This story is rated M for some violence, coarse language, and adult themes.
It is not appropriate for readers under the age of 16 and should not be viewed by such.
Disclaimer—same as the other parts.
New York City, New York, USA—June 13, 2032
Erik—8:30 AM
With the considerable means I had at my fingertips, a simple phone call was all it took to get Kit off and packing to the spa for a day. I felt she had more than earned it for our twenty-third anniversary.
Meanwhile, I had an appointment with Antoinette. And I didn't dare to be late.
She was on the stage when I got there—dressed in a plum velvet sweater and a simple black skirt. I knew she longed to hear the song I'd written for her, but I'd long since forgotten it, and had come up with what I felt was an ample substitute. "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you… Tomorrow I'll miss you…" I grabbed her about the waist, still singing, and she laughed.
"Erik," she said, cutting me off mid-verse, "the Beatles? Really?"
I turned her about, my eyes wide. "You…how do you…?"
"Meg and Margery were kind enough to introduce me to more…um…modern music," she said, a half-smile on her face. "Now play me our song. Please?"
I sighed. The moment I'd been dreading had arrived. "Annie, I don't remember it. It's been so long I've simply forgotten how to play it. I've forgotten what it sounded like, and any music I had written down for it, I've long since lost."
Her face fell. "Oh." There was silence for a moment.
"I'm terribly sorry."
"It's all right, Erik. It was a long shot in the first place." She smiled again. "Maybe you can make me forget about the song."
"And just how do I do that?" I asked, mildly curious…and a little afraid.
"Kiss me," she said, leaning forward.
Everything in my body, everything in my being, said no. The woman had broken my heart. How could I justify breaking Kit's?
I kissed her.