For the Love of Music (Sixty Minute Romance) (7 page)

“It would be good to catch
up on old times.” Said Sandy.

Anne was not quite so sure
that she wanted to do this, but as Sandy was driving she went along with the
idea.

Sandy left Anne with
Giorgio at the table and went to get the drinks.

“So how long have you
known Ed?” She asked.

“We trained together in Exmouth,
Devon about ten years ago. Paulo was also on the same team as us. It’s where we
all met.”

Sandy came back with a
tray of drinks and goodies.

“So have you kept in
contact with Ed all this time?” Sandy asked.

“Yes, I have. He dropped
off the radar about a year ago and I didn’t know why. Paulo found out that he
had been smashed about and sent home. It’s pretty shocking to see him now.”
Explained Giorgio.

“How did Paulo find out?”
Sandy was getting a bit suspicious of the story being told.

Giorgio looked up towards
Anne and then Sandy.

“The Colonel keeps us
informed of everyone involved with the Afghan drugs supply run. Paulo met up
with the Colonel a few weeks ago, to learn that Ed was here.”

“So Paulo is still working
with you? He hasn’t given up his job on the front line?” Asked Sandy hurriedly.

“I’m sorry Sandy, he has definitely
changed jobs. It’s just that there were a lot of loose ends to tie up after the
Maldives operation. He couldn’t just walk away.” Giorgio was making a bad show
of explaining things.

“Well excuse me while I
make a call and tie up some loose ends of my own.” Sandy almost ran out of the
café to phone Paulo.

“Well you put your foot in
it there, didn’t’ you?” Said Anne.

“It’s actually better that
Sandy knows the truth. Paulo has been covering his back for months now, trying
to make sure Sandy didn’t know.” Explained Giorgio.

“And you are a friend of
Ed. It couldn’t get any better really.” Said Anne.

“I had no idea you were the
music girl he was talking about. I just didn’t put two and two together and
think of you.” Giorgio was beginning to squirm.

“You certainly didn’t
think of me. You haven’t emailed me or called once since we broke up. That is
what I call a clean break.” Anne realised that she had no romantic feelings
left for Giorgio, but for some reason wanted to give him a hard time.

“We broke up, Anne. We
agreed not to make contact.” Giorgio was accurate in this, but he was still in
the wrong as far as Anne was concerned.

Sandy returned and plopped
herself down in her chair.

“He’s not answering,
wouldn’t you know.” Sandy glanced at Anne. Anne took hold of her hand and they
both looked accusingly at Giorgio.

“Hey! I’m just visiting my
mate Ed in hospital, that’s all I’m here for. Nice to catch up with you both.”

Giorgio stood up and
kissed both Anne and Sandy on the cheeks before leaving in a hurry.

“I can’t believe I went
out with him.” Said Anne convincingly.

“It was just lust mixed
with danger, pure and simple.”

“I think you are right.”
Anne shook herself and picked up Sandy’s hand again.

“What am I going to do
with Ed. What did you think about him?” Anne really wanted to know.

“It doesn’t matter what I
think. I know what you think about him. You might as well give it up and go on
a date with him. Spend some time with him. You will never know what he is like,
unless you spend some decent time with him. The whole one leg thing and the
mixed up brain might not matter so much, if you get to know him.” Sandy was
right. Anne knew it.

“I’ll go back and see him
for a minute. I saw his mum and Fiona leaving. Is it alright to stay a bit
longer?” Asked Anne.

“I’ll stay here and
prepare my ammunition for Paulo.” Replied Sandy.

“Just remember that you
love him and that he is the one for you.” Said Anne.

“That is precisely why he
will get a proper telling off from me. I’m already looking forward to it.” Anne
made her way back to the ward and found to her relief that Ed was alone.

“Hi Ed. You OK?” Anne
couldn’t think of anything sensible to say.

“You and Giorgio, eh? That
was a bit of a curve ball.” Said Ed.

“I’d rather not talk about
it.” Said Anne.

“You and me both.” Ed was
recovering fast.

“So how about a date?
That’s why you are here, right?” Asked Ed.

“How did you work that
out?” Asked Anne surprised.

“It was the love doctor
Colonel; he is a real match maker on the quiet. He told me I should ask you out
for a date. We’ll see how good he really is.”

“Hm, I need to reassess
that Colonel. He is not quite who he says he is.” Said a smiling Anne.

“We all love him here, he
has helped mend so many messed up guys like me, you wouldn’t believe. It’s such
a shame he is retiring in a few weeks’ time. The new guy is good, but the
Colonel is the best.” Ed said this so plainly without any edge. Anne had rarely
heard such a speech of devotion, man about man. There were a few moments of
silence between them. Anne took a deep breath and brought things back to their
date.

“So about this date.” Anne
said.

“My oh my, you are keen.”
Said Ed.

“It’s more about getting
it over and done with.” Said Anne in retaliation.

“Give me your mobile
number and I’ll call you as soon as the geeks say I am fit.” Said Ed.

Anne typed her number into
Ed’s smart phone and made to go.

“I liked it better the last
time you left. I got a hug that time.” Said Ed.

Anne laughed and hugged
him and kissed him on both cheeks before walking to the door. She turned around
and gave a little wave.

“I’ll call you! Yes I
will! I’ll call you! Yes I will!” Anne could hear Ed shout at the top of his voice
as she walked down the corridor. She laughed out loud and then tried to act
cool as she made her way to meet Sandy in the Café. A wide grin wouldn’t leave
her face and she laughed quietly to herself as she rounded the corner to meet
Sandy.

“I would say looking at
your face that your mission is accomplished. You have a date. Right?” Sandy
also had a stupid grin on her face.

“Right! Let’s get out of
here.” Anne replied. They walked out arm in arm and giggling like teenagers.

Ten days later, Ed called
Anne and arranged to go out for a meal with her. It felt a bit like an
anti-climax, especially after the emotional turmoil of Ed being rushed to
hospital and being in intensive care. But it was good to be moving on to the next
stage in their possible relationship. Anne had run out of things to do at work
and the Kovergirls had no major gigs until the end of the summer, when they
would be doing the Replay Festival. So the date with Ed started to take on a
huge significance in her thoughts. She spent ages shopping for the perfect
outfit and discussing with Sandy how she should look.

Friday night came and Ed
arrived on time in his new car. It was a specially adapted Kia Sorrento. He
rang her on the mobile to save him getting out of the car. It could take a few
minutes with his new leg to manoeuver himself in and out of the car. Anne came
out of her house and jumped into the passenger seat.

“Hi Ed.  This is a lovely
car.” Said Anne.

“It’s great, isn’t it? I
feel so much more in control when I have my own wheels. I just have to get used
to an automatic. I’ve never had one before. You look great, by the way.” Ed was
in a good mood.

“Just something I threw
on.” Said Anne lying.

Ed was wearing a very
smart and expensive looking casual bomber jacket over some cream coloured
slacks. His black shoes were highly polished.

“We look like a pair of
kids going to our first prom. I’ve never spent so much time and money on
getting ready for a date.” Said Ed.

“Well let’s make it a good
one then.” Laughed Anne.

“I have more good news. I
am now an outpatient from the hospital and have moved back in with my Mum and
sister Fiona.”

“That’s really good news
Ed. Well done.”

“I’m beginning to feel
normal again.” He was full of positivity and enthusiasm.

Ed drove them to an
Italian restaurant he knew and parked in the disabled car park round the back.

“You can’t park here, it’s
for…Oh.” Anne was shocked at herself.”

“Thank you. That’s the
nicest thing you have said to me for ages. Certainly better than your
‘Where’s
your wheelchair’
line.” Ed was enjoying Anne’s mistake.

“I’m an idiot Ed. Take me
home immediately.” Said Anne feeling really stupid.

“Not likely, it’s taken
months of heartache to get you here. I’m not taking you back now.” Ed helped
Anne out of the car and they slowly walked together to the reception area of
the restaurant. It was evident that Ed was a regular and knew the owner,
Felipe. Ed and Anne were given a royal welcome and taken to their table
personally by Felipe.

“You are most welcome Miss
Anne. Ed is one of our honoured customers. It is our honour to have you here
with him. You must meet my wife. I will go and get her.”

“Thank you.” Said Anne,
hardly knowing what else to say. She tried to imagine what Felipe’s wife would
be like. She got it completely wrong.

“Felipe knows my family
and we come here quite often. His ways are a bit quaint and old fashioned but
you wait until you taste the food.” Ed explained. Five minutes later Felipe
introduced his wife Maria to Anne. She was definitely not what Anne was expecting.
She was dark and tall and looked to have the body of an athlete. She was
dressed in a sleek and simple black dress and had bright red high heeled shoes
on. Her hair was long and black and immaculately cut and groomed. She could
have been an Italian model.

“She used to be a model.”
Ed whispered to Anne.

“I am going to love you,
look at you. We could be sisters.” She compared the length of her hair to
Anne’s. Maria’s accent was very thick and strong. Maria seemed to like Anne
right away. She pulled her from her seat and, arm in arm; she showed her the
kitchens and the backrooms of the restaurant. Then they went upstairs to the
private flat, to see some photos of Felipe and Maria and their family in Italy.
They returned after a good ten minutes tour and Anne sat back down with Ed. The
welcome was overwhelming but did serve to put both Ed and Anne at ease. The
restaurant was quite small and Felipe and Maria were now needed to welcome
other diners as they arrived.

“Do you trust me to
order?” Asked Ed.

“I don’t know.” Said Anne.

“You must learn to trust
me.” When Felipe came over to give them the menus, Ed said to him.

“We’ll have your
recommendations Felipe.” Felipe’s face glowed in appreciation of an artist
being allowed free reign with his palette.

“You will not be
disappointed Miss Anne.” Felipe went about his business and finally Ed and Anne
had time to themselves.

“This is quite a place
here.” Said Anne.

“I love coming here. It’s
ridiculously expensive but I always get looked after here. Felipe knew my
father and he has always remembered me because of that.”

“Where is your father
now?” Anne asked.

“Oh, he died a couple of
years ago. He was a lot older than my mum who you met the other day.

“Oh I’m sorry to hear
that.” Anne said the right thing.

“It’s OK. All part of life
really.” This evening Ed had no edge to him. He was very relaxed and easy to
talk to. They talked nonstop for three hours, while being very well looked
after by Felipe and his waiters. It was as if the floodgates had opened and
they had a lifetime of things to talk about. Ed found out about how Sandy and
Paulo had been set up by Anne and Giorgio in the Maldives. He found it very
amusing to imagine Paulo settling down. Ed actually knew both Paulo and Giorgio
very well and it was interesting for Anne to hear about them in the past.

“I’m very upset that
Giorgio was your old boyfriend. That was a bit of a shocker, honestly it was. I
thought you had better taste.” Ed was getting this off his chest.

“Yes, well, we all make
mistakes.” Said Anne in reflective mood.

“Am I going to be a
mistake?” Asked Ed.

“I’ll tell you something
Ed, I wish you would stop being so pushy and wanting to know where we stand all
the time. It’s hard work for a girl like me. Sorry to be so blunt.” It just
came out from Anne without thought or care.

“Well you certainly told
me there didn’t you? My own stupid fault. I don’t do subtle and I don’t do
careful.” Said Ed.

“You need some edges
knocking off, that’s for sure but I’ll tell you this much. I like you. You are
more interesting than most other guys and I like you. How’s that?”