Page 20 of Passion’s Song

“And I told you that I don’t give a damn what you say, not when it comes to this.”

“You forgetting who the oldest is?” his brother asked.

“We’re going by tallest on this one. That new chair can elevate you to a standing position, so if you had it, you’d win the argument. But since you don’t, I win. The sales rep comes on Thursday. I’ll try to get here before he does.”

“Still a little pain in the ass,” Kurt said.

“It’s in the ‘baby of the family’ job description.”

Kurt laughed. “Thanks for lunch.”

“Always.” Damien leaned over and gave him a hug. “Same time, same meal next week.”

* * *

“Ugh, I hate this part. I always mess up on it.”

April rounded the music stand and stood next to Linsey Turner, who was currently staring at the cello in her hands as though she wanted to heave the huge instrument across the room. Which was why April quickly interceded. Instruments were hard to come by for A Fresh Start, so April did everything she could to preserve the few they had.

“Don’t get frustrated,” she told the teen. “It’ll only cause you to lose your concentration. You know this piece. You don’t need this.” She moved the music stand out of the way. “Now, close your eyes and concentrate on the notes. Remember what I said before—allow yourself to feel the music. Now start from the top.”

April studied the teen’s face as her eyelids fell closed and she gently drew the bow across the taut strings. She could see Linsey tense as she came upon the second measure.

“Relax,” April encouraged. “Don’t rush it.”

The fingers that gently plucked the strings eased, and the harmonious notes of Bach’s Second Concerto drifted through the room. A huge smile drew across April’s lips.

“There you go,” she said. “Perfect.”

“Not perfect,” Linsey said, “but close. You’d better watch out. I’m coming for your job.”

“You just try, Ms. Smarty-Pants,” April said with a laugh. “I can always use an assistant. Keep playing like this and I’ll make you one.”

“Promise?”

“Maybe,” April said, warming to the idea. “I’ve been thinking about adding a beginner’s course for the younger kids. If you keep it up, I think you may get to a level where you can teach them the basics.”

“Really?” Linsey’s eyes grew wide. “That would be awesome.”

The mixture of excitement and awe in the young girl’s face pretty much sealed the deal for April. It had taken her a while to get Linsey to open up to her. Even though the kids here appreciated them—they wouldn’t attend A Fresh Start if they didn’t—a lot of them still looked at the adults as big, bad authority figures who should be avoided at all cost. Breaking through that barrier wasn’t always easy, but April refused to give up the fight.

“I need to get home,” Linsey said as she packed up her backpack. “I told my mom I’d cook dinner tonight so she could go wedding dress shopping with my aunt Theresa.” The fourteen-year-old rolled her eyes.

“What’s with the look?” April asked.

“The wedding will probably be off by next week,” Linsey said. “This is the third time they’ve gone wedding dress shopping this year. Aunt Theresa always gets cold feet.”

Linsey waved as she exited the room. April picked up scattered pages of sheet music, her spirits light as she remembered how well her pupils had performed today. None were as talented as Linsey—the girl had a special gift when it came to picking up musical notes—but, as a whole, her most advanced class was an extremely special group. She’d taken a set of kids who had no interest whatsoever in classical music and turned them into a bunch of budding protégés. It wasn’t all that strange to hear someone humming Vivaldi or Beethoven down the halls of A Fresh Start. That was something she could be proud of.

This was her second year with this particular group of students. They were a little rusty, but not much. April had been thrilled to learn that some of them had met throughout the school year, using instruments they’d purchased at a thrift store, and practicing so that they could keep up their skills. How much more amazing would they be if A Fresh Start became a year-round program?

“It’s going to happen,” April said. “You’re going to make this happen.”

April felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a text message from Damien.

I’ll be there to pick you up at 7 p.m. Remember to wear blue.

A nauseating mixture of anxiety and anticipation swirled around in her stomach, making her queasy. There was still time to get out of this. Sure, she and Damien had gone out for dinner before, but that was as friends. Other than the pity date he’d treated her to for their senior prom, this would be her first time going out with him on an actual date.