Prologue
An alarming honk came from the street in front of the house. Aaron came barreling down the steps juggling four suitcases in his arms.
"Aaron please, you can't have to do this!" Beth's voice cracked and she choked on a sob. Fresh tears sprang up in the back of her eyes as Aaron turned to meet her strained gaze. His long dark hair hung in his green eyes, those eyes that had first captured her heart 4 years ago in the bar….and now, she may never see them again.
"Liz, baby, it's been fun, really, and I'll always remember the rockin' nights we had in Vegas," His lips curved up in his signature half smirk, "But the guys need me, and they're waiting for me in the van-"
"What about Tripp?" Beth sputtered. "He needs you more than the band does!"
As if on cue, a high-pitched cry from the nursery broke the couple's gaze. There was a pause before an identical wail echoed in the walls. The baby's sobs grew louder, bringing a slight grounding to the surreal situation, but only for a moment. Aaron sighed heavily, almost sadly, and drew a folded piece of paper from his weathered jean pocket.
"Give this to the little guy…he'll appreciate it." He said softly, and Beth noted how his tone changed when his son was brought into the equation. Aaron held the paper out to Beth, and her hand shook as she reached out to take it, knowing it would soon be all she had left of her husband.
Another honk from the street.
"Ok, I really gotta go-plain leaves at six, watch for me on MTV!" Aaron nearly squealed, shoving the note into Beth's hand and, after fighting with the door jab for a moment, said; "You really should get that fixed." He flashed one final smile before racing down the steps with his bags hollering "Alright alriiiight, I'm coming guys! Keep your panties on!"
Beth watched as Aaron's best friend, John Kelly, emerged from the open volks wagon sliding door and yanked Aaron and his luggage in the van. The door had barely closed before the engine revved and the van disappeared around the block.
The entire house was silent but for little Tripp's sobbing. Beth stared numbly for a moment at the baby blue haze the moon gave the pavement, with the exception of two black skid-marks now, just in front of her home. Ironic, she thought, considering that it felt like she had two black streaks on her heart now, too.
Another cry, louder than before, more of a screech than a sob really, interrupted Beth's thoughts. Putting her broken feelings aside, she slowly closed the door and felt herself walk to the nursery down the hall.
"Hello sweetie," She cooed to her son, still screaming in his cradle. "Shhh, shhh, you'll wake the neighborhood with that noise now." Her words slowly became more soothing as she slowed her beating heart and picked up the ten-month-old. Once Tripp was in his mother's arms, he settled down and buried his cheek into the crook of Beth's neck, sleeping soundly. Beth stabilized him and swayed gently, staring blankly at the yellow walls around her. The room seemed so much bigger, and quieter some how…she went to shift Tripp to her other arm when she felt Aaron's note get slighty crumpled from her folded fingers. She retuned the baby to his bed and slowly opened the paper. Inside there were three words:
NEVER STOP ROCKING
Beth swallowed and closed the note again. The note brought back painful memories that made her want to breakdown and sob all alone…but she couldn't help laughing as she grabbed a thumbtack from the kitchen and pinned the paper right above Tripp's cradle.