Chapter Sixty-One A doctor was leaning over our daughter’s isolette listening to her with a stethoscope. I suddenly felt weak. That wasn’t a good sign. Keith wrapped an arm around me and squeezed me tight. The nurse who stood beside the doctor noticed us and approached. “We were just about to rouse you,” she began. …
Chapter Fifty-Eight All Keith and I could do was hold each other and listen to our baby scream as they stuck a tiny needle in her leg to insert an IV. My stomach turned into knots and I felt like I was in the middle of some horrible nightmare as medical staff rushed to Mandy …
Chapter Fifty-Nine Keith spun around and froze. It took me a second to realize who they were. Then I recognized Keith’s father. Even though I’d only seen him in a dark nightclub, I recognized his eyes. His black hair had more silver than I remembered. His mother‘s hair was cropped short and almost nearly gray. …
Chapter Fifty-Eight Keith pulled me into his lap and wrapped me in his arms. “Your mum called and says the baby made it through another night.” “I can’t wait to see her. This has been a nightmare I don’t care to repeat.” A nurse came in pushing a wheel chair. “Ah, your limo has arrived,” …
Chapter Fifty-Seven “Your daughter is a tough little girl. However, she’ll need more specialized care than we can provide. We want her airlifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. They have the best neonatal intensive care in the country. You’ll need to sign papers giving us permission.” “Mon dieu,” I gasped. “She will survive, …
Chapter Fifty-Six The next thing I was aware of was waking in a private room. Keith was sitting by my side. He looked exhausted, but broke into a broad smile when he saw my eyes open. “Hi, my love. How are you feeling?” I began remembering. “The baby!” I sat up. “Shsh.” He laid me …
Chapter Fifty-five “Please don’t let me lose this baby.” I cried to an empty room. The pains became more and more intense. I couldn’t get up or reach the phone. I tried calling out, but couldn’t catch my breath to yell. I noticed the dark outline of the phone cord dangling in front of the …
Chapter Fifty-Four Keith looked panicked. “What’s wrong?” “Your daughter just kicked me, that’s what! I think she bruised a rib!” “I’m sorry she’s so hard on you, luv.” I gave Keith a knowing smile. “You said she. I heard you.” He gave me a sheepish look. “Only because you’ve conditioned me.” I laughed. “Well, you …
Chapter Fifty-Three “Really?” Keith turned on the lamp, looking like a kid with a new toy. “Let me feel.” He put his hands on my stomach. “I don’t feel anything.” “Maybe it was nothing. I’m going back to sleep.” The next few days I felt those flutters again and my doctor confirmed I was feeling …
Chapter Fifty-Two The last week of August arrived and we were again crammed in that wretched van headed for Brighton. We arrived at the hotel to find it swarming with kids in punk attire. The band was immediately bombarded for autographs. Keith and I barely escaped into the lift. “We have two hours before we …
Chapter Fifty-Five “Well, dear, you’re not only pregnant, but about two months along,” the nurse said. I sat in shock. “Pregnant? I can’t be. We’ve taken precautions.” I tried remembering back two months and remembered that first night after learning of the untimely demise of my father. “But the only time we didn’t use protection …
Chapter Fifty I ran and ran before collapsing against a boulder. The waves crashing to the shore only reminded me of the angry words I last spoke to my father. My whole body shook and I cried my eyes out. I wanted to reverse time to change my last visit. I was so angry with …
Chapter Forty-Nine “It’s your father,” she sobbed. “He died in his sleep some time last night.” “What are you saying?” “I wish it was all some horrible mistake . . .” All I could do at this point was scream, “No, you’re wrong. He’s only 48. You don’t die in your sleep at 48!” “The …
Chapter Forty-Eight The guitar’s neck was broken clean off. “What have those incompetent arseholes done?” Keith screamed. “Fuckin’ aye!” Ryan echoed. “Why now?” “I need to be on stage at one of the biggest festivals in the world and these imbeciles destroy my guitar!” I noticed the others inspecting their instruments, which thankfully were unscathed. …
Chapter Forty-Seven “It would look bad if I turned them down.” “Your willingness to give up our time to go off and jam with people makes me realize I’m not as important as your music.” “Come on, luv, be fair. Other musicians are noticing us. It’s an honor to be asked to jam with them. …
Chapter forty-Six “A ghost?” I questioned. “It was fucking spooky. A bird about fifteen or so in old-fashioned clothes,” a bloke from School Lunch said. A club employee spoke up. “Yeah, there’s the ghost of a young girl here. I’ve never seen her, but others have.” “I knew there was something creepy about this place,” …
Chapter Forty-Five The backstage door opened and a disheveled man as tall as he was wide, stepped out. He sported a scraggly beard and his hair looked like he never combed or trimmed it. “Oi, who goes there, friend or foe?” he quipped. Ryan was already at the back of the van opening the doors. …
Chapter Forty-Four I took the cash box to Ryan. “I made nearly five hundred quid for you blokes tonight, not that you appreciate it.” “Oh, great. Can you bring back the other boxes?” I glared at him. “You’re more than twice my size. You do it!” I went across the room and flopped onto a …
Chapter Forty-Three “I don’t fucking care so piss off!” Keith yelled back. “You better fucking care! This could be our break. You’re spoiling everything.” “Go on,” I said. “I won’t go until you promise you’ll be here when I get back.” I sat up and pushed the hair from my eyes. “I can’t go anywhere …
I picked up the small cello bag, not sure I really saw the small white pills showing through what was obviously marijuana. My heart sank to my feet. Darkness enveloped me. I lost all interest in finding the club and felt like catching the next train back to London. How could Keith be using drugs …
Chapter Forty-One I slept in installments all night, finally getting up around eight. As expected, Keith was still passed out. After taking advantage of the free breakfast, there were two hours before we were leaving. There was time to paint one picture. I wandered a bit before happening upon an art gallery. I seized the …
Chapter Forty I realized it was the Piss Ants’ van as it screeched to a stop inches from the throngs. Ryan rolled down the window. “Get in, quick!” We didn’t argue as Jimmy opened the back door and we dashed in at lightning speed. Ryan hit the horn, stomped on the gas, making the tires …
Chapter Thirty-Seven Keith didn’t stir so I climbed down. Meanwhile Ryan kept pounding. “Get up. We have a ferry to catch!” “I’m up,” I yelled. The banging stopped, so I assumed Ryan was just getting us up. I breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the clock. How could it be six already? I …
Chapter Thirty-Six So much for sleep. It was four a.m. “Since you were involved, you’ll have to talk to them.” “I told you to leave it alone. If you had, then this wouldn’t have happened!” I screamed. “Well it’s too fucking late now, so get dressed. Thank heavens the van’s alarm went off. We’d be …
Chapter Thirty-Four The outside air washed over me and I was able to breathe after the stifling heat and smoke of the club, but it didn’t wash away my anger. I’d be taking a taxi again. I stood in front of the building until one came. “Take me to the Ascott Hotel, please,” I said. …
Chapter Thirty-Three By the time we hit the motorway, we were an hour late. Ryan drove and insisted we weren’t stopping anywhere. No one complained. They were all semi comatose, obviously hung over. I, however, was starving. I remembered when Keith got me drunk unbeknownst. My stomach felt tied in knots and I had no …
Chapter Thirty-Two We were awakened the next day by pounding on our door. “Wake up. We have to be out in half an hour!” Ryan shouted. He pounded again. “Are you awake?” I sat up. “We’re up,” I yelled, hoping he heard how annoyed I was. I looked at the clock. It was half past …
Chapter Thirty-One I looked up and saw Keith’s father. The shock and horror on Keith’s face was something I’d never seen. “Who the fuck let him in?” “I saw your show. You’re quite a performer although I’m not a fan of the music.” “I don’t fucking care. Get the fuck out of my life!” Keith’s …
Chapter Thirty I looked up and my heart skipped a beat. It was Keith’s father. He had the same raven colored hair, but with flicks of silver and though the room was dim, I could tell he had the same blue eyes. “It’s Brigitte, isn’t it? You don’t know me but . . . ” …
Chapter Twenty-Nine “This band from Liverpool saw us play there last year and caught our show last night. They asked us to jam at some club across town. Jimmy and Billy are keen and so am I. Apparently they’re as big in Liverpool as we are in London, so this is a fuckin’ honor.” “But …