Rock and Roll Never Forgets (The Rock and Roll Trilogy) (6 page)

In their travels they stopped at a place called The Glass Window. One side of the road held a calm serene beach with palm trees, beautiful white sand and the bluest-blue water. It looked like a picture on a postcard. On the other side there were rocky cliffs. They climbed to look out over deep, dark blue, almost black water hundreds of feet deep. It was such a contrast, divided only by a tiny strip of land har
dly wide enough to accommodate t
he roadway.

They continued on
to the northern part of the island. Just off the northeast coast of the island lay a small piece of land called Harbor Island, accessible only by ferry. They boarded the ferry from Whale Point for the ten minute ride to cross the quarter-mile inlet f
or some beach time
and exploring.
Beth grew up around the ocean, she’d been going her whole life, but she had never seen anything like this beach. It was splendor at its finest. The water was the most refreshing color of turquoise blue, and the sand was
pink
.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s from the coral,”
Andy explained
as he
pulled low lounge chairs to the water’s edge and they stretched out and relaxed in the sun for a while. The warm waters of the Caribbean slapped against the ends of the chairs, tickling their toes. Later, Andy got them lobster sandwiches at a little hut on the beach.

Before leaving to catch the last ferry off the island they did a little exploring. He showed her
some
of the island’s history. The ‘birthplace of the Bahamas,’ it was home
t
o one of the oldest settlements, and at one time was the capital. Lord Dunmore was the governor at that time, and while there
,
they visited the Dunmore Cottage. It was crisp and white, painted with beautiful red trim. They visited The Cannons at Roundhead, a wonderful spot that gave a glimpse of the bay
.

Done with the tour of Harbor Island
,
they boarded the ferry to return to
the big island and head back to
Rock Sound. Driving along they talked about the day, one Beth knew she would never forget. It was late when they arrived at the cottage. Edwina left a beautiful conch salad in the refrigerator for them. Andy said it was one of his favorite treats. It was different, tangy with lime. Later, they cleaned up and fell into bed tired from their day. In his arms, e
very inch of her body curled against him, touching him, giving him pleasure just by the fact that she was there, he didn’t need more.

Monday morning
they were both dreading the end of their time on the island, and they crammed as much into their last day as they could. T
hey
started by
head
ing
south bouncing down one-lane roads, laughing the whole way in that old station wagon. Andy stopped at a place called Ocean Hole
. He led her to the edge of what Beth guessed was a lake.

They stood at the edge and Andy told her, “They call it a ‘natural blue hole’ and say it’s bottomless and connected to the ocean. It has ebbs and flows, like the ocean’s tides, but they say even Jacques Costeau has been unable to prove a connection. People swim in here, no fishing, but let me show you why I’d never dive in.” He laughed as he
reached in his pocket, and pulled out a muffin he
’d
taken from breakfast
and
broke small pieces off and tossed crumbs into the water. Suddenly, the water churned up and it seemed there were a million fish springing up and grabbing the crumbs, wildly splashing about
.

“Oh my gosh!” Beth exclaimed, “They’re
like piranhas
!”

They got back in the car and continued south to a secluded beach. Beth packed a picnic and they spent their last time on the island enjoying the sun.

“I’m going to hate leaving,” Beth said as they headed back to the cottage.

“
We will come again.
It’s one of my favorite places on earth. I come as often as I can.”

August 7, 1978 ~
It was a beautiful time and I treasured every moment, thankful, not only for the beauty of the island, but for the opportunity to share another piece of Andy’s life. It was a peaceful time, filled with the beauty of paradise, and I pondered… What comes next? But I think I don’t care, in the summer of 1978, we are a couple.

39

Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Chapter Six

T
he next weeks passed quickly, each bringing more excitement. The band had zigzagged their way across the country, and in early September Andy flew her to New Orleans for a weekend show. They had an extra evening, so it was an opportunity for them to share some time. After the show the group walked Bourbon Street listening to the local bands. In several places the bands tried to convince them to sing or play, but they declined, responding that they were there for the entertainment. Nathan did get up and play at a piano bar they visited where they were playing ragtime music
,
saying he couldn’t contain himself.

Later, they found a sidewalk café that was still open, and the owner offered to stay open as long as they wanted. They ate gumbo, crisp, crusty, hot French bread, drank wine, and laughed until very late into the night. The next day they were tourists, complete with a horse and carriage ride through the old city.

As her relationship with Andy grew, friendships with the other guys developed as well, except with Dane. During this visit with the group Beth realized that he resented her being around. Unsure how to deal with it she talked to Andy
.

“I can tell he doesn’t like me being here,” she said.

“I do. Just let it ride,” he told her. He wanted her with him, so she went.

Two weeks later she flew to Philadelphia. The band had two shows, but no break. She flew in early on Saturday morning, and back home earlier on Monday. It was exhausting, but she was with Andy and that was all she really needed.

Sep
tember 24, 1978 ~
With the band’s popularity came the press and tabloids. Part of that meant my picture with Andy in print in magazines. It
’s
odd
,
learning to deal with that.

Caption with a series of pictures from
People
magazine:

“Andy Stevens and his Bethy work hard to keep their romance under the radar, with little luck. Spotted on a stool in the wings singing along with the band last week in Philadelphia, she received a round of kisses from Traveler’s lead singer between encores. Two weeks earlier they were spotted in New Orleans at a sidewalk café with
the rest of the Traveler band”.

Her privacy became an issue, people at work figured out who the
‘nice guy’
in her life was. Andy had Roddy get her home phone number changed and unlisted to try to help. If they were not together, they were on the phone. It was awesome and overwhelming all at the same time.

~ ~ ~

During one of their late-night phone calls Andy talked to Beth about his week off before Europe. “I’d like to come to Florida to spend it with you.”

“Really?” She couldn’t even wrap her head around what that might be like. It made her feel nervous, excited, and overwhelmed. All the attention his visit would bring, especially for her family. They hadn’t been exposed to that yet. Andy talked to Beth’s dad and they all agreed that if he could handle it, they could.

The weekend he wanted to come caused Beth personal conflict. It was his twenty-ninth birthday and he wanted to spend it with her, and she wanted to have that time with him more than anything. But there was something else, and she shared with him about family, the traditions involved and how important they were to her.

“In early autumn each year my Nana and Pappy make their pilgrimage to the mountains of Tennessee and they come home with bushels and bushels of apples. The next weekend is always ‘Apple Butter Weekend’. Nana and I get started real early on Saturday morning, and spend the entire day making homemade applesauce and apple butter. We’ve done it as long as I can remember and I love that time,” she told him.

“Nana said she’d understand, but who knows how many more years we’ll be able to share that special time. But I don’t want you not to come,” she told him. It would be another first with him, celebrating his birthday was a special event too.

Andy found no dilemma at all. “It sounds like a great time to me!” he told her. “It’ll be fun! I can help peel apples!” Amusingly, Beth’s thoughts went to those tabloids - wait till they got a hold of
that
story
.

They talked a lot about his visit, and his excitement to meet her family. Beth laughed and reminded herself to prepare them for the chaos that would surely take place. ‘Hurricane Andy’ was about to hit. She just focused on enjoying every second with him. Four months had passed and she was still living the dream.

~ ~ ~

‘Apple Butter Weekend’ was a fun family time. They peeled, cored, diced, and sliced apples, and some were actually eaten. They put up quarts and pints of apple butter and apple sauce for the coming year. Andy set some aside to ship home, and some to send his mom. Everyone talked and laughed and told tales.

On Sunday, they all gathered for a big family dinner, like an early Thanksgiving. Nana made a warm apple butter cake for Andy’s birthday that he loved. Everyone was there and made it a special birthday celebration for him. He fit right in with her family.

Early Monday morning, Andy was already in the kitchen when Beth got up. It was his birthday, and Beth was happy to spend the last day of his visit with him. He was flying out late that afternoon to New York to meet the rest of the
Traveler
guys. They had some time and space lined up before they ‘crossed the pond’ to rehearse, leaving from there on an early flight on Thursday.

She headed toward the glorious smell of the coffee he’d made. She saw that he’d set up his portable keyboard on the table. He was wearing the headset, his back to her, playing and softly humming. When he noticed her he removed the headset.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said.

“Mornin’
.
W
hat are you up to so early?” she asked pouring a cup of coffee, carrying the pot to refill his.

“I woke with this song in my head, had to get out here to play with it.” He leaned to her for a kiss, and unplugged the headset, allowing the sound only he could hear before to fill the room as he continued playing. It was a catchy melody
.

“I like the tune,” Beth said, as she sat across from him. He played a while longer. Suddenly, with a wicked grin on his face he added some words about a ‘simple life’ and then some funny, somewhat risqué lyrics about
‘making sweet’
that had them both laughing.

It’s good lovin’

D
on’t hold out

It’s making sweet

It’s good sweet lovin,

B
eyond any doubt

It’s making sweet

I’m talkin’ about

Beth went to the bedroom and returned with a wrapped box. “Roddy helped me,” she said. “Happy Birthday.”

He unwrapped quickly. It was a portable cassette recorder. “It’s small enough that you can keep it with you, and when you get those song ideas you can record them and save it for later,” she told him.

“Thank you. I love it, Bethy, a very thoughtful gift.” He took it out of the box and put the batteries in, then pulled a blank tape from the box and put it in the recorder. He began playing again and sang the piece he’d been working on. He popped it out and handed it to Beth. “Hang on to this until I get back,” he said and grinned.

Playing again but not looking at her he said;
“
Come to Houston with me for Christmas. I know its family time. I met yours, now I want you to meet my family. I want you to meet Phyllis,” he paused. “She wants to meet you,” he added, raising his eyes now to meet hers, his smile like a soft embrace.

He wanted her to meet his mom. She knew that his dad passed away several years earlier. She and Phyllis talked several times, and Beth was looking forward to meeting her. Andy was an only child and she knew that he was very close to his mom
.

She took a big sip of coffee, savoring it, and said,
“
I
’
d like that.”

“
Good!” He stopped playing, reached across the table and took her hand in his, and pulled it to his lips.
“
Roddy and I will take care of everything.”

Still holding her hand in his he rose from the chair and pulled her up. “Have you got another present for me, Bethy?” he asked with that wicked grin and led her back to the bedroom.

~ ~ ~

October 20, 1978 ~ I missed him when he left. It was special having him with me for a few days, a very different routine that I loved. Six weeks apart would be a huge test.

Traveler
’s
success had skyrocketed during that year. It was crazy, but the band’s popularity in Europe was even greater. This was their first tour out of the U.S. and they were all very excited. Andy called every day to tell her about it. His excitement was just as exciting for her. They spent hours on the phone with all the details. Being their first time overseas, this was a really big deal for them. Every one of the shows sold out; an even bigger deal
.

Roddy called daily to schedule the calls because of the time difference. During that time the relationship she shared with him grew into a strong kinship. No call was ever just to set up the time for a call and buzz off. It was a conversation between friends.

As the time drew nearer for the end of their European tour, Beth grew more excited for his arrival. Even though they talked daily, the time apart gave reason to wonder about ‘them’. Returning home, the band would be on hiatus for a few weeks, heading to Japan after the holidays for three more weeks to finish the tour.

School complete for the term, Beth didn’t enroll for the next semester. She squeezed in extra hours at work, getting things ready for the time she was taking off. Up late every night, she was busy finishing up Christmas projects, making sure there was time for the calls with Andy.

She spent all of her spare time getting Christmas shopping, decorating, and baking finished. Packages had already been mailed to Phyllis for their holiday trip. Andy was coming to Florida first for a holiday celebration with her family before they made their way to Houston together. Being their first Christmas together, she wanted everything perfect.

Beth loved the hectic, sometimes chaotic activity of the holidays. There was always much to do. She loved all the preparation
, and
made as many of her gifts as possible, putting great thought into her choices. She hoped that Andy would appreciate the gift she made for him; she wanted it personal, something special
.

She planned a holiday celebration with her family, and everything was in place before Andy arrived. It was early afternoon and she’d been anxiously waiting for him. She met him at the door, his arms loaded with packages. He quickly put them under the tree, and then went to her, wrapping her in his arms.

I love that place. It feels good there, really good…

“
I
’
m so glad I’m here with you, Bethy
,
” he told her as he took a seat on the sofa and kicked back to relax.
“
What time will everyone else arrive?”

“
Around six.” She’d chilled a bottle of his favorite, Chenin Blanc, knowing he would want a glass. “We
’
ll have dinner and then our celebration. I kept it small,” she told him as she poured the wine.

She sat beside him and he put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her to him. He gave a quick glance to the clock on the wall.
“
Good,” he replied with that devilish grin she’d gotten used to seeing. Exhaustion showed in his eyes, but still that humor.

They talked a while, and finally Andy went to the tree where he’d unloaded his goods. He returned with a small package.
“
I’d like you to open this one before everyone arrives. It’s personal to me.” He handed her the box.

It intrigued her to think what would be “personal” to him.

She shook it and he laughed. Slowly, methodically she worked at the paper.
“
Oh! Just tear into it!
”
he laughed. So she ripped… Inside was a pair of gold chains, one heavier and longer than the other, both with a half of a Mizpah charm.
‘
The Lord watch between me and thee while we are apart one from the other.’

“Andy, I love these,” she said feeling a lump in her throat. “They are beautiful and thoughtful, and I love them,” she said again, slipping hers immediately around her neck. Andy did the same.