Hearts In Rhythm Read online

  Her eyes really did look black now. She took a paper towel and wet it under the hot water. She wiped her eyes clean and scrubbed the splatters of blood from her face. Her top lip was busted in the middle and had grown larger than usual. What a night. She couldn’t wait to get home and put on pajamas and fuzzy socks on her cold feet.

  The restaurant was quiet with only another couple sitting across the room. She slid into the booth across from Brandon and opened the menu. Deciding on a pizza proved to be another hurdle of the night.

  She wanted pepperoni, but it gave him heartburn. He liked olives; she would rather stick her hand in a lawnmower than eat an olive. After several minutes of deliberating the type of pizza to order, they finally decided they would order half pepperoni, and half Canadian bacon with olives. It was all settled until the waiter asked what kind of crust: thin, hand tossed, or thick. Brandon rested his head on the back of the booth, looking up at the amber light that hung over their table.

  “Allie, just choose. I’m too hungry to fight anymore.”

  “Thin,” she said.

  Brandon popped his head up.

  “There is hope,” he said smiling.

  Allie smiled back, noticing for the first time the dimple in his left cheek. She wondered why she hadn’t noticed yet. His eyes usually held her attention. Boldness got the better of her and the words came out before she could stop herself.

  “What a great smile you have. You should show it more often.”

  The waiter cleared his throat. “Will there be anything else?”

  Brandon turned to the waiter, remembering he was there. “No, I think that will be all.”

  “Very well,” he said, “We’ll have it right out.”

  Brandon turned back to Allie.

  “So, let’s talk business. What do you think about playing Fallen Sky at this next gig? Do you think we can get it down by then?”

  “Okay, time to embarrass myself again, but I’m not familiar with Fallen Sky. Who sings it?”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and took a sip of her soda from the straw.

  “Actually, Brandon said, “me.”

  Allie raised her eyebrows. “You wrote it?”

  Brandon nodded, “I’m pretty proud of it, too. I’ve got a recording at the house, I’d like for you to hear it soon.”

  The waiter arrived with the pizza and sat it on the table. Allie turned it to where the pepperoni was facing her.

  “I’m sure it’s great, and I’d love to hear it,” she said.

  He smiled again revealing his dimple and reached for a piece of pizza.

  Allie felt something stir inside her. This was serious. Yet, she still didn’t know what had happened between he and Simone tonight. She figured if he wanted her to know, he would tell her. Besides, she was enjoying herself too much to risk ruining it with talk of her.

  * * * *

  Sunday morning came too early. Allie couldn’t keep from yawning. She scanned the bag of potato chips and put her hand up as a sign of politeness. She finished ringing up the elderly ladies groceries.

  “Excuse me. Anything else?” she asked.

  “No, honey, that’s all.”

  “$56.24”

  The lady began pilfering through her purse, digging loose change from the bottom. She handed her $56.25 and said, “You know, honey, you wouldn’t be so tired if you went to bed at a decent hour. You young kids today stay up too late. Listening to music, talking on your cordless phones, doing all that computer stuff. Why, back in my day it was early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy,” the lady paused. She looked at the ceiling tiles, as if in a vain attempt to remember. “And , something, something else.”

  Allie handed her a penny along with her receipt.

  “Yes ma’am,” she said. “I’ll be sure and remember that. Have a nice afternoon.”

  Allie suppressed another yawn. She was burning the candles at both ends. She couldn’t afford to take off work while Samuel was in the hospital, and she certainly couldn’t depend on Dylan to be any help.

  She actually called him when Samuel got hurt. She knew she was opening a can of worms but she needed some support, financially and emotionally. And she thought there might be a slim chance he might care. She was exhausted from spending her nights at the hospital, staying with Samuel most of the day, and then working. If only that old woman accusing her of being a kid really knew why she was so tired. It’s not like sleep is a common occurrence on a sofa in a hospital room.

  It was a low moment when she’d called Dylan. He hadn’t answered and Allie had hung up without leaving a message. She was thankful now that he ignored her. In the meantime, Maureen had stepped in and offered to help out by staying with Samuel while Allie got some rest after her shift today. Maureen was great. She was a 35-year-old single mom, except her kids were well into their teenage years and really wanted nothing to do with her anymore. They’d hit the stage where friends outweighed family. Allie could relate. It wasn’t that long ago when she was their age.

  Maureen wore her hair in an early 90’s style; big and poufy with bangs. She was caught in a time warp and wore button down bright shirts covered in geometric designs. But her heart was big and she was willing to help anyone in need. Allie knew of times that she paid for people’s groceries who had fallen on hard times. There was even one elderly gentleman that Maureen would deliver groceries to, which wasn’t a service of Given’s. Maureen had also stepped in to help with Allie’s car trouble.

  Yesterday, Allie had Maureen pick her up for work since her car was still sitting across the street from Brandon’s house. She didn’t have the money to fix it and was going to have to depend on others for a while. Since her mom was off work today, she was able to borrow her car but that wasn’t going to last for long since her mom was going to need it as well. But Maureen said it wasn’t any trouble to swing by and get her.

  Allie felt the phone in her apron pocket buzz, notifying her of a text message. She pulled it out quickly reading it between customers. It was from her mom. The hospital was discharging Sammie today. A smile spread across Allie’s face. Things were looking up. The infection was gone and Samuel could recover at home until it was time to remove the casts. Then he’d be back to his old ornery self.

  The clock ticked slowly as the hours of the day passed. Samuel had gotten home around one o’clock Gail had informed her. The two hours until her shift ended felt like two days. At 3:00 she clocked out and walked to her mom’s car, anxious to get home and see Samuel.

  She approached the car and found a note under the windshield. It was a receipt from Kline’s Music House. Scribbled on the back were the words Come by my house when you get off. It was simply signed B.

  She wanted to see him badly. It had been two days since she’d seen him last and he was on her mind now more than ever. She still didn’t know what had transpired between him and Simone or if she was still in the picture.

  Simone probably hated her guts and blamed their problems on her, maybe she even called her a “home wrecker” to her friends. She didn’t really care. She secretly wanted their relationship to end so she could have him for herself.

  Many thoughts passed through her mind as to what he might want with her. But also she wanted to see Samuel and spend time with him. After sitting behind the wheel wondering, she decided she’d never find out unless she went. Samuel would understand.

  Brandon opened the door with wide smile. Allie’s heart did a triple beat.

  “Come in, have a seat,” he said pointing to the futon. The pillow and blanket that was there the other night still lay on it as if someone had been sleeping there regularly.

  He walked to the stereo system and put in a disc.

  Allie walked over and gently pushed the blanket out of the way. A scent arose from the blanket, a manly smell. She sat down on the edge of the futon with her hands clasped between her knees.

  The music began blasting from the speakers. Brandon turned it down, apologizing
softly, and walked over to Allie. He picked up the blanket, tossed it to the end of the sofa and sat on the seat next to her. He leaned all the way back and crossed his legs.

  The music floated through the air, a simple melody on a keyboard, and then Brandon’s soulful voice began to sing.

  “I didn’t know you played the piano,” Allie said.

  “Shhhh, listen,” Brandon said, putting his finger to his lips. He closed his eyes, completely relaxed, losing himself in the music. Allie sat back farther on the sofa and closed her eyes too. She allowed the music to fill her, and in an instant she felt alone, forgetting that she was here in Brandon’s modest house, next to a blanket and a pillow that smelled like a man.

  The song was about a woman, lost and abandoned, searching for someone to rescue her. A woman with bad decisions in her past, struggling and yearning for forgiveness and a second chance. In the end she received love and began to live a life anew.

  Of course Allie had never heard the song before, however it was ironically familiar. She thought of herself and how the song mirrored her. It was her life. It was her story. It was her. She was the woman in the song. She had made bad decisions in the past, hoping for someone to love her. Hoping for Dylan to come through as a dad and yet left disappointed. Now, she was struggling and yearning for that love that everyone else seemed to grab a hold of but it only fell through her fingers. She hoped her story would end like the woman’s in the song, where her prince Charming came and made everything better.

  When the song ended, she opened her eyes and saw Brandon sitting next to her. A visible shiver came over her. He must’ve noticed because he picked up the blanket and draped it over her shoulders.

  “It is chilly, isn’t it?” He said.

  She hugged the blanket around her, not sure whether it was cold she was feeling or the heat from the moment causing the goose bumps to appear. She wrapped the blanket tighter hoping to shield herself from this new feeling coming over her.

  It had been a long time since Allie had been alone with a guy. After she discovered she was pregnant with Samuel, and his dad deserted them, she swore off guys forever.

  “Honey, men are no good,” her mom said that hot summer day while turning fried chicken in the skillet. Allie sat at the kitchen table, a wadded Kleenex in her hand filled with her tears and snot.

  “I’m sorry you’ve had to discover this so young, but really, I’ve been trying to tell you since you were a child. Haven’t you learned anything from watching me? I mean, if I taught you anything, surely I’ve shown you that you can’t depend on a man.”

  She didn’t need any more words from her mom to validate this truth. Her broken heart was telling her all she needed to hear.

  There had been other guys show interest in her. She always declined their invitation and advances. After Samuel was born, she decided there was no other person more important than him. Guilt pained her as she thought of Samuel at home while she was here with Brandon. Shouldn’t she be there?

  She was not going to let men come and go through the doors like she had watched her mother do. Her mother went through boyfriends faster than some women go through shampoo. Some of the men had been okay, but the majority of them had not.

  Her heart was a delicate place, like a garden that needed tending and nurturing. She had to take care of it, not let anyone in to trample her blossoms before they had a chance to really show their flowering glory. She was not going to let just anybody in.

  Allie brought herself out of her memories and back to reality.

  “Brandon, that song was lovely.”

  “Thank you,” he said looking at his shoes. “You’re the first person I’ve played it for.”

  “Is there a reason for that?”

  “Well,” he said, “let’s just say you were my inspiration.”

  Allie caught her breath before Brandon heard her gasp.

  “You mean, you wrote a song about me?” She couldn’t keep from smiling. “Woohoo! I’ve always been jealous of those girls who have songs written about them. You know, ‘Jessie’s Girl’, ‘Angie’, ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’”.

  They both laughed. Allie was enjoying him more and more. She still didn’t know where Simone stood in all of this, and quite frankly she was afraid to question. She didn’t want to ruin it by bringing up her name, and yet the suspense was killing her.

  “Still cold?” Brandon asked her.

  “A little.”

  “Let me get us something warm to drink.” Allie watched him walk into the kitchen.

  She got up and walked over to the stereo system.

  “Can I hear that song again?” she called into the other room.

  “Sure,” he called back. “Just push play.”

  She pushed the arrow indicating play and the room filled with the melodious sounds of Brandon’s voice and a piano accompaniment. She stood there, still with the blanket draped around her shoulders, swaying to the sounds. She listened to the words more closely this time amazed, that someone would write a song about her. Maybe he’s feeling some of the same feelings, she thought.

  Brandon walked into the living room carrying two black steaming mugs. One with a red guitar and one with a set of drums. He held out the mug to her.

  “Very cool,” she said.

  She took her mug in both hands and brought it to her mouth allowing the steam to rise into her face.

  “Let’s make a toast,” Brandon said.

  Allie raised her cup and listened as he began.

  “Here’s to the band and their many successes to come. And here’s to us, to the beginning of a friendship.”

  They clinked their cups together and took a sip from the steaming mugs.

  For the next few minutes they talked about music and how they both began playing.

  Allie tipped her cup and drank the last of her hot chocolate then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “Brandon, I’ve got to be going. Samuel was discharged and I want to get home to him. I’ve got some balloons in the car that I picked up at the store.”

  “Do you mind if I tag along? I’d love to see him again.:

  Allie clasped her hands together.

  “I would love that. I mean, he would love that. We both would.”

  “Great,” Brandon grabbed a set of keys off a long nail hanging by the door.

  “I’ll just follow you over in your car.”

  “Wait. But my car is…”

  Brandon interrupted her. “Fixed. I had Cody come over. He’s the resident mechanic. He replaced the starter. She runs like a champ now.”

  Allie couldn’t believe her ears.

  “How much do I owe him?”

  “It’s already been taken care of,” he said, opening the door. “After you, my dear.”

  * * * *

  “Mommy!” Samuel yelled when Allie opened the door and stepped inside. He lay on the couch, his little neon casted leg propped up on a pillow. Cartoons were blaring from the television. He held a red Popsicle in his good hand but he wasn’t eating it fast enough. It sat slushy on the stick and red lines ran to his elbow. He was equally excited to see Brandon, squealing when he stepped inside after Allie.

  Allie tossed her purse in the corner and rushed over to her son. She sat on the edge of the couch.

  She began covering his face in kisses, repeating I love you’s between each kiss. Samuel giggled and squirmed under her barrage of affection.

  “Let me get a napkin before you become a big sticky mess. You say hi to Brandon, okay?”

  Allie stood and walked toward the kitchen.

  “It’s time for his pain meds,” Gail called from her bedroom. “They’re in the kitchen, the directions are on them.”

  Allie retrieved a napkin and Samuel’s medicine and headed back to him. There was a loud knock on the door.

  “I bet that’s Maureen. She said she was coming to sit with you awhile today.”

  She handed the napkin to Brandon.

  “Do you
mind?” she asked.

  Brandon took the napkin from her hand and began wiping all the red from Samuel’s hand and arm. Allie walked to the door and turned the knob expecting Maureen to be standing there in her loud print clothes.

  She felt Samuel’s bottle of medicine slip out of her hand and heard it hit the floor. She blinked hard.

  “Hello Allie. It’s been a long time.”

  Chapter Nine

  Brandon had never seen the man standing on Allie’s porch, but he could easily sense the tension filling the air.

  “Dylan,” Allie said. “What do you want?” Her voice was low, but Brandon heard the quiver in it.

  Dylan bent over and picked up the bottle of medicine that had landed right inside the door.

  “You dropped this,” he said. He handed it to Allie. Then pushed the door wider and stepped inside.

  “So this must be Sam.”

  “Samuel,” Allie corrected him. “Dylan, what do you want?” she repeated louder.

  “What do I want? You’re the one who called me. I’m only returning the call. In person.”

  “He doesn’t know you.”

  “It’s time to change that.”

  “No. You need to leave. Now.”

  Dylan snorted. “Still the same little bossy thing, aren’t you. I’ll leave when I get ready. Right now I’m going to meet my son.”

  Dylan approached the couch where Brandon was still sitting with Samuel.

  “My, my Allie. You’re more of an unfit mother than I expected. How does something like this happen to a child?”

  Samuel’s look of calm had been replaced with a furrowed brow. His breathing was rapid and he had instinctively put his thumb in his mouth.

  Brandon hated to interfere, seeing as he knew nothing about the situation, but he cared for Samuel and it was obvious he was becoming anxious.

  He put one arm carefully under Samuel’s bent knees and the other around his back and hoisted him into his arms. He looked at Allie.

  “Me and Samuel are going to try out his superman cape in his room,” he told her.