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She sat alone, in the dark, listening. The linoleum was cool to the tips of her toes. She had wandered the apartment aimlessly, waiting for Derek to call.

He stood alone in the alleyway, listening, in the dark, to the sounds of the traffic in the street, one block over. He hadn’t eaten all day and his head ached. He pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket, balancing it on one lip, and didn’t light it. The smell of the steaks on the grill in the club kitchen were making him nauseous. He should either go back inside to join the band or just throw up, one or the other. He thought about Joanna instead, and how much he loved her.

They had argued. Stupidly. About stupid things. He’d come on the phone talking to her about inane t…

She sat alone, in the dark, listening. The linoleum was cool to the tips of her toes. She had wandered the apartment aimlessly, waiting for Derek to call.

He stood alone in the alleyway, listening, in the dark, to the sounds of the traffic in the street, one block over. He hadn’t eaten all day and his head ached. He pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket, balancing it on one lip, and didn’t light it. The smell of the steaks on the grill in the club kitchen were making him nauseous. He should either go back inside to join the band or just throw up, one or the other. He thought about Joanna instead, and how much he loved her.

They had argued. Stupidly. About stupid things. He’d come on the phone talking to her about inane things. Work things. Things she played no part in. She had wanted to hear how much he had missed her, how much he WAS missing her, this first summer season apart. But he had gone on and on about the silly interview; how they’d gone on a photo shoot that day and someone had asked him for his autograph, thinking he’d been with the band.

She’d been sulky and withdrawn, listening to him having a good time. She missed him so. And told him so. And he’d gotten angry and told her not to put such a damper on his parade and all. And she’d hung up on him.

Ring. Ringringring.

She picked up the phone.

“Hi. It’s me. Your husband.”

“Hi. I know. It’s me too.”

“I miss you, babe. I’m so sorry. And stupid. And thoughtless. And my head aches. And I haven’t eaten all day. And I’m sorry.”

“That you haven’t eaten all day? I bet you’re feeling sick. Aren’t you? You usually get nauseous when you don’t eat. I worry when you don’t eat. I worry when you do. I worry.”

“—and I love you. And I’m listening. The guys can wait. How are you feeling? How are the kids? You wanna put them on the phone and I’ll talk to them?”

“Derek, it’s late. They’re all asleep. You should be asleep. But eat something first. Are you at the club? Have a steak. You love steak.”

“Yes, I know. At least when I’m not throwing up.”

“You’re throwing up?”

“Not right now. Not on the phone. I like this cellphone too much. Thought I’d keep it for a little while longer.”

“Haven’t thrown it against a wall yet, eh?”

Derek laughed. He’d done that once. Scared the shit out of her. Smashed beyond repair. So was Derek, at the time.

“No. Not tonight. Let me take you to bed with me. Would you like that? I’ll head back to the hotel. The boys won’t miss me.”

“You should really tell them.”

“Oh, hell with that. They’ll be fine.”

“All right, then. Let’s go to bed.”

Derek laughed. “Interesting things, these cellphones. I love you, Joanna. And I’m sorry to have upset you.”

“I love you too, Derek. What are we having to eat? You really should eat.”

“I need to lie down for a while. I’ll grab some bread and meat and cheese at the Quickie Mart and take it back to my suite. What would you like, my sweet?” She laughed.

“Ah, bananas and mustard.”

“Bananas and mustard. Oh god, now I really AM sick.” He laughed.

“Oh. Sorry, dear. Pregnant habits, you know. I’ll have some ice cream. You must buy some chocolate ice cream—Ben & Jerry’s, is preferable but I won’t hold you to it. And eat every bite.”

“While you talk.”

“Yes, while I talk. You’ve got it, buster. Let’s go. Hold me in your left hand. I like your left hand best when we talk on the phone.”

“How can you tell?”

“I will know you’re driving with your right. That’s much safer—don’t you think?”

Derek laughed. “God, you think of everything, don’t you? How could I go on without you?”

“Let’s not test that theory,” said Joanna getting up from the table, crossing the kitchen floor and taking the ice cream out of the fridge.

for Linda McCartney. Golden Earth Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-FrC5Q0Iko