Music Notes (Heartbeat #3) (22 page)

I come into our home taking care of the most important thing first, and that is to give my spectacular wife a one-armed hug, and place my lips to hers immediately. It’s the middle of the afternoon and I am certain our children are napping. Maxine was probably a hard one to get to sleep as always. Adorable as she is, she is still a handful. Mick, he just watches the musical notes dance above his crib on the mobile, and he drifts off. I know that since he’s my son he will be dreaming those notes, and arranging them into songs already. With a smile, I set down the flowers that I was briefly balancing with my coffee. I am now enjoying a cup of coffee from my favorite spot, the 2
^nd
Street Coffee Café. With my cup now firmly in my other hand, I tell Madison, “I just bought the most expensive cup of coffee.”

“And that has you looking so happy?” she asks.

“Nope,” I am still looking very happy, but I want to draw it out…

“Oh, they finally made you pay for a cup? I know they always comp yours.”

“Wrong again,” I reply.

“I give up, so just tell me the reasons for the Mr. Smiley face today, because I know it’s not because of something I did. You snuck out of bed this morning way too early.”

“The excitement for the moment is that this here cup of coffee actually cost me $350,000… I bought the café that made it for me.” I looked straight in her eyes for a response. I wasn’t sure how she would react.

“What?” Madison responded, clearly confused.

“Well, the owners needed to sell quickly, and I figured I could mentor some musicians there and let them play in a coffee house setting. Besides I actually really like the coffee. I want to be here with my family now, and get stronger. I know this was an impromptu decision on my part but, hey, here have a sip. It tastes better now that we own it.” I had to start laughing at this point.

Madison set the cup down and came in and licked my lip, “Definitely tastes great, I would buy this flavor.” She said smiling.

“I also spoke with the current manager of the 2
^nd
Street Coffee Café and he really wants to stay on, his name is Tristan Payne. He seems cool enough for the changes I want to make there. He also manages that restaurant you went to with Cecile in New York, so he has a fresh vision. I can’t wait to see all that will happen in this new adventure of ours. Here, take a real sip.” I picked up the cup and held it for her.

“Oh and I need your creative eye for the design and decor. I guess the inheritance that my father left me is going to great use after all. Love, I think I will rename it the Music Notes Café.”

*     *     *

I smiled back at my husband. The name Tristan Payne ran through my brain rolodex and stopped as I remembered who he was. I also reminded myself to reach out to that lovely blogger Tabby Rae to set up a day to meet for coffee and conversation, but it would have to be at
our
coffee shop. Perhaps I could take a romance from the pages of one my books and make it come to life like I was asked once in New York.

Standing here in this moment I am so happy. Lately, things in our family life have been going so incredibly right. Maxwell has truly maintained the role of Rand’s father and has been the most supportive man for him throughout his lifetime. He has been nothing but welcoming to me, and now he looks the happiest when he’s with our children. I stand sometimes in the kitchen to discretely wipe the tears away when I overhear Maxwell in his conversations with the twins. I know they don’t understand him but the kindness in his voice, I know they feel that. I know that my mother and uncle are in a good place in their lives now and they are definitely in a fixed place in my heart and house as they help us so much. I often think that if Rand and I never met that I would not have been reunited with my mother, but fate is a huge player in life and it certainly helped in mine. Although everyday lately for us has been another precious and wonderful one, I can’t say that is the same for my friends right now.

Jillian and Raeford keep going in opposite directions. I know he has shared with her that he had a tough past. He is a great guy though, and I hope he can push past that. If Rand can deal with his father’s selfless last good deed that saved his son, anyone can overcome their past. Jillian, I love her to death, but she too still has a hollowness that comes to the surface now and again. I worry about Kent and Cecile too. I hope they will figure it out, and stand together. Although Kent, Cecile and Connor aren’t around each other often, those few moments that they have been are telling. I see Cecile watch Connor when he can’t see her, and that simple look is all too familiar to me. That is exactly how I look at my husband even if he is only a few steps away from me.

The look that Rand gave me was priceless as he came through the front door with a beautiful bouquet of my favorite roses. It was so funny to watch him open the door juggling the delicate flowers and a cup of hot coffee. I was waiting for one to take the plunge. It’s clear to me now that no matter where our life takes us next, it will always be something with a twist and turn, always something that will test and stretch our bond, but never break it. I can’t wait for the days, months, and years ahead with this man and my family. Rand is now standing inches from me and I reach to take another sip of his expensive cup of coffee that he holds in front of me. As it warms me inside, I stand on the balls of my feet and stretch up to kiss him. All I know is that at the moment I touch his lips, I recall that he had me falling for him long ago with just this simple first taste.

Readers:

I want to thank you for purchasing
Music Notes
. I loved writing this novel and continuing Madison and Rand’s love story, but letting Rand tell his story. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Please feel free to reach out to me with a comment.

My website is:
www.reneeleefisher.com
or email me at
[email protected]
.

Also, note there are now six books planned in the Heartbeat Series. The next to follow is
First Beat
. This will be the story of Jillian and Raeford. Raeford began his life taking out frustrations by beating pots with spoons, making a career of it later beating real drums. He and his girlfriend Jillian began their relationship with the tragic loss of a baby before they ever heard the first beat of the child’s heart. Raeford is hiding his pain from her, but not just the pain of that loss. There is a deep seated hurt from his past that he cannot share. Will Jillian be able to find out what he’s hiding? How can she push him when she has a secret from the past that she has never shared? Continue reading
First Beat
to see if Jillian and Raeford can expose the secrets that are holding them back. Don’t worry, Madison and Rand will be making a few appearances in this storyline.

By: Renee Lee Fisher

This is
Rand’s Playlist
and inspiration for each of the thirteen song selections
.

My Front Row –
I looked out at the audience, I raked my hands through my hair. I am never nervous for shows, but she is here. She is seated in the front row, right below me. I am shaking and can barely hold the pick in my fingers as I begin to play.

Sweet Nervous One –
She doesn’t look directly at me the entire time we have coffee at our first real encounter at the coffee shop. Her lovely eyes sweep the floor below and then trail along the edge of the table we are seated at.

Secret Musical Note –
I smile at the piercing dangling from her navel. I press a soft kiss to her skin and watch her slightly lift her core with excitement. When I perform I will keep in mind that I always have this hidden musical note that is only for me to play.

Simply Mad –
Madison makes me crazy in Love. She is me dreaming while I am awake. She takes my breath away way too often in our bed and just being beside her. She has been my inspiration for every song choice. Actually it comes down to it that she makes me
simply mad
.

Empty Heart –
My heart has been so broken for so long. I thought with the loss of my mother and then my twin sister that I would never feel again. I went through the motions with nameless girls that followed the band, followed me. Then my heart ached like it never freaking ached in the past. Madison, she brought that aching to a yearning for all I felt was her warmth deep inside my chest.

Always Interrupted –
I have needed to take way too many cold showers to try to wash away the wanting of her with me. Someone or something always comes between us which is so frustrating. I am though learning extreme patience from all these distractive times.

Embrace Us –
I want to promise her the world. I don’t want her to ever doubt me. I am a singer in a rock band, followed by women and screamed at so often. I want Madison to embrace my heart, that beats only for her not only in the quiet times but also when the music is loudly covering its pulse. I want to wrap her up in my arms so tightly and hold on and breathe in time with each other.

Our Holiday –
For several years the holidays to me were like any other day. There was no special memory to carry on with my family gone either from death or abandonment in my father’s case. I tried to share in any merriment with the band and staff as appreciation for their time and efforts during the year but I only went through the motions with them. It was Madison who changed this for me. Not just this holiday but every holiday will be a celebration for as long as she is near.

Cross Your Heart –
With Madison in my mind when I wrote this song, I have decided it was fitting to share with her mother and uncle on their wedding day. I am feeling what I have with Madison and letting it flow through the words and song for her family to share. I want all this happiness and emotion to forever embrace us and I silently cross my heart that it will forever stay with Grace and Jake who have loved one another for so long.

Uncertainty –
This song was not about doubt, I knew I had to relay that her. That she and I should not look back. We were both wounded in love in the past. I wanted her to know there was no uncertainty playing in my head, I was certain of her and I knew I never loved anyone more.

Permanent Proposal –
The inspiration behind this song is simple. It is on my lower back. I fidgeted on the table and I couldn’t wait for Russ to get through with it so I could ask Madison to marry me. When I saw my new tattoo through the sheen of the ointment and her name
Madison Rand
permanently inked on my skin, I couldn’t wait to get to her. I knew I tired her out last night, our first evening completely together, just us, uninterrupted. I knew long ago I wanted her to be my wife. I just knew I wasn’t the get on one knee kind of guy at this point in my life. I figured she would still be in bed, her bed that I just shared, and I would slide back in for her to see this. Hell yes, I wanted her to be mine for a long time and now I want her to be my wife.

For So Long –
This I wrote for our wedding song.
Once so long ago I though being with her was impossible. I have had so many flashbacks to what my life was, and to where it is now. This—here and now—is what I wanted for so long. Also part of this song was about constantly not knowing when she and I would set that date, and if it was ever going to freaking happen.

Three Loves I’ve Found –
This came to me in the hospital the day we got the news we were having the twins. I was lost and then I was found. These three people in my life, Madison, Maxine and Mick are the three loves I’ve found. I never needed to rush to get this song to music, as it never left my head when I first started to create it. Now, I simply use it in a shortened version to get the twins to sleep and they seem to really like the sound of my voice, and they settle into their dreamland quickly. Or it could be I am boring them to sleep. I hope it’s the not the later one.

ROCK NOTES (Book One)

LOVE NOTES (Book Two)

MUSIC NOTES (Book Three)

FIRST BEAT (Book Four)

FIRST BASS (Book Five)

And then…you can come indulge with –

FIRST TASTE

(Book Six Book of the Heartbeat Series)