Slow Love

Downtime in London-Part 2

He pulls me away and takes my shoulders in this hands. Softly in his silky baritone voice, "Baby, please tell me more. I know there's more to this story. Please?" His power of persuasion is so strong. "Sweetheart, if you want to know, I need a glass of wine......make that a bottle. I really don't want to divulge this, but I will if you promise to not take it any further?" He gets up to get my wine, "I just want to know all about my wife, that's all." 

 Bringing the wine he asks, "Glass or do you want to guzzle it straight out of the bottle?" I shook my head and laughed, "Pour me a glass. It's not all that bad, it's good." He smirks, "Well, whenever alcohol is involved you tend to take it to the limit to get the courage to talk." "Not this time. I'll tell you but it stays where it's been. Got it?" He nods yes while taking his seat next to me on the sofa. "Sweetheart, I am a classically trained concert pianist. I can play all keyboards including an accordion, yep, mama can play the squeeze box. I went to college on a full musical scholarship. There it is, now leave it."

His eyes widened as he tried to process exactly what he just heard. I know he's not going to leave it alone. I sip my glass of wine, not taking my eyes off of him. Slowly he takes my other hand- I know it's coming. Wait for it. "Baby, I don't understand why you are suppressing such a beautiful gift." Here it comes, I'm ready for it. "We could be making music together."BAM! There it is. I knew it. I shake my head no. "But Baby, why not?" "Sweetheart, I told you to leave it alone. That chapter of my life is finished, signed, sealed and closed. Done!" "But.........." I cut him off. 

"Sweetheart, I chose to leave that behind many years ago. You, of all people should understand. You choose not to live in the past and I choose not to as well. Besides, your genre is totally different than mine. Funk, Rock n Roll, R & B, Jazz, Soul and mine is Classical and Pop Folk & Pop Rock. Really? I know you can do anything, but that is all I can do.  I'm not creative at writing music, I just play. I don't hear music in my head other than songs someone else created, usually your music. I left music behind because I became bored with it. I mastered as much as I wanted to. Playing music from the time I was very young; 20 years later I was done and had moved on to journalism. I loved playing music until I didn't love it anymore, so I left it to enjoy another career I loved. I continued to play piano or organ at church and at weddings, but that was it. I have not touched a guitar for about 30 years. Please understand that I don't want to do this, not even for you." This is a man that usually doesn't take no for an answer when he wants something. 

He's thinking... I can see his wheels turning. He is not gonna let this rest. He usually gets what he wants so he is going to do his best to try to convince me otherwise. Phase 2-powers of persuasion [beg and promise] "Baby, please at least jam with me. I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, but I'd love it if you would jam with me from time to time. Just for fun. Please?" I know his angle already. First, we'll just jam, for 'fun' Then it will be, 'Let's record this' and the next thing you know- we are in the studio doing music, his way. 

I'll give in a little to appease him, "Okay Sweetheart, I'll play with you occasionally, for fun, but I will not play or perform in front of others. I don't ever want the other musicians to feel threatened by me or my skills." "I've got it Baby. Don't worry, I'll keep your secret. Will you play a little piano for me?" I nod yes and we move over to the grand piano. I sit down trying to decide what to play. It is not hard for me to play something classical but I want to play something he would love to hear.  You know, try to impress him if that's possible. 

I run the scales to get my fingers warmed up and lightheartedly play "Heart and Soul" for him. He is beaming from ear to ear. "Brace yourself Sweetheart, the next one might blow you away." I do a few flourishes and land on the keys, "Diamonds and Pearls." His eyes light up as I dig deep to sing my part while he sings his. When I finished, I quickly went into "Nothing Compares 2U." He kept singing along with me. Wrapping his arms around me, "Baby, that was beautiful. Your voice killed it. I vowed I'd never play the full version of Diamonds and Pearls without Rosie, but you are every bit as good, if not better. Where did that powerhouse voice of yours come from? I've never heard that before." Right now I'm playing "Arboretum" and he is beside himself.  I have a mezzo(mid-range) soprano voice with the unique ability to complete a full female vocal range, with the exception of the extreme highs.  Kinda like a female version of his falsetto giving me the ability to sing almost anything.