One Hit Wonder

by Denyse Cohen

  “Hmm. And you’re not anymore?”

  “Just a little.”

  “Scared of what?”

  He whispered in her ear, “Of you not wanting to be my wife.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “You don’t have to fear that, I’ve already said yes.” She kissed him. Then, he hugged her tighter and lifted off her feet. “Yes, yes.”

  “Yes, yes,” Kevin said with mockery, peering at their faces as he moved toward them. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  John put Audrey down and turned to Kevin. “We’re” — he looked at Audrey who nodded — “getting married.”

  “Oh yes, yes! That’s awesome.” Kevin ushered John and Audrey back to the table. “Let’s have a toast.”

  Before they reached the table, Kevin shouted, “They’re engaged!”

  Matt and Tyler let out grunts of excitement, Bill grunted as well and, although Audrey couldn’t read lips, she was certain it was “fuck” he muttered under his breath. Jennifer knocked back her flute of champagne and parted her lips in a muted smile.

  At the table, Matt, Tyler, and even Jennifer hugged and congratulated them. Bill refrained from physical contact with Audrey but tapped John on the back and went to the bar to order another bottle of Dom Pérignon.

  “Ahhh.” When Megan arrived, she screamed so loud even blabbermouth Kevin looked abashed. “It’s okay, I’m okay.” She told the people staring. “My friend is getting married.”

  “Let me see the ring.” Megan reached for Audrey’s hand.

  “I don’t need a ring,” Audrey said.

  “Good for you.” Tyler said. “If — and if is a big word here — I ask a girl to marry me, there will be no ring. I hate when the woman needs to look at the damn thing before she says yes or no.”

  “There is a ring. It’s just not here,” John said.

  “Um, last minute decision. How romantic,” Jennifer said.

  “It wasn’t last minute. I wanted this since the first time I laid my eyes on Audrey.” John said with no hint of irony, his face stiff as a piece of oak.

  Jennifer gave the slightest shrug and smiled sheepishly.

  • • •

  Sometime later, the other executives and producers from Atlantis had arrived and the party moved to a semi-private area near the pool. Orange cushioned seating spread the length of two walls that converged at the corner of the room. Jennifer arranged a birthday cake from a fancy Beverly Hills bakery famous for their rich chocolate flour-less cakes. A waitress with a big smile on her face brought it to the table, flickering candles on top. Later, the waitress asked the band to autograph a napkin while she cleared the glasses and beer bottles from the acrylic white tables in front of them.

  On the dance floor, Megan and Matt moved to the never-ending stream of music the DJ put out. Kevin and Tyler talked to a group of girls who sat inside a red Hershey’s kiss shaped pod. John was engaged in a discussion with Glenn and Bill about the lack of acoustic guitars in contemporary music.

  “Where’s Matt?” Audrey asked Megan when, minutes later, she sat on the orange couch beside Audrey.

  “He went to get us drinks.”

  “So?” Audrey said conspiratorially. “Is he a contender for the body fluids exchange?” Audrey slid closer to Megan who snorted with her gaze averted. If Audrey didn’t know better she would think Megan was embarrassed.

  “Actually, he is pretty sweet,” she said.

  Jennifer must have eavesdropped on their conversation, because as soon as Megan closed her mouth she walked away from her group to intercept Matt who was coming from the bar with two glasses in his hands. Audrey and Megan watched as Jennifer smiled, tossed her hair to the side, and touched his forearm — apparently, her favorite moves.

  “What’s with that girl?” Megan repositioned herself on couch, clearly ticked off.

  “I don’t know.” Audrey hoped Matt would know better than to fall for Jennifer’s feigned interest. When Matt pointed his drinks in their direction and stepped away, Audrey let out a breath of relief and asked him, “What was that about?”

  “Something about another party and if I wanted to go with her.” Matt handed Megan her drink and took a sip of his. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Later when the party dispersed, Audrey and John leaned against the white metal rail which circled the perimeter of the roof. For once, L.A. seemed peaceful. Angelical. She glanced at John surveying the immensity of the city. Not long ago, she was small and lonely, now she felt important because he’d chosen to share his life with her.

  “When I got in that bus seven months ago, I could never have imagined I would be here tonight — with you.” She turned to face him. “I’ve never believed things happened because they were meant to … I was so scared to make the wrong choices and end up living a life I’ve never signed up for. But since that night in Augusta, when you brought me a Snickers bar and smiled.” Her voice stumbled around the word smiled. “I knew all the decisions I would make from then on would be because of you.”

  John gently kissed her lips and said, “A Snicker’s bar, huh?” He moved an unruly strand of hair off her face. “I have to remember that.”

  • • •

  Light seeped through the windows of their bedroom when John drew open the curtains the next day.

  “You already up?” She stretched her arms. “What time is it?”

  “About ten.” He sat on the bed and kissed her. “I want to give you something.” Between his fingers a delicate engagement ring with a split-pea sized diamond guarded by two soft pink stones set in polished white gold. “It arrived a few days ago. I asked my father to send it to me.”

  “Wow.” Audrey whispered, propping herself on her elbows.

  “I wanted to plan something romantic — ”

  “Like, maybe, writing a song?”

  “Maybe.” He chuckled. “But I couldn’t help myself yesterday.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It was my mother’s. She gave it to me before she died.”

  “Oh, John.”

  “I didn’t wanted it … I told her no one in the world could deserve it. She told me I would find someone.” His voice dropped to a murmur. “And when I did, I should let her in. Not be so serious. So stubborn.” He stared at the ring in his hand.

  “She must’ve loved you very much.” She sat up and caressed his face.

  He held her gaze and said, “I didn’t believe her — until now.” He scooted closer and took her hand. “Audrey … love of my life. You make me so happy.” — He slid the ring on her finger — “You’re the one for me. The woman I’ve never believed existed.” — He tenderly kissed her hand — “Will you marry me?”

  Chapter 26

  The courtyard of the small restaurant off Sunset Boulevard was cobbled. The feel of the smooth bumps beneath the soles of Audrey’s shoes reminded her of the farm in Brazil. Her grandfather and uncles had hauled hundreds of cobble stones in a wheelbarrow to create a trail connecting the main house to the outside kitchen. Audrey thought it was odd to have a kitchen outside the house, but she learned it was not uncommon in the rural areas of Brazil. It was actually very logical. Her mother had explained they cooked mainly with a wood stove and the smoke would impregnate everything inside the house.

  “And your grandpa would bring mud into the house every time he came in to have a drink of his Jurubeba.” Audrey’s grandmother had told her in Portuguese.

  Audrey’s grandfather was lean and tanned from walking the land, doing task after task until the sun went down. During the day, he would make several stops in the kitchen to pour himself a dose of the dark liquid into a tin cup that remained always on top of the bottle. Once he let Audrey taste it, laughing while she twisted her face and stuck her tongue out.

  “It’s medicine.” He had told her.

  “Não é não.” It’s not. She’d told him with no hint of accent. For her, medicine was pink and tasted like bubble gum.

  Bitter and spicy, the liqu
id was an herbal concoction made with cloves, cinnamon, wine and the extract from the jurubeba plant. Supposedly, it strengthened the weak stomach and cured inflammations of the liver and spleen. It also had a seventeen percent volume of alcohol, which was the medicinal benefit her grandfather seemed to prize most.

  “Audrey.” Megan waved her hand from a corner table.

  “Hi, I’m sorry. Have you been waiting long?” She sat across from Megan and threw her purse on an empty chair.

  “No. Ten minutes tops.”

  “I lost track of time in the darkroom.”

  “How is it going?”

  “I’ve finished the reprints, now I’m working on the new ones.”

  The waitress brought water, took their order, and hurriedly walked away, as if the restaurant was packed, when in fact, there were only other two tables occupied.

  “That’s cool. Then you’ll be able to go to London.”

  “I don’t think so. They leave in two days, and I won’t be able to finish it by then.”

  “Are you serious? It’s their first concert abroad, it’s a big deal.” Megan said.

  “I know exactly how important this is.” She took a sip from the glass of water in front of her.

  “You finished the show replacements, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Then?”

  Audrey remained quiet.

  “You’ve fulfilled your commitment,” Megan said.

  “Well — ” Audrey waited for the waitress to place their salad plates on the table. “I did, but I still have to print the new images he’s asked for.”

  Megan shook her head and ferried a forkful of lettuce to her mouth.

  “Besides, my passport is at my parents,” Audrey said.

  “Big deal. Have you heard of FEDEX?”

  “I don’t know. I just … .” Her voice trailed off.

  “Listen, I understand you didn’t want to be the center of attention when ‘North Star’ came out. And you didn’t want people to think you’re sponging off and sleeping with the whole band.”

  Audrey creased her eyebrows.

  “But you’re going to marry the guy now. Who cares what people think anymore?”

  “It’s not about what people think.”

  “What is it then, Audrey?” Megan put her fork down. “Because I’d love to know why you’re going to put an ocean between you and John, so the Edwards and Jennifers of the world can come between the two of you?”

  Audrey slumped in her chair. “John is a wonderful musician. I know he’ll do well. I just want to do the same.” She sighed. “It took me a long time to find something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I don’t want to give it up.”

  “Sweetie.” Megan touched Audrey’s hand. “You don’t have to give it up. You’re an artist; it’s within you. You don’t need a gallery in North Hollywood to make art.” Megan snorted. “You certainly don’t need Ben. Can you believe he called me a sweet bun at the show opening?”

  “Absolutely,” Audrey smiled.

  “You know … Matt asked me to go with them.” Megan gave her a witty grin.

  “Really? Are you guys … why didn’t you tell me?”

  Megan shrugged.

  “How? When? It was at John’s party, wasn’t it?”

  “We didn’t sleep together that night, so you know,” Megan said.

  Audrey giggled at Megan’s newfound self-righteousness.

  “We just talked and danced. He is so funny.” Megan’s eyes sparkled. “He asked if I wanted to go to the movies the next day. I said yes. We made out in his car when he dropped me off.”

  “Oh, how sweet.”

  “It really was.” Megan mused. “It had been a while since I had a proper date. Usually, you sleep with a guy and, if you like him, hope he’ll call the next day. If you don’t, just try to forget it ever happened.”

  “You said a mouthful there, sister.” The waitress, bringing the dessert menu, winked at Megan.

  Audrey and Megan laughed and ordered crème brûlée to split, and two espressos. When the waitress left, Audrey turned to Megan with an inquisitive gaze.

  “So, on our second date,” Megan said. “Third, really, if you count the party. We went back to the hotel and got a room — our places are so crowded.”

  “I am happy for both of you.”

  “Thanks. And guess what?” Megan beamed in a smile. “He called the next day.”

  “Of course he did.” Audrey was the one now who lightly touched Megan’s hand. “Matt is a smart man.”

  The waitress arrived with their dessert and coffee.

  “Are you going, then?” Audrey asked.

  “I can’t. It’s the middle of the semester. I can’t miss classes.”

  “Oh.”

  “But you can go, Audrey. Please! Please!” Megan said, with her mouth full of crème brûlée. “Go stay with your” — she singsonged — “fiancé. And remember: it also took you a long time to find someone you wanted to do for the rest of your life.” Megan winked.

  • • •

  Audrey loved the day after a gig, when John could stay home. Even he, a morning person almost to the point of annoyance, would succumb to her pleas and stay in bed for as long as she wanted. At two in the afternoon, they decided to have pancakes for lunch. Golden, fluffy discs sat piled up on a plate while John placed juice, fruit, and syrup on the table. He fixed their coffee, cream and sugar for him, and black for her. Then he ambled up behind Audrey and placed her cup on the counter beside the stove, his free hand circling her waist.

  “Thank you.” She tipped her head back against his chest.

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled her hair to the side and gently kissed her ear and her neck.

  “This way I’m going to burn our breakfast.”

  “I think we have enough anyway.” John glanced at the tall stack on the plate.

  “You think so?”

  “Unless the rest of the band is coming over.”

  She turned off the stove, tilted the pan and dropped the last pancake on top of the stack. John sat at the table and she followed, bringing the plate and her coffee mug.

  “I wanted to wait for you last night because I’ve been meaning to tell you something.” Audrey had tried to stay awake, but her feet and back ached from the long hours standing in the darkroom.

  “Uh?” John forked a pancake and dropped it into his plate.

  “I’d like to go with you to London, if you’d still take me.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Uh-huh.” She gulped her coffee.

  “Hell, yeah. That’s great.”

  “Do you think I can still get into the same flight?”

  “I think so. I’ll call Atlantis right away.” He stood up.

  “No, John. It can wait. Have breakfast with me.” Audrey placed her hand on top of his.

  A few minutes later, John’s cell rang from the bedroom.

  “I should get it.” He said sheepishly.

  “Okay, I’m finished anyway. Can’t eat anymore.” She pushed her cleaned plate away.

  “It’s Tyler.” He shouted from the bedroom.

  Audrey stood and topped her coffee. She met John in the living room, his face suddenly pale.

  “We’ll be right there.” John hung up the phone. “Something is wrong with Kevin.”

  Chapter 27

  When they arrived at the apartment complex, an ambulance, a fire truck, and two police cars were on the street. John didn’t bother parking the car properly and they ran to the apartment. The door was wide open. Matt and Tyler stood in the living room. Matt’s eyes were puffed and red and he had his arms crossed in front of him, and Tyler was pressing with his fingers on the bridge of his nose. Two police officers stood in front of them, one with a hand on Tyler’s shoulder.

  For an instant, Audrey heard a deafening buzz in her ears and everything seemed to be in slow motion. John froze in front of her, staring at Matt and Tyler. Her steps sounded heavy on
the carpet, running to the bedroom. When she reached the door, she saw Kevin lying on the bed. Someone grabbed her and blocked her from coming in.

  “Get off me, he’s my friend.” She shouted at the police officer and with the strength she didn’t know she had, jerked herself out of his grasp and ran to the bed.

  She touched Kevin’s face; his skin was cool and sticky. His blond hair spilled on the bed like a puddle of golden blood. His T-shirt was cut open, his still chest marked by the defibrillator the paramedic on the other side of the bed was stowing into a case

  “Kevin? Kevin, wake up!” She shook his shoulder.

  Audrey glanced up at the paramedic, but the woman looked down, avoiding her gaze.

  “No.” She touched her face to his and sobbed.

  Hands were pulling her again, but this time she recognized them. John helped her up and they hugged and cried for a long time.

  • • •

  There was a bite of cold in the air on the Thursday morning of Kevin’s funeral. He would’ve liked the scenery, she thought. Surrounded by fall’s golden trees, the cemetery had a bleak film noir feeling worthy of Hitchcock. For an instant, Kevin’s image flashed through her mind; him smoking a cigar, drinking whiskey, and watching The Twilight Zone in a cheap hotel room. The memory was as vivid as it had just happened yesterday, but their life had changed so much, it could have been another lifetime.

  The tears rolled down thick on his mother’s face. She let out a deep sob every few minutes, gasping for air as if someone had covered her head with a plastic bag and tied it firmly around her neck. She had auburn hair and her skin was so pale, it seemed to have been bleached by sorrow. Kevin had taken after his father, who was lean and tall, but he had his mother’s eyes — piercing green with swatches of yellow, like orbs of jade.

  Kevin had a big family; two married older sisters with five children between them and a younger brother. Many uncles, aunts, and cousins forming a thick wall of tears and grief stood behind his parents. Even the younger children seemed to sit uncharacteristically still, listening to the minister’s words.

  John looked glum, shoulders curled toward his chest. He didn’t talk much, especially about Kevin. He was the one who made the call to Kevin’s parents, and now it was as if he had used up all the words.