Love Notes ((Book Two of the Heartbeat Series)) (24 page)

“Hey wife of mine, I missed you on the last few songs. You know I only play to you.”

“Sorry I had to go to the ladies room and there always is a line for the girls.”

“Well the good news is Kent’s family will have some funds to help them out. I think he really felt good we all did this.” My thoughts were coming through in a smile to my husband but I could still see Connor moving his hands slowly on Cecile. If they were alone, in seconds they would have been all over each other. She is holding back because he hurt her but someone is going to lose in this. Kent is clueless. He is so happy to see her tonight, as always, he smiles as they approach us.

“Rand, thanks man, so much for tonight.” Kent expressed his heartfelt gratitude in a man hug. “And darling I want to take you to meet my folks when I surprise them with this money,” Kent continued with Cecile pressed at his side.

“Well Kent, Madison and I have a lot of work coming up so I’ll have to let you know about the family visit,” Cecile commented trying to wiggle out of this one.

“Madison, do you have a lot of work coming up?” Rand questioned.

“Um…yeah, I guess Cecile is always out to sell my book and do her job.” I felt horrible being put on the spot. I wasn’t sure how this would play out. I did see, though, that Connor never left. He was seated over at a table near the wall with a beer and was running his hands through his hair. A girl walked to his table. She was very attractive and confident as she approached him, and began to pull the chair out to join him. Connor looked at her and smiled nicely, but then told her something that made her leave without further approach. I knew his heart was breaking for Cecile. I couldn’t understand how he could just sit there and do this to himself. I know I went through the pain of a broken heart and it took me so long to mend it. I was going to see if he was alright and Rand’s arms came up and wrapped around my waist. He tugged me near his hot sweaty body. I loved this.

“Hey is that Connor?” Kent asked. And a moment later Kent was walking across the café to say hello to his new buddy but not alone as he pulled a hesitant Cecile’s along with him.

Maxwell came up and it was nice to see him. “Maxwell thank you so much for helping me surprise this handsome guy into a shotgun wedding.”

“Oh Madison, I don’t think there was any one held against their will,” he said smiling. I was so glad to be part of his family officially as he was now legally my uncle. He had also become rather close to my family over the past year. Rand was starting to talk to Maxwell and I told him I would be right back. I just wanted a quick moment with Jillian. As the crowd started to thin out, I stopped to get a glass of ice water. As the waiter handed it to me, a voice caught me off guard.

“Hello again, Madison,” a sexy deep voice sounded. I spun around to see Paul Rand. Here was Rand’s father, only on the other side of the room. He kept his back facing the bar area and his head hung low. “I told you I see my son play. He plays very well. You need not upset him that I was here this evening. Sometimes I just can’t stay away. I miss having my family.”

“Rand could walk over here at any moment.”

“Madison, I was just leaving but it’s always a pleasure to see you again. I just wanted to make certain you were alright, I heard through our family that you had taken another spill or hit to your head.”

“I am fine. That was nothing, and I still don’t believe in your theory that bad things happen because of him playing music. We just got married and things couldn’t be more wonderful.” I smiled and remained calm and composed.

“Congratulations to you and my boy. I hope it all works out for you both, I really do.” He got up, never turned back toward me or to where Rand may have seen his face. He tucked his coat collar up on his neck to prepare for the cold. I noticed how long his fingers were, just like Rand’s. I thought about how handsome his father was. I knew that Rand would now be like this in the years ahead, still captivating and so handsome.

I walked over and said, “There’s my eye candy! Let’s head home.” I felt a wave of sickness travel through me. I suddenly felt woozy. I leaned into him and pulled him tightly to me. He was saying goodnight to Maxwell. I closed my eyes letting them think I was tired, but was mentally wishing for this awful moment to pass. A chill ran up my neck as I thought about his father being here moments ago. He had been so close to Rand, but I could not share this encounter with my husband. I didn’t want to ruin any of our happiness lately. I was also becoming more concerned with my recent episodes of feeling ill. I was hoping and praying this would soon pass and be uneventful.

Epilogue – Love Notes

I
rake my fingers delicately through his hair separating the long dark strands. I am trying to distract myself from the waves of sickness flowing through me during the ride from the café in Philly to our home. The snow began to fall a few hours ago but nothing began to stick to the cold pavement until now. As I glance out the window and see the crystal flakes swirling, I lean my throbbing head on the coolness of the glass. Memories of my life slid through my mind while I stared, unseeing at my surroundings.
First, I was playing dress up. Wearing a dress that was way too long for my little girl’s body. Stomping around in my mother’s high heel shoes that flopped on me as I tried to walk. I am in her long white silk nightgown that is piled on the floor and about three feet too long. The v-neck comes to my thighs. I am playing wedding day dress up. My father comes in the room in his police uniform looking so handsome and important. He leans to me and hugs me so tightly. I love my father, one day I am going to marry a man just like him, so handsome and so important to me. I turn to Rand as he is driving along the lightly covered snow tracked road. I lay my hand over his and draw circles of infinity on it over and over.

“Love, you feel okay? Are you warm enough?” He says with concern in his voice.

“I am so good, you are here with me. Life couldn’t get any better,” I tell him to not have him worried.

Crossing over the threshold of our home now as official husband and wife. We have arrived back to our home and Rand makes me stay downstairs for a moment, and runs up the steps to check something first. He then comes down and lifts me into his arms. He carries me up to our bedroom. The French doors are open, welcoming us to our bed. I smell the strong aroma of roses. I look past the open doors and see the sea of red that expands across the bed covering. Petals are everywhere, I am not sure when he had this done put there must have been buckets of petals brought in. I can smell the sweet floral scent and he gently lays me down in our bed. I am now lying on my side in our bed, with Rand sitting on the edge of the bed. His face looks very worried. I smile tenderly at Rand, although I feel awful. I want him to remain calm. I will go see a doctor this week if I still feel this bad or if I get worse.

“Love, I think you need a night of rest, you look tired and weak.” He is concerned. His eyes shift to the bedside table and he notices the bound book with a note attached to the front that reads:

My Love Notes –

(For my Husband – who has kept a blissful melody playing in my heart and has created the most wonderful life composition for us to take part in for all of our days to come)

I always thought, and wished that perhaps one day I would find true love and remarry –

My Wedding Dress –

Secretly it stands tall awaiting a big reveal,

to be worn and adored by so many.

Ivory, short but elegant seamed tightly to my body,

receiving silent admiration from the mirror’s view.

The scents of petals will attach to it like buttons,

as finally the opportunity has come for its debut.

By: Madison Rand

I see him pick it up and he looks to me with wonder in his eyes. “Rand, this is my wedding present to you. It is all my Love Notes I have written since the day my eyes first met yours.” Rand seats himself in the chair next to the bed and keeps his amazing blue eyes holding my glance and they warm me inside. “Thank you, I think this is the perfect time to begin to read all of these,” his eyes leave mine as he puts on his glasses and goes to the first page.

Rand begins to read all my Love Notes in their entirety. Slowly he turns the pages and I see emotion in his face as he is concentrating on each of my written letters to him. I see him wipe away a tear. I feel sick again, I turn over to not have him see my ill feeling face. I close my eyes and think of our wedding and how wonderful it was and I feel better in my mind already.

“Babe, are you okay?”

I don’t turn to him but I say, “Yes, I’m going to be fine.” With each word my stomach feels worse. I squeeze my fingers into a tight fist to take away the unease swirling in my tummy. I think of months ago when Rand’s father came to see me and spoke of bad karma. I hope and pray this is not the beginning of something bad to come.

I feel Rand push and fix the pillows around my body cushioning me and then he settles back into the chair. A warm rush flows through me with the happiness of how good he is for me. I hear a page turn again of the Love Notes he is reading.

“Tomorrow Mrs. Rand, I am taking you to the doctor. I want you feeling better and they can tell me how to take care of you for the rest of my life.”

Another page turns and Rand continues to read my heartfelt thoughts…he hums a song that stills the sickness rolling through me as I focus on his soothing sounds. I know I have to get better because it is now our time together and Rand’s time to achieve his first solo album. Rand’s low comforting music to me silences and I know he is concentrating on my words.

Rand:

I leave you now from your home, I leave you to join my sister friend at my home today and I still feel your kiss so deeply, like I’m still in your arms. I tremble inside as I did just last night in searching The Wall and seeing so many lovely ladies then seeing my article. You saved that, for some reason we crossed paths a long time ago and never knew. You circled my name that was under my photograph, I wonder what that was for. Was it to seek me out, send me a thank you for the positive article or was it to know that one day our lives would encircle one another?

Rand, as I have been in a marriage for ten years, I have never felt a burn in my heart like I have at the sight of you, the touch of you and the smell of you. At this moment in time you have me completely mesmerized. I am completely smitten in a crush; yes, I have a crush on you Max Rand.

Why am I writing this to you? Well I think I caught a glimpse of what could be as you turned to walk from my doorway to your Hummer. I had a wonderful view of your behind, but a more incredible feeling swelled in my chest. I think about being by your side for this trip. I hope I can fight back what I am feeling and not let you know. I don’t know if it would scare you. I don’t want to ruin my writing opportunity by crushing on a guy who may not feel a glimmer of what I am beginning to feel in my heart.

Maddy xo

“Aww babe, you had a crush on me? How cute,” he lets out a little laugh. “Madison I was definitely crushing on you.”

I turn over facing him and smile. He continues to page through. I think I wrote a complete novel of love notes.

Rand:

Happy Turkey Holiday and soon it will be here. Soon you will be here. You do not know the excitement in my body that is like a shaken up soda waiting for the top to come off. I cannot wait to see your eyes, hold your body to mine and kiss, and keep kissing your lips. I want to see you sigh at me that you really missed me. I want to hear your breath escape as I hug you so tightly.

With the past few months of sadness filling me from losing my father and losing you to the road, I want to feel fulfilled again with your tenderness and touches. I am pulling out all the stops to make you a wonderful meal this season and will surely make your stomach proud. I will wait for you all day and as soon as you arrive you will see that you are my thankful holiday. This means so much to me that we will be able to spend it together. I miss you.

Maddy xo

Rand: