Rita peered into the music room. Taylor was at the keyboard, his eyes closed and playing his heart out. He must have heard her come in because he opened his eyes and glanced towards the door.
“I haven’t heard you play in ages.”
Taylor shrugged. Rita sat next to him on the piano stool.
“Was that a new one? It sounded like it.”
“Yeah… I don’t know where it’s going though.”
Rita sighed.
“I remember when you guys were touring. You really loved that. I know I never really liked all the travelling, but you…you really thrived on those concerts.”
Taylor smiled.
“Well, music was my first love.”
Rita smiled for a brief moment.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, it’s just that… three months from now… we’re going to be forty.”
“So we are.”
“That’s all you have to say? ‘So we are’.”
“Well, we had to reach forty eventually. There is only thing that’s going to stop us from reaching forty and that’s called death.”
Rita managed a short laugh.
“It’s just that, well, are we doing what we want to do? Have we ever done what we wanted to do? I… I think you have. I know you never wanted Hanson to break up, but you knew you needed to. Have I done what I’ve wanted to do? I don’t think I’ve ever really known what I wanted to do.”
Taylor regarded his wife.
“Does my darling feel the years are passing her by without accomplishing anything?”
Rita smiled.
“I guess so.”
“Honey you have a wonderful husband,” he replied with a silly grin. “You’re raising some great kids into great adults. You, yourself, are the most amazing woman in the world…”
Rita giggled.
“Oh Taylor…” she sighed. “You… you can’t tell me you want to write romance novels under a pseudonym everyone assumes is a woman for the rest of your life.”
“I happen to like writing. I didn’t realised I’d have a… flair for romance novels though. Rita… what exactly is this all about?”
“But don’t you ever want to get back on the road? Record and perform music again? I know you do.”
“Of course I do,” Taylor put his arms around her. “Rita? What is it?”