They finished the second bottle of wine while they talked. Richie noticed Leana had started to shiver, the night air had cooled. “It’s late, I should probably go.” Leana nodded and stood, swaying as she did so. Richie caught her. “Whoa, careful there darlin’.” He steadied her so she didn’t fall. His touch still made her pulse race and that irritated her. “Hands off Richie, I’m fine.” He let his hands fall to his sides. “I just didn’t want you to fall.” He hung his head and turned to leave. “Rich, wait.” Leana stopped him. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.” He started down the steps and then turned back, “listen, the guys are coming by tomorrow night to hang out. Would you like to join us? I am sure they’d like to see you.” Leana thought for a moment, did she really want to go back there again. After so many years did she want to involve herself with all of them again? “I don’t know Richie. Can I just say maybe?” He wasn’t going to beg. “Listen, my house is three down from here. If you decide you want to come, just walk down and join us. Burgers go on the grill at 7.” “Thanks and Richie, it was good to see you again.” “You too Leana.” He left and she went inside to clean up.
Leana stood in the kitchen doing dishes and thinking about the evening. Seeing Richie again brought it all back, the good, the bad, the laughter and love that they had shared. She thought about his invitation for the following night. Would they remember her? Would she even fit in anymore? She had kept up with them, followed their career and gone to more than her fair share of shows but could she do this? Could she be around Richie again? She had been so totally crazy for him and he had broken her heart. It had taken her a long time to pick up the pieces and move on. As she dried the dishes an old Richard Marx song came on the radio.
Should've known better
Than to fall in love with you
Now love is just a faded memory
Should've known better
Now I'm a prisoner to this pain
And my heart still aches for you
There was no risk that I wouldn't take
And not a promise that I didn't make
All I asked was that you just hold on
And now I'm wondering what I did wrong
She felt a tear start to slide down her cheek and she swiped at it. “Dammit. Why can’t I let it go?” She sat down heavily on the couch, laying her head against the back. Might as well be honest she thought to herself. I can’t let it go, can’t get over him because I still love him. Always have, probably always will. She closed her eyes and let herself reminisce a little. The first time she had seen him was at the Fastlane. She had gone to meet Dorothea to watch Jon, as usual. Dot had told her Jon had gotten a new guitar player, but didn’t say anything more. All it took was looking at him and she knew she was done. Her thing for the tall dark handsome type had attracted her to him, but it was the smile in his warm brown eyes and his sense of humor that had stolen her heart. They had hit it off almost instantly and they were always together after that. After seeing them play together that first time, she knew they were going to be big and told him so. She helped them whenever and however she could and what did he do, he dumped her when they hit it big. But before that, when they were still playing at the bars, when no one really knew who they were, he had been hers.
Richie sat on his sofa and stared out the living room window. She was the last person he had expected to see. Hadn’t even realized it was her until she stuck her tongue out at him. That used to be her way of getting him to smile, way back when. She would cock her head to one side and stick it out just enough to tease him. It never failed to work. It would have tonight too if he hadn’t been so surprised to see her. He leaned back on the couch and stretched his legs out in front of him. The 20 years fell away as he sat there, the memories came and he let them.
Leana had always been there for him. He had noticed her with Dorothea that night at the Fastlane, but really who wouldn’t have. With her sea green eyes and long dark hair coupled with a killer body, she could have had anyone she wanted. He had been lucky that she set her sights on him. It was the green eyes and doll-like face that had caught his eye, but it was her smile and determination to see him succeed that had done him in. She was at every show they played. Her support was unwavering. She helped them any way she could, gas, loan of her car, handing out flyers, whatever was needed, she pitched right in. She had known they were going to be big and had done everything she could to help. When they made their first and second records, she stood by him, by them. Always encouraging, never doubting. How she did it all he didn’t know. He had been too wrapped up in his own life to worry about it. When Slippery hit though and they became bigger than life, he dropped her like a hot potato and never looked back.
Richie rubbed his eyes. What a trip. He looked over and saw the envelope again. “Shit.” Yet another relationship he had messed up. He picked it up and dumped its contents out on the table. He didn’t read the papers, he knew what they were. He saw the big bold letters at the top “Judgment of Divorce” there was a filing stamp at the bottom. It was official, he was divorced.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives.