Bitter Farewell Read Online Free

sunglasses from his shirt and put them on. “Look sad and cool.”
    “Sad and cool,” Danny laughed. “Now you look like we did ten years ago. Rough and tough guys breaking onto the scene.”
    “You realize this is the first time in how long we don’t have Peter on our tail with us?” Johnnie asked.
    “Hey, that’s true,” Rick said.
    He sat up and took the sunglasses off. He had that wild look in his eyes, the Rick look that ended up in big trouble. More than a few times, Peter had to step in and keep Rick and some of the band (if not all) from going to jail back in the day, when life, drinks, women, and indulgences seemed endless.
    “There’s not much in Bakersville,” Johnnie said.
    “I’m sure we could find trouble,” Rick said.
    “Not the occasion,” Danny said.
    “I know, man, I know.”
    Rick leaned back and put the sunglasses back on. A few minutes later his head turned and he was asleep.
    “I’m glad we didn’t bring security,” Danny said. “No need for a scene.”
    “I hope everyone is respectful,” Johnnie said. “It’s been a few years since we’ve been here...”
    “A few years,” Danny whispered.
    He turned in his seat and stared out to the clouds. He saw patches of land below, some richly colored green, some tan. It was land, land, land. Danny looked out as far as he could see, thinking about too much at once. He desperately wanted to find and hold onto a good memory of his father. There was a time when Danny wondered if his father was even his father. But he knew better. His mother wasn’t that kind of woman. She stood by her man year and year, through his drinking, through his abuse, and through every hard time that had been thrown at their family. Danny always wished she would leave him, but she hung on, right up until cancer took her. The only reason Danny got through her death was knowing that his mother was now free.
    He looked at the clouds and hoped wherever his mother was, it was something like the beautiful scene before his eyes.
    The flight began to feel like a trip through time. Danny’s mind moved through the motions, over and over, remembering the good times, the bad times, and everything else in his life. Right up to the point when he got into a beat up car and told himself if it started, he was gone.
    It didn’t start on the first try.
    Or the second.
    Or even the third.
    But on the fourth try, the car came to life and Danny peeled away. He kicked up dirt and dust, blanketing the view in his mirror, which was good then, but heart wrenching now. He knew she was standing behind that cloud of rock and dust, wishing he wouldn’t go. And he had promised he’d write, call, come back, whatever it took to get her to just let him go.
    He had to go.
    She knew that.
    It was supposed to be easy and free, their dreams coming to life.
    “We’re landing,” Johnnie announced.
    A second later, the pilot did the same.
    Danny’s thoughts became a jumbled mess.
    High in the air, he could manage it all. Nobody could get to him.
    As the pressure in the private cabin began to change, Danny gripped the arms of his seat. He gritted his teeth and felt his heart spinning in a way he never felt before.
    It wasn’t just about the death of his father then. It was about stepping off that private jet and stepping into the present with some of a past that was still fresh in his heart and memory.
    The private jet had a smooth landing and the five guys stood up, ready to face Bakersville. Danny knew three out of the five didn’t have the feelings he and Johnnie did. And looking at Johnnie, he wasn’t sure if Johnnie shared the exact same feelings either.
    Danny grabbed a bag for each hand and two guitars.
    Of course the band couldn’t travel without instruments. There was never a better time than the moments in front of them to write, play, and enjoy what they loved the most. It was actually Davey who suggested they all bring a guitar or two, just in case they decided to play a little