STF

Bittersweet Beginnings

Posted May 13, 2021, 12:27 p.m. by Civilian Revna Edman (Diplomatic Attache) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by James Sinclair in Bittersweet Beginnings

(snip)

“You can have 800 more dates.” She turned and beckoned to the guitar player who came over, more than curious and she spoke to him and he nodded and spoke to the drum player. She turned back to him, “This counts as date number 2. I never sing to a public crowd, not willingly anyway, but I will for you. It’s not much of surprise since you’ve already heard it.” Revna had no idea he’d not read the letter she’d sent with the bourbon. “You like old country music right, Mike?” She placed her hands on the keys of the piano and began to play. She’d learned for him. “Sing with me this time?” It was a duet. She took several deep breaths as she began to play, and then her voice joined the piano, and it was hauntingly beautiful and resonant…moving the audience to feel the sadness in the first words as she sang to him.

I can’t imagine, any greater fear
Then waken up, with out you here
And though the sun, will still shine on
My whole world, would all be gone
But not for long

The guitar and drums added to the richness of the melody. She smiled at him and when he began to sing, her voice changed subtly to match the pitch and tone of his.

If I had to run
If I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

Mike, ever the showman and consumate performer, looked at her crowd with a shocked expression. “Did you know? I didn’t know! I think I’ve been set up,” and he clapped softly and the crowd joined to encourage the beautiful voice to continue.

She smiled, slightly rueful because the next words all too accurate, but she meant every one of them. She sang to him, ignoring everyone else there. Her eyes only leaving his to glance at the keys briefly and then returning.

It wouldn’t matter, why we’re apart
The lonely miles, or two stubborn hearts
And nothing short, of God above
Could turn me away, from your love
I need you that much

If I had to run
If I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

She continued to play the melody on the piano. She smiled at him, her voice never breaking, straining, or failing her as she sang.

Mike set his hands on the lower keys and began to softly play a harmony with hers, their fingers moving in unison and grinned at her.

Oh if I had to run
(If I had to run)
If I had to crawl
(If I had to crawl)
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

Baby there’s no place that far

Revna was not as skilled as Mike with the piano, and so she glanced away as she finished the last measures of piece. The last notes faded away and Revna’s gaze returned to his, one hand reaching for his.

Revna (with Special thanks to Sarah Evans and Vince Gill)

He took her hand kissed her as the crowd applauded and stood up for a standing ovation. Mike looked at the band and gestured to the front of the stage. They moved forward and bowed. As they did, Mike said “Let’s get outta here. We stand, bow, and go out the back, okay?” and he grinned wickedly at her.

As they moved to the front of the stage, Mike waved and then gestured to Revna and clapped. The crowd, small though it was, stood and cheered louder and vids were rolling all-over. Just as she went to bow, the split second before; Mike leaned over, back to the audience and whispered in her ear.

“I love you, Rev. And someday I’m gonna marry you.”

Revna was an expert at expressing only what she wanted others to see, and usually she was an open book. But right then in that moment the only person she wanted to know what she was thinking was Mike. Her expression didn’t change, but he’d see it in her eyes. She was absolutely giddy, and totally in love with him.

He turned back to crowd as if nothing had happened and clapped. “Give it up, people! Wasnt she great?! Yeah! Show her some love!” and he waved at the crowd and smiled. It may have only been forty or fifty people, but he treated them like a stadium full.

Big Mike

She took his hand, the whole crowd would think he’d simply offered it to her, in a very gentlemanly gesture, and she executed a beautiful curtsey. She straightened, both hands gesturing towards him. She was no showman, but she had her own set of skills and crowd control. Her voice carried out above the crowd, which would be in such contrast to the quiet he’d always heard from her before. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Mike McKenzie!” Her body language and the turn in her tone had them all looking at him, and she quietly slipped off the stage, grabbing both the glasses as she went.

Mike waved at the crowd and smild broadly. “Thanks, everybody! Thank you so much! Have a great night! Take care of your servers and bartenders! Good night”! and he turned and shook hands with the band. “You guys killed it. Get thjose tracka laid down and I’ll start the engineering, okay? Let’s get it done. Ok boys, I’m out.” and he stepped off the stage.

She leaned up against a wall in the shadows at the side of the stage and waited for him. She handed him his glass when he got to her and she stretched up to kiss him on the cheek, and whispered, “Guess that means you decided you can handle me, huh?” She laughed softly. “I love you, Mike. Now where’s this back exit?”
Revna

“Oh, I knew I could. I just needed you to know it, too.” and he smiled and kissed her very deeply. “And you better. ‘Cause you ain’t gettin’ rid of me… not now, not ever. Come on… follow me. Do you have a room?” and he took her hand and led her down a small side passage that was more than likely a maintenance access.

Big Mike

The kiss took her breath away, in a good way. “Never, you’re mine now, Mike, and I’m yours.” She laced her fingers with his and turned walking backwards, facing him and laughed, “Nope, of course not I left all my things sitting on the promenade.” Her eyes danced, “1410.” She spun back around to walk beside him. She stopped suddenly and tugged his hand. “One condition, though.” She moved into his arms, “If I’m going to be with the most famous singer around, you’re going to sing to me every day.” She kissed him, just a quick peck, but she was incredibly happy.
Revna

Mike laughed and said “Well, I’m not the most famous singer around, so I guess I’m off the hook for that.” and he stopped her as they came to a door. He looked at her and said “But I’ll want to sing for you every day, how about that?” and he put his arms under her and picked her up off the floor and pushed her against the wall. He pressed himself against her, using his body to hold her up as he reached down and grabbed her leg and threw it around him. He grinned at her and then kissed her… the intensity and desire… and love… more than apparent as the kisses continued down the side of her neck and across her throat before coming back up to taste her lips again.

Mike

“That’s perfect.” She could not stop smiling, and when he picked her up she wrapped her arms around him and combed her fingers through his hair. The breath rushed out of her lungs as he pushed her against the wall. She kissed him along his jaw, his neck, and then sighed softly. Her love and passion conveyed to him as she kissed him. She pulled herself closer, eventually pulling back to rest her forehead against his shoulder, breathing heavily. She tightened her arms around him, “I really really missed you.”
Revna


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