Rehearsal: The Highest Aim

Excerpt (rated 13+)
©2008 LK Hunsaker. All Rights Reserved.

28 July 1974 Grabbing an amp from the storage compartment beneath the rumbling bus, Evan straightened and jerked sideways enough for his guitar case to return to hanging over his back. Susie chastised him for overdoing the load, her eyes still sparkling from the excitement of the proposal. He assured her he was fine in the gentle tone he used only for her. Engaged. She was getting married. Evan couldn’t quite let it register in his brain and tried to let the strain of his muscles distract him from the strain of his thoughts. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Or maybe it was, as happy as Duncan made her. Still, it left Evan drifting in the confusion of losing his life-long expectations. His mom echoed Susie’s protest about carrying too much at once. It irritated Evan in a way Susie hadn’t. With a polite glance to say he heard her, he pushed on toward the apartment building, through night’s darkness and a cool breeze slapping his face. Janet held the door, mentioning how she enjoyed the lavender scent in front of the apartment building. Evan never cared for the herb before Susie planted it the previous spring, before he noticed how she loved it. Last year, they often sat on the steps to talk, enjoying the Massachusetts summer evenings, the freshness of nature, and each other. They hadn’t needed anything else. He didn’t answer Janet, not wanting his girlfriend’s thoughts to invade his memories. Voices swirled around the hallway and followed him into the basement while the band unloaded their equipment. Despite it being nearly one in the morning, they were all still talkative. Stu especially wouldn’t quit. He kept discussing the wedding, teasing Susie and Duncan about whether they would at least be engaged as long as they had dated. Janet countered with the necessity of waiting longer than that; four months wasn’t enough time to plan a wedding. Unloading the amp onto the floor against the wall, Evan turned to see Duncan grimace while setting part of the drum set down. His ribs weren’t healed from the attempted mugging enough to carry much of anything yet. Wondering how Duncan got past his girlfriend … fiancée … in order to do so, Evan glanced around the basement. He didn’t see her. Amazing. He expected her to be glued to his side until they parted for the night. Evan stopped him. “If Susie had seen the pain in your face I just did, she’d be all over you.” “So do no’ tell her.” Duncan threw a grin. “Deal, but only if you stop now. You can’t heal that way.” “Ev…” “I’m not backing down on this one.” Evan watched his friend’s face. There was a trace of wanting to tell him to back the hell off, as Duncan normally would, but mostly it was calm, relenting. “So y’ are no’ pissed at me?” “About what? You think I didn’t know you would push yourself too fast? How long have we known each other?” “That is no’ what I meant. Y’ have no’ said anything about it yet, other than in front of everyone.” He looked over at voices in the distance, and returned the gaze. “Should I ‘ave told y’ I was going t’ propose?” “Why would you need to tell me first?” “Because she is closer t’ you than to anyone else. I did talk t’ her dad, but maybe I should ‘ave said something t’ you.” “You asked John’s permission?” Evan couldn’t hide his surprise. No one did that anymore. Or maybe they did in Scotland? In 1974? Evan rather doubted it was the norm there, either. “His opinion matters t’ her. I wanted t’ know it would no’ cause more trouble.” “Who are you?” Evan grinned at his friend’s raised eyebrow. “I don’t mean that as an insult. But I’ve been so focused on how Susie has changed that I think I’ve missed something. Since when do you ask permission to do anything?” Duncan looked across the room when Susie’s laughter cut through other voices, studying her a moment as she stood talking with Kate and Alison. “Y’ know I am lucky she will have anything t’ do with me. I do no’ know why she does or why she accepted, but I do not want t’ screw things up now.” “Lucky?” Evan shook his head. “You’re good for her.” Despite himself, he had to admit it. “Duncan, if you had asked me, I would have told you I have never in my life seen her as happy as she is now. People screw up. Hell, I screw up all the time and she hasn’t walked away from me yet.” Evan glanced over and caught her eyes; she knew they were talking about her. Commotion caught his attention – Stu trying to carry too much at once. Setting a hand on Duncan’s shoulder, he knew he had to say more. “You don’t need my approval, but you have it. I meant my congratulations sincerely.” “Then y’ will stand up with me? Be my best man?” Duncan’s best man, while he married the love of Evan’s life. Something was rather unjust about the idea. “You’ve been planning this for a while?” “Since the day she said she was in love with me. I only waited t’ be legal so I knew I would no’ be makin’ her choose between me and her home.” Making her choose. Except she already had. Susie would choose Duncan over anything, or anyone. Evan stifled his thoughts. “I would be honored to stand up with you.” Accepting a handshake and thanks, he went to help Stu and to finish unloading. Walking past Susie, he paused to mention her fiancé was having a hard time not letting himself carry equipment, knowing full well Duncan had followed and was listening. “Oh? Well, I think he’s not going to.” She smiled at Evan and set a hand on Duncan’s stomach, her other arm wrapping around his back. “I’m still in charge.” Duncan raised an eyebrow. “Are y’ now?” She kissed him. Evan continued toward Stu. 29 July Susie felt movement and opened her eyes. Light streaming through the blinds told her it was early; the sun was still rising. Finding Duncan’s face, she moved closer, cuddling against his bare chest, reveling in the feel of his fingers on her cheek and running through her hair. Engaged. He asked her to be his wife. The memory of the night before brought her emotions to nearly the same level as when he asked and she gripped his shoulder, pulling him in. “G’ mornin’.” He kissed her head. “I love waking up with you.” She returned the kiss, to his chest. She had become bolder the night before … earlier that morning … when he agreed to stay, and after she agreed they would still wait until their wedding night. “I am glad y’ do. I hope y’ will no’ get tired of me always bein’ here.” Rising to see his face, she smiled. “Not likely.” He kissed her, pressing closer, rolling her onto her back to prop himself half-way on top. “Y’ know I am supposed t’ be goin’ to work in a few minutes.” “Call in. Want me to dial?” She reached for the phone. Grasping her hand, Duncan entwined his fingers in hers and pulled her arm back to their sides. “Come in with me. I can no’ leave Ev short again, bu’ I do no’ want to leave y’ today. I am no’ doing anything now y’ can no’ do.” “It’s driving you crazy, isn’t it?” Susie pulled her hand from his and ran it along his ribs. “Having to be so careful until you heal.” He raised an eyebrow. “It is no’ as hard as trying t’ be careful with you.” “No?” She slid her hand up to his chest. “So I think we should set a date. Unless you want to wait…” “Tell me when and I will be there.” “Tomorrow.” She chuckled at his expression. “Too soon?”

-10-