Blue Saturn

by Jay, Libby

  “You’re nervous? I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous.”

  He briefly kisses me. “We can both be nervous.”

  “Is there anything in particular I should be nervous about?”

  “No. Only that I haven’t seen anyone in years. I don’t know how they’re going to feel about me.” He takes my hand and we walk together from the room.

  Cherry, Jacob and the kids were the first to arrive. When Cherry and Mike embraced, they held each other so tightly, for so long that it brought tears to my eyes. They whispered endearments to each other before looking at each other and then they laughed. Cherry kissed Mike’s cheek.

  “You’re a handsome devil,” she said before standing aside to allow Mike to shake Jacob’s hand.

  Clarke took to Mike instantly, telling him all about his new bike that Santa had brought for him. Chloe on the other hand, wouldn’t go near him.

  “She’ll warm to you,” Cherry said.

  Mike introduced me to Jacob before we all went through to the back of the house. Steve and Mikey were still sitting outside. Mikey seemed to be playing air guitar and Steve was playing air drums.

  When Clarke saw Mikey, he ran out to greet his cousin. They immediately made their way to the jungle gym where they playing for the majority of the day.

  “You could’ve told me Steve was going to be here,” I heard Cherry whisper angrily to Mike.

  He gave Cherry a puzzled look before he laughed. “I forgot about that.” Mike looked at me and shrugged. “Cherry and Steve had a thing for a while.”

  “Once,” Cherry said. “We slept with each other once, long before I met Jacob.”

  “He was her first,” Jacob said, gently patting his wife’s bottom.

  “And it was terrible,” Cherry added.

  I laughed and looked at Mike, shaking my head.

  Steve’s face went from relaxed to tense as soon as he saw Cherry. But Cherry decided very quickly that she was going to be the bigger person in that situation and warmly greeted Steve with a hug and a kiss to the cheek before introducing her husband and kids.

  The caterers quickly brought out a tray of mock-tails and we all settled down on the outside furniture awaiting the arrival of Mike’s father and brother.

  They arrived soon after. Mike asked me to accompany him to the door when the bell sounded.

  The first thing I noticed about Mike’s father was how eerily similar Mike was to him. I looked back and forth between the two of them, clearly seeing a glimpse into the future, knowing that in another thirty years, that is exactly what Mike will look like.

  “Son,” Mike’s father said in greeting.

  “Hello Dad.” Mike’s voice broke as he greeted his father.

  The two men stood looking at each other, neither one acknowledging my presence. Finally, Mike stood forward and hugged his father. If his reunion with his sister hadn’t quite brought me to tears, that one did.

  The two men held each other for a long time before they each patted each other’s backs. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Mike said before releasing the embrace.

  “I’m to blame also.” Mike’s father looked at me. “You must be Lyndsay.”

  “Sorry,” Mike started. “Lyndsay, this is my father, Victor.”

  “Call me Vic.” Vic put his hand out for me to shake.

  “It’s nice to meet you Vic.”

  Vic stepped into the house. “So, where is my grandson?”

  Mike answered the door alone when Carey and Bianca arrived. I was in deep conversation with Cherry about Victor and Mike’s strained relationship.

  “They’re too much alike,” Cherry explained. “They both had dreams and Mike has reached his. Dad, well Dad was a concert pianist, but an injury during his early twenties rendered his middle and ring finger on his left hand useless and he had to kiss that dream goodbye.”

  I looked over at Victor’s hand and noticed that those two fingers were permanently curled up.

  “I think a lot of it is that Dad is jealous, but seeing Mike abuse his talent...I think Dad was disappointed more than anything. And then there was the whole thing with Mum.” She stopped talking when she saw Carey and Bianca walk into the yard. “Check out those boobs,” she said, hiding her lips behind her glass of orange juice.

  I wanted to ask her what happened between Mike and his mum, but I never got a chance to.

  Carey is a lot shorter than his brother, and a lot fairer. But he has that Greene bone structure that gives his face a very handsome appearance. I instantly picked up on the tension between the two brothers as Mike introduced me to Carey and Bianca. And just as Cherry had said Bianca had a thin waist – really she has a thin and toned everything – and two very oversized breasts. They looked completely unnatural for her small frame and the fact that she wore a tight fitting white dress didn’t particularly help to hide them.

  But other than that, Bianca is actually quite easy to like. She has a good sense of humour and at times during the afternoon when things got a bit tense, she had a natural knack of making everyone feel easy.

  Mike’s “present” was due to arrive at any moment. I kept an ear out for the doorbell while I told Carey and Bianca a little about myself.

  Finally, when the “gift” did arrive, I brought him through to the outside deck.

  “Who is this?” Mike asked, scanning the photographers’ bags and the camera which hung around his neck.

  “I didn’t know what to get you for Christmas. You’re not an easy man to buy things for. But I thought, well...you don’t have any photos of your family. Mario is a photographer. And since your family are here today...” Mike was staring at me blankly as I rattled on my explanation. “I thought it would be nice to get some photos and then you can hang them on the walls...if you want to...or you don’t have to...you can ask Mario to leave...he signed a NDA...Gavin gave me your lawyers number...it’s all...been...arranged...” Mike was still staring at me. “I should’ve just minded my own business.”

  The words were hardly past my lips when Mike came at me and pressed his lips firmly up against mine, holding me tightly against his body. He kissed me for a long time before he rested his forehead against mine and looked deep into my eyes. “You’re always so thoughtful. Thank you. It’s perfect.”

  My instructions to Mario had been that I wanted candid, casual and relaxed shots, no posing. He was very discreet as he spent a bit over an hour taking photos of Mike and his family together, before he shook my hand, thanked me and said he’d be in touch once the photos were ready to preview.

  After lunch, we sat down to open presents.

  There was an array of presents handed out, ranging from soft toys and books for little Chloe up to a beautiful diamond necklace for Bianca from Carey.

  When it came time for Mike to hand out his gifts, he left the room for a minute before returning with two large boxes and three envelopes in his hand. He gave one envelope each to his father, Cherry and Carey.

  “Open them all together,” he said before sitting back down next to me, holding my hand tight.

  Vic, Cherry and Carey all looked at each other and opened the envelopes. As their eyes scanned the printed paper, each one slowly opened their mouths in shock and their eyes became wide.

  “He’s paid off the mortgage,” Cherry said, showing the piece of paper to Jacob.

  “Mike,” Carey said. “We only just got the loan. That was a six hundred thousand dollar loan.”

  Mike shrugged and smiled. “I live comfortably. You should too.”

  “Mike,” Vic said. “I can’t accept this.” Vic was holding three sheets of paper and I wondered just how much debt he had been in.

  “You have to, it’s all done.” He leaned into me and whispered, “I’m going to give you your present later, when we’re alone.”

  “And the car loan.” Bianca said then, looking down at the sheet of paper in her hands. “Mike, thank you. Thank you so much.” Bianca stood up and came toward Mike. He stood and met her for a
hearty embrace. “Now we can have the wedding we dreamed of.”

  “The wedding you dreamed of,” Carey corrected.

  Mike laughed. “As long as I’m there, I don’t care what sort of wedding you have.”

  “You’ll be there,” Bianca said, kissing his cheek. “Maybe Blue Saturn can play a few songs.”

  “Maybe Mike can write you a song for your wedding waltz,” Cherry chimed in.

  “Oh could you?” Bianca asked.

  “Sure,” Mike laughed and looked at me. He was smiling and laughing and I realised then, this moment had made him complete. He was with his family, his closest flesh and blood and he was happy.

  Next it was Mikey’s turn to open his presents. He tore into the first gift covered in green wrapping paper and opened the cardboard box. When he saw the acoustic guitar, his eyes opened wide. “Cool. Thanks Dad.”

  The second box held an electric guitar.

  Both guitars were green and had been custom made to Mikey’s size.

  “These are the best Dad. Hey, I can play your song on my new guitar.”

  Mike looked puzzled before I explained. “Gavin has been helping him learn a song to play for you.”

  Mike checked that the guitar was in tune before handing it over to Mikey. Mikey took a deep breath and started singing. “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. I have no idea why Gavin taught him to play this song; it’s so incredibly sad, and although the song is about a father and son, I know Gavin was thinking of Angela when he tutored Mikey through that song. Mikey sung it beautifully; that kid has some serious talent.

  By the end of the song, there was not a dry eye in the house, even Mike’s.

  The goodbyes were long and drawn out over an hour. But finally, Mike’s family left and we were alone again.

  Mikey, absolutely exhausted from playing all afternoon with his cousins, crashed on the couch at about five thirty. By six, the caterers were all packed up and had left. Steve left at seven and at eight o’clock, I slipped into the bath.

  I know Mike is waiting for me in bed. He showered quickly about ten minutes ago. It’s early to go to bed, but he still has my present to give me. And I know we won’t be going to sleep straight away anyway, if the past six nights have been any indication.

  The bath water is getting cool and rather than refilling it with warm water, I decide it’s time to get out. I dry myself off and slip into a pair of red knickers and a black t-shirt. I don’t know why I bother getting dressed; it’s all going to be on the floor in a few minutes anyway.

  Mike is sitting up against his pillow looking at his phone when I walk out from the bathroom. He’s scowling.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah, it’s Paul.”

  “What does he want?” I crawl across the bed and sit astride Mike, getting his full attention.

  “We’ve said he can come to New Zealand with us for the relief concert. Now he’s making demands.”

  “What sort of demands?”

  “Demands that I don’t care for. He can deal with Liane.” Mike sets his phone down and looks at me. “Why do you bother wearing clothes to bed?” he says as his hands slide across the bare skin under my t-shirt.

  “I don’t want to be presumptuous. You might not be in the mood,” I say.

  Mike laughs. “I don’t know if that could ever happen with you.” He leans forward and kisses my neck. “I’m crazy for you.” He lifts the t-shirt up over my head and looks at me. “You’re so beautiful.” He kisses my lips and pulls my body in closer to his.

  He’s trying to roll me onto my back, but I won’t let him. For the past six nights, we have made love, always with Mike on top, always with Mike setting the pace.

  But tonight, I want, no, I need to be in charge.

  “Mike, please,” I plead with him. I roll him to his back and climb on top of him. “I need to.”

  “Baby, you need to go slow.”

  I shake my head. “Not tonight. Tonight I want you...I need you Mike.”

  Mike sits up so we’re eye to eye. “You have me baby.”

  “Let me make love to you,” I say. “Please.”

  Mike grabs hold of my hips and steadies me. “If that’s what you want.”

  I kiss him tenderly. “It’s what I want.”

  My eyes are feeling heavy. Mike’s steady heartbeat beneath me is slowly lulling me to sleep.

  “Lyndsay, don’t fall asleep. I want to give you your present.”

  “Do I have to move?” I ask slowly.

  “Yes, because I can’t...reach...” Mike moves out from under me, causing me to lie against the soft mattress of his bed, our bed.

  I turn my head to the side and drape an arm over Mike’s chest.

  “Open your eyes, baby.”

  I slowly open my eyes and in front of me, resting on the bed is a small red box. Suddenly all my fatigue dissipates and I sit bolt upright.

  “What is that?” I ask, looking down wide eyed at the box.

  “Open it,” Mike says.

  “But what’s in there?” I ask.

  Mike laughs. “Lyndsay, I’m not asking you to marry me. Open the box.”

  I slowly reach out and pick up the box. I open it and my jaw drops open when I see the beautiful diamond encrusted ring. I look back and forth between the ring and Mike.

  “Do you like it?” Mike asks.

  “It looks like an engagement ring,” I say.

  “It’s not.” Mike sits up and takes the box from me. “It’s a commitment ring.”

  “Isn’t that an engagement ring?”

  “Lyndsay, I would marry you tomorrow if I knew it wouldn’t completely freak you out.” He takes the ring from the box. “It’s a commitment ring.” He puts the box down and takes my right hand. “I want you to wear this ring, as a sign of my love for you and your love for me.”

  “Do we need a ring to prove that?”

  Mike slips the ring onto my ring finger. “No we don’t. But I want everyone else to know exactly how we feel about each other.”

  I look down at the sparkling diamonds. The ring is absolutely beautiful. “Mike,” I breathe. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful.” He kisses me softly at first, but his kiss soon deepens and as he pushes me onto my back, I decide that this time, he can be in control.

  *****

  Mike, Gavin and Steve are in another meeting with Liane. I had forgotten about her existence but in her usual charming way, she reminded me she is still very much a force in the Blue Saturn family.

  From what I can gather from overhearing hushed conversations, Liane and the record label aren’t happy with what they’ve heard from the new songs. They want something edgier and darker. Mike is digging in his heels; he, and Gavin and Steve for that matter, love the new music.

  Mikey and I are inside, baking chocolate chip cookies. Mikey is counting the chocolate drops as he puts them into the cookie mixture.

  “What comes after twenty nine?” he asks.

  “Thirty,” I answer.

  Then I hear Liane’s voice from the hallway. “Well, if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for your fans.” The click clack of her high heeled shoes against the floors stops. “I understand that you’re life has taken a dramatic turn in the past few months, Mike. But don’t go into papa rock mode just yet. You’ve still got a few good years of bad boy left in you.” The click clack resumes and then I hear a door open and close.

  Mike comes into the kitchen. He looks annoyed but puts on a smile and comes to the bench. “Whatcha doin’?” he asks Mikey before planting a kiss on his head.

  “Counting chocolate drops,” Mikey says. “What comes after thirty nine?”

  “Forty,” Mike says. He puts his hand into the bowl of cookie dough and pulls out a fair chunk, before putting it into his mouth.

  I scowl at him and he kisses me.

  “I’ve had enough women scowling at me for one day, Lynd’s.” He kisses me again and leaves the kitchen.
<
br />   He won’t tell me what the exact problem is. Only that he might have to go back to work on the new album, which means more days locked away in his “creation” room.

  “But I won’t do it until after we get back from New Zealand.” He sits down on the edge of the bed and pulls on a pair of socks.

  We’re getting ready to go to a New Years Eve party hosted by his label. Mike is performing a few acoustic songs. Gavin, Steve and Paul will all be at the party as well, but just as guests, or star power.

  Mike is wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt. I on the other hand, am wearing a pair of white jeans, with strategic rips down the front of the legs and a hot pink fitted singlet, which doesn’t quite cover my tummy. Mike bought the outfit for me when we went shopping yesterday. I’ve got a pair of nude heels on my feet and a pair of silver hooped earrings hanging from my ears.

  “Will you wear your hair up tonight?” Mike asks.

  “No,” I answer instantly, without giving it any thought.

  Mike sidles up behind me. “It’s just that I want access to your incredibly sexy neck tonight.”

  I laugh as his soft kisses tickle me. “You can have access to it when we get home.”

  “Can I have access to it in the car on the way home?”

  “If you’d like.”

  “I would like, very much.” He kisses my neck one final time before slapping my bum. “Your arse looks incredible in those jeans.”

  “Ouch,” I say rubbing my bum.

  “That didn’t hurt,” he laughs.

  “It did hurt.”

  Mike starts to gently massage my stinging behind. “Do you want me to kiss it better?”

  I laugh. “No, I’m worried I won’t be able to get back into these jeans if I take them off.”

  “It’s just as well that once their off, you won’t be putting them back on.” He pats my bum again, a lot softer this time. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”