Rock and Roll Never Forgets (The Rock and Roll Trilogy) by Barbara Stewart Page A

nose, she looked out the peephole and saw Andy. Standing there, hands in his pockets, he looked very apprehensive. Without saying a word she opened the door and went back to the phone.
    “ Thank you Phyllis. I can ’ t tell you how special your call is to me - how much it means. Hang on, there is someone here you may want to speak to,” Beth said and handed Andy the phone.
    “Hey, I couldn ’ t be anywhere else. I ’ ll call you later. I love you , too.” Beth heard him say, and he blew a kiss into the phone and hung up . Beth turned away, looking out the window, not knowing what to say. Andy sat on the sofa. For several minutes it was quiet.
    “ The funeral is tomorrow morning at ten,” she said, finally .
    “ I know,” followed by more silence. “ Bethy come sit with me.”
    “ No, I really just need some fresh air.” Andy followed her out the door. They walked to the pool and he pulled two lounge chairs together. It was a cool evening. There was a bright, almost full moon. They sat in silence for a long time. Finally he turned to Beth, reached over, and took her hand.
    “ Bethy, I am so sorry about Nana, ” he started. “ I know what she meant to you. I know what she came to mean to me. I ’ ll always remember the opportunities I’ve had to be with all of you and the great times we shared. She was a very special lady. ” He thought for a minute, and then added, “ It was obvious that she loved you very much.” 
    Beth wiped her eyes, “ I’m the only granddaughter, all boys but me…” she mumbled and began to sob .
    He scooted closer and took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. “ I’m sorrier about this misunderstanding between us. Let me talk to you, please, Bethy.”
    She nodded and he began, “I know this relationship is hard, this lifestyle isn ’ t for everyone, and you have given far more than I have. You’ve handled this with more poise and grace than anyone could imagine. I know it’s a struggle and I’ve forgotten along the way that I had to work at it in the beginning. I'm very sorry for that.”
    “I don ’ t usually get into that whole party thing. You ’ ve been with me enough to know that. But I did this time. I was ready - mental meltdown… partying sounded good to me. It was no big deal. Some music, some rum, some women…” He paused, “Yeah, they were there, but that doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t trust me.”
    “ It ’ s me I don ’ t trust, ” she said between sobs. “ I don ’ t trust me to handle this relationship. It terrifies me.” 
    Taking her hands again, he was very quiet. Looking very deep into her eyes he finally spoke. “ I ’ m not sure I understand what you mean.” Beth could feel the hurt in his voice as he spoke.
    She looked at him and tried to pull her hands free, but he held firmer. “ Tell me what you mean, Bethy.”
    Suddenly, she was just exhausted. “ No, not now, I just want to go to bed.” 
    He let go, they rose, and walked toward the apartment. Andy closed and locked the door behind them. Beth slipped into a big t-shirt, saying nothing, she crawled into bed.
    Andy came into the room with a glass of milk. He’d mixed in just a little chocolate syrup. He sat on the edge of the bed and told her, “ My mom always brought me a glass of chocolate milk when I ’ d had a bad day and she wanted to make sure I’d sleep.” 
    He paused a minute, in thought. “ The last time she did it was the day Dad died. He’d been so sick in the end, she never left his side. I stayed pretty close to home so I was there if she needed me. Here was this incredible woman who ’ d just lost her husband and she wanted to make sure I slept.” He sat, quietly remembering for a moment. “Drink up. It ’ ll help.”
    Beth took the glass and sipped, he gently tipped up the bottom of the glass and she finished it. He pulled out his shirttail to wipe her mouth, leaving her smiling at the gesture as she snuggled into the covers.
    “ Where will