Music Notes (Heartbeat #3) (10 page)

“Madison it will never be enough when it comes to how I feel for you, but for now I will settle for that and all that you give to me.” I winked at her, and listened to her feet patter across the floor to the bathroom. I watched her from behind, as yes, her ass had also gotten a little larger. I liked that too. My lady was filling out in all the right places. I was really digging this whole pregnancy thing. It didn’t seem like it took Madison long to change and she was standing before me ready to head out of the room for a little while. I felt like I just got her into my arms and I had to share her with others, but I knew I’d have her all to myself later. Even if we just laid with one another, I just wanted to hold her near. “Love, you look beautiful,” I gave her a wink. She stood before me in a long simple black tank dress that hugged her newest curves and of course showed off her belly. She could be wearing a paper bag and pull off the look that would make you glace twice at her, but for me, I would never stop looking.

It felt like we were all back home as the gang was all here and it felt like old times. We were all laughing and having a great dinner together when suddenly the table fell silent. When I turned behind me to see what the pause of conversation was for, I was greeted with a kiss to my cheek from Meila as she leaned into me catching me off guard. “So nice to see you here tonight Rand. This is a great restaurant I hear,” again she had this way of purring with her words.

“Meila,” I quickly got my shit together, “this is my wife Madison. I’ve wanted to introduce her to you.” I leaned back so Meila could take in the full appearance of Madison and clearly see that she and I were expecting.

“Oh Madison, what a pleasure to meet you. I love traveling with Rand, he is one great guy. I guess since you are pregnant we will be seeing less and less of you at the upcoming shows.” She definitely had her claws out.

Madison didn’t miss Meila’s intent and said, “Well, Meila he is a great guy. The best. You never know when I will surprise him and show up to support him…I love my husband.” It was awesome, so composed, Madison did not let Meila rattle her in the least. She made her point perfectly clear as Madison sealed the deal by turning my head, and even though we weren’t done with our meal added, “Babe, can you please take me now? I’ve had enough food and want you for my dessert. Let’s head back to our hotel room and see what we can whip up.” I didn’t waste a second, her pregnancy was making her horny, and I was there with her and glad she gave it back to Meila.

“Good night. I hope you all have a great night ahead, me I am going to be deep into my wife—I meant with my wife.” I helped Madison up, taking her hand in mine, never looking back. I did hear a huff coming from Meila, and I mentally said score one for Madison. That evening the dessert that Madison and I shared couldn’t have been any sweeter.

We only had a day and a half to get around Los Angeles before the first show there. We spent most of it in the bed. As we fluffed our pillows up and lay in each other’s arms, today’s topic took a detour from our usual playful sex talk and went to baby names. “So what shall we name our children?” Madison was very surprised I was the one who initiated the conversation. Well now that you brought it up, I was thinking perhaps Killjoy and Thomas?” she laughed. I too had to bust out laughing.

“Although I don’t mind Killjoy, definitely not Thomas and not even for a middle name.” I hadn’t even thought about him in quite a long time.

“Okay then, how about we switch things up? I’ll get us the hotel note pad and some pens and you write a name for our daughter and I will select a boy’s name. Will that work?” Madison slid out from my arm and pranced over to the table. I just had to take in the sight of her naked body, so full and lively, she was truly glowing. I never thought I’d have this—being married, happily and about to become a father. I freaking wanted to burst with such fulfillment, and it was all because of her. She was the one that gave all of this to me. They say there is someone for everyone in the world to love, and I’m so lucky that I found my Madison, or rather she found me.

“Are you ready?” she asks handing me the hotel notepad. I didn’t even realize she was back in the bed. Again my mind was wandering off staring at her loveliness.

“Yes I think I have a few names picked for our lovely daughter.”

I write the first name that came to my mind and then I write a second and third selection. My list was –

Madison

Madison

Madison

“Are you done already?” She looked confused as she was really putting time into her choices.

“Yep,” I answered smiling.

“Let me see your list,” she sounded so bossy.

As I turned it she started to laugh and said, “No, silly that is a very nice compliment but really try to come up with a name other than mine.”

I put the pen to the paper to write Ashley Rose, Tierney Rose and, Chelsea and then scratched that one… then it hit me and I wrote the name I wanted to call my daughter. Then I drew on the paper around it. This was a winner and not to be negotiated. I wrote Maxine Grace. I fold the paper up and toss it to Madison as she sat cross legged on the bed. I took in the sight of her belly, so big now. I also looked closely at how she wrote one name and then crossed it off, and then finally after what seemed like eternity she came up with her name for our son. She too folded her choice before tossing it over to me.

I went first for the reveal reaching down to open the paper. Written all over it about forty times is, of course, my name
Rand, sexy Rand, very sexy Rand, my Rand,
but then I see the name that isn’t mine and it read Mick Archer Rand and I know why. These are her father’s and my grandfather’s names. What a freaking awesome tribute. I blink back tears. Smiling, definitely in agreement I say, “Your turn my love.”

Madison picks up the folded paper and says, “I surely hope this is not a name like Meila or one of your many previous fan girls.” I laughed and wiped my eye… waiting for her reaction.

“Oh my God this is perfect!” she shouts. She reaches in and hugs me so tight. Her paper drops to the bed landing face up, there in my handwriting and with a heart surrounding it was written Maxine Grace Rand. Again my tribute to my Uncle Maxwell and her mother—the two role models in our lives that bring us so much joy everyday. “Can I ask you what was with the name Chelsea that you scratched over?” Madison questions scrunching her face.

“Love, that was just some girl I once dated. Sorry, that was not a fond memory. I wrote the name and then remembered her. I had to scratch that off my list quickly.”

Madison shook her head at me and looked so pleased that I guess I did well with my pick because there was no more baby naming conversation. Madison set out to show me how happy I just made her. The simple things in life… if we get those right, it can make all the difference.

I guess it is a trade off. Madison took such good care of me in bed earlier, and now I find myself following her to all the stores she wanted to hit while in California. I don’t’ mind the shopping part, since I enjoy being with her, but I am just exhausted. I wish we were in New Hope, where we love the shops. Here in California everything seems more mainstream and not as quaint as we liked. As I follow her through many stores, I can’t resist watching her ass in front of me. That is a great distraction. Despite the fact that I’m her designated shopping bag carrier, and she is buying a lot, it’s these simple times not in the spotlight of the stage or media that I treasure. I saw her hold up items that were musical themed. “These are going in the twin’s nursery,” she shouted toward me. I leaned the packages up near the sales counter and smiled back at her, I was so incredibly happy.

“We are going to have the most contemporary nursery around,” I responded to my wife with a wink.

“Babe, I hope this shopping isn’t boring you. I’m getting tired though and hungry, so I think I’m done now.” It didn’t take me but a moment to grab the rest of her purchases. The young cashier made a point to smile at me as she slowly rang in every item. I however, turned all my focus to my wife and laid my hand at the edge of her back and stroked it lightly, keeping it there until I guided her out of the store. That sales girl didn’t even warrant a second look. I have all that I ever want right here with me.

Tonight’s performance was so special for me. I knew Madison would be in the audience. As much as I wanted her to be in the front row, I actually made arrangements for her and Cecile to be seated off to the side of the stage where the crew and Maxwell always stand. I didn’t want her bounced around in the crowd of people. As the lights came up on the stage, I touched my heart and held my hand to the air for her. “Good evening L.A.!” I shouted into the microphone. “Tonight were going to Rock! We are all thrilled to be here in your city, but before we get started I want to do one quick shout out. Baby you’re my home!” I knew that Madison would love hearing that. I couldn’t see her from where I was on the stage but I felt her eyes on me with every move I made.

Chapter Seven – Feeling Off

Just like the first show in Los Angeles went off perfectly, so did the other ones that followed in California. I was pumped that Madison was able to stay for a few, but saddened that today she was leaving to head home. I knew it wasn’t as comfortable here with me staying up late hours and not resting. The last thing I wanted was to put her or our babies in harm’s way. As selfish as I wanted to be and just keep her in my arms this morning, I lay pressed up to the softness of her skin. I just didn’t want to let go, but I did let her sleep. I watched the clock on the table next to the bed tick the minutes away until I knew it was going to be just enough time to get her up, showered and to the airport. As I shook her lightly, she groaned softly coming awake. “Love, you have to get up and get ready. As much as I want you to miss your plane and stay, Cecile will be here soon,” I whispered into her ear.

Still half sleeping she said, “But I don’t want to leave you.”

“Madison you will never leave me, you are mine…forever.” I could see her beautiful eyes peeking out behind partially closed lids. I held up a picture frame that was all decorated in music notes.

Squinting at the picture she asked me, “What is that?”

“Well, I went and bought this in one of the stores we were shopping at the other day. This frame is to keep the first photo of our babies close by me. Since they are inside you,” I paused to rub her belly and place a light kiss there, “it’s a photo of you.” Madison threw her arms up wrapping them around my neck and pulling me down for a kiss. I could never resist this woman. Even if she made it to the plane with only a minute to spare, I would never deny her.

We rose from the bed, and without even asking one another we strode into the shower. It was amazing—it was enormous and all marble. It even had a bench seat inside. I was the one that was fatigued, so I sat there letting my wife wash my body. Her hands caressed every inch of me, and when I could no longer hold back, I stood up and placed her hands over her head, pinning her against the wall. There was no hesitation. We were going to have morning sex in the shower, and she may just miss her plane anyway. I was feeling myself deep inside her folds and the water was spraying over us like mist. I heard a knock over and over again and realized it wasn’t our bodies moving against the wall in the shower. Then I heard the voice with the knock and realized it was Cecile yelling from the hallway. Despite Cecile’s attempts to ruin this moment, I blocked her out and started to sing to my wife—very off key and very high pitched as I came deep inside her. We exited the shower, and grabbed the large fluffy hotel towels. Madison wrapped one around her body, and went to the door only to find Cecile seated in the hallway.

“Cecile, sorry but you sort of caught us in a moment.”

“Oh, you are always in the moment,” she said standing up from the hall floor. Cecile continues, “I thought when you got pregnant that this would slow down.”

I had to chime in at this point, so with a wink I said, “Cecile, it has only gotten better.” She stared back at me shaking her head. At this point I notice I’m standing here with just the towel wrapped around my waist.