Hearts In Rhythm (11 page)

His head was hurting and it took him a minute to remember that the band had gone out to celebrate after cleaning up last night.

The show hadn’t ended after the python had crashed the party. When he and Allie returned to the auditorium, Cody was wearing Bell around his shoulders while he played a solo on the guitar. The crowd was surrounding the stage, pumping their fists in the air, and banging their heads. A mosh pit had started and two girls were being passed around the crowd while Matt and Cody played music they normally didn’t rehearse. Someone from the crowd was standing at the microphone yelling into it indecipherable words that only he could understand.

Brandon and Allie stood there amazed at what had begun. They ended up playing well into the early morning hours as teenagers continued coming in. He learned later that word spread quickly with the use of technology and even youth from surrounding towns showed up to witness the snake on stage.

The knocking was louder and faster.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” he called through the living room as he made his way to the door.

He unlatched the dead bolt and the lock on the doorknob and opened the door. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, it was hard to see, but there standing on the porch, looking amazing was Simone. Her long red hair tumbled around her shoulders and onto a tight, low cut blouse. A gold chain hung around her neck and the pendant on the end was lost in her cleavage. Brandon blinked a couple of times, to determine if what he was seeing was a vision. In each of her hands she held a coffee. She presented one to him.

“I brought your favorite. Hazelnut latte with whipped cream.”

“You always remember.”

Brandon took the coffee and took a sip burning his tongue. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to invite her in or let her say what she needed to say standing on the porch. His manners got the best of him and he opened the door wide.

“So, you can come in if you like.”

She accepted his offer and he watched her step inside rather than parade herself like she would have in the past. He gathered she was remorseful or was bringing bad news.

“I’ve made a mistake, Brandon,” she began. “The past couple of weeks have been the absolute worse for me. I’ve cried myself to sleep every night, on the nights that I do sleep. I came to apologize, to tell you how sorry I am.” She took a drink and tossed her hair. “Even though I still don’t think I overreacted.” She still had that hint of pride.

Brandon wasn’t sure what to do. Here was Simone, attempting an apology but unable to put away her haughtiness to do so. And then, there was Allie.

She continued, “Anyway, I thought we could just forget the whole mess, you know, like it never happened.” She flicked her arm through the air as if she were shooing a fly.

“We can go back to the way things were. I talked to the caterer and he said he could do the beef tenderloin and the sea bass. I was wondering if we should do a chicken dish as well. I haven’t told many people the engagement if off, have you? What do you think about the chicken dish Brandon? Brandon?”

He didn’t know what to say to Simone. He needed time to think. His mind was confused as it was, without the fact that it wasn’t even seven in the morning and he’d had one sip of burning hot coffee.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Oh my gosh! You’re not alone are you? Is she here? You’ve actually brought her home with you?”

Simone stomped towards the bedroom. Brandon plopped down on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. Simone came around the corner from the bedroom walking much slower than when she left.

“You’re wrong. Again.”

She shrugged her left shoulder and sat down beside him. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through.

“There’s something I want to show you,” she said.

She handed Brandon her phone. He pushed play on the YouTube video she had pulled up, and watched last night’s fiasco unfold before his eyes.

“You made YouTube.”

There had already been 2,467 views in just a matter of hours.

Brandon couldn’t help but smile. He secretly hoped the video would go viral. He almost didn’t care if it was bad press, he figured exposure was exposure, regardless of the nature of it. At least their name would get out there and maybe other people who loved a riot would book them for their event. They could make Bell an honorary member of the band. He began to wonder if snakes could be trained to play the maracas or something.

He sat staring at Simone’s phone, watching the entire scene unravel from the night before. He thought the music really sounded great up until the drums went awry and confusion hit the stage. Seeing Allie on the camera brought him back from his fantasy of seeing his picture on the cover of Rolling Stone and into his living room where Simone sat beside him.

He shook the cobwebs out of his head and realized what had just transpired. She was here telling him she wanted to get back together. She was replanning the wedding. She had already rebooked the caterer.

He handed the phone back to her. He walked to the door and held it open for her.

“Thanks for the coffee, Simone. And thanks for everything else, you know, the memories, the experiences, the love I thought we had. But we’re done. These past couple of weeks has given me a lot of time to thing. My eyes have been opened.”

She stood slowly and picked up her coffee. She just stood for a moment staring. Brandon began to worry if she was going to leave without a scene, but then she walked towards the door and stopped before him. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“Good-bye, Brandon. I will always love you.”

Then she was gone.

* * * *

Two days later, when Brandon received the call from the entertainment executive who had heard their music, he was thrilled.
Father Millennium
had plans to meet with a record label and work out a deal. His dreams for making it to the top were almost in reach. And he couldn’t have done it without Allie. And Bell of course.

The snow fell heavy and wet on Christmas morning blanketing the yard and weighing down the tree branches. Allie leaned against the pillar on her front porch with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She wore a long terry cloth robe over her flannel pajamas. She’d been awake for a while, rising early to put the turkey in the oven. Mr. & Mrs. Givens had given each of their employees a turkey for free as part of their Christmas bonus. She usually declined it, never turning in her voucher, but this year she decided to surprise her mom and cook the meal. She’d had her nose in Julia Child’s cookbook for a few days now, but was convinced she would give it her best shot. She’d invited Brandon. He’d gladly accepted the invitation and said he’d bring dessert.

He had been over last night and they had played Santa Claus together after Samuel was good and asleep. Brandon had gone all out for him, just as if he was his own. Presents wrapped in kiddie Christmas paper lined the tree and stuck out into the small living room. Brandon had helped her put together all the toys that required assembly or batteries.

She stood a moment longer watching her breath make clouds in the air, and then went in to get ready for the day. She dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and pulled her hair into a ponytail. On her way to the kitchen, she quietly opened Samuel’s door. He looked like a little angel lying on his bed, so peaceful. She smiled thinking about the awe and excitement on his face at the sight of the presents and then all the snow.

She pulled the door to, and headed toward the kitchen. She put on a pot of coffee for her mom and heard a slight rap at the front door. She opened it to find Brandon standing there. Snowflakes covered his black stocking cap and coat. He wore a wide smile.

He bent his head in the door and gave Allie a kiss.

“Merry Christmas! Is Samuel up?”

“Merry Christmas to you too, and no, not yet.”

He stepped in the door carrying a pie in each hand. They were covered with tin foil.

“Good. I thought I’d be too late. You know how kids wake so early on Christmas morning.”

“I’m surprised you’re here. I didn’t expect you until lunchtime.”

“I had to come, I couldn’t miss seeing his face.”

They walked in the kitchen and Brandon set the pies down on the counter.

“What can I help you do?” he said looking around.

“Nothing, yet. Want some coffee?”

She poured him a cup and they set at the kitchen table watching the snowfall as the shadows of the night disappeared and were replaced with the brightness of the white.

“Did I tell you the good news?” Allie asked

“No. What?”

“I got enrolled for the spring classes. I start January 9.”

“That’s awesome, Allie.”

“Yes, now that the insurance has come through to pay Samuel’s medical bills, I can put the money I’d saved towards tuition.”

Allie looked up and caught Brandon staring at her. His head was resting on his chin and his eyes bore into her.

“What?” she said with a giggle.

His mouth turned up at the ends.

“It’s just that I think you’re amazing. I know I’ve never told you how proud I am of you.”

She couldn’t keep from blushing.

“So since you don’t need extra money now, does this mean I need to look for another drummer?”

“Not on your life.”

“Mama! Mama!” Samuel called.

Brandon and Allie jumped up and ran in. Samuel had made his way into the living room and was sitting before the Christmas tree already busy with the toys that sat out in the open.

The excitement roused Gail and she came stumbling into the living room tying a robe around her middle.

“It looks like someone has been a good boy,” she said.

She saw Brandon and said good morning. He poured her a cup of coffee and they sat on the couch watching as Samuel ripped open his presents.

* * * *

Wrapping paper covered the floor and Samuel was busy exploring all the newness when Brandon snuck off to his car and came back with an armload of gifts.

“More presents?” Allie asked.

“Yes, but these are for you two.”

He walked over and handed Gail a gift.

“You got something for me?”

She opened her present and pulled out a gold chain with a heart pendant.

“Thank you Brandon.”

“Now, it’s your turn,” he said handing Allie a gift.

“I got you something, too.” She dug around under all the paper debris and found his gifts.

Brandon opened his first and found a Rolling Stone magazine that Allie had specially made with his face smiling from the front.

“Just in case,” she said.

Brandon had gotten Allie a framed copy of the lyrics to the song he had written for her.

“You deserve to be happy,” he said leaning over and kissing her deeply.

* * * *

Allie pulled the golden turkey from the oven and brought it to the table where Samuel, Brandon, and Gail sat. The passed the food and said grace. This year, there was so much to be thankful for. Allie teared up while Brandon prayed and said a silent thank you of her own.

After the meal, Allie leaned back in her chair.