Chapter 1 pg 1 - Drinking Love

Listen>>>

My friend Brandy has the medicine
Pain reliever that treats you right
They call my whiskey and wine by different names
But believe me, it's all the same tonight

Don't let my hopes go fading
Just to speak to her... man that is tough
And I drink her in with love
By closing time... is that enough?

Brandy told me about her heart break
She has a special place in my heart
A silver chain adorns her pretty blouse
Her story captured me from the start

It was a sailor who swept her off her feet
Told her story of stormy seas
It was plain to see he was larger than life
He made her go weak in the knees

Brandy drank him in with love
As the summer did pale
She could see her hopes were fading
As she watched his last sail

She's a vision so lovely and lonely
Could she be my mission, my only?

So once upon a broken-hearted time
Fair maiden braves the time a lone
She doesn't fear the ghosts of brutally slain hopes
But her loneliness chills her to the bone

Brandy drank him in with love
As the summer did pale
She could see her hopes were fading
As she watched his last sail

Now I can't tell you what I should do
Don't want to go opening up old wounds
But my love for her grows stronger by the hour
Should a grown man swoon?

Brandy drank him in with love
As the summer did pale
Now I can see my hopes are fading
As she watches his last sail

Chapter 1 pg 2 - Sam Starts To Fall

Listen>>>

Sam was a regular at the Paradise Bar. On occasion he had a friend or two with him. Occasionally he ordered wings. It was a home away from home.

Like so many others that came into the bar, he liked Brandy instantly. She had a way with her patrons... kept them laughing and feeling like her friends, without letting them get so close that they felt they could take liberties or feel the contempt that true familiarity breeds.

But Sam was somehow immune to that distancing. He found himself growing increasingly fascinated and intrigued with the beautiful bartender. He was indeed starting to fall for her. His best friend, Joe, had tried to give him some advice, saying, "Everyone falls in love with the beautiful bartender. Don't get caught in that trap. She's beautiful, fun, and brings you the drinks you want. Leave it at that. Don't be a fool."

But foolish is what Sam felt. He swirled the lonely ice cubes around in his tumbler and rubbed his forehead. Brandy noticed him, his body language, and his near empty glass. She approached his chair with a decanter of whiskey.

"It's a woman, right?" she said.

Sam, caught off guard, nodded and gave a slight smile.

"I can always tell," Brandy continued. "You look like you're falling through clouds without a parachute."

"Well..." he said, and chuckled, wanting very badly to tell her how he felt. But there was little hope, with him being 15 years her senior... and a customer.... awkward.

Yes, Brandy always listened to him... and not just with a distant friendly professionalism. She actually seemed to care. And there was this sad, lonely quality behind her smiles and constant teasing. Irresistable...

If only there were some way to make her feel safe enough to talk, just talk. They could get to know each other a bit better and she could decide... Hell, he might even realize he couldn't really fall for her. Stranger things have happened.

One way to find out...

Chapter 1 pg 3 - Home Away From Home

Listen>>>

The drinks you pour me go down so good!
I know it's just the same whiskey as always
Must be something in your touch
The way you flip a glass or toss in those cubes

I can see when you wink your wink as I drink my drink
We're just once glance away from breaking outta here
Would you take me home?
Can I take you home?

I can see by that fine silver chain
You must be used to things I can't provide you
But somehow I don't think that's what's missing though
I think we both need a shoulder tonight

I can see when you wink your wink as I drink my drink
We're just once glass away from breaking outta here
Can I take you home?
Would you take me home?

I can see when you wink your wink as I drink my drink
We're just once glass away from breaking outta here
Can I take you home?
Would you take me home away from home?

What am I thinking? You may not feel safe
I know a coffee shop. They never close
They happen to carry a fine Nigerian dark roast
We can just sit while you tell me your story

I can see when you wink your wink as I drink my drink
We're just once cup away from breaking through the ice
Can I take you home away from home?

Chapter 1 pg 4 - Brandy Takes A Chance

Listen>>>

Brandy took Sam's offer seriously, which was unusual for her. She had tended bar long enough to see how often patrons fall in mad lust with an attractive bartender. She'd learned many disarming ways to say "no", based on personality and level of intoxication of her would be suitors.

But this guy, Sam, was a little different. He seemed so sincere, and as far as she could tell, he really wasn't quite drunk yet. Besides, he seemed a bit older, like he'd be mature enough to be a gentleman with her.

A coffee shop, huh... what could it hurt? It's a public place and they could drive separately. And it would be nice to be listened to for a change.

"So," she asked herself. "Why am I hesitating?"

She fingered the silver chain she was wearing and remembered, with a torrent of emotions, what had happened last time she let her guard down. But in that swirl of emotions, the one emotion that kept rising to the top this night was... defiance!

Brandy had come to the realization that she was a prisoner to her heart break. She knew too, that she would never be free again until she risked pain once more. All of her self-protection was really no protection at all. It was only keeping the wound hidden in darkness, never to heal.

"Sure, Sam, I'll go," Brandy said.

Sam smiled back and watched as she walked away towards the back room. As she did so, she unclasped her fine silver chain and put it in her pocket.

Chapter 1 Pg 5 - Known You Forever

Listen>>>

This is the place that I told you about... mmm hmm...
Ain't this decor cool?
They've got the best baristas here... mmm hmm...
They don't write anything down.

So what are your dreams?
Have you got any big plans?
Too early to ask you now,
But I feel like I've know you forever.

I once had a mug. It was just like that... mmm hmm...
Shiny steel and black...
I think I'll have a biscotti too... mmm hmm...
I like the way you think.

So what are your dreams?
Have you got any big plans?
Too early to ask you now,
But I feel like I've know you forever.

I tell you it's so good to be here.
I'm high just to look in your eyes.
I've waited so long...
For that smile now... yes now!

So what are your dreams?
Have you got any big plans?
Too early to ask you now,
But I feel like I've know you forever.

So this is the place that I told you about... mmm hmm...
I hope you feel safe here.
Sit back and relax and have a sip... mmm hmm...
Let's release our fear.

So what are your dreams?
Have you got any big plans?
Too early to ask you now,
But I feel like I've know you forever... forever... ever.

Chapter 1 Pg 6 - Getting Things Wrong

Listen>>>

Brandy indeed felt quite at ease with Sam. She surprised them both with how open she was about her dreams and plans. But she never responded when Sam commented on feeling like he'd known her forever. She had just smiled politely and sipped her coffee.

Sensing he had gone too far, Sam pulled back into smaller talk. But Brandy had been feeling something similar, almost a sense of destiny.

"This is crazy!" she told herself as she tossed in bed that night, unable to sleep. "You don't have destiny with this guy. It was one date. Sure, there was a connection, but it was one date."

After work, Sam faced a dilemma. Not much of a dilemma in that there was only ever going to be one choice. The obvious question was whether to make his usual stop at the paradise bar. He knew Brandy would be working tonight. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable if she'd felt bad about their date. On the other hand, he really couldn't stay away either for fear of her thinking the date went badly for him.

So, of course, he went.

Claiming his usual seat at the bar, he scanned the room for Brandy. She didn't seem to be there. Brandy's friend, Marla, came to take his order.

"G and T please... Brandy here tonight?" he asked.

"Yeah... she's on a break. She'll be back soon." Marla's smile was forced. Something was not right.

Minutes later, Brandy came back into the bar, smiling, followed closely by a tall, tan, handsome man. She saw Sam and quickly looked away.

"Damn," Sam said, "I always get these things wrong."

Chapter 1 Pg 7 - Darkening Moon

Listen>>>

Darkened moon gives way for the day
It gives up it's life
And it pulls you back to the real world
Whether or not you fit there

The fullness of sadness
And longing to hold
Darkened moon should know

I'm just like him
When the clouds are rolling in
Given now to contemplating endings

It's the fever of the countdown
And the seconds til it's done
It's the foolish way you feel
When you see she's not the one

So you tried to get high
But they slapped you from the sky
You thought it was true
But now you don't know what to do

You tried it, tried to fight it
But the feeling kept on strong
Have you ever tried just not breathing?
You can't hold back for long

A Darkened moon gives way for the day
It gives up it's life

Chapter 2 Pg 1 - Second Second Thoughts

Brandy had indeed, avoided looking at Sam on purpose. She was simultaneously deeply torn and deeply ashamed.

She was torn because for years her heart had been hoping for the return of the sailor while her head had been trying to convince her that was an impossibility. Yet, yet, yet... there he was - Mark Bertrand walking back into the bar, looking as handsome as he always had, with that charming and disarming smile. What was she to do? This was the same man who had broken her heart in favor of his career and yet she had never been able to let him go. And to complicate matters, there was that connection she felt with Sam after only one date. Torn heart, torn head.

And there was the source of her shame. Brandy couldn't bear to look Sam in the eye, because she realized he must have felt that connection as well. Besides that, he had been a regular at the bar for many months and had seen her turn down so many offers. How could he have come to any other conclusion than that he was being seen as special somehow. Yet, the very next day, there she was with someone else. She just couldn't think about that now.

Mark had asked her to step outside where he could talk to her in private. Brandy's friend, Marla, had given her a look that said "Go ahead, but be careful". Brandy had nodded her comprehension of the warning and then allowed herself to be escorted out the side door for their reunion chat.

Mark said all the right things. He talked about how he had made the biggest mistake of his life and that all he wanted, but didn't expect, was just to have a chance to take her to dinner and talk things over. He talked about how he had re-evaluated things and had gotten his priorities straight. He talked about wanting love and family - Brandy's love in particular.

Brandy wrestled with the competing urges to slap him or to kiss him passionately. She chose, however, simply to say "yes" to a dinner with him. She really had to believe she was strong enough now and wise enough to make a good choice for herself. She was prepared to break his heart and let go of her dreams if need be. And she was prepared as well, to enter that door again, eyes open this time, knowing what can happen.

She wasn't prepared to deal with this new wrinkle, called Sam...