Annie’s back straightened and her eyes met Dara’s inquisitive stare. For several awkward moments the room remained silent. Annie shifted uneasily in her chair.
“It’s okay, Annie. You can tell me,” Dara’s comforting tone urged.
Annie dropped her head against he back of the chair as new tears began to fall. “I was attacked by a roadie in the bathroom at my last gig,” she said with a shrug. “He tried to rape me and slammed my face into the wall, cracked my cheek bone,” she said, touching her face.
“Oh, my God, Annie. Taylor never mentioned that to me. I’m so sorry.”
“I asked Taylor not to tell anyone, and for the most part, it was kept pretty quiet.”
“Did he go to jail?”
“Yes, but not for my attack. They got him on drug possession charges so he’s in jail for the time being. Thank God I didn’t miscarry.”
“I had no idea you had been through so much. What did Michael do?”
Annie laughed. We were already separated by that point but he did manage to make an appearance at the hospital. I’m not sure who told him I was there but, nonetheless, he came. He showed up drunk and disorderly, and made a real ass of himself. Security had to remove him from the building. How sad is that? Luckily, I had already been discharged.”
“Did he know you were pregnant?”
“No way! I kept that to myself. I knew he’d fight the divorce if he knew about it so I waited until everything was finalized.”
Annie sat back and massaged her temples with her finger tips, uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. “I believe the first time he realized I was expecting again was at the music awards back in March. They gave Brian a tribute that night so Michael and his band were all there. I came out on stage with Taylor and Lacey to present an award and he was sitting in the front row. I was about eight months pregnant and the look on his face was priceless. He found me backstage after the show, and demanded to talk to me. He wasn’t drunk but I could definitely smell alcohol on his breath.”
“So, what happened. What did he say?”
“I could see the pain in his eyes when he looked at me and I felt nothing but pity and contempt for him. We exchanged a few heated words and I told him to stay the hell away from me. I haven’t seen him since. From what I understand, he’s made no effort to contact my lawyer to even ask if we had a boy or a girl. Great father, isn’t he?”
“Maybe he’s in rehab?” Dara offered.
Annie shook her head. “I doubt that. I'm not convinced he wants to get sober. I think he enjoys wallowing in his misery. Besides, I haven't heard any rumors he is in rehab and you know how news like that travels.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
It took Annie most of the following week to settle the girls and herself into their new home and a routine. She hired a nanny to help her and, upon Dara’s urging, began to socialize at night.
“Come on, Annie! You can’t hide forever out there on the beach,” Dara had scolded. “Billy’s band is in town tonight. They’re playing a gig at the Hot Tin Roof in Edgartown. Meet us there at nine o’clock and who knows, you might actually have some fun!”
For twenty-three years Dara had been married to Billy Wainwright, the drummer for the James Fellowship Band. The band was well known locally and had a reasonable following nationwide. During the summer months they played a few gigs each week on the island then played the rest of the week in clubs up and down the north and south shores of Massachusetts.
Dara squealed with delight when she saw Annie enter the tiny backstage dressing area. “You actually came!”
Annie’s face flushed hotly, as everyone in the room stopped and stared at her. Suddenly, she wished her skirt was longer and concealed more of her legs. One by one, Dara introduced her to all the band members. There were five of them, all handsome in their own ways, some married and some not, but it was Jay that immediately set himself apart from the others by kissing her knuckles upon their introduction.
“Nice to meet you, Annie. I’m Jay Preston, the bass player,” he said, gallantly lifting her tiny fingers to his mouth.
His hair was soft and shiny with multiple shades of blond and hung straight, touching the collar of his polo shirt. His eyes were a deep shade of sapphire and twinkled with life. Annie’s eyes dropped to his full, sensual lips, and felt her chest tighten. His bottom lip was fuller than the top and curled crookedly when his face relaxed into a sly grin. The skin on his face was tanned and led to a thick, muscled throat; at the base of which, a mass of dark chest hair grew.
“Hi,” she replied weakly, and nervously stepped away from his gaze.
Dara came up beside her and circled her arm around her. “Hmmm, seems like Jay has taken quite an interest in you,” she whispered.
“Oh, please! The last thing I need is another musician in my life,” Annie answered smartly.
Annie enjoyed their music and clapped along with the audience. Every time Jay’s eyes landed on Annie, they held hers, a bright smile lighting up his face. When their last break came, he chose the chair beside her and quickly engaged her in conversation.
“Do you live here?” he asked.
“For the time being,” she answered evasively.
“How do you know Dara?”
Annie indulged him of the brief history she had with Lace and uneasily sipped at her drink.
“So, you’re in the business?” he smiled, pleased with the information.
After the show, he was at her side again, eager to continue their conversation. He made her feel comfortable and he made her laugh, two things she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“Listen, a bunch of us are heading into Oak Bluffs to catch last call before the bars close. Would you like to join us?” he asked. “Dara and Billy are coming too.”
Annie nervously shifted her weight from foot to foot, pondering his invitation. It was getting late, much later than she had ever expected to be out, but something drew her to him. In a weak moment, she agreed to follow Jay into town.
They drew a crowd inside the tiny pub, with many of the patrons recognizing them. An instant feeling of panic washed over Annie, which Jay immediately sensed, and suggested they go outside for a walk.
“Is this better?” he asked, filling his lungs with the fresh air.
She nodded in agreement and followed him across the street.
“If you don’t mind me saying so, it looked like you were beginning to panic a bit back there,” he said.
“I’m not crazy about crowds when they get close like that,” she answered.
“Spoken like a woman with experience,” he smiled, pushing his hands into his jeans.
“I guess you could say that.”
They headed toward Ocean Park, one of the main focal points in the town of Oak Bluffs. It is a lush expanse of grassy knolls, although quiet at night, it has winding pathways that lead round seasonal flowerbeds to the Gazebo centerpiece and overlooks the ocean; which at night, is an invisible visitor to the shore.
They sat silently on a wooden bench and he studied her profile intently. She felt his inquisitive eyes on her face and throat and wondered why her skin wasn’t reacting the way it did when Michael gazed at her.
“Jay, did Dara tell you I was coming tonight?” she asked, beginning to wonder if this meeting had been nothing more than Dara playing matchmaker and Jay’s keen interest in her had all been prearranged.
“No. Why? Was she supposed to?” he asked.
Annie shook her head and bent forward, wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt. “I was wondering how much you knew about me, that’s all.”