The Treble With Men (Scorned Women's Society #2) - Piper Sheldon Page 0,110
took all my power not to run to her and hold her. But I was transfixed. We all were. She played like she did that night at my house. Fully into the music. Chills broke out over my skin. She played with her whole being. This was who she was meant to be.
Every single piece I’d ever written floated seamlessly from one to the other, a medley of all my pieces, until finally, she played my solo that I’d written for her.
And when she played that, the whole audience and I sat transfixed, unable to tear our eyes away.
It was perfection. She was perfection.
I sat in stunned silence listening to the last piece we’d worked together on. She had made it her own. She had made it something more powerful and beautiful than I ever did.
That was when the rest of the symphony came out. Had she coordinated all this? They all took their places, chairs appearing out of nowhere, to play my composition. They played my symphony perfectly. When I looked back to Kim, she raised her eyebrows and nodded her head to the podium.
They wanted me to conduct? I slowly moved to center stage. My eyes blurred with emotion. I hesitated. Could they really want me back? After everything?
The sound came like rolling thunder. Those who could, stomped their feet. Their smiles nudged me forward.
We performed my piece as the symphony. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. It was the proudest moment of my career.
Backstage was madness after that performance. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I didn’t try. It came so naturally now. I couldn’t wait to see Kim, to know if she’d gotten my letter. To tell her everything. My heart was exploding with the need to talk to her.
The whole symphony was crammed into the small area, talking and congratulating each other. The cacophony of noise was overwhelming. Champagne flowed. But I couldn’t find Kim. Every time I spotted her, a new person came up to meet or congratulate me, and when I looked up again, she’d be gone. With every new person that wasn’t her, my blood pressure spiked.
“What a wonderful performance, Maestro,” Andrew held out his hand.
I glared at it. His face faltered before I grinned and took his hand in return. “Thank you,” I said. “The SOOK performed wonderfully.”
“They did. But your piece was simply astounding.” Richard shook my hand as well. “Christine was astounding.”
“That she was,” I agreed.
“We were thinking that maybe you could extend your stay with us? Maybe take on the fall/winter season?” Andy asked. They weren’t bad guys. They were just trying to keep the SOOK afloat.
My eyes met Kim’s across the room. She smiled at me, her cheeks flushed with joy.
“I would like that,” I said.
My parents walked up with Wes, Kelly, and the girls as Andrew and Richard moved on. My family gave me hugs and the girls hopped up and down excitedly, replaying my performance.
“Your hands move so fast on the piano,” Ellie said. She mimicked playing up and down the keys.
“That was fantastic, honey.” My mom kissed my cheek. “Did I just hear what I think I heard?”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “Yeah. I think I might stick around for a while.”
“Damn.” Wes shoved me. “Now I have to see your mug all the time.”
“Deal with it. I’m the favorite.” I shoved his shoulder back.
“Well, let’s not be hasty,” Mom said.
I faked a look of hurt. “Mom.”
“When you give me grandbabies, we’ll talk.”
Kim chose that moment to walk up. “Grandbabies?” she asked.
“Kim,” I said on a sigh. To my family I whispered, “Give me a minute alone and I’ll work on it.”
My mom’s eyes went wide, but she quickly corralled the rest of my family away.
Kim tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear and waited for us to be alone.
“Follow me.” I tugged her along the darkened corridors to the secret room. Once again, I thanked my previous self for the forethought.
The second the door was shut, Kim launched herself at me. Her arms were wrapped tight around my neck.
“I’m so sorry I left with him,” she whispered as she squeezed me tight.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I should have told you everything.” I pushed her back so I could hold her gaze, my thumbs ran over her cheeks. I’d missed her so damn much I was shaking. Looking at her again, holding her again, was a gift I would never take for granted.