It was heaven on Earth.
Here I was, twenty five, with the love of my life, and I was on tour. The next show was also my last in the tour, Rome. The tour had lasted for a year and a half, now we could finally go home after this last show. It couldn't get any greater then this. I was getting to see the world with Liz, my sister, my love.
"OK yea, uh huh. Got it. Hey John got it. Mmm hmm yes there too," my manager was rattling away to some promoter on the phone. The van hurdled us from the airport to our hotel. Flying through the streets of Rome at an incredible pace, the scenery seemed to blur.
The limo with escorts in place were taking another route. Hey when you want privacy sometimes its easier to deceive the public at large. I was especially private when it came to Liz and I being seen together. I had nearly flipped when new magazines had the headline "John's New Squeeze" on the cover. She wasn't a squeeze, she was my angel and now as we flew down the streets she lay across the seat, her head resting in my lap.
She must have been worn out from the constant flights, stops, shows, road trips, etc. I couldn't blame her. Last year I had nearly past out on stage from exhaustion but now I had learned to get used to it. It had been two years since she had came to live with me. My first album that was released prior to her living with me had sold a whopping 45 million copies worldwide. The follow up had almost doubled that. Life had been perfect, not to mention the sex.
We were like a newlywed couple every time we were alone together. Our bodies always seemed to cry out in hunger. We were only too happy to oblige. The scenery changed constantly around us. Sometimes I would look up in the sky after making love and wonder where we were, only to realize it didn't matter. I was with her.
"OK here we are. Hey Rob drop them off around back," Jim my manager told the driver. As the van pulled to the back entrance we opened the doors and hopped out. It was strange not hearing the moans of fans, the grabbing of your clothes, the excitement in the air.
I poked my head back into the door. My angel lay still, sound asleep in the seat. " Hey Liz, we are here babe." I rubbed her cheek and she stirred. Her eyes opened slowly taking in her surroundings only to focus on me afterwards.
A smile formed across her lips, "About time," she yawned, "I thought we were just gonna go straight to the show without any sleep." She sat up and exited the van.
Turning back to Jim I asked, "Hey what room?"
"Hang on one sec big guy, yea thats what I'm saying. Movie this summer and come out with the soundtrack at the same time. Have everyone jumping up and.."
"Jim what room!" Liz and I both said, annoyed at Jim. Man we had done a show, had a twelve hour flight, and had like seven hours before the next show. I needed some goddamn sleep.
Jim put his hand over the phone, "Umm I think its 312. Oh yea I'm back. See that what I'm talking about come out with a bang right here the whole world will be talking," and just like that he was off again. The van pulled away with him still rattling off. I loved Jim, greatest manager ever but his phone conversations were annoying as hell.
I put my arm around Liz and we headed inside. We made our way to the room and entered. At least Jim had honored my request, no fancy suite just a regular room.
"Oh god I'm dying for a shower," Liz said after trying out the bed. She went in the doorway and grabbed her clothes from the pre-packed bag in the room.
"Hey mind if I join ya?"
"Of course not silly," she let one of the straps fall down onto her arms. Her cleavage looking more and more savory. I composed myself and went into the bathroom. She had already began to undress while the water warmed.
"You know I don't think I will ever get bored with you," I said taking a breast in my hand and giving it a little squeeze.
"John not tonight, here lately it seems thats all we do. Tonight lets just enjoy each others company," I continued to play with her breasts and she let out a laugh, "If you don't knock it off there are going to be fifteen little John's all over the house." She shove my hand out of the way and removed her panties.
I laughed too. We certainly had been doing it a lot. Maybe she was right, maybe we needed to slow down and see how things progressed. "OK love." I gave her a kiss as she backed into the shower door with a thud.
"You know you always were a little hard headed," she wrapped her arms around my neck, "but tonight I mean it, no sex." She stepped into the shower, I followed. I honored her words, no sex. Man it was gonna be a long night.
We soaped each other up, being careful not to miss one inch of each others bodies. I gave her a neck massage after rinsing the last of the soap off. She had a pain in her neck from sleeping awkwardly on the plane. I wrapped my arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Will you marry me?"
"John you know we can't, but if there was a way I would," she turned to face me. A look of hurt came over her face. She rubbed my face with her hand and gave me a soft kiss.
"I'm not talking about a huge ceremony lets just say we are married. I can get you a ring, nobody would ever have to know. " I kissed her, long and deep. Letting my words sink in.
"Your wrong. One person would know," she teared up, "John it would be wonderful to be your wife, but we just can't. She would ruin everything in our lives."
"Don't worry about her, I can handle it. If she approved, would you?"
She thought the question over for a minute, "Yes, I would John. I love you."
Later on that night after Liz had finally went to sleep after cuddling and soft kisses, I made my way to the phone. After going through the proper channels to get the call placed I found my heart racing when it began to ring.
What would she think? Her own daughter that she hated and son that was perfect had wound up together. They are even thinking of marriage. "Hello?" a soft voice answered.
"Yea um hi Mom its me, John," that was all I could work out.
"Oh, well do you know what time it is young man? This is no hour to be calling up ladies, especially your mother. Didn't I rai,"
"Hold on mom before you chop my head off I need to talk to you," oh I would get it later at Christmas. Mom hated being interrupted.
"Well I suppose you'd better get on with it eh," she sounded annoyed now. Her breathing quickened a small bit and she started to suck her teeth. The little noise she produced would have sent me and Liz asking for a sleepover at a friends house rather then deal with her.
I took in a deep breath, "Mom I am going to get married. I have found this great woman. She brightens up the day. When I'm around her its like I don't know how I survived before without her," I went on and on and on until I thought I had ground the point into mothers mind.
"Well she seems like a lucky girl John, but why do you have to call me and tell me about it."
"Because mom, the woman I want to marry, the woman of my dreams its...its." I couldn't bring myself to say it. Halfway from fear of the backlash but also from a hope that there was still something human about mother. I didn't want to be the one that took that away from her.
