Songs Unsung - Book One

Chapter Forty Seven

SIX YEARS LATER

The doorbell rang making me jump in surprise as it woke me from my daydream. "Coming!" I called, dropping the laundry back into the basket before rushing through the house to make my way to the door. I checked the video intercom to see a courier standing patiently at the door.

With an array of clicks, I eventually opened the locked door to greet the stranger before signing the electric scanner and retrieving a small envelope from his grip. After thanking him, I moved to close the door before fastening the locks once again and making my way upstairs to my bedroom.

I sat on the edge of my beautifully dressed bed and looked to the sender that had been printed in the left corner of the envelope. "Samson Attorneys at Law – Beverly Hills, CA" My brow creased as I let my mind wonder before ripping the envelope open and examining the letter inside.

Dear Miss Styles,

We act on behalf of Chase Harry Thomas. Upon finalizing his affairs, he has requested that the enclosed letter be forwarded to you.

I raised my hand to clutch the golden heart pendant that sat on my chest before sucking in a large breath of air and letting it out in a small whimper, my mind jumping with thoughts as I wondered what they meant by 'finalising his affairs'. "Please let him be okay! Please let him be okay!" I begged aloud as my heart rapidly beat hard in my chest. I fumbled with the paper in my hands in an effort to catapult the words of Chase's letter into my brain as quickly as possible.

"My beautiful Annabelle, my nutcase, my only love,

The day has come where I give you the final piece of me. You weren't alone through these past years. I watched you from afar and sent my love through the air to you whenever I was near.

I watched from the confines of dark tinted windows as your belly grew and laughed when you struggled to pick up the newspaper from the front porch.

I watched you become an amazing Mother as you pretended to be an airplane in the front yard.

I watched you turn in the wind and swore that you locked eyes with me whilst you waited on the pavement for school to get out before turning with open arms and be engulfed in a tiny hug.

I was there at mini league and through the long wait at the hospital when you had a scare with chicken pox.

I let you go to keep you safe – but I was with you whenever I could be...I was there.

In finalizing my affairs, I made sure that Lacey, Mrs Wilson and Leonard were well taken care of and will never have to work another day in their lives if that's their wish. There is just one last thing I will ask you to do.

Do you remember the heart pendant I gave you? Go and get it for me."

I looked down to the necklace that sat on my neck and released the clasp so it fell into my hands.

"f you press the front of the heart pendant and pull the chain at the same time, you'll hear a click."

I did just as his instructions told me to do and as he described, a *click* noise filled my ears. I looked down at the pendant to see a tiny compartment had released, sticking out from the heart and holding something within. I squinted my eyes as I looked closer to the compartment that sat out, reaching to pull a memory card free of the confines that held it captive. I immediately read on.

"You'll find a memory card hidden in the heart pendant. Upload the memory card onto your computer. It will download a program that I have used from my home over the years. Although I have deleted my version, you will have the password to gain access to it.

The program has a list of songs I have created over the years for you my Annabelle. Songs that have been Unsung as I like to say – unheard by anyone but me.

You are the only person in the world who can gain access to them and you can do with them what you wish. You can sell them and bask in the royalties that come from it, or you may choose to never listen to them at all. It's up to you. If you do choose to listen to them the password is "Songs Unsung"

I sat staring at the page, confused by his words.  The only reason I could think of him needing to 'finalise his affairs' was...

"Nooooooo" I screamed as the realization hit my mind.  I squealed as I fell into a heap on the floor before moving to clutch my stomach in pain. Tears now streamed steadily down my cheeks as I lay thinking of the man I gave my whole heart to all of those years ago.

"We're home!!!" Mia's voice called from the foyer. I quickly wiped my steadily flowing tears and cleared my throat.

"Coming!" I called back to her before checking my reflection in the mirror in an effort to erase the evidence of a broken heart etched on my face.

I walked downstairs and felt my eyes smile as I took him in. My mind flicked back to the end of Chase's letter. . .

"I will always love you Annabelle. You were my first and only love and are the Mother of my Son."

My beautiful five year old little boy called as he ran to my arms "Mummy!"

I pulled back as I took him in – he had his father's stunning green eyes.

"Chase!" I smiled, pulling him into my chest to hold him tighter than I ever had before as tears welled in my eyes.

"Take care of him for me, my love, I will be with you always."