Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

TEN

The Los Angeles premiere of Tom's film went on about the same as the one in New York. More fashion, more reporters, more schmoozing..more everything. I was almost three weeks out from the incident and I felt better every day. My sister came along to LA, but she'd tell you I didn't need her to. The truth is, I wasn't ready to send her back home yet, so I over dramatized my plight for my own selfish reasons. I felt like I desperately needed to get back to work. I'd written some songs while I was laid up at home but it had been weeks since I'd been in my studio.

I told my family and Tom that I needed some time to myself once we'd made it back to my house from our trip to LA. Tom had some video interviews he'd scheduled and my parents were camped out in my living room, watching HGTV.

I flicked on the lights and took a deep breath in as I moved trough the studio space. Every unsettled nerve seemed to unravel and smooth out. My studio was my home, my piano was my baby.

I sat down to put some lyrics to music, and as usual it came with ease. Pouring my heart into my music always seemed to put me back together again.

I know you're scared, I can feel it
It's in the air, I know you feel that, too
But take a chance on me, you won't regret it

One more no and I'll believe you
I'll walk away and I will leave you be
And that's the last time you'll say "No", say "No" to me

It won't take me long to find another lover but I want you
I can't spend another minute getting over loving you

You don't have to say yeah
Let me hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say yeah
'Cause my heart is open
Now ya gotta say yeah
Let me hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say, wanna hear ya say, wanna hear ya say

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

It's just a moment, go and seize it
Don't be afraid to give your heart to me
And if ya do I know that I won't let ya down

So hand it over trust me with your love
I'll do anything you want me to
'Cause I can't breathe until I see your face

Oh, and I don't need time to find another lover but I want you
I can't spend another minute getting over loving you

You don't have to say yeah
Let me hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say yeah
'Cause my heart is open
Now ya gotta say yeah
Let me hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say yeah
Wanna hear ya say, wanna hear ya say, wanna hear ya say

Yes yes yes
Yes yes yes

I put pen to paper and wrote down all of the lyrics I'd just sang, and knew immediately that I wanted to shop it to Gwen or Adam, or maybe both. I jumped a little when I heard someone open the door.

"Tom."
"I'm sorry. I know you wanted alone time, but I hadn't heard you sing in so long..."
"It's alright. What did you think?"
"It's amazing. Perfect."
"It's about you, you know."
"I do."
He leaned down and cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me passionately. My pulse quickened and I was pretty sure his had too, by the way his mouth pressed to mine. The thought of him making love to me flooded my mind, and it was equally thrilling and terrifying. It had been weeks since we'd been with eachother that way, and it felt like it was time. I was tired of taking figurative cold showers to dampen my desire for him.
"Take me to bed."
"But...you...your..."
"Shhh...just take me to bed."

And take me to bed he did.

***

"Max, you've got a phone call." Wendy called me through my intercom in the studio.
"I'm in the middle of mixing a track, can you take a message?"
"I tried that already. It's a lawyer named James Matney."
"Lawyer?"
"Yeah...he's from Alliance."
"Oh great." I rolled my eyes. "Transfer him to the phone in here."
"Sure thing."

After a moment, the phone on my mixing board lit up with the call.
"This is Max Mitchell speaking."
"Hello Miss Mitchell, thank you for receiving my call. My name is James Matney, and I am a legal representative of the estate of the late Paul Hess."
"Ohhh-k...and what does that have to do with me?"
"Well, you are the sole beneficiary of the entirety of his estate as directed by the will of the deceased."
What the?--sole beneficiary?
"Miss Mitchell? Are you there?"
"Uh. Yes. I'm here."
"To complete the directives laid out by his will, I'll need you to visit my office as soon as possible."
"Your office? Where is your office?"
"Two hundred, Grand avenue."
"Grand avenue, where?"
"Alliance, ma'am."
Shit.
"And we can't take care of it remotely?"
"No ma'am. That isn't an option."
"But I'm in New York."
"Yes ma'am. I understand that."
"Ok then. Can I get back to you once I get my schedule in order?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Um, Mr. Matney?"
"Yes, Miss Mitchell?"
"You are aware that Paul tried to kill me, right?"
"Yes ma'am, I am aware."
"Ok. I'll get back to you soon."
"Until then, Miss Mitchell."

"What the hell was that about?" Wendy was leaned up against the door frame.
"You heard that huh?"
"Well, sort of. Care to elaborate?"
"Paul never took me off of his will as beneficiary, I'm not sure if it was on purpose or not. I have to go and settle his estate."
Wendy's eyes boggled.
"So. What are we supposed to do?"
"We need to send off the tracks I've put together, and find a spot on my schedule so we can go--"
I groaned out loud.
"So we can go to Nebraska?" Wendy finished my thought.
"I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"

***

"Are you kidding me? You've got to be joking." Tom gave me an incredulous look. It was probably the most upset I'd ever seen him.
"I wish I was. You have no idea."
"When are you going?"
"Thursday, two days from now."
He let out an exasperated huff.
"You are welcome to come if you want to."
"Why would I go along with you to deal with his...his affairs?" He hissed back.
His words stung me, he'd never spoken to me that way.
"Um...ok. What will you do while I'm gone?"
"I'm going back out to LA. Let me know when you're coming back." he shoved off from the kitchen counter and went upstairs, leaving me completely bewildered, and sitting alone.
What the hell was that about?
I decided to leave him be, since honestly, I had no idea how to handle a bristly Thomas. Usually when I was upset or flustered, it was better for everyone if I was just left alone. After a bit of quiet time, I couldn't just leave him alone, so I got up to go upstairs; I didn't need to though, he'd already started back down with all of his luggage in tow.
"You're going now?"
"Yep." he gave the P a little extra pop.
"And you're, taking everything with you?"
"Yeah. I've got some more interviews set up, so I'm just going to do them in person. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"I can't convince you to come with me? My parents and Tab are going back then, as well."
He just shook his head, with no emotion on his face.
"I'll go say my goodbyes now." He said, as he turned to go see my family, having their morning coffee on the terrace.

Judging by the smiles on his face and theirs, it was me that he was upset with, and nobody else. I just couldn't understand why. As he re-entered the kitchen, the smile had washed from his face and bristly Thomas was back.
"I don't understand what is happening right now, Tom."
"I don't understand why you're running back to Nebraska to take care of Paul's matters. The man tried to kill you, for gods sake."
"Tom, I don't have a choice. I'm legally obligated to go."
"There's always a choice, Max."
"But--"
"Call me when you get to Nebraska." he said, gave me a peck on the cheek and turned to leave.
"Tom--" I whimpered, as a tear ran down my cheek. It didn't matter, he was already gone.