Page 7 of I'm Your Baby Tonight

He nods and closes the door behind him. Now, if I can psych myself up to go through this performance, I could play my set with my eyes closed any other night, but tonight, it's about an old memory that I don't want to shake.

***

The bar is packed tonight, so I need to stay focused and concentrate on the songs. The set I had planned for tonight was a mixture of songs from the '80s. Instead of playing them, I find myself playing all of Billy Joel's songs.

The crowd doesn't seem to mind as they sing along—some voices on key—most not. It doesn't matter. I'm still transported back to the night I first met Erica, and I close my eyes, remembering every detail of her face.

Something inside me wills me to open my eyes, and I come face to face with the woman I love, "Erica?" the music stops, and I realize I've taken my hands off the keys and am now standing in front of Erica. "What are you doing here?"

"Me, what are you doing here, you big jerk!" The tears stream down her face as she turns and runs toward the front door.

I chase after her, knowing I'm not going to let her escape me this time. "You're not going anywhere until we talk." I catch her around the waste and throw her over my shoulder before she reaches the exit.

"Put me down!" She slaps my back, and the whole bar is watching our exchange. But I don't care—I finally have Erica back in my arms.

Once inside my office, I slam the door shut and set her on the couch, taking the seat next to her just like I did that night at her apartment.

"Do you know how long I've been searching for you? It wasn't easy without your last name or a telephone number."

She crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head to the side, "I waited until the absolute last minute for you to return, and you never did. I almost lost my new job because I told them I couldn't start immediately because I was waiting for you."

"I'm sorry about that, but the family emergency I had to leave so suddenly for was my dad had a heart attack and almost didn't survive. He was in intensive care for a month." She uncrosses her arms and looks at me with concern.

"Is he okay now?"

"Yes, he's doing fine—as feisty as ever."

She sighs in relief, "I'm glad he's okay now. I didn't know it was that bad." She reaches for my face and caresses my cheek.

"I came for you as soon as I could, but living four hours away from Pine Grove, I couldn't risk leaving him for that long in case something happened."

"Oh, Mike, I'm sorry I thought the worst of you. Will you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive. We have each now, and we have a lot of time to make up for." I pull her into my arms, loving how perfect she feels in them.

"Then I guess we'd better get started."

Our lips touch, and I feel like I'm finally home.

Epilogue-Erica

Five Years later

Opening two more piano bars in two different cities in the last three years has been nothing short of a miracle. Especially having twin toddlers underfoot—but I wouldn't change it for the world.

"What do you think of having a separate room with a piano for private parties for our next piano bar?" Once Mike decided to reach for his dream, he didn't look back.

"I think I love you, husband, and that's actually a really good idea. Who wouldn't want their own private piano, man? I know I enjoy mine."

"Oh, really, and how much do you love this piano, man?" He quirks an eyebrow at me, waiting for an answer.

"Let's just say I love my piano man so much. Joel and Billy are going to have a little brother or sister in about six and a half months."

"Are you serious?"

I nod, tears running down my face—damn pregnancy hormones.

"I love you, Erica." He kisses my lips and picks me up, spinning me around in the way he loves to do.

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