Jason endured a plethora of teasing and taunts from his bandmates over the violin incident and though I was thoroughly embarrassed, I let him handle it. He simply joked back and said his new heart came with new skills. He's not wrong. He only knew how to play the guitar before I came along. I play the violin, cello and piano. All very well I might add. Oh, and I dance but somehow, I can't imagine Jason doing a pirouette.
'Not gonna happen.' He grumbled to me before asking his producer if they wanted to record his violin rendition of 'Oh Come Emmanuel' on the Christmas album. "It could be a bonus track without mentioning who played it."
"What other 'skills' did you pick up after your surgery? Do you play any other instruments? Have new songs written in your head now?" Steve, the rather portly middle-aged manager queried using as much sarcasm as one might expect from the teasing that had been going on since we got here.
'Shall we?' he asked inwardly. I could feel his devilish grin form across his face.
'Of course.' I thought. 'Piano. We can play the Hallelujah song.'
'Wow. You know that song?'
'Of course, I know that song. What self-respecting musician doesn't know that song?'
'My bad. Do you know the words to it?'
'You don't?'
'Not really.' He walked over to the piano and sat down. Glancing at his bandmates, he said, "Feel free to join in anytime."
By the third bar, the bandmates stood slack-jawed at Jason. One by one they joined in the song without knowing the sound room had begun recording the moment Jason sat down. What I failed to mention, was that I didn't actually know the words to the original song. I did, however, know the lyrics to the Christian Christmas version, so that is what I sang through Jason's voice while I used his fingers to play the piano.
It's beyond strange to hear his voice when I'm the one singing, but I liked it. He has a great voice. It's much better than mine. Softer and less strained. I can tell he's a natural talent that was meant to be heard. This man has been my musical idol for so many years so being able to be inside him as he works... is indescribable. There are no words for my emotions. 'Hallelujah'. This experience along was worth dying for. 'Hallelujah'. But I miss my dad so much. I wish I could see him at least once more. 'Hallelujah. If only to say goodbye. 'Halleluuuuu... jah.'
The applause of the crew broke me out of my thoughts. I hadn't realized the players had stopped their instruments. The last few hallelujahs were acapella. I quickly wiped the lone tear from my cheek before retreating to Jason regain his control. 'Sorry,' I quickly apologized. My thoughts ran away with me again.'
'No worries.' He comforted. 'You did great.'
"That was awesome!" Luke cried.
"Will wonders never cease?" Logan, the drummer asked with awe written in his expression.
"That's a take!" exclaimed Steve over the microphone from the sound booth. "That was amazing!"
The bassist, Jenifer added with a chuckle. "That was awesome, Jason. I think I'm jealous now. Where can I find such a heart?"
*
Sarah finished with her phone to her uncle and sent a message to hacker friend with his instructions. She only had to wait for the results.
In the meantime, she had an appointment with her OB doctor to check the progress of her pregnancy. She had always had issues with her reproduction system which why her and Jason hadn't had children yet. In short, her body didn't produce viable eggs, thus they had to go with an egg donor in order for her to give birth to children. The child she was now carrying was the product of her husband and an anonymous woman.
The fact that her husband now had the heart of an 'anonymous' donor, that appears to be that of a missing girl, made her wonder if the egg donor for her child was from a similar situation. 'Women donate their eggs all the time, right? For money or whatever.' Sarah would have never even considered the thought of eggs being donated from a cadaver or by force if it hadn't been for Jason claiming to have his heart donor in his mind. The thought made her shudder. 'I wonder if there's a way to know who the egg donor was. Wait. Of course, there is. Silly girl.' She lightly scolded herself. She sent a voice message to her hacker friend to do some digging.
The doctor performed a routine examination, declaring all was well and progressing as it should. An ultrasound was done to verify the health and size of the fetus. Sarah her eyebrows up when the technician said, "Oh!" Oh? What, oh? ""Lookie here," She added. "You have another little one hiding behind the first."
"A-another one?" she stammered.
"Yes," the tech replied. "Multiples are common in IVF patients. But I only see two."
"Two." Sarah sighed. The doctor had explained that having multiples were a strong possibility since they plant several fertilized eggs in at a time to raise the likelihood of pregnancy success. She could handle two. Three was even doable if need be. Any more than that and the doctor would try to get her to reduce the number though selective abortion. That wasn't a viable option for her, so she had prayed earnestly that more than twins wouldn't happen. There was no way she could kill a child she had been so desperately trying have for more than a decade. She could hope God would keep the number of babies down to a manageable level. Apparently, God had granted her petition because she had twins.
With a smile on her face, she sent a screenshot of the ultrasound to Jason with the caption. "Double blessing!"
Jason opened the text after he and the band were done recording. Luke was looking over his shoulder when the picture of the ultrasound popped up. 'Awww. Twins!' I squealed in joy. The felt a big slap on my back.
"Way to go, Stud Muffin!" Luke clipped.
"Stud Muffin? What stud muffin? Who's a stud muffin? I though I was the stud muffin? Who dare take my title?" Logan rambled as he came to see what the fuss was about. He looked at the picture with a confused expression until he read the caption. "Double blessing? What the..." His eyes widen with realization. "Oh, my gawd. You got a double shot?! I take that back, you can be the stud muffin. I concede my title to you, my double barrel shotgun, friend."
"You are such a dork, Logan." Jenifer complained. "Congrats, Jason."
"Am not." Logan whined.
"You're just sore because you can't shoot at all." She bit back with a punch his arm.
"Oh, yeah? Come over to my place later and I'll show just how well I can shoot."
She glanced over at him with devilish eyes. "Sorry. I'm not into BB guns." She stalked off before he refute her words.
Luke guffawed at his friends' playing and patted Logan on the back. "Don't pay her no never mind. You she likes you."
Logan jerked his shoulder away and grumbled. "BB gun, my arse. I'll have her begging for mercy beneath me. You just wait."
"Mercy? For what? Tickling her?" Jason laughed.
"Shut up, Shrimp Shit. What do you know? As short as you are."
"What are you insinuating? Where do think all that extra height went, Logan?" Jason responded with a smirk. "Besides, I like having a tall wife. I don't have to bend very far to please her."
'Um, I don't think I should be hearing this kind of talk.' If I could, I would have left by now.
"I don't think you have bend at all." Luke interjected. "I mean you stand pretty much lip level to her boobs."
'OH, MY GAWD!!' STOP! My virgin ears!!'
Jason giggled through a toothy grin. "Yep. That reminds me. I need to get home and warm up my nose. See ya." He waved as he left.
"Warm up your nose? It's July!!" Logan called after him.
'The guys at school don't even talk like that!' I complained.
'Yes, they do. Trust me. All guys talk like that.'
'Well, I never heard it.'
'You're not a guy.'
'Neither is Jenifer.' I argued.
'She's different. She's one of us.'
'Is she and Logan...?'
'Yes. They've been married for eight years now.'
'Married?! And they talk like that to each other? I don't get it.'
'You don't have to. It works for them.'