Songs of Love : Books 1-3

by M J Calabrese

  Scott turned, not letting go of his husband’s hand. “Newland. I’m Scott Newland. He’s David Niewitski. I didn’t take his last name and he didn’t take mine.”

  “Detective Rojas.”

  Scott stood and shook the man’s hand. “Have you found out anything?”

  Rojas sighed, “Too early for anything definite, but it doesn’t look like it was an accident. The Fire Marshall and your pyrotechnic guys noted that the metal shield that should’ve protected your husband had been moved. That was deliberate. It sent the power of that blast right at him.”

  Scott shook his head in disbelief before he sat back down. “Why? Why would someone do that?”

  “Don’t know yet.” The Detective scratched his head with his pen and then looked at Scott. “You’re that famous Director, right? I’ve seen a few of your films.” He paused and looked up at David. “He hasn’t woken up yet?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “If he does, you’ll call me right away, okay?” Rojas handed Scott his business card.

  “Of course.”

  Rojas looked back at Scott. “They said this was to be his last concert?”

  “Yes, he was tired of touring. The whole band was tired of touring, so they agreed this was it.”

  “Did something happen today?”

  Scott looked up at the Detective. “A lot of things happened. We were filming some behind-the-scenes footage for Instagram and YouTube. Last concert stuff. Interviews. Showing people how things work? But I think I know what you want.” Scott took David’s hand and watched as the mechanical ventilator made his lungs rise and fall. “He fired their temporary manager, Larry Wong. I heard they argued and it got pretty heated. I wasn’t there. I was interviewing some dancers down in the dressing rooms. Trevor. He’s also a film director who took over at the last minute. He’d been their manager for two tours, but stopped to work on a movie.”

  “Tell me about Larry Wong.”

  “Larry was with them for years until he was fired for stealing. He had…, has a gambling problem. David hired him back for this concert only.”

  The Detective frowned. “Then why hire him back?”

  “The tour manager they were using had to leave due to family problems. Larry knows what to do and he told David and the guys he was going to Gambler’s Anonymous so they gave him a chance to be a part of the final concert. When David found out Larry had gotten rid of the pyrotechnics group they’d used all tour and hired someone cheaper. It didn’t take much to figure out that Larry pocketed the cost difference. He had Larry tossed out.”

  “Could he have gotten back inside? Messed with the pyrotechnics without anyone seeing him?”

  “I don’t know, maybe.”

  “You said all of you were filming.”

  “Yeah, on our phones.”

  Rojas held his hand out, “I’ll need your phone. In fact, I’ll need everyone’s phone.”

  “Sure, but let me call the guys and let them know so they won’t give you a hard time,” Scott called Trevor who was still at the theater and gave him the task of getting everyone’s phone, even the ones that belonged to the dancers.

  “Scott, check social media. I know someone has already leaked footage. Muse saw it and he was livid.” Trevor quietly told his friend.

  “I’ll let Detective Rojas know, just get everyone’s phones. Tell them if anything gets out, I’ll sue their asses. Take the security guys with you. Don’t take any shit off of anyone.”

  “You got it. How’s Davey?” There was no mistaking the concern in Trevor’s voice.

  “Still unconscious. I guess I’d better call his parents real quick. Can you get me a replacement phone? I have everything saved to the cloud.” Scott fought back the tears threatening to break through.

  “No problem. Just take care of him.”

  Scott turned. “I need to contact David’s parents. His mother’s deaf, but his Dad may pick up when I call. Can I?”

  Rojas nodded. Scott then made the hardest call of his entire life.

  Chapter Sixteen

  September 1, 2019

  Scott looked around bewildered. He couldn’t understand how he was standing in the kitchen in his pajamas when he knew he was on the bed in his street clothes. The smell of cooking filled his nostrils and he saw he was making Davey’s favorite meal. His husband loved the way he made spaghetti sauce. There were two salads on the kitchen nook table where they frequently sat down to eat, especially when it was just the two of them. The smell of garlic and onions threatened to overwhelm him, but then they eased off.

  “So, what’s the special occasion?”

  Scott looked up, startled at the sound of Davey’s voice. “I made it for you.”

  David cocked his head. His deep blue eyes expressed his concern as he looked at his husband, “Are you okay, Scotty? You look tired.”

  “I am.” Scott’s brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. David looked good and rested, in fact, he seemed to have this glow about him as if someone had lit him with a PAR pin spotlight and it made him look almost angelic. “Why are you here, David?”

  Scott blinked and David now stood in the darkened living room. David turned and moved to look at and touch the various items on the bookcases that lined one wall. “I love this house, you know that, Scotty? Especially this area here with the kitchen and the couch.” David smiled, “We’ve had a lot of fun on that couch, haven’t we, Scotty?”

  “Yes, and I love this house, too.” He paused, then suddenly realized he was standing behind David, watching him. Again he asked, “David, why are you here? You’re supposed to be in the hospital.”

  David turned. His smile softened, “I am? Oh.” He looked down as if he was trying to remember. “I guess, I just wanted to see you again and to tell you something.”

  Scott reached out, but his hand fell just short of his lover as David stepped away. “What do you want to tell me, sweetheart?” Scott blinked and David wasn’t in front of him anymore. He turned to see him standing in the doorway of the darkened hall that led to the front door. Scott frowned, there was an irritating, intermittent sound. A buzzing that was growing in intensity, but he couldn’t make out what it was.

  David turned to him and this time his smile was beatific. His white teeth stood in contrast to his tanned skin. His raven hair reflected the light just so that it formed a halo around his head. “Something’s about to happen, Scotty.”

  “What, Davey?”

  “Something,” David paused, his smile growing, “wonderful.”

  Scott shook his head, he felt hot tears blur his vision. “No, please, Davey. Don’t leave me. I love you so much. I can’t let you go. Please, Davey.” He pleaded as he watched David take a couple of steps backwards down the hall.

  “Don’t worry, Scotty. I’m fine. Trust me. Something…, wonderful is going to happen.”

  He watched as David turned and started to walk down the hall. The buzzing grew louder and he thought he could make out the sound of loud, insistent voices calling David’s name. He wanted to follow the love of his life, but he couldn’t move.

  “Please, Davey.” He begged, “If you tell me it’s full of stars, I’ll believe you. I swear, I’ll believe you.” Again the tears cascaded over his lower lids streaking his cheeks.

  David stopped, then turned slightly, looking over his shoulder. Again he smiled gently, “It is, Scotty. It’s full of stars. I have to go now, Scott. I love you.” As he walked away, he faded into the darkness. The noise in Scott’s head got louder and louder. The voices grew faint and the buzzing sound overwhelmed everything else.

  Scott sat straight up in bed, gasping for air as he woke from the dream. He blinked rapidly, trying to orient himself to what was going on when he realized his phone was vibrating on the table beside the bed. Snatching it up, he recognized the name of the doctor in charge of David’s case. Sweat broke out on his upper lip as he took the call at the last second before it went to voicemail.

&nbs
p; “Yes? Dr. Chandra?”

  “Scott?”

  “Yes?”

  “He woke up, Scott. David’s awake.”

  Scott could barely hold the phone as he began to cry. Great gasping sobs made his chest ache as he tried to heave in enough air to breathe and speak. Finally, he did.

  “You keep him awake, okay, Doc. We’ll be there as soon as I can get David’s parents awake and dressed. And Doc, thanks.”

  “It wasn’t us, Scott. It was all him. I guess he didn’t want to leave you. I’ll tell him you’re coming.”

  Scott stood and ran to Betty and Oscar’s room. He pounded on their door like a madman. “Oscar!” He shouted. “Oscar! David’s awake. Tell Betty.” The door flew open and Oscar stood there, his face painted with disbelief.

  “He’s awake?”

  Scott nodded. “Get Betty ready. I’ll get the car. Come on, they said they’d keep him awake for us.”

  The next hour was a blur of almost running stoplights and a mad dash through the emergency room. As Scott rounded the corner into David’s room, he stopped. There was David, still hooked to all the machines and tubes, but with one very unique difference. He was looking right at Scott and then he smiled.

  Chapter Seventeen

  March 10, 2020-Epilogue

  Scott pushed open the front door. He could smell David’s favorite spaghetti sauce and the distinctive odor of fresh garlic bread. He headed down the hall to the family room and kitchen.

  “How’s he doing?”

  Trevor looked up as he chopped the romaine lettuce for the salad. He smiled, “Good. Really good today. No seizures, thank God. That’s four months seizure-free.”

  Scott nodded. The first week home, David had a grand mal seizure. He ended up back in the hospital for another week. Davey had cried when the doctor told him he’d have to stay while they titrated his anti-seizure medications, but another seizure an hour later convinced him he needed to be there.

  Since they’d gotten the medications correct, David had been through skin grafts, plastic surgery for the burn scars on his face and physical therapy to help him regain the ability to walk. At first, David had been frustrated with being unable to speak clearly, but slowly and with a lot of work it came back. During that time, he’d come to rely on his ability to communicate with ASL, but now, no one except his mother let him use it.

  The doctors were all amazed at his recovery. Some claimed it was a miracle, some explained that the decreased brainwave activity had been his brain’s way of healing itself. Whatever the reason, Scott no longer took for granted the fact that David was here, alive and recovering.

  Trevor, with the help of Christian, now the younger man’s husband, had taken on the role of caregiver the first week David was home. It took all of them then, but now, David could do most of his own care, except he still forgot sometimes to shower or eat. Christian came to take on the role full time when Scott needed to get back to work and Trevor had to start his next film. It turned out to be an excellent decision. Christian didn’t coddle him. He would assist as needed and remind David of things when necessary. The two got along great as they had for many years. Christian would fill in the gaps in David’s memory with stories of their adventures on tour and the early years. The loss of those memories frustrated David to tears, but Christian would hold him and sing to him until he calmed down.

  Many days Scott would come in to find them curled up on the couch together watching a movie or playing a video game. Once, he found the two of them in bed, both completely clothed, but sound asleep. Christian had pulled Davey into his arms before resting his head against the other man’s temple as they fell asleep. He said David had been having it rough that day, emotionally, and he’d been crying off and on. Christian would catch him staring off into space and at one point, Christian had worried David might be having mild seizures so he decided to stay close just in case.

  Here, seven months after David woke up, there was still a lot of progress to be made before the doctors cleared him to be on his own. Larry Wong had been convicted of attempted murder and was serving 25 years. Muse and Stitch visited David as frequently as they could, bringing their wives and children. Sometimes making it the noisiest house on the block. No one seemed to miss being on the road. They would add to the memories David had lost and tried to get him to sing, but he seemed reluctant so no one pressured him.

  “He’s out there, getting some sun. Christian is laying down some tracks for my new film, he’ll be here soon.”

  Scott glanced toward the patio, “His face is in the shade, right?”

  “Oh, yeah, he knows the rules. No sunburns on the new skin.”

  Scott put down his messenger bag and headed out the patio doors. The pool glinted and gleamed in the pale spring sunshine. A large, shell-shaped chaise pointed out toward the water and Scott could see David’s toes moving. As he got closer, he heard a sound that he hadn’t heard in seven months. David was singing. Softly and tentatively, staying in the midrange, but he was definitely singing. Scott listened and realized it was the very first song Davey had written when they were in school. He stood there, enjoying the sound of his husband’s beautiful, melodic voice. As the song faded away, Scott moved forward and around the shaded part of the chaise.

  “Hey.” Scott greeted his husband as he sat down beside David’s legs, pushing them slightly to the side so he had more space. “I’m glad you’re singing again.”

  David smiled wistfully, “I still can’t get a lot of volume. Maybe I can get a coach here to help me. What do you think, Scotty?”

  “I like that idea.” Scott watched as several emotions played over his husband’s face. David still had trouble expressing the proper emotions to show what he actually felt. The doctors told them with a severe brain injury like Davey’s, it could take years for him to be deemed normal, but Scott wasn’t worried. David had beaten the odds once. He knew he’d surprise them all.

  “Was that Just For You? I haven’t heard you sing that in ages.”

  David looked away. He seemed a bit embarrassed, but then he smiled at Scott again. “It’s the only song I can remember all the words to. I didn’t remember that was the title until you said it.”

  “They will all come back, babe, trust me. You’ve got time.”

  David nodded, but then he tilted his head and his eyes narrowed as he looked at his husband. “Scotty, earlier I took a nap and when I did, I dreamed the strangest dream.”

  Scott could tell there was something about the dream that bothered his husband. “What was the dream about?”

  “I was in the kitchen talking to you, but I wasn’t, you know? It felt strange to be there, but I knew I had to tell you something.”

  Scott sat up a little straighter, “Go on.”

  “I felt kind of light, floaty almost, but it all looked so real. It was as if I had reached out and touched like the countertop or the shelves in the living room, that I would have felt real. You were there like I said and I was talking to you, but I can’t remember what we said to each other, until….” He paused, frowning, searching for the memory of the dream. “I could hear voices calling me. I knew they wanted me to come to them, but then there was you and I didn’t want to leave you.” Again he stopped, shaking his head, his brows no longer plucked to almost feminine perfection touched the lines that deepened between them. “And you asked me the strangest thing. You said…,”

  “Tell me it's full of stars and I’ll believe you, Davey. I’ll believe you.”

  David’s eyes widened, “Yeah, that’s it. That’s exactly it. How did you know?”

  “Because you did say that to me in my dreams the night you woke up.”

  “I came to you that night?”

  “Yes. I didn’t know then that when you told me something wonderful was going to happen that it would be you waking up. I was terrified it meant you’d passed away and you came to tell me.”

  “Dinner’s ready you two,” Trevor called from the doorway. “David, you’r
e Mom and Dad are going to join us, too, so you need to wash up a bit.”

  “Yes, Mom,” David called back, his voice was still a bit hoarse from being on the ventilator for so long.

  They both laughed before Scott stood and offered his hand to David, who willingly took it. Getting up was still a bit of a trial for David while his muscles were growing stronger, he still had a ways to go. David took his husband’s arm and smiled down at him.

  “I’ve been thinking, Scotty. Maybe I’m almost ready to go with you on location. I want to try to be on my own during the day because if I’m with you, I’ll have to be independent.” He grinned, “And maybe we could get a dog.”

  “A dog.”

  David shrugged, “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Sure.”

  “What? Really? When we go to the shelter, I promise I won’t cry.”

  “Yes, you will, but that’s okay. I might cry, too.”

  Scott moved in close and wrapped his lover in his arms. He looked toward the doorway. Soft music played in the background. As usual, Trevor had thought of everything. They turned and walked into the house. Soon after, Betty and Oscar arrived bearing chocolate cake and Christian brought the wine.

  Scott tapped David to get his attention, I love you so much, Davey. You are my life. This gave his husband a quick, chaste kiss.

  David smiled and signed back, My love, my life, forever. His smile grew mischievous. I think I feel a headache coming on, everyone might need to go home right after we finish eating. Don’t you think I look a little pale?

  Scott smiled, “Oh, yeah. You’re exhausted lying in the sun all day, but I agree, the sooner they go home, the quicker I get you into bed with me. I am going to make you beg, Davey.”

  “Promises, promises. Come on, let’s eat, then….” He waggled his eyebrows then glanced at Scott’s half-hard dick. “You’ll be dessert. I promise you, Scotty, something wonderful is going to happen and you’ll definitely be seeing stars.”

  With a loud laugh, David took Scott’s hand and led the way inside.