Music Notes (Heartbeat #3)

  MUSIC NOTES

  Book Three of the Heartbeat Series

  By

  Renee Lee Fisher

  Credits

  Music Notes Copyright © 2014 by Renee Lee Fisher

  Kindle Edition

  All Rights Reserved. This edition is copywritten. No reproduction or utilization of this edition without written permission from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and scenarios are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously

  Book cover design by: SelfPubBookCovers.com/Philip

  Edited by: Meredith Bowery

  Formatted by: BB eBooks

  Dedication

  Can you hear it? It’s playing only in your head…your own personal playlist. If you are upset it takes you away, if sadness places a dark cloud over you, it lifts you up…sitting frustrated in traffic your fingers slowly begin to tap the steering wheel…at a military funeral it makes you honor the fallen…at a wedding it makes you act like a chicken…and when you are happy it moves you to dance…

  Special thank you to all those involved in the creative process to the finished song as MUSIC HEALS EVERYTHING.

  This is a thank you to all those so musically gifted who have put themselves out there to be heard. I know I listen to your songs. I feel your music as it flows through me. I sing along even though I am very off key. But what’s best is I smile as it plays in my heart.

  And how is it that we often cannot remember a conversation we were just a part of but we can totally recall the lyrics of songs forever?

  With that said, I need to mention some others as they are on my mind right now. It takes a lot of people to put together every song. I feel along this journey in writing I have been able to put together my own band. There is my devoted husband Michael who is very loving, and he is my huge support system. There are many family members that are behind me pushing me proudly, and there are true friends that have hung in here with me even when many times life was playing me a different tune. There is a lead person in the band, Meredith Bowery, you are so wonderful and these written words would never flow without your guidance, corrections and suggestions. I thank you for your persistence to make me push in telling a story in another character voice out of my comfort zone. A shout out to my brother as he is the lead vocalist of a band and listening to him speak helped me become the voice of Max Rand. Now, I am blowing a kiss in the air to travel all the way to Ireland for my dear friend who helped me with an idea for this story that we spoke of as we took a walk on a beautiful sun drenched day.

  I pause a moment and tuck my hair behind my ears trying to remember everyone, so next up I cannot forget my street team the Vivacious Vixens. They are a fabulous group of people all contributing and helping me unselfishly. And then there is Tabitha. A sweet, bright, young girl working right along with me and who sometimes has to push me but says there is no app or key to display, “Kick your ass and get moving…to put the drama in the pages and not real life.” Although she is on the west coast and I am on the east coast everyday it seems like we are right in the very same room, glad we are not because she would surely kick me in the ass or swat me in the head to keep me moving along.

  I also want to thank the readers, as you all have been following along with my Heartbeat Series and reaching out to me with all your comments, character name choices and your great reviews and ratings. Also a few Authors who have reached out to me and some are my friends now, Kallypso Masters, Shoshanna Evers, Elle Chardou and Alyson Raynes each of you have made me feel comfortable in the Author World. I will continue writing because it is my passion and I so enjoy it and because you all have truly embraced me within the writing field.

  Renee Lee Fisher xo

  Chapters

  Title Page

  Credits

  Dedication

  Prologue – My Vision

  Chapter One – News Flash

  Chapter Two – Today or Yesterday

  Chapter Three – First Class Front Row

  Chapter Four – Simply Mad Release

  Chapter Five – Rock Girl Meila

  Chapter Six – Coming Home

  Chapter Seven – Feeling Off

  Chapter Eight – Father’s Request

  Chapter Nine – They Have Arrived

  Chapter Ten – Mask of Rade

  Chapter Eleven – Collapse

  Chapter Twelve – Candles are Lit

  Chapter Thirteen – Words Can’t Say

  Epilogue – Music Notes Café

  Author’s Notes

  Playlist

  Follow the “Heartbeat Series”

  Prologue – My Vision

  I never took my eyes off her. As she turned in the night, her face pressed into the pillow and her hair swept across her face. I gently lifted the strands and it was like stacking toothpicks as I didn’t want any movement to wake her. This stunning woman was now my wife. Here though she was not in her best showing. I knew she felt ill and I was helpless to make her feel better. I didn’t want to screw up the very first task of being her husband. God I sucked at this, but I would not give up and I would try in the morning when her eyes meet mine to make her eat something. Then I would bring her to a doctor who would become the hero for a moment when he can fix what ails her that I cannot.

  I am not going to beat myself up about this, she loves me, she is with me for my entire lifetime and just because I can’t cure her now, together, we will see what it is. Whatever her diagnosis, we will face it. I inch slowly into her curved body and place my lips into her hair and breathe in. Her very presence takes my breath away. God, I love her so much. I once thought she was out of my league, but I now see that she and I are one in the same but I will always put her on my mental pedestal, she truly has saved me and she is my lifeline.

  Chapter One – News Flash

  We could not get a doctor appointment for days and Rand would not hear of that so he took me right to the hospital. I didn’t think this was an emergency. I just feel drained and weak. I have no appetite, but it will pass. Hospitals always have a chill to them. Despite that, they are the places that keep our hearts beating and our blood flowing. Here in the hospital today, I am nervous and feeling shivers dance across my skin. I have already been thoroughly examined including having blood drawn for tests. I am now trying to wait patiently for the doctor’s return. Rand is trying to be patient even though I know he is worried about me but trying not to let me know that. I have been feeling sick lately, dizzy and experiencing some headaches.

  Since the accident in the summer when I was struck by a truck I have had to watch in case anything felt odd in my head, so I promised him after we returned from a very short honeymoon—although every day with Rand is a honeymoon—that I would see a doctor.

  “Hey Love, you know they make this type of clothing so you can moon the whole hospital as your sexy ass walks on by,” Rand said with his charming smile in attempt to get me to laugh. Despite his best efforts at lightening the mood, and warming me up, I was thoroughly frozen from sitting in this exam room wearing only a pink hospital gown with a slit down the entire back. It was nice to feel his fingers tracing down my back through the slit, but I was thankful to finally be dressed again. I kept tapping my foot nervously on the four corners of the tile until Rand placed his hand on my thigh to still me.

  I was trying to calm myself, and think positive thoughts. The door opened to the exam room, and a young doctor entered. He then spent a moment with us, explaining that they found something in my blood test that required a further look. It would now be just a little longer until the original doctor ordering the tests would be coming to discuss this with us. I now felt so scared. What could th
ey be looking for or seeing in my blood? Rand, in a moment, knew that I was frightened without me saying a word. He took the pad of his thumb and gently skimmed the surface of my arm where they had drawn several vials of blood. “Love, it’s going to be okay, we have to stay positive. Focus on me.” He leaned in and placed such soft kisses on my skin, just next to the gauze patch, and then worked several kisses along the delicate inner surface of my arm. It made me giggle, and I ran my fingers through his hair almost forgetting where I was at the moment. Rand was teasing me with sweet moans and groans in between each kiss he placed distracting me from the worrying.

  Just then, the doctor came in wearing a serious expression. Rand sat back in his chair and his playful mood immediately disappeared. We had been watching the clock’s hands sweep slowly passing the minutes, and now I’m ready for the doctor to speak. I am anxious to get home and feel better. The door shuts and the doctor sits next to me. I am thinking this is really bad, he’s come in looking serious and professional in his crisp, white coat and he needs to sit to tell us.

  He clears his throat and speaks, “Madison, what we have here is” he pauses, “you and Rand need to prepare. You are pregnant, and our tests have confirmed you are expecting twins. Since you are very weak and have been so sick lately, I want you to rest during these episodes of morning sickness until you feel stronger.” My face was frozen, but it had nothing to do with how nippy it was in the room. This news was completely shocking. I looked to Rand who was beaming, and for the first time he’s completely speechless. I am a writer and even I was at a total loss for words.

  Rand took my hand and then pulled me in a tight hug and said, “Madison this is great news! You are always surprising me every moment of every day with your love, but this is huge! I never thought I would have all this in my lifetime. My heart is aching, but the pain is so good.”

  “Rand we are going to have twins, I am going to push out TWINS!”

  * * *

  I held onto her only feeling our hearts beating, and she remained silent. To have Madison awake but speechless for any length of time was something I had never seen. The last time I recalled anything like her current state of shock was when she nervously sat in the front row of my concert in Philly less than two years ago, and the only time I really remember her being this quiet was during those awful days that she was unconscious after the accident. But now here she stands without words, with her hands folded in her lap and just a shocked looking face. I stare, memorizing this moment. This is just going to be another memory I visualize in my head forever. The sun’s rays are peeking in the window and I feel the warmth on my skin. I start to hum a tune, and I sing the words quietly and slowly with the beat in my head.

  My life has gone from lost to found,

  I have these three loves that have turned me around.

  My life has gone from lost to found.

  I look over as I am still humming this music in my head and Madison is listening to the doctor. We were both stunned by the news but in a good way. I remember that sometime around the time Madison took the second hit to her head that she had gotten off schedule on her pills. The hospital performed a pregnancy test that was negative at the time, but I guess timing is everything. I hate the reason why, but I am thrilled she got sidetracked. Although she is not showing at all in her belly, probably because she has been sick and not eating, the doctor believes she is already near twelve weeks along. I am trying to hold back the smile I can feel forming. It’s impossible though, and I think my face is in danger of cracking from the force.

  I glance out of the hospital window and think back to when the band started out. Having coffee at the 2nd Street Coffee Café, waiting for the guys from the band, I stared at her lovely face. I ripped the picture out of the newspaper. I actually ripped the article out of all of the papers stacked in the corner of the café by the front door. We knew there was hype and buzz about our band and the music we were cranking out, but we didn’t know how the review would be.

  I turn my attention back to this room and Madison is completely unraveled from the news. She is rubbing her belly as her lips slightly part with a trembling nervous quiver. I can see that she is very pleasantly surprised, as the thought never crossed our minds that she could be pregnant and that was the reason for her sickness. I also know now that I have to take her away even sooner than I had originally planned for a real honeymoon before that belly of hers starts to bump out.

  She would be too self conscious to wear a bikini when she starts showing. I send a quick text to Maxwell—not of the news yet because we haven’t digested it ourselves—but to move quickly on booking travel for us to the most spectacular resort on St. Martin. Maxwell is the go-to-guy for all travel needs as he has done so much with coordinating our shows in all the different cities. I want to spend days with my woman in a bikini, and nights without the small triangles of colored fabric in the way.

  “Rand. RAND!” Madison says, almost shouting and finally has my full attention. I got a little distracted picturing her in a bikini, stripping the bikini off of her… “I’m still so shocked by our great news, what do you need, Love?” I rebounded from my lustful thoughts of my wife. I was totally off enjoying that image of her in my head.

  “Rand I have to stop out at the front desk for some instructions, and then I really think I could eat something. I have to eat for three, me and our twins,” she laughed. I wasn’t sure that there was any real humor in that laugh. I reached out and took hold of her hand. I knew I could get that right in the husband department. Her fingers slid into mine so comfortably. I never want to let this woman go. I am on top of the world. Here I am writing and playing the best music of my life; I have a hot, sexy, adorable wife and I have twins on the way. Life is so good at this moment, so freaking good.

  As we approach the front desk, Madison is listening intently to the woman behind the desk. I’m acting like I hadn’t seen the other two young nurses whisper and then start to stare at me. I would have gone over to flirt with them back in the day, but now? Hell, I am going to be a dad. It changes so much. I will give Madison all of me and not screw it up. I won’t. I don’t have to convince myself. I know I am not like my father. I will never turn my back and walk away from my children or my wife…never. I will never turn to another. Madison glances at me, ready to leave and again has no idea what races through my head.

  I was relieved to see her finally eat a full meal after being sick so often. Our lunch passed by with barely any serious or deep conversation. It was consumed with Madison, just like any woman, talking on and on about every little detail of basic subject matter. I just let her talk and every now and again I would nod. I met her eyes several times as I was eating my sandwich and saw her delightful eyes fixed on me. Breathless. She leaves me absolutely without air. She is exceptionally beautiful and has grown to be confident, and I have learned over this year to read her eyes so well. For now I am very happy that I don’t see them display any fear. “Love, allow me,” I say as I notice some dressing from her sandwich on her lower lip. I reach out, just skimming gently across her lips. Just as my finger wipes away the drop, she runs her tongue across the spot. At the feel of her on my skin, I feel an instant throb in my jeans.

  This is the same instant attraction—sexual attraction—I had always felt for her. My mind drifts back, remembering the first time I went to meet her. Madison Tierney, the gorgeous girl who appeared in the tiny, black and white photo on front of the city’s newspaper above her weekly column. Feeling thrilled with her recent review of our band, I had stopped off to buy her some flowers. This was so not a thing I would do. I was not the flowery type of guy. I was in a band and had to maintain that cutting edge image. But for today, her positive words about our band made me soft in my chest, but a bit hard someplace lower. With so many types of roses to choose from I had thought it would be tough to pick, but my eyes were instantly drawn to one kind. They had dark pink edges, and actually looked different from the standard solid colors. Believe me
, I had no idea what any color meant although I am sure women know. They probably memorize the meaning of every color of the rainbow. I thought these would be right for her, and I didn’t even know her. I did know red would be way over the top.

  As I entered the newspaper office and it was busy as ever. I was stared at from head to toe. Standing there in my ripped jeans and tight black tee shirt, I probably looked a bit out of place for this office full of suits. Today though I was feeling pretty good, and knew it was going to be a great day. I thought of this moment in my head for a long time. Finally I put my charming smile on my face and asked the receptionist if Madison was available. Unfortunately, I was shot down immediately as she informed me that Madison had just left for lunch with her HUSBAND. I hadn’t even had that thought enter my mind. Why wouldn’t she be married though? She was beautiful, but I had thought that I could just walk into her life and be welcomed. What the Hell was I thinking? I may be a lead vocalist and have many girls screaming and following me but the one I wanted to meet doesn’t even know I exist.

  I left the office building feeling so low. The wind was sucked out of me. I approached a bench across the sidewalk and stuffed the flowers, petals first, into the trash can beside me. I sat there reflective, happy for the band, but miserable with life. I would never meet her. Stuck in my head now was the fact that she was married. I sat there with my hands to my head. I think I actually may have shed a tear. My mom had just sent me a text that she got bad results from her doctor on one of her tests. This was strike two for the day.

  I don’t know how long I sat on that bench, but it was long enough that I may have had an indent across my flesh from the wooden slats. I had no place to be, so I just sat there. Then I saw her coming, walking side by side with her husband. He was totally “business man” from his shoes to his tight, perfectly knotted blue tie lying against a yellow shirt. I couldn’t look at him anymore. It was Madison that captured my attention. The bounce in her step, her skirt that slightly lifted up in today’s breeze. I wanted to grab her hand, and pull her on to my lap on the bench hiking her skirt up. I was thinking that exact thought as they passed in front of me.