Andy had gone into the sunroom to give them a moment. “Mom?” Beth said as she sat down at the table. Liz handed her a cup of the coffee she had just made.
“Beth, his heart is broken. He thought he could do this, share you with Andy. He thought it was what you needed and he did it for you. But he knows that you still love Andy.” Liz stood behind Beth’s chair and wrapped her arms around her daughter. She paused and added. “We all know that sweetheart.”
“Mom,” Beth began again, “The hard part is that I love John.”
“He knows that, too, Beth and that is why this is so hard. When I saw that vision of you on the TV last night you were absolutely radiant. You looked so beautiful, so happy. You glowed like you haven’t in a very long time. Andy did, too. Pops saw you and said aloud, before he thought, that you looked better than you had in months. And then I saw John out of the corner of my eye. I saw him break. When we got home Pops and I talked, we knew. Kimmy called me this morning and she knew.”
Beth was sad, but she still didn’t feel the guilt that she thought she should. She loved Andy. She had never stopped.
As though Liz could read her mind, she told Beth, “Sometimes circumstances change things. I’m not going to judge you, I understand. I understand when you love someone so much. Beth, you should call John.”
Without saying a word she went to the bedroom.
Andy waited a moment and went to the kitchen when he saw that Beth was gone. He braced himself but he knew he needed to go.
“Liz…”
She looked up at him and saw the emotion on his face. She saw the look in his eyes. She had known this man for so long that she knew his heart, too.
“The coffee is fresh, and leaded,” she added. “I thought it might be a long night.”
He poured a cup and sat down at the table. Liz reached across and patted his arm. “Talk to me,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” he said first. Liz looked at him over the rim of her cup. “Nothing happened that Beth should be ashamed of,” he continued.
“She’s my daughter Andy, I knew that much,” she smiled at him.
“We shared a bed, nothing more. We held each other.” He looked away.
“But you did,” she replied. Andy looked up and started to protest, but Liz held up a hand to stop him. “Your hearts,” she said. “You shared your hearts Andy, and we all saw it.”
He took a big gulp of the coffee. “I have loved her since the first moment I laid eyes on her. Through every up and down we’ve had, I have never stopped. I thought years ago that I had lost her forever and then this,” he struggled, “this… this horrible, horrible thing happened. And she was returned to me. John gave me a gift, but I took something away from him in order to get it.”
“I love her so much Liz,” he paused and sipped the coffee, “I can’t imagine another day without her.” And the reality of that hit them both.
“I know,” she replied, sadly. “I know, and now you have to figure out what to do about it.”
Beth was standing in the hallway at the corner of the kitchen. Her intention was to call John but she hadn’t. She’d thought about it, but she wasn’t sure what she would say. She washed her face, then went to look in on Carlee again, and was headed back to the kitchen when she heard the exchange between these two people she loved so much. Her eyes filled, and spilled at their conversation.
She returned to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. She reached for the phone and dialed, knowing nothing would ever be the same once he answered.
“Hey,” he said sadly when he answered, knowing it was her. “I’m sorry I left without talking to you first. I knew I couldn’t be there when you came back; I couldn’t face you. I needed to clear my head,” he rambled.
“John,” Beth started to speak but he cut her off.
“Beth, I’m hurt. I’m not angry,” he explained. “Really, I know you, and I know that you are struggling with this more than I am. My not being there will make this easier for both of us. I’m not coming back for a while. I made arrangements to take care of some things here. I’ll be in Atlanta for a few weeks. I’ll call Carlee every morning and every night,” his voice wavered.
“John, I love you,” Beth said.
“I know, but it’s not enough anymore, is it?”
She thought a long moment before she answered, “No,” she said, finally.
In the matter of a few days, once again, Beth’s life changed.
~ ~ ~
Beth was feeling good. She hadn’t had any medical issues in a while. Angel wasn’t coming daily, just once a week to take blood pressure, samples, and such. Things were going smoothly. Everyone was settling into the changes. Nothing was moving too quickly and she liked it that way just fine. John returned two weeks after he left and packed up some more things. Beth anticipated a bad encounter upon his return, but there was none.
John asked to talk privately. “I filed for legal separation,” he told her when they were alone. “We can proceed however you see best, whatever you want. I won’t contest anything. I don’t want to fight, it will only hurt Carlee.”
“John, I’m sorry,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Beth, don’t, it’s OK. I thought with time you would get over him, but it wasn’t meant to be was it? I know what it feels like to love someone that much.”
He leaned and kissed her cheek. “All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. If this is what it takes then that’s the way it has to be.”
“I want you to know, I don’t regret a moment of our time together. We wouldn’t have that beautiful child if you hadn’t loved me.” She smiled thinking of Carlee.
“We have that,” he said.
“Where will you be?”
“Not too far, you know I can’t be away from her for very long,” he smiled. He hugged her and turned to leave and as he walked to the door Beth realized that it would be OK.
249
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Chapter Twenty~Seven
April 2002
John let her go. It all happened quickly. She asked for nothing. Another chapter in her life closed and a new one was beginning.
‘Beginning…’ she let out a heavy sigh whenever she thought about that. ‘For how long?’ She wondered continually, only not over Andy this time. She tried not to dwell on it, but it was always there, just below the surface.
She and Andy were renewing their relationship, learning each other again and it was good. He was making himself part of her life and learning what that was in those years they were apart. They found daily rituals that his lifestyle kept from them in the past, coffee and the paper in the mornings, dinner together, with Carlee at night. All of that kept his mind racing.
They made only one change to the living arrangements. Andy had Roddy ship their bed from Corpus Christie, and he moved into her bedroom, unable to think of another night without her in his arms. The first night they slept there Beth cried, remembering the first time, a lifetime ago. She stayed awake all night; unable to believe he was there with her.
~ ~ ~
“Spring in Eleuthera, what do you think?” Andy asked over coffee one morning, thinking the cottage for a few days would be good for her.
Carlee was in day school, and dance. Beth was working on the book and just wanted to stay home.
“Maybe later,” she told him and prayed that there was a ‘later’.
Beth was happy. Andy was happy. John was around enough that Carlee adjusted, and she loved ‘Papa’ being there. It was OK and Beth was happy about that. She still wasn’t comfortable being out, so people came in. And the change in their lives didn’t seem to surprise anyone.
In the daytime Andy didn’t wanted to stay as close to Beth as possible, so he wrote; music and his thoughts for the book. He put anything to do with his career on hold. Time was far too precious, and it had taken him a lifetime to learn that. He spent a lot of time wandering around the house. He wanted to know about the part of
her life that he’d missed. He would flip through photo albums and his heart would break with each photo of Carlee, for many reasons. He would pick up a framed photo of her from a table and wonder what it was about that particular one that it Beth chose to display it. What occasion, what memory… Beth loved remembering whatever was going on at the time and sharing it with him. Andy fell in love with Carlee, love like he never dreamed possible.
~ ~ ~
There came a couple of bad days. Beth was emotional and very weepy. She just kept saying, “I’m really not up to snuff.”
I feel tired and weak, not moving too quick, and I’m taking too many naps.
When Andy expressed concern, Dr. Reilly explained that it was normal for her to have bad days and reminded him that there had been very few. He put her on an anti-depressant and it helped.
His new family life, and Beth’s bad days seemingly in control again, Andy kicked into high gear. He was on a mission. He knew what he wanted but first he needed Roddy’s help. Andy called him, and Roddy was ready. He gave him the details, and Roddy got busy with what Andy needed. A few days later Andy was in Beth’s office, at the house, to receive Roddy’s fax.
He called him. “That’s it Roddy, thank you. Take care of it, please.”
On Mother’s Day, ‘Papa’ and Carlee got up early and made French toast to serve Beth breakfast in bed. Beth watched, from the hallway, peeking around the corner at the activity, and couldn’t have been happier. She snuck back to bed when they were almost ready and the three of them backed up against the headboard and ate and giggled. Andy relished every moment and Carlee was ecstatic over the whole affair.
The next day a courier arrived with the package.
Andy called Kimmy for the other help he required. The following day she called Beth.
“Hey! Jenna wants Carlee to spend the night Saturday, is that OK with you?” Kimmy asked. “It’ll give you a bit of respite.”
“I think she would love that!”
“We’ll do pizza, and movies. Jenna got a new sleeping bag and she’s so excited to use it! Carlee can sleep in the old one. I’ll dig Lane’s out and we’ll all sleep in the floor. It’ll be so much fun for them!”
With that settled, Kimmy made the other plans Andy needed.
~ ~ ~
On Saturday, May 18, with Carlee at Kimmy’s, Beth and Andy were alone. They snuggled on the sofa watching a DVD of a Robert Redford, Brad Pitt movie. “I’m getting hungry. How about some popcorn” Beth suggested.
“Let’s wait just a few, this is too good.”
“We can pause it,” she said.
“In a minute,” he looked at his watch. It was getting close…
His phone rang and he checked the caller ID; “It’s Roddy. I gotta take this.” He walked into the kitchen as the doorbell rang.
“I got this,” Beth shouted.
She looked out the window beside the door. There was a caterer’s van in the driveway. The peephole showed two women in white uniforms.
“Hello,” she said sweetly. “I think you must have the wrong house.”
They looked at the paperwork, then the house number. “No, we’re right where we’re supposed to be. Are you Beth?”
“I am,” she replied, puzzled.
“We are Gina and Marie and we have your dinner,” one girl said.
“My dinner?”
“Yes ma’am! Can we come in and set up?”
She turned and Andy was behind her. “Hello ladies! Come in!” he said. With a sweep of his hand he directed them to the dining room and the kitchen and led Beth back to the movie. The two women carried in several large totes.
“What’s going on?”
“Shh, it’s a surprise. Watch the movie.”
About half an hour passed. Beth had no clue what was happening in the movie. She was too busy wondering what was going on in the kitchen. She smelled wonderful smells and heard lots of activity.
Gina came around the corner. “All set!”
Andy finally paused the movie and reached for Beth’s hand. “Shall we?”
They went into the dining room where the light was soft, and there were candles of all types all over the center of the table, various heights, colors and styles. There were rose petals scattered around. There were two places set, one at the end of the table, one to the side. There were beautiful china plates and crystal that was not Beth’s at each setting. One plate had a Calla Lily lying on it, a bud vase filled with water to the side.
Beth looked at Andy, “What is going on?”
“Have a seat,” he pulled a chair out for her, and she sat.
Gina took the flower and placed it in the vase as Marie brought the salad and filled their glasses with wine.
“Andy?”
He took her hand, kissed it; “Please, eat.”
She took a bite of the salad and tasted pear and Gorgonzola cheese along with the greens, walnuts and a tangy dressing. She sipped the wine that she knew was Andy’s favorite Chenin Blanc. She enjoyed, but she was curious.
Gina came and took the plates away as Marie brought them a lovely Chicken Marsala and pasta. Gina returned and filled their glasses with Chianti and said, “Enjoy, we’ll be back in the morning to clean up. Dessert is in the fridge!”
They shared a wonderful evening, great conversation which Beth did enjoy, but she continued to wonder.
Done with the meal, they finished their wine and Andy rose to go get the dessert.
He returned with two slices of Tiramisu and more of the Chenin Blanc.
“OK. What. Is. Going. On?” she asked emphasizing each word.
Andy looked at her over the rim of his glass as he took a sip. “You want to know right now?”
“Yes, I can’t stand it any longer! What is going on?”
“Are you sure?” he asked teasingly.
“Yes!”
He said a silent prayer, reached in his pocket and rose from his seat. Taking Beth’s left hand in his, he dropped to one knee.
“No,” she whispered.
“No? But I haven’t asked yet…”
“I mean, No! I can’t believe it,” she laughed a nervous laugh.
“Elizabeth Ellen Morgan Oliver…” he said nervously as he took the ring from the box. “Bethy, I’ve waited far too long to do this, so ‘No’ is not an option.”
He leaned to her and placed a kiss on her lips. “You were wrong about me,” he whispered.
“I was?” she replied with tears spilling from her eyes.
“I am the marrying type,” he said with tears in his own eyes. “Will you be my wife? Mrs. Andrew Stevens,” he said and slipped the ring on her finger.
Beth threw her arms around his neck. “Yes!” she said. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Lying in bed, later, admiring the ring she rolled to him. “Are you sure about this?” she asked. “I mean, who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
“Are you changing your mind? ‘Cuz I think we made a deal.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“No, I just want to make sure you know what’s ahead of you, ahead of us.”
“No one ever knows what tomorrow holds, and I have never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said wrapping her in a loving embrace.
“OK then, me, too. When?”
“You tell me,” he said pushing her back to look into her eyes.
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
“Not for me, I already told you, I waited far too long…”
~ ~ ~
After a busy week of preparation, on Saturday, May 25, with their friends and family present, Andy and Beth became husband and wife. The ceremony was in the gazebo by the pool in Kimmy and Lane’s back yard. Beth wore a beautiful pale pink dress that Kimmy and Liz picked out. She carried a bouquet of plum and white Calla Lilies that Andy ordered for her. He wore the tux he had worn to the Grammys with a white Calla Lily on his lapel. And instead of Pops giving her away, she and Andy walked together hand in hand. Roddy was his best man and Kimmy and
Carlee stood up with her. All the Traveler guys were there with their families, and Angel was as well.
It was a beautiful ceremony. Beth’s only request; that ‘till death do us part’ be removed from the vows they exchanged. Andy’s request; that the minister who performed the ceremony call her ‘Bethy’.
There was only one dance. Andy took her in his arms as Etta James sang “At Last…” He held her close and kissed the top of her head as she cried.
Gina and Marie prepared a lovely reception. Everyone ate, drank, and celebrated something that none of them believed would ever happen. John came to take Carlee home with him. He made a big fuss over her dress and she informed him; “Papa belongs to us now, Daddy.”
“Yes, he does, sweet girl. Yes, he does.”
That night, after everyone was gone, Beth was tired. That was a lot of excitement and activity for her in one day. Even though she was feeling good she still tired easily. She changed and went to the big bed they shared, to rest. Andy set candles all over the room, turned on soft music, and went to where Beth waited.
“Bethy,” he said in a soft whisper; and they made love. It was full of joy and tears. It was bitter-sweet and beautiful.
~ ~ ~
She was feeling good. Carlee stayed with John while Andy took Beth to Eleuthera for a few days. The doctor OK’d a short trip. Beth wondered if she would ever see that beautiful place again. It was a relaxing time filled with nothing but ‘them’. They made love, they talked and they enjoyed. She wasn’t able to make those long walks that she used to, but she found that she didn’t need that now. She did it before for the respite, for the solitude, to clear her head. Now, all she wanted was to be with Andy.
Rock and Roll Never Forgets (The Rock and Roll Trilogy) Page 28