A Kiss and a Cuddle (11 page)

 “So
let’s get this thing started.” I said to my mom.

“What
thing?” she asked.

“Your
online profile,” I replied, and I grabbed my laptop from the living room
table.  “Okay, what do you want your username to be?”

“Oh,
I don’t know, dear,” she started to back down.  “I don’t know if an old woman
like me should be on the internet.”

“Mom,
everybody does it!” I found the perfect online dating site and started to sign
her up.  “Okay, you will like this one, it isn’t all about hooking up, and it
is for mature people.”

“Okay,”
she said warily. “I still don’t know what username to use.”

“How
about…” I paused and thought for a moment.  “TexasLady?  SouthernBelle? 
SweetCityWoman?”

“Those
are good.  How about TexasHoldem?” she asked curiously.

“Oh,
uh sure…” I obediently typed it in.  Was she being dirty?  Was that a sexual
reference that I didn’t get?
 
“Why that name, Ma?” I asked cautiously.

“Well,
it’s like poker, dear.  And maybe in my profile picture I can put on my poker
face.  You know, like Lady Gaga,” she said bluntly.

My
goodness.  My mom was cooler than me!
 
“How do you know these things, Ma?”

She
just giggled and asked, “Okay, what’s next?”  Her giggling really didn’t
comfort me in the slightest.  I was going to have to google Texas Hold’em
references later that night.

“Okay,
well, how about I upload that photo of you from the barbeque last summer, when
you didn’t realize I was taking a photo.  You have a pretty serious poker face
in that one.  And you look hot.”

“Okay,
I guess men like women who play hard to get, huh?” she replied.

I
uploaded her photo and said, “Next, we need a quick description about you. 
Tell me what to type.”

“Alright,
let’s see now.  Start by saying, ‘I am a 43 year old woman from San Antonio.  I
love animals, and I like to walk by the canals.  I exercise a lot, mostly because
I have a strong passion for all things deep fried.”

I
laughed out loud.  “This is really good, Mom!  Okay, next.  What do people
normally notice about you?”

She
thought for a moment and said, “Well, they usually notice my long eyelashes…
maybe my quirky jokes,” she said, while looking up to the ceiling to try to
remember. “Or maybe, it was my quirky eyelashes and long jokes!” she burst out
laughing.  That was typical mom-joke material right there.   

I
laughed too and said, “Okay, we’ve got to include that.”  I typed it in.  “Next
up, it says ‘Only contact me if….’ ”

“Oooh,
oooh, I know.  Say, ‘Only contact me if you believe in the lyrics of Babyface’s
song ‘Soon As I Get Home.’ ”

“Isn’t
that the song about how a man will buy your clothes and cook your meals, as
soon as he gets home from work?” I asked.

“Well,
yes, I’ve got to weed out the lazy ones, honey!” she replied.  “But how do I
let them know that I’m kind of joking?”

“You
can put ‘Just kidding’ or ‘J/K’ or a little winky smiley face…” I listed.

“Let’s
go with the winky smiley face,” she clapped her hands together, as I clicked the
‘Submit’ button.  “That’s it!  We are done!”

“Now
we just have to wait for the men to roll in,” I smiled at her, and we gave each
other high fives.

I
was back behind the curtains of Meadowlark Lounge.  It felt different from the
last time I was backstage, or rather, I felt different.  After all of the ups
and downs of the past month, I had finally made it to my big night.  It was
just me and my music once again.

I
touched my tiara to make sure it stayed in place.  Before I left my condo for
the gig, my mom surprised me with a dandelion tiara that she had made in the
park.  Despite the ‘glacial weather’, there were still some flowers growing.  I
was so excited to wear it.  The dandelion tiara made me feel like a princess.

I
peeked through the curtain to look at the crowd.  There were some interesting
characters in the crowd tonight – some older looking folk, some journalists, some
really hairy folk, some in sunglasses.  Did people really wear their sunglasses
at night?  In a lounge?  Oh well, I was happy to attract a new range of fans. 
I could see my mom, waiting near the back.  She didn’t like to be up front near
the speakers and the crowds, so she had staked her claim in a quieter area near
the back railing that encircled the lounge’s perimeter. 

I
continued to scan the crowd, not sure what I was looking for.  Well, I was sure
I knew what I was looking for.  Or
who
I was looking for, to be more
precise.  Even though it was ridiculous since I knew Rex was back in England, I
felt a sudden sadness to accept the reality that he wouldn’t get to see me
perform tonight. 

I
didn’t see Derek in the crowd either.  This was no surprise to me, but I was so
used to seeing him in the front row with a big goofy smile, ready to cheer me
on.  My heart dropped again.

Come
on, Rose.  I had to focus on the positive things, or else I would go out on
stage sobbing like a baby.  I remembered the field behind my house in Texas
that used to bring me such joy.  I was still my mom’s sweet singing princess with
a dandelion tiara on top of my head.  I was grateful that she was watching me
and supporting me, since I loved to make her proud.  Reggie was also ready to
support me, and I had a room full of fans eagerly awaiting my performance.  You
can do this, Rose.

Reggie
walked past me towards the curtain opening and mouthed, “You ready?”

I
gave him the thumbs up.  Yes.  I was ready.

Reggie
walked out onto the stage and the crowd quietened down.  He walked over to the
mic and yelled in his booming voice, “What’s good, Denver?”

The
crowd cheered, and he carried on, “Alright folks, so we have a special treat
for you tonight.  You get to hear Rose West’s brand new album!” 

There
was more screaming and whistling from the crowd.  It made me incredibly excited
to play, and my heart began to beat faster.

“Are
you ready to have a good time?” he boomed.  The crowd went wild, and it seemed
to be a loud enough response because Reggie continued with the introduction. 
“Put your hands together for the one… the only… Rose West!”

I
walked slowly on stage while the crowd was still clapping and yelling.  I grabbed
my guitar from its stand and moved towards the microphone.  The lights were
awfully bright, but I could still make out my mom standing near the back.

“Hello,”
I said into the microphone, and a couple of wise guys near the front yelled
‘hello’ back at me.  “Thank you for coming to my show.  I have a whole new
album to play for you tonight.  I would like to start by playing you my newest
song.”  The crowd started to clap and cheer.  “It is about love,” I added, and
people in the crowd made a unison ‘aww’ sound that brought a smile to my face.

“This
story of love starts as a tale of war,

He
burst in through the gates and into my life,

The
walls were up, but he wanted it more,

And
I looked at him with his moon-kissed skin,

And
he sang,

I’m
going to hug you, kiss you, follow you,

Until
you love me”

As
I was nearing the second verse, I opened my eyes to look at the crowd.  They
were smiling and enjoying the song.  My eyes connected with an unusual looking
man who was standing close to the stage on the left side.  He had a long, black
beard and disheveled hair that was down to his shoulders.  He wore sunglasses
and a trucker’s hat.  He frightened me, and I thought that he might be
dangerous, though the people around him seemed to look unalarmed and normal.  I
tried to concentrate on singing my song, but I kept looking back to see what
this guy was going to do next.  He was looking back at me too with a straight
face, but soon he started to smile.  Wait a minute… His smile looked awfully
familiar.  I knew that cheeky grin!

Rex
had come to see my gig after all.  Sure enough, I looked to the back of the
lounge and saw his two bodyguards, Johnny and Clive.  I had never been happier
to see those two men, bald heads and all.  I continued to sing my song, but my
mind was racing with questions.  Didn’t Rex return to London?  Wasn’t he mad at
me?  But I looked back at his smile and knew that those questions didn’t
matter.  He was here.

I
finished the rest of my song with a new powerful energy and a new appreciation
for the words.

“
He
took my defenses down and I couldn’t resist,

The
walls crumbled and I slowly let him in,

He
took the time and he took my kiss,

And
he looked at me with his cheeky grin,

And
we sang,

I’m
going to hug you, kiss you, follow you,

Until
you love me”

After
I finished my song, the last guitar chord hung in the air, while the crowd
cheered and clapped.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rex in his hairy
disguise mounting the stage.  I barely had a moment to think before he grabbed
the microphone and started talking in the same brass southern drawl he used
when we were Billy-Bob and Roseanne. 

“Hello
folks,” Rex began.  The audience wasn’t sure if this guy was drunk, dangerous,
or just plain dumb.  I saw rustling from the curtain backstage, and Reggie
poked his head out to measure this guy up.  “I just wanted to say to you all…
to the world… that I am… I am madly in love with this girl!” He turned to look
at me.  “I love you, Rose West!”  

That
was all he could say before Reggie grabbed him from behind to take him
backstage.  Reggie handed me back the microphone, and said, “Sorry about
that.”  All I could do was smile like a madwoman, and I was sure Reggie and the
crowd were confused as to why a drunken stage prowler would make me so happy. 
I was more than happy.  Rex was back, and he was in love with me!

I
finished my next song with a smile that extended from ear to ear.  I looked out
to the back of the lounge at one point, and I saw my mom talking to Clive.  I
was shocked.  She was laughing and touching his arm.  Oh my goodness.  My mom
was flirting!

I
played a few more songs and then announced that I would be playing my last song
of the night.  Just as I began to strum the opening guitar chords, I saw a
familiar figure walk in through the doors towards the stage.  There he was, with
his rustled blonde hair and black leather jacket.  Derek came to my show.  And
he had brought Babs with him!  They found a place to stand in the crowd, and he
put his arm around her.  He looked up at me and we locked eyes.  I mouthed ‘I’m
sorry’ to him, and he smiled back kindly.  I knew that everything was going to
be fine between us. 

After
I finished my last song, the lights went out and the crowd cheered wildly.  The
gig was a complete success.  I felt a wave of happiness and excitement flow
through me as I walked backstage to my dressing room.  I passed Reggie in the
hallway, and he said, “I left a little surprise for you in your dressing room.”

When
I opened my dressing room door, Rex was standing in the corner shyly.  He had
taken off his disguise, and I could see his disheveled hair, his sparkling blue
eyes, and that playful smile of his.

“Rex!”
I exclaimed.

“I
am so sorry for everything,” he said, as he moved towards me.

“I
am sorry, too,” I said softly.  “I am so glad to see you.”

“Me
too.  That was an amazing show tonight, Rose,” he replied and hugged me so
tightly my feet came off the ground.

“Thank
you,” I squeezed him, put my feet back on the ground, and pulled back to look
at him.  “And what you said on stage…”

“I
meant every word,” he said, looking back at my eyes.  I threw my arms around
his neck, and we hugged again.

“I
thought that you went home to England,” I said while in our embrace.  “It made
the whole city – my whole life – feel empty and meaningless.”

“I’m
sorry, Rose.  That was all part of the cover-up.  Your friend Derek helped me
whip up the whole surprise.  Did you like my disguise tonight?” he asked, while
stroking his imaginary beard.

“I
did not like your disguise!  You actually scared me in the audience at first,
until I recognized your smile.  I was going to call security!”

“Well,
soon there will be no more disguises, once you meet my family.  And they can
see how lovely and wonderful you are before the magazines jump into our business. 
I hope you have your passport ready, kitten,” he said excitedly.

“My
goodness.  You are going to take me to London to see if the Byron Family
approves of me?” I asked in shock.

“That
is the idea.”

I
scoffed jokingly.  “Well, you are going to have to meet my mama first, and she
can see if you are up to snuff!”

Rex
laughed.  “Anything for you, kitty-cat.”

We
came out of the dressing room and went through the exit in the back to get some
fresh air.  We stood on the empty street, holding each other and sharing long kisses. 
Everything finally felt right.  I couldn’t have been happier with the fate of
the night.  My album was a success.  I mended my relationship with Derek, and
strengthened my relationship with my mom.  There was no more emptiness.  Rex
and I were together again, and we were recklessly happy.  We looked up at the black
sky that was salted with white stars, knowing that we would soon be flying through
the sky to London, meeting families and friends, exploring the city, and discovering
each other wholly and completely.  The sky was endless, and it was magnificent
and terrifying at the same time – and we wanted all of it.