Read Online Sheet Music - A Rock 'n' Roll Love Story by Ann Lister - Free Book Online
Authors: Ann Lister
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get all sympathetic when it really isn't necessary. It was a long time ago. I think Gary is the only one that knows the full story.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Annie. I was only trying to get to know you better. That’s all.”
Annie tipped her head back and gazed out the window. “I lost my family when I was fifteen. It was a car accident and I was thrown from the car,” she said quietly. “I was the only one that survived.” She raised her eyes to his. “Like I said, it was a long time ago.”
He was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully. He sensed there was a lot more to that story but also knew it was none of his business and decided not to push the subject. “Even still, I’m guessing that really shaped your life.”
Annie refolded her legs. “It’s safe to say, I’ve been taking care of myself since I was fifteen.”
He took a sip of his water and set the glass back on the coffee table. “I have a brother, but we’re not close.”
Annie cocked her head in surprise. “Really? I’ve never heard you mention him in interviews.”
He smiled. “We’re not close,” he laughed. “His name is Tom. He’s eight years older than me and did everything right. He was my mother’s favorite and a big bone of contention between her and I. He was the stereotypical over achiever: college graduate, still married to his first wife, had kids that my mother could actually see, and became a college professor at Columbia University in New York City. Kind of hard to compete with that.”
Annie touched his arm thoughtfully. “How could you say that, with all the awards you’ve won and the success you achieved with your music?”
Michael inhaled deeply. “My mother only chose to see the long haired musician and recovering addict side of me. Sure, I got married, but then I got divorced. I gave her a grandson, but she never got to see him.” He glanced off toward the bedroom. “No matter what I did, it always paled against what my brother did.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “Don’t be. Families suck. I spent most of my life trying to prove myself to her. Now that she’s gone, I realize the only person I had anything to prove to was myself.”
“That’s very true,” she replied.
He looked back at her and grinned.
Annie shook her head and stiffened again. “The fifteen years I had with my family were hell. My father was a drunk: a really mean drunk. He was a liar and a cheat, treated my mother like shit, and verbally abused us all. We were constantly moving because he could never keep a job. In some ways, it was a relief to be away from him.”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “I do miss my brother though. He would have gotten a kick out of my music career.”
Michael wiped the moisture from her cheeks.
“This is depressing. Can we talk about something else?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“So why did you get divorced?” he asked.
“Wow! That’s a bit direct - and another depressing subject.”
He quickly turned to look at her. “That’s probably too personal. Never mind.”
Annie tipped her head nervously. “No, I don’t mind answering. It’s really pretty simple,” she said with indifference. “Gary had a weakness for groupies.”
Michael stifled a laugh.
“You’re smiling, so let me guess, you have a weakness for groupies too,” she said.
Michael shook his head. “Hardly. But groupies are a by-product of the business, Annie. They’ll always be there. You can ignore them for so long, but sooner or later…”
“So, that justifies cheating?” Annie’s back began to stiffen.
“No, it doesn’t make it right, it just is what it is.”
“That’s bullshit. If you really loved someone it would be easy not to cheat.”
“Yes, I suppose so. But I’m willing to bet you’ve had a few male groupies panting over you from time to time at a
“You don’t have to tell me, Annie. I was only trying to get to know you better. That’s all.”
Annie tipped her head back and gazed out the window. “I lost my family when I was fifteen. It was a car accident and I was thrown from the car,” she said quietly. “I was the only one that survived.” She raised her eyes to his. “Like I said, it was a long time ago.”
He was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully. He sensed there was a lot more to that story but also knew it was none of his business and decided not to push the subject. “Even still, I’m guessing that really shaped your life.”
Annie refolded her legs. “It’s safe to say, I’ve been taking care of myself since I was fifteen.”
He took a sip of his water and set the glass back on the coffee table. “I have a brother, but we’re not close.”
Annie cocked her head in surprise. “Really? I’ve never heard you mention him in interviews.”
He smiled. “We’re not close,” he laughed. “His name is Tom. He’s eight years older than me and did everything right. He was my mother’s favorite and a big bone of contention between her and I. He was the stereotypical over achiever: college graduate, still married to his first wife, had kids that my mother could actually see, and became a college professor at Columbia University in New York City. Kind of hard to compete with that.”
Annie touched his arm thoughtfully. “How could you say that, with all the awards you’ve won and the success you achieved with your music?”
Michael inhaled deeply. “My mother only chose to see the long haired musician and recovering addict side of me. Sure, I got married, but then I got divorced. I gave her a grandson, but she never got to see him.” He glanced off toward the bedroom. “No matter what I did, it always paled against what my brother did.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “Don’t be. Families suck. I spent most of my life trying to prove myself to her. Now that she’s gone, I realize the only person I had anything to prove to was myself.”
“That’s very true,” she replied.
He looked back at her and grinned.
Annie shook her head and stiffened again. “The fifteen years I had with my family were hell. My father was a drunk: a really mean drunk. He was a liar and a cheat, treated my mother like shit, and verbally abused us all. We were constantly moving because he could never keep a job. In some ways, it was a relief to be away from him.”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “I do miss my brother though. He would have gotten a kick out of my music career.”
Michael wiped the moisture from her cheeks.
“This is depressing. Can we talk about something else?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“So why did you get divorced?” he asked.
“Wow! That’s a bit direct - and another depressing subject.”
He quickly turned to look at her. “That’s probably too personal. Never mind.”
Annie tipped her head nervously. “No, I don’t mind answering. It’s really pretty simple,” she said with indifference. “Gary had a weakness for groupies.”
Michael stifled a laugh.
“You’re smiling, so let me guess, you have a weakness for groupies too,” she said.
Michael shook his head. “Hardly. But groupies are a by-product of the business, Annie. They’ll always be there. You can ignore them for so long, but sooner or later…”
“So, that justifies cheating?” Annie’s back began to stiffen.
“No, it doesn’t make it right, it just is what it is.”
“That’s bullshit. If you really loved someone it would be easy not to cheat.”
“Yes, I suppose so. But I’m willing to bet you’ve had a few male groupies panting over you from time to time at a
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