As Johnny prepares to play another set at the House of Blue Lights, he plugs in his amp and tunes his guitar-and then he sees her. Tall, blonde, and sexy, the mystery woman turns heads as she walks in and finds a seat at the bar. Right then and there, Johnny decides he will do whatever it takes to make her his. He saunters over to the bar and strikes up a conversation with Allison Miller, quickly realizing she is one-of-a-kind. Smart, gorgeous, and quick-witted, Allison is everything he has ever wanted in a woman-and more. Despite recently enduring a bad breakup and swearing off men forever, Allison agrees to go out for coffee with Johnny, igniting a passionate relationship that leaves them inseparable, madly in love, and immune to the rest of the world. Fate makes a surprise appearance several months later in the form of a pregnancy, and the couple decides to get married. In this compelling tale, two unsuspecting young lovers have no idea that an unspeakable tragedy is about to strike, rending the delicate fabric of their family and causing an upheaval that may tear them apart forever.

SON IN THE SKY

By Libby Layfield

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Libby Layfield
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-5105-9

Contents

Acknowledgments.....................................viiMusic Connection....................................xiPrologue............................................xiiiChapter 1. By Your Side.............................1Chapter 2. One More Day.............................54Chapter 3. I Can See Everything.....................118Chapter 4. Remember Me..............................158Chapter 5. Breakdown................................187Chapter 6. On Top Of The World......................223Chapter 7. Fear To Fall.............................251Chapter 8. The Way We Were..........................277Chapter 9. Son In The Sky...........................310Chapter 10. Opened Up...............................344Chapter 11. Heaven To Me............................379

Chapter One

BY YOUR SIDE

Three years ago

Johnny finished plugging in the last of the wires and looked around satisfied. He was playing in a local bar and there was a good crowd already. He had a pretty good reputation; he even had a few groupies. He loved singing, performing, and feeling the energy of the audience. He just wished it paid more. Some day, he thought for the millionth time. Right now he was playing cover songs of famous bands, but he was starting to write his own songs. He still dreamed of fame and stardom. Johnny looked up and saw his sister, Julie, coming through the door. He smiled and waved to her. He loved it when she joined him. Their voices blended as easily as coffee and cream. Soon, Johnny was doing the one thing he liked more than any other: performing.

As he looked around the room, Johnny smiled. The crowd was into the music; most conversations had quieted down, and a couple was dancing. He estimated the ticket sales had to be close to eighty, not bad for a Thursday night. This bar attracted the local suburbanites as well as the occasional cowboy or trucker passing through. He liked playing at the "House of Blue Lights." If he could describe it in one word, he'd say it was comfortable. Warm colors, rich woods, and well-padded chairs filled the room. A big stone fireplace occupied one wall and TVs were scattered around the room and at the bar that jutted out from the back wall. Best of all, the lighting was perfect, never too bright or too dark. The place got its name because every window had one of those plastic candles with a blue bulb in it. Yeah, singing here was easy. He ended the song and the crowd applauded. Johnny thanked them and introduced the next song.

Just as he was starting the song, he noticed a woman coming in. He hadn't seen her before. She was striking: long blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes he'd ever seen. He almost forgot the words to the song. He had to stop looking at her, but found that he couldn't. His eyes followed her as she wound her way to the bar. She didn't look like she was meeting someone. Johnny thought I definitely have to check her out on break. They played four more songs and then, finally, Johnny was able to head to the bar to see what he could find out about this mystery woman.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Julie asked.

"Never you mind, little sis. I'm on a mission," Johnny replied over his shoulder as he walked away.

As he approached the bar, Johnny purposely avoided the woman and went to the bar tender.

"Hey, Jake, come here. What can you tell me about the blonde over there?"

Jake glanced down the bar and back at Johnny.

"Out of your league, dude, out of your league."

"Come on, man; I'm not bad. She's alone right?" Johnny asked. Jake looked at his friend. Johnny was a good looking guy, but he wasn't drop-dead gorgeous like this chick. The fact that he was a personal trainer helped keep him in great condition.

"You're serious. Good luck with that, pal," Jake said. "I gotta get back to work." Johnny looked in the mirror behind the bar and at the woman down the bar. There was something about her. He figured You only live once. He walked down the bar toward his future.

He approached her nervously and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Johnny. How do you like the music?"

"It's okay," she said almost impudently. She was even prettier up close. Hers was a natural beauty; he didn't even think she had on make-up. I bet she is just as lovely to look at first thing in the morning as she is right here. He wondered where that thought came from.

"So, the music's just okay, huh?" Johnny asked her.

"I could maybe go to `pretty good' if the price is right," she said as she raised one eye brow. Johnny was intrigued by her wit.

"What's your name?"

She hesitated a moment, wondering the wisdom of pursuing this. He is definitely attractive, though. He had thick wavy black hair and well-chiseled features. She could tell he worked out; he had nice 'guns'. He was a few inches taller than her and nicely dressed.

"Allison Miller." She offered him her hand. Electricity shot through him as he took it. She felt it as well. Neither knew what to say. Julie broke the awkward moment, reminding him it was time for the next set.

He turned back to Allison.

"Duty calls. Will you be here a while?" Johnny asked sheepishly. She grinned at him. "Depends on the music," she said. He smiled and told her he'd see her at the next break.

The next two sets went well. Johnny continued his banter with Allison during his breaks. He'd never met a woman like her. She was smart, funny, and quick-witted. She gave as good as she got. All that wrapped in one of the nicest packages he'd seen in a long time. He guessed it was now or never.

"Would you like to get some coffee somewhere?"

She hesitated, again questioning her decision. She hadn't been this attracted to someone, this quickly, in a long time. She heard herself saying, "Sure," and thought "What the hell?" She had recently gone through a bad break-up and had sworn off men. And here she was agreeing to go out with a virtual stranger. At midnight. When she had to work in the morning. I must be crazy, she thought, but knew she was going anyway.

"I need a few minutes to get my stuff together," he was saying. "Just wait here."

"Okay, but you'd better hurry." She smiled at him as he left.

They ended up going to the IHOP because it was open all-night. They each ordered coffee—hers with cream and sugar, his black. They were nervous at first, unsure of themselves and each other. But within minutes, conversation flowed easily. She found out that he was a personal trainer during the day. He was twenty-two and hoped to make a living playing music. He shared an apartment with a friend, no pets. He drove a Dodge Caliber; sensible, with room in the back for his equipment. She drove a flashy black Spyder convertible. It was an older model, but it looked and ran great. Johnny learned that Allison had just turned twenty-one, worked as a receptionist at a local dentist office, and still lived at home with her parents. Neither had liked school much, so they didn't consider going to college. They had similar views on religion and politics. Before they knew it, the sun was coming up.

"Oh my god! What time is it? I've got to get home," Allison whined.

"Relax," Johnny said patting her hand. "We'll get you out of here."

He signaled to the waitress. After paying for food he'd forgotten he'd eaten, they walked reluctantly to the parking lot. He took her to her car, wrapped his hands around her face, and bent to kiss...