Rock Radio (33 page)

“You can sit down...I ordered you coffee and your favorite dessert.”  He pushed the fudge-covered brownie towards her.

She eyed it with distaste as she lowered herself into the wooden chair.  “I don’t want it.”  Her hands remained at her side.

“You look beautiful.”  He wasn’t lying.  Behind the teary eyes he saw the soul of the woman he loved.  The hurt staring back at him landed on him like a ton of guilt – oppressive and painful.

“Don’t patronize me.”  Her words were cold and angry.

“I’m not...I mean...I mean it...” he stammered in nervousness.  “You look great.”

“Jonny
, I didn’t come here to hear your garbage.  I only agreed to meet you because it’s true we have things to discuss.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”  The words ran quickly from his mouth.  “I
was so wrong.  I am so sorry and I promise you it won’t ever happen again...I’ll go with you to counseling, whatever you want, whatever you need.”

Jill’s eyes remained expressionless.  “Jonny
, it’s over.  I met with a lawyer.  I hadn’t called you yet about it because I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you.”  She opened her purse and pulled out some papers.  “These are divorce papers.  I only ask that you make this quick and easy.”

Jonny felt like he was struck in the stomach.  “Jill, I don’t want to divorce you...”

“Well, perhaps you should have thought of that before you started sleeping with that slut.”  She placed the papers on the table.  “I really have nothing else to say to you and there is nothing else that I want to hear you say.”  Jill rose from the table.

“Jill, please wait.”  Jonny got up from his chair.

“Don’t make a scene,” she said, her voice heavy with contempt.  “You want to do something for me?  Just keep this simple.”  She began walking away.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he called out.

Jill spun around.  “Oh Jonny,” she whispered, “I’m already gone.”

She
walked out of the café leaving Jonny standing alone.

Speechless.

Hurt.

Lost.

             
The sun streamed through white gauzy curtains with soft orange light.  Like the wings of a bird, the curtains flew forward with gentle grace.  In the distance, the faint roar of the ocean kept perfect time with the calls of seagulls.  Dana took in the moment, lulled by the magic around her.  Cody’s breath tickled her skin.

This was real.

              Love was real.

             
She delicately traced her fingers up his arm.  His eyes fluttered open.  “Good morning beautiful.”

             
Dana leaned in to kiss him, feeling his warm skin on cool bed sheets.  “It is.”

             
Cody played with strands of Dana’s jet-black tresses.  “I can’t believe today’s our last day.  I feel like we’ve just gotten started.”

“I know,” she gazed into his clear blue eyes.  “My plane leaves at three.  That doesn’t give us much time today.”

“No, but I think we’ll need to do something about this situation.  I already miss you.”

Reality crashed in on their fairy tale weekend.  Cody would have to go back on tour with his band and Dana would return to her crazy life on the air.

Their lives would continue.

Apart.

Dana rolled onto her stomach so she could face Cody.  “So what’s the answer?”

“I wish I had one...but we’ll figure out.  We’re worth it.”

Worth it.

Worth risk.

Worth loss.

Worth incredible happiness.

“I agree,” Dana confirmed to Cody and her mind.

“Good.  When the band does get some time off, I’ll just find my way down to South Florida.  And you?  I’m sure you get vacations...”

Dana laughed.  “They are few and far between, but occasionally, yes I do have some time off.”

“So we’ll
meet.”

The phone interrupted their bliss.

It was Sharon.  “Hey Dana...the hotel wanted to give us a good-bye lunch as a thank you.  Then we have to boogie to make our flight.”

Dana rolled her eyes at Cody.  “Yes, Sharon, I’ll be there.”

“Cool, we’re meeting in the lobby at noon.”

“Noon.  Got it.”

“So how are things with Cody...?”

“Great
, we’ll talk more later,” Dana said cutting her off.

“Ooooh...is he there now?”

“Bye Sharon.”

“Okay...got the message, but I want details!  Bye, Dana!”

Dana placed the phone back on the hook.  “I think we’ve been found out.”

“That’s fine with me,” Cody replied pulling her close.

Dana felt a wave of sadness realizing tonight she would be alone.  “So I leave today...”

“And I’ll call you tonight.”

“Where are you headed?”

“I think I’m gonna stop in Pinetree and see my mom tonight before returning to Gainesville tomorrow.  Talking about everything the other night got me thinking.  It’s been a long time.”

“That’ll be nice for you to see her.”

“I guess,” Cody said absentmindedly.  “My mom and I have a weird relationship.  I know she wants the best for me, but part of me still doesn’t understand her...”

“Because...?” Dana probed.

Cody felt he could trust Dana.  Years of silence about his childhood rose like a pressure in his body, forcing itself out.  “I told you my father was an alcoholic
, but I didn’t tell you everything.”

Dana looked at him, scared for what he was about to reveal.

Cody took a deep breath and paused before continuing.  “He also physically abused my mom and me.”

“Oh my God,” Dana said grabbing his hand tightly.

Once the words started to come out, Cody couldn’t stop them.  “Yeah…it was horrible, terrifying and...I...I can’t even really describe what it’s like to see the man who’s supposed to be your father hurt you physically and emotionally.”

“Were you okay...are you okay?”  Dana was shocked.  Her background of a close family prevented her from comprehending the horrors that Cody was speaking of.

“No, I wasn’t and now...I don’t think I ever recovered.  My dad would come home saturated with alcohol and full of rage.  He beat us both...viciously.”

Dana
felt tears slowly fall down her cheeks thinking of a young, scared, helpless boy.

Cody continued.  Telling the truth was a needed release.  He felt the weight of his darkest secret start to lift.  “One night he came home and I put an end to it.  I was fifteen and I stood up to him.  He left and never came back.  To this day I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing and I really don’t care.”

“And your mom?”

“I never resolved my feelings for her.  She was angry with me for kicking out her financial support...”

“But he was beating you both...” Dana said incredulously.

“I know...right?  A mom is supposed to protect her child.  Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”  He blinked back tears.  “I don’t know if I can or ever will forgive her for keeping him in our lives as long as she did.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“I keep in touch with her...and she’s proud of me for my success.  I think it’s that she’s proud...I mean I hope it’s that and not the fact that now I can send her some money from time to time.”

“I’m sure she loves you,” Dana said finding it hard to comprehend that his mother, that any mother, could feel anything less than love for her son.

“I guess.  I just don’t let myself get too close.  I can’t,
‘cause then I open myself up to getting hurt by her again.  And it’s not pleasant going back to that place...too many awful memories.”

“So then why go back?”

“Because she is my mom...and I have to.”

“I’d go with you if I could.”  Dana squeezed his hand.

“You would?”

“Of course, y
ou know I’ll always be there for you.”

Cody wrapped his arms around
Dana and held her tightly, afraid to let her go.

“I love you, Dana.”

Dana breathed deeply.

“I love you, too.”

It was Sunday.

Larry’s heart raced with excitement.  Everything was falling into place...he only needed to complete a few final touches.

He surveyed the small room under the stairs and admired his hard work.  Lovingly, he fingered the doorframe.  The waiting...the planning...it was all coming together now.  He gave one last approving glance, removing a stray red thread that had attached itself to
the edge of the frame and moved into the kitchen.  Opening the refrigerator, he looked over the contents.  It was stocked with, among other things, fresh fruit, cheeses and a bottle of wine.  In the freezer, he was storing loaves of French bread.  Enough romantic movies had taught him the powers of fine wine, cheese and crusty French bread.  Larry had spent nearly a week’s salary on the wine alone.  The guy at the liquor store assured him that he was purchasing a fine bottle that would appeal to the most discriminating palate.

It had better.

Larry retreated from the kitchen and headed upstairs to the bathroom, taking with him a pair of scissors and several towels.  He carefully laid the towels on the floor so the edges all touched and no floor showed through.  Then, he picked up the scissors and began shearing away his long curls.  Normally so neat and precise, Larry cut into his curls with reckless abandon, eager to shed the persona of a pathetic curly haired man.  Within minutes, the towels were covered with piles of locks of hair.  Larry took out his electric razor and shaved the remaining hair on his head to an army style crew cut.  Like men standing at attention, his little hairs lined up neatly in a row, stiff and straight.  His hand ran over the top of his head enjoying the coarse new feeling.  It made him wonder why he hadn’t done this long ago.

Methodically, Larry picked up each towel at an angle so the hairs of his past would fall downward to the center.  He then pulled each towel away, leaving a small pile of his former self.  A quick sweep and the old Larry was gone, deposited in the trash for good.

Larry moved into his bedroom and removed his neatly pressed outfit, checking it again for any flaws.  He laid it on the bed as a seal of approval, then sat down next to it and eyed the clock.  There were still hours to go.  His morning tasks took far less time than he anticipated.  He was disappointed.

The waiting made him very jumpy.

This was going to be a big day...a big week...a big rest of his life.  He had tried to take more vacation time at work, but with all his absences already, his boss was in no mood to give him more time off.  He nearly blew his cool at her flat denial of his request, but didn’t, it would have tipped them off.  Larry smiled at his brilliant acting job...at work and in Naples.

They all underestimated him.

He opened his nightstand drawer and pulled out the high school reunion letter he had hidden in it and let the rage of his youth flow through his body.

They would all be sorry
they did.

The day flew by, and before Dana knew it, it was time to leave.

Cody joined
Dana, Liam and Sharon for the lavish station good-bye lunch from the hotel.  They feasted on homemade banana bread, coconut rum shrimp and sweet fried plantains.  The lunch was bittersweet.  They all laughed and shared silly embarrassing stories.  Each opened up in this unique experience, making them much closer than co-workers.  One final toast of their piña coladas and they were saying farewell to the hotel staff...and Cody.

“Cody, it was a pleasure meeting you,” Liam said, hand extended.

“You too,” he answered, grasping Liam’s hand firmly.

“And how about me?” Sharon piped up, her apple round cheeks rosy with excitement.

“And you too,” Cody said, leaning in for a hug.

Sharon
giggled, so thrilled that she was now ‘friends’ with a rock star.

“And me?” Dana said, from off to the side, taking in Cody’s good nature.  He was so easy to be with, so nice with her friends.

“You,” Cody was instantly at her side, arms around her.  “You are a special case.”

Liam and Sharon exchanged knowing glances.  “Hey Dana,” he said, his thick brogue rich with sincerity, “why don’t we just meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes?  Then we can all head to the plane together.”

Dana smiled.  “Thanks.  I’ll see you then.”  She turned to Cody.  “Care to walk me to my room to get my stuff?”

He kissed her.  “Let’s go.”

They strolled through the lobby slowly, realizing that each step was a step closer to their separation.

“So,” Dana began, “you’re going back on tour?”

“Yeah.  I’ve gotta touch base with the guys and find out what’s happening.  I know our manager, Eric, has big plans for us after this little break.  You know, it’s only been a couple days since I’ve spoken to the guys, but I feel like it’s been weeks.”