I smiled as I thought of an idea. I was quite proud of myself. “I can cut that in half.” I glanced over at her as I pulled my phone out of the purse between us and punched Darryl's speed dial. Over the speakerphone his voice rang out. “Mandy?” I just talked to the air, winking over at Tammy, ignoring Darryl. “Oh how I wish there was someone always listening and reading my mind as I play some word association with the universe. Frank... Mrs. Wellington... Jet...” I hung up smirking as I jammed the phone back in my purse.
Tammy looked like the cat who had swallowed the canary. “You think he'll understand?” I laughed and threw her own words back at her with a wink. “You don't know the half of it. That man is kind of telepathic scary, like River Tam.” Her smile and nod let me know that she got the obscure scifi reference. I knew there was a reason I kept her around. I concentrated on the road and the task at hand, getting to my girl.
Tams spoke up, “You seem to have built up quite a group of people who support you, I thought you were in 'isolation' over there.” I thought on that. I guess I never truly was alone, with my 'family' conspiracy, and the guys. Well, maybe not Terry, I still can't figure him out. I snickered, “I can't help it if they are so needy.” I couldn't help but feel warmth for the group I had amassed.
We pulled up at the school and I grabbed my shoe-box and my purse. I didn't even shut the car door as I unbuckled then slid out and ran to the front door, juggling the box and my purse as I fished the key out, turning the lock and ripping the door open. Not slowing, I could hear car doors behind me as I darted down the hallway, toward the sound-room, the door half open. I was frantic, my heart was beating out of my chest, hoping Anabella was okay.
I shuddered to a stop at the doorway as I heard what was coming from the room. With my one free hand I slowly opened the door the rest of the way, I grabbed the door frame and moved into the doorway. On the peripheral of my senses, I was barely aware of the stampede of people stopping behind me. I was stunned as I watched in awe.
There was Bella, with her back to the door sitting at the piano, playing. The tune was disconnected and haunting, the mechanics almost fluid. It was a re-imagined tempest of fleeting notes and swirling melody, but it was unmistakably 'Oceans of Blue'. It was as if my heart refused to keep beating as I listened.
I was captivated, realizing that the pianist on the tape that she had played for me the last time I was in this room, was her. Then it happened, a note so pure, so transcendental, conveying such emotion, came from her lips. She sang my creation, my overture of my love for her, like it was an extension of her soul. I wasn't aware of anything else around me.
I was swept away in the current, feeling it, absorbed in it, living it like I never had in any of the concerts I had ever performed it. Her harmonies were inspired and organic, carrying me into an exhilarating free-fall, soaring with the emotion she painted with her song, with the promise of something more. Truly the voice of an angel. She gracefully swayed on the piano bench with the music, as if she were organically connected to the song.
Then, it was over. I don't know when it happened, but I now realized I was sitting on the floor in the doorway, my back to the doorjamb, sobbing. Rocking back and forth hugging my box against me. My body shaking with each sob, gasping in ragged breaths between. I don't think I was sad, but I didn't understand anything right now, especially my emotions.
I heard other sobs and turned my head to one side, there was not a dry eye in the hall, everyone was looking down, silently avoiding eye contact with each other. I returned my gaze to Bella as she stood up, gracefully smoothed out her dress, and turned toward the recorder to switch it off. There was the most serene look on her face. Then she froze in shock, catching sight of me sitting there, and my breath hitched. I felt suddenly anxious.
Her hand shot up and covered her mouth and she just stood there for a second, her eyes welling in tears. That second ticked on, lasting an agonizing eternity. Was she angry? Sad? Would she throw me out? I found myself afraid as to what her reaction would be. Then that eternity was over and the next second finally came.
I steeled myself. Then she smiled so brilliantly at me, the smile that I had longed for these past weeks, and rushed to me, grasped my hands in hers and pulled me to my feet. My shoe-box dropping to the ground from my lap as I rose. She pulled me into a tight embrace.
Her warmth against my body made me ache for more, her intoxicating scent filling my lungs. I folded into her, all anxiety slipping away, and my muscles relaxing, allowing the tenseness of the past few weeks dissolve away. Her embrace had that profound of an effect on me. This is where I belonged, in her arms.
Then she pulled back and placed her forehead on mine, locking our eyes in a gentle caress. There they were, the crystal blues that haunted me, sustained me. The blues seemed almost alive, multiple bright flecks and tints flowing around and crashing into her pupils as her focus flicked to my lips. I forced myself to look down and I traced the lines of her face with my eyes, her lips were so close, I could feel her hot breath each time she exhaled. I etched the soft curves of her lips into my memory.
She softly said, “Hello M, I've missed you so much,” with raw emotion radiating from her. I smiled in genuine apology and said something I heard once, that moved something in my soul. “Sorry I've been away so long, Bella.” I was falling over and over for this woman. Was it possible to love someone this much without your heart exploding?
Then our lips met again, giving all that we were to each other, all of our emotion, all of our pain, all of our love. I was the luckiest woman alive at that very moment in time, nothing else mattered except this. It could have lasted seconds, or minutes, or years, I didn't know and I didn't really care.
We finally broke the kiss, keeping blue on brown, gasping for air. Bella gave a gentle smile charged with promises. My heart was beating outside my chest. I turned toward the sudden clapping, throats clearing and awwwws in the hall. I was so embarrassed I couldn't make eye contact, I could feel the blush burning on my face.
Anabella looked over sheepishly to everyone smiling at us from the hall and blushed, “Oh, hello everyone. Was there a party I didn't know about? Why is everyone here? Is everything okay?” she said and signed in sudden concern.
This caused some laughter, and she looked back at me, I cocked my head with a loving smile. “They called me this morning because they were worried about you. You've been locked in here all day.” I tried to sign at least a few of the words I knew. Anabella noticed this as her eyes flickered between my hands and my mouth, a smile twitching the corners of her lips.
“And you came for me?” she smiled, her eyes sparkling. “I'm fine now. I was just a little sad, it was... today... you know. So I came to sing to mother,” she said with the innocence of a child, her voice slightly hitching as she mentioned her mother. Causing tears to threaten my eyes again. “Now mother has given me a gift today. You.” then she looked around, her smile brightening. “All of you.” I squeezed her hands and smiled.
She turned her attention back to me, capturing me, controlling me again with her eyes. “I want to tell you what I was not brave enough to before M. I'm pretty much in love with you.” She confessed without hesitation, placing her forehead on mine again. My heart skipped a beat and I felt a warm serenity invade my body.
I smiled, feeling her hot breath on me again, sending shivers down my spine, I whispered, “The moment I laid eyes on you, in this very room, I knew I could never love another. I knew that very second, that I would do anything to be a better person, to deserve someone like you, to earn your love. I'm so terribly in love with you my Bella.” I heard her breath catch, her eyes dilated a bit and her blush deepened.
A tiny voice chimed in from below us, tugging on our arms. “Mandy, you're really bad at sign language.” Everyone laughed at Zoey. I couldn't stop yet another genuine smile from making its way onto my face as I looked down to the adorable little girl.
Anabella fired off the 'Zoey Smile 5000' which threa
tened to swallow the whole room. What a dreamy way to go! “Now ladybug, she's trying.” Then she turned to addressed everyone, “I'm terribly sorry everybody, but could you all please give us a second alone? We will be out in just a minute.”
Chapter 17 – Reacquainted
There were mumbled affirmations and everyone ambled back down the hall, Zoey being shooed from the room and Bella shut the door. She turned to me, my heart skipped as our eyes locked. Then she shyly said, “That kiss can never happen again.” I was shocked, and saddened, about to say something as she suddenly smiled wickedly. “So we'll just have to have a lot of other kisses.” She leaned in, pressing her lips to mine in a crushing, bruising, desperate kiss. My heart was racing and my core heated.
She broke the kiss, leaning back and leaving me stunned and gasping for air, with a goofy smile on my face, my body tingling in all the right places. Intertwining our fingers and rubbing the backs of my hands with her thumbs, she whispered almost breathlessly, “You came for me? Because you were worried? You abandoned your last concert to come to me M? You make me feel safe... you are such a strong person.” Her eyes were almost sparkling as she spoke.
I laughed loudly, almost chortling, amused that she actually thought I was strong. “Me strong? Look at what you've done here, you are practically a legend! Your strength is beyond my comprehension Bella.”
She moved her gaze from me and looked down inquisitively, then bent and picked up my box. “What is this, M?” She tilted her head inquisitively. It was such an endearing action. I looked at it, then to her like she should know the answer. “My heart of course.” She opened it hesitantly, then sifted through the contents, my psychosis, my neurosis of the past few weeks. All of it was her. She smiled at the realization. I was nervous as hell for some reason and didn't understand why.
She looked to me, probing my eyes, radiating understanding. Then slowly reached up and pulled off the necklace with the key around her neck, whispering as she placed it in my hand and motioning toward the cabinet. “My heart.” I took it, slowly nodding. To me, it felt like I was holding a sacred artifact, I knew its importance to her.
I turned from her with a reassuring smile and walked to the cabinet and unlocked it. Hesitating a second, I took a breath, then opened the doors. The inside of one door was plastered full of pictures of Bella from her early childhood to her teens with a beautiful woman who looked exactly like an older version of Anabella. The other door covered in various pictures of me, following my entire career. I felt tears welling up, threatening to fall down my cheeks, but I fought them off.
I looked back at her then back to the cabinet. There were five long shelves inside, the first four with about a hundred tapes each, the last with about twenty. The top shelf was labeled “Mother and I”, followed by “Mandy Harris” with a little heart by my name, “My Piano”, “My Singing”, then finally “Mandy Fay Harris” with another little heart. I could hear Anabella shifting nervously side to side behind me.
I stood up with my back to her, but not before running my fingers along the tapes that held her voice, longing for that shelf. Then I turned and walked to the recorder, I could feel her eyes on me the whole time, and I retrieved the tape. She stood unmoving as I labeled it with today's date and “For Mom”. Then I walked back and placed it on that sacred shelf. She was suddenly beside me, I could feel her heat, smell her intoxicating scent. She leaned down and placed my shoebox on the bottom shelf. Then I smiled at her and locked the cabinet.
We turned to each other, searching each others eyes as I pressed the key back into her hand. Then we both inhaled in silent communion, soaking in each others presence for a few minutes. Finally she glanced at the door, I understood. Then a millisecond before I could do the same, she proffered her elbow with a cheesy grin. “Shall we?” I grinned right back. “We shall!”
We marched back up front, closing the door behind us, and proceeded arm in arm to where a makeshift party was underway. I noticed that Mrs. W had arrived and to my surprise, Frank was with her. They all cheered when we walked in. I made introductions all around. I smiled when Nick said to Anabella that it was nice to meet “THE Bella”, just to have her tell him, “Please call me Ana, only M can call me Bella.” I felt warmth spread in my cheeks at her statement. She knew exactly how to melt me.
Minutes later, pizza, beer and soft-drinks were delivered, making this a true party. I declined the offered beer, noticing Bella's smile as I opened a cola. I cozied on up to her, bumping hips and said, “I hear tell that you've been invoking the title 'girlfriend' when you speak of me in public.” She noticed the mock shock on my face with a mischievous glint in my eyes.
She mocked indifference with a slight smirk as she started to walk away saying “Meh. Well, I could always go find another girl who doesn't mind.” I grabbed her hand, gently pulling her back to me and I smiled a genuine smile. “I couldn’t be prouder than to hold that designation.” Then I placed my other hand in hers and finger spelled out I L O V E Y O U. I could see the smile growing on her lips as she realized what I was spelling.
The giggly hug I got in return made my heart thunder and my toes curl. Releasing the hug and looking into her eyes, I whispered “How did you get to be so strong... and hot, did I mention you’re hot?” She's hot by the way! I mean, in the OMG I can't believe this sexy creature chose me type of hot.
“It's something I learned from my 'girlfriend'. Oh, and she happens to be hot as well.” Then she leaned in and whispered something into my ear that made me go weak in the knees. I'd be too embarrassed to repeat it here. I'm pretty sure they'll need an industrial grade spatula to scrape my melted body off the floor.
I had to walk jelly legged to the seats to sit with her, my body was buzzing so much. With her wrapped around my arm, our natural state, I said, “You are bound and determined to be the death of me.” She winked. “No power in the 'verse can stop me.” Gawd, geek reference! Have I mentioned yet that I love this girl?
I looked out at all the people in wonder as they wandered around talking and laughing with each other, and generally having a good time. Dave, Sarina, Zoey and Eve. Mrs. W, Tammy, and June. The illegitimate step brothers Darryl, Terry, Nick and Frank.
“Quite a family aren't they?” Anabella my goddess said, reading my mind. I chuckled back at her with a smile and said “You know, you're not the only one around here with that patented mind reading ability, missy. Want to see a magic trick?” I'm positive my eyes were full of amusement as she nodded with mirrored amusement twinkling in hers. I spoke in a normal tone out into space. “I wish I had another cola.” Shrugging my shoulder.
We both broke up into uncontrollable giggle fits as Darryl appeared a minute later with a cola for me. He saw our mirth then rolled his eyes and shook the can before handing it to me and sulking away, his lower lip in a pout. I spoke to the air “Thank you, Mr. Big Ears.” This caused another round of giggle fits between Bella and I.
When Bella, Sarina, and I broke off to change June and Eve in one of the lesson rooms and give them bottles, Mrs. Wellington came walking in after us, closing the door behind her. A giant smile was plastered on her face as she looked adoringly at June squirming around agitatedly as I changed her diaper. “So this beautiful child is the reason you came back to Vancouver is it, Mandy? You wound up finding so much more.” She gave a soft look over to the other girls.
“Yes, Mrs, Wellington.” “Call me Meg.” “Yes, Mrs. Wellington, let me introduce to you, June Elizabeth Harris,” I said proudly, holding her up after getting her changed. Mrs. W gave me a sly look and said “Yes, we've become quite acquainted these past few weeks. I was in on our little family conspiracy on this end, while you were... ummm, away.” I glanced over at Anabella and Sarina, who were acting all innocent, suddenly very interested in the ceiling.
I was starting to feel that I was the only person that was not in on Anabella's plan. Mrs. W added wistfully, “Elizabeth is my middle name, it was my mother's name.” I smiled with even more p
ride. “Yes, I know.”
Mrs. Wellington brightened, and beamed with pride of her own. “And I can't tell you how much I owe you,” she glanced at Bella, “no, we owe you. For saving Harmony. You are an angel on Earth.” I shook my head. “No, it was really nothing. YOU gave me everything. You gave me music, and Harmony gave me the love of my life.” I looked lovingly over to Bella who was smiling softly.
Sarina chimed in, “Would all of you stop? There have been enough tears today, I'm all cried out!” We all shared a laugh and Mrs. W left us with the babies.
We took this time to sit and relax with June in my lap greedily emptying her bottle. Bella slid her chair against mine and laid her head on my chest to rest, murmuring, “I like how your heart speeds up when I do this.”
Sarina looked over to us with an unreadable smile and a twinkle in her eyes. “Well, lets go home to decompress and figure where things go from here. Mandy, when I say home, I mean you are staying with us tonight. That misfit band of testosterone out there can stay at your place tonight.” She gave me a look, daring me to say no.
Bella just chuckled at me, shaking her head. “You better not argue. If you think I'm tough, you've never seen Sar with a mad on.” We burped the children and prepared to re-enter the party. Sarina verbally prodded, “Shall we, little sisters?” Anabella and I looked at each other then chimed in together, “We shall!” Giggling incessantly at our private joke, leaving Sarina standing there wondering what the heck had just happened as we opened the door and wandered out.
After bidding Frank and Mrs. W, a safe trip back to Seattle, keys and directions to the houses were given to the misfit band of testosterone, or “MBOT” as we were calling them. With the promise of contact in the morning to determine a course of action for the weekend and the wrap-up of my career.
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