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Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4: Lingering Habits Return
Days of pain, sleep, physiotherapy and movies have past and my injury break ends tomorrow. My current physical state includes no more black eye (or the Atticus eye as we called it), lighter bruises and it's easier for me to move. 'Carmen' is holding auditions today so I'm up with Derek as he gets ready.
"Lots of girls today so I may not be home until late love. Hopefully it won't be as bad as 'Oliver'."
"What about Ronnie?"
"She's still coming but one of the members of the creative team suggested an open audition so I went along with it."
He looks away from the mirror and faces me sitting cross legged on the bed
"How do I look darling?"
"Handsome. But no flirting. You're a married man remember?" I tease
Derek gives me his arched eyebrow and smirk look and makes his way inches from my face.
"Of course just you darling." He says in a whisper then his lips are pressed against mine. My lust gives in and then we are both lying down my arms wrapped around his neck and our lips pressed together.
"Well doesn't this bring back the memories?"
Derek instantly unlocks from our kissing session and leaps off the bed and fixes up himself as we both turn beet red.
"MOM SINCE WHEN WERE YOU COMING?" he shouts in shock
"Well I wanted to come and surprise you and Karen after what happened and you know I can't work that bloody e-mail and that's one of the reasons I'm still married to your father he can work those things if not he can go off with that man he slept with-"
"Ok mother can we not go all 'Jerry Springer' right now I am running late I will see you tonight ladies." Derek finishes and heads out of the room.
"I'm so sorry you had to walk in on that Leigh Anne." I say as I get up and make the bed.
She smiles and lets out a little laugh and goes to the other end and mimics my moves with the blankets.
"Don't worry dear with Derek I've seen worse. When he was 15 I caught him with his first girlfriend Mallory Lillian in a far more intimate position than that. Oh and after that we had a talk, a long one. I think that's why he kept most of his relationships from me."
Laughter comes out as we finish and the bed is nice and neat again.
"So Karen do you have any plans today?"
"Nothing unless you count lying around here all day."
"Get dressed I'll wait. I have something that is better." She says and with a sharp turn she leaves the room and I hear her heels impact on the stairs.
Thinking the best thing to do is do what my mother in law says, I get dressed really quickly into some jeans and a nice top. I grab my white tie coat and head down the stairs all while singing 'Mamma Makes Three' considering the situation. I see her at the bookshelf looking at our wedding pictures and I get a quick flashback on that beautiful day.
"Ready to go?" I hear and my day dream of the wedding ends.
"Yeah" I say and we head out.
I look out the cab window the whole ride to take it all in and we show up to a familiar building. This is Bobby Raskin's building. Leigh Anne leads me inside and takes me into the same studio I was in last time.
"What are we doing here?" I asked her as she sat down
"Well I know how someone like you who loves to sing must miss it. I remember when the orchestra season was done Charles and I would always play even at studios if they were open. Don't be shy go inside I know how to do this kind of thing."
I follow her commands and I go into the booth, put the headphones and wait for her to say something.
"What are you in the mood to sing dear?"
My mind goes racing with thoughts of songs then a memory comes to me and it involves someone I can sing this song to.
"I have nothing"
"Good choice" she says and comes into the booth, sets up her violin then presses as a button as the chords come on and she begins to play as I start to sing
"Share my life, take me for what I am
Cause I'll never change all my colours for you
Take my love, I'll never ask for too much
Just all that you are and everything that you do
I don't really need to look very much further
I don't want to have to go where you don't follow
I won't hold it back again, this passion inside
Can't run from myself
There's nowhere to hide"
Leigh Anne plays the violin exquisitely and as the music gets louder as the chorus nears and I escape to center stage with dimmed lights, the orchestra and Derek smiling as he watches.
"Don't make me close one more door
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don't walk away from me...
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don't have you, you, you, you.
You see through, right to the heart of me
You break down my walls with the strength of your love
I never knew love like I've known it with you
Will a memory survive, one I can hold on to
I don't really need to look very much further
I don't want to have to go where you don't follow
I won't hold it back again, this passion inside
Can't run from myself
There's nowhere to hide
(Your love I'll remember forever)
Don't make me close one more door
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don't walk away from me...
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don't have you, you, you, you."
Then it is just me and Leigh Anne as the song really climaxes and I really take in every word that comes out.
"Don't make me close one more door
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don't walk away from me
Don't walk away from me
Don't you dare walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don't have you, you, you, you."
The song ends and I literally jump at the sound of clapping and the door opening and closing.
"Well Ms. Cartwright it's nice to see you again. Three years already how time flies."
"You know my daughter in law Bobby?"
"Yes we were on a big break with her a few years ago but she disappeared from my grid, became a Broadway star and got married I see." Even when says that I sense an uneasy feeling with the cat grin he is giving.
"Yes happily married me! Is there a reason why you came here?" I ask
"Well I'm not one to wait but for you I think this industry is going to offer you something special." He flirts
"I'm going to hail a cab while you two discuss business." Leigh Anne says and leaves the room making it a little bit awkward.
"Just think worldwide tours, more press, more money and you could be an even bigger star than which you are." Bobby whispers on my neck and I feel his hand slide down my back and rest on my butt making me feel very uncomfortable.
"It will be late nights here and just music pure music." He continues on and I find my hands and push him back.
"Do you really think I'm that much of an object to you? Just a voice and a wannabe intimate partner? I'm married and I won't be treated like Marilyn was by men. I thank you but unless you establish boundaries I'm saying no to your offer."
I say proudly and leave the booth only to hear someone coming from there as well. I turn around and Bobby has followed me all the way to the bottom.
"I don't give up easy." He says
"Neither do I" and I leave the building and head into the cab
"So did he sign you?"
"I turned him down."
"Why?"
"It was either work with him and be forced into cheating on Derek or leave and never go back." I say and we are silent the whole ride back to the apartment.
"Karen I'm really sorry about what happened." Leigh Anne says in the elevator and the tension breaks
"It's ok I know you didn't mean for that to happen. Now I just know what to say to Derek about this."
"That's always the hardest part, what to tell him."
"Tell him what?" we hear from Derek and both of us tighten up as he enters the elevator and we go down.
"How music producers are perverts." I say and I await the cursing and the fury.
"Oh darling I already knew that."
"You did?"
"Bobby called me and told me I married one hell of a woman. I knew what he meant so I told him to get lost and if he comes near you again-"
"DEREK!" Leigh Anne shouts and waves a finger at him.
"I wasn't-never mind. Karen is there any chance you can go to 'Oliver' tonight? The understudy quit."
"Well I can walk, talk and sing so yes."
We end up getting outside of the building and Derek loops his arm into mine and kisses my forehead.
"Well then let's go love."
I was finally where I wanted to be.
A.N. Hey guys I hope you like it so far! Oh and for H, 'A New Will for Life' is a series of one shots written by myself and valid consideration and it does not tie with this story. It is a story of its own. Yes I did use 'I Have Nothing' because I love that song, it goes with the relationship of cartwills and I thought Kat sang that amazing on AI!
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