Page 112 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Relationships can be all-encompassing.Claustrophobic even.Traveling together and working together just ups that.”Anne popped a cherry tomato from the charcuterie board into her mouth.“You need to have your own life and interests and defend them vigorously.”
“No, you don’t!”Mal popped up behind the couch, sliding his hands down over his wife’s shoulders.“I am your whole world.”
“Who has the baby?”asked Anne.
“Ah, Adam.Yes.I left him with junior.”
“You know Tommy freaks him out.”
“Yeah.It’s hilarious.”
She clicked her tongue.
And sure enough, Adam was indeed frowning down at the small bundle of joy held tentatively in his arms.Adam and I as parents… What a strange idea.Tommy waved his little arms in the air while my ex watched as if the baby were about to explode or something at any moment.Not sure I’d ever seen such naked fear in his eyes.Ben the bass player sat nearby, keeping an eye on things while Dave and Jimmy both played guitars softly.
“Ben’s watching him,” said Mal with a smile.“Relax, pumpkin.For I am a good and noble father.”
Anne smiled back at him.“I know.I just worry.”
“Of course, you do.”Lizzy passed her another tomato.“You two went to a lot of trouble to make him.But everything’s fine, Anne.Relax.”
What I liked was the warmth these people shared.The connection they all had.
“We haven’t even told you how impossible it is to be around them when they’re in the middle of recording,” said Ev.“It’s like their minds are permanently elsewhere.All of their thinking space is taken up with creating the great work.”
“That’s true.”Lena crossed her legs.“And that’s why you need your own life and interests.”
“Nonsense,” said Mal, still lurking over the back of the couch.“Anne worships me, and her life couldn’t be fuller.”
“I work in a bookshop when I’m not on tour,” reported his wife.“I love it.”
“But all the books in there are about me, right?”
“Oh sure.”Anne grinned.“It does imbalance the store sections a little, but I’ve made it work.”
“Too much in the romance section, you mean?”
“Actually, it turns out most of the store is taken up with mental health books.”
“Because I make you crazy in love?”
“Absolutely, that’s the reason.I am crazy, and I do love you,” she faithfully repeated, patting his hand.“And Tommy.”
Across the room, the baby gurgled, and Adam kept right on frowning down at him.Never had I seen a grown man so perturbed by something so small.It was kind of fascinating.A little person, half me and half him.Our little person.How amazing and terrifying would that be?
“There’s no rush,” murmured Ev with a soft smile.“David and I have things we want to do before thinking about having children.That’s still out there someday.And from what I’ve seen, babies are way more work than you can ever imagine.”
“I believe you.But honestly, I don’t even know if Adam and I should be together,” I admitted, my heart on my sleeve.
She blinked.“Well, do you love him?”
God help me.“Sadly, that was never the problem.”
Her smile softened even more.Like she’d been through her own share of doubts and heartache.“Take it one step at a time then, I guess.I don’t know.It’s easy to be smart for other people when it isn’t your soul on the line.Love can hurt like a bitch.But it can be beautiful, too.David taught me that.”
“Hmm.”
Mal cleared his throat, leaning closer.“Thing is, even scared shitless of my small innocent child, that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him.Not that you can be personally responsible for someone else’s happiness in life, etcetera.But if he makes you half as happy as you obviously make him, might be worth hanging around for a while.Seeing where things go.”
