’s name. Will that work?” Madison slid out from my arm and pranced over to the table. I just had to take in the sight of her naked body, so full and lively, she was truly glowing. I never thought I’d have this—being married, happily and about to become a father. I freaking wanted to burst with such fulfillment, and it was all because of her. She was the one that gave all of this to me. They say there is someone for everyone in the world to love, and I’m so lucky that I found my Madison, or rather she found me.

  “Are you ready?” she asks handing me
the hotel notepad. I didn’t even realize she was back in the bed. Again my mind was wandering off staring at her loveliness.

  “Yes I think I have a few names picked for our lovely daughter.”

  I write the first name that came to my mind and then I write a second and third selection. My list was –

  Madison

  Madison

  Madison

  “Are you done already?” She looked confused as she was really putting time into her choices.

  “Yep,” I answered smiling.

  “Let me see your list,” she sounded so bossy.

  As I turned it she started to laugh and said, “No, silly that is a very nice compliment but really try to come up with a name other than mine.”

  I put the pen to the paper to write Ashley Rose, Tierney Rose and, Chelsea and then scratched that one… then it hit me and I wrote the name I wanted to call my daughter. Then I drew on the paper around it. This was a winner and not to be negotiated. I wrote Maxine Grace. I fold the paper up and toss it to Madison as she sat cross legged on the bed. I took in the sight of her belly, so big now. I also looked closely at how she wrote one name and then crossed it off, and then finally after what seemed like eternity she came up with her name for our son. She too folded her choice before tossing it over to me.

  I went first for the reveal reaching down to open the paper. Written all over it about forty times is, of course, my name Rand, sexy Rand, very sexy Rand, my Rand, but then I see the name that isn’t mine and it read Mick Archer Rand and I know why. These are her father’s and my grandfather’s names. What a freaking awesome tribute. I blink back tears. Smiling, definitely in agreement I say, “Your turn my love.”

  Madison picks up the folded paper and says, “I surely hope this is not a name like Meila or one of your many previous fan girls.” I laughed and wiped my eye… waiting for her reaction.

  “Oh my God this is perfect!” she shouts. She reaches in and hugs me so tight. Her paper drops to the bed landing face up, there in my handwriting and with a heart surrounding it was written Maxine Grace Rand. Again my tribute to my Uncle Maxwell and her mother—the two role models in our lives that bring us so much joy everyday. “Can I ask you what was with the name Chelsea that you scratched over?” Madison questions scrunching her face.

  “Love, that was just some girl I once dated. Sorry, that was not a fond memory. I wrote the name and then remembered her. I had to scratch that off my list quickly.”

  Madison shook her head at me and looked so pleased that I guess I did well with my pick because there was no more baby naming conversation. Madison set out to show me how happy I just made her. The simple things in life… if we get those right, it can make all the difference.

  I guess it is a trade off. Madison took such good care of me in bed earlier, and now I find myself following her to all the stores she wanted to hit while in California. I don’t’ mind the shopping part, since I enjoy being with her, but I am just exhausted. I wish we were in New Hope, where we love the shops. Here in California everything seems more mainstream and not as quaint as we liked. As I follow her through many stores, I can’t resist watching her ass in front of me. That is a great distraction. Despite the fact that I’m her designated shopping bag carrier, and she is buying a lot, it’s these simple times not in the spotlight of the stage or media that I treasure. I saw her hold up items that were musical themed. “These are going in the twin’s nursery,” she shouted toward me. I leaned the packages up near the sales counter and smiled back at her, I was so incredibly happy.

  “We are going to have the most contemporary nursery around,” I responded to my wife with a wink.

  “Babe, I hope this shopping isn’t boring you. I’m getting tired though and hungry, so I think I’m done now.” It didn’t take me but a moment to grab the rest of her purchases. The young cashier made a point to smile at me as she slowly rang in every item. I however, turned all my focus to my wife and laid my hand at the edge of her back and stroked it lightly, keeping it there until I guided her out of the store. That sales girl didn’t even warrant a second look. I have all that I ever want right here with me.

  Tonight’s performance was so special for me. I knew Madison would be in the audience. As much as I wanted her to be in the front row, I actually made arrangements for her and Cecile to be seated off to the side of the stage where the crew and Maxwell always stand. I didn’t want her bounced around in the crowd of people. As the lights came up on the stage, I touched my heart and held my hand to the air for her. “Good evening L.A.!” I shouted into the microphone. “Tonight were going to Rock! We are all thrilled to be here in your city, but before we get started I want to do one quick shout out. Baby you’re my home!” I knew that Madison would love hearing that. I couldn’t see her from where I was on the stage but I felt her eyes on me with every move I made.

  Chapter Seven – Feeling Off

  Just like the first show in Los Angeles went off perfectly, so did the other ones that followed in California. I was pumped that Madison was able to stay for a few, but saddened that today she was leaving to head home. I knew it wasn’t as comfortable here with me staying up late hours and not resting. The last thing I wanted was to put her or our babies in harm’s way. As selfish as I wanted to be and just keep her in my arms this morning, I lay pressed up to the softness of her skin. I just didn’t want to let go, but I did let her sleep. I watched the clock on the table next to the bed tick the minutes away until I knew it was going to be just enough time to get her up, showered and to the airport. As I shook her lightly, she groaned softly coming awake. “Love, you have to get up and get ready. As much as I want you to miss your plane and stay, Cecile will be here soon,” I whispered into her ear.

  Still half sleeping she said, “But I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Madison you will never leave me, you are mine…forever.” I could see her beautiful eyes peeking out behind partially closed lids. I held up a picture frame that was all decorated in music notes.

  Squinting at the picture she asked me, “What is that?”

  “Well, I went and bought this in one of the stores we were shopping at the other day. This frame is to keep the first photo of our babies close by me. Since they are inside you,” I paused to rub her belly and place a light kiss there, “it’s a photo of you.” Madison threw her arms up wrapping them around my neck and pulling me down for a kiss. I could never resist this woman. Even if she made it to the plane with only a minute to spare, I would never deny her.

  We rose from the bed, and without even asking one another we strode into the shower. It was amazing—it was enormous and all marble. It even had a bench seat inside. I was the one that was fatigued, so I sat there letting my wife wash my body. Her hands caressed every inch of me, and when I could no longer hold back, I stood up and placed her hands over her head, pinning her against the wall. There was no hesitation. We were going to have morning sex in the shower, and she may just miss her plane anyway. I was feeling myself deep inside her folds and the water was spraying over us like mist. I heard a knock over and over again and realized it wasn’t our bodies moving against the wall in the shower. Then I heard the voice with the knock and realized it was Cecile yelling from the hallway. Despite Cecile’s attempts to ruin this moment, I blocked her out and started to sing to my wife—very off key and very high pitched as I came deep inside her. We exited the shower, and grabbed the large fluffy hotel towels. Madison wrapped one around her body, and went to the door only to find Cecile seated in the hallway.

  “Cecile, sorry but you sort of caught us in a moment.”

  “Oh, you are always in the moment,” she said standing up from the hall floor. Cecile continues, “I thought when you got pregnant that this would slow down.”

  I had to chime in at this point, so with a wink I said, “Cecile, it has only gotten better.” She stared back at me shaking her head. At this point I notice I’m standing here with just the towel wrapped around my waist.

&
nbsp; “Well, we have to get going or we will miss the plane,” Cecile stated, her tone all business.

  “Just give me twenty minutes to dry my hair, and I am all yours,” Madison confirmed as she headed for the bathroom. At least I had my wife for twenty more minutes. I followed her to the bathroom, and sat on the counter watching every second of her primping to leave. It still amazes me how much shit girls do to get ready.

  It was another tear filled goodbye from Madison, but I held it together until I left the lobby to return to my room. I had to get with Maxwell to pack up, finish our last concert here in California, and then we were off to Texas. I stood at the floor to ceiling window and watched one cab after another drive away from the hotel, and thought there she goes with each one. I watched the golden colored cars over and over until my cell phone rang and pulled me from my intense daydreaming. “Rand, let’s get a move on. We’re all in the lobby waiting on you,” Maxwell shouted. Lately, it seemed like I was always sidetracked and day dreaming.

  The day dragged with Madison gone, and tonight at the show I stared at Meila. She looked so much like my wife. She was just completing the last song she wrote called Radiance. It was odd because she said to the audience when her set ended, “Thank you all. It’s been great playing for you, and that song was what someone told me I was to them, that I was radiant.” I remember thinking that about Madison before I left our home and writing that thought on paper to work out a song later. Still staring at the stage, I watched Meila bend over taking a bow of some sort and allowing the fans to see her pushed up rack. That top wasn’t doing anything to hide it tonight. Meila smiled at the whistles and “We Love You Meila” shout outs.