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Chapter 23
Eyes closed. Head thrown back. Fingers moving deftly up and down the piano keys while totally lost in belting out a song. This was Alison’s happy place.
It helped her work out her feelings when she was lost in despair. But, like this morning, it was also her vehicle for celebration when every cell in her body tingled with excitement over some new development.
Wow. She couldn’t remember the last time that any happiness or satisfaction she’d felt hadn’t been strictly about a career development. This was new territory to her. She felt young again, like she was just starting out in life and relationships, discovering all these lovely butterflies and the incredible things they could do to her belly.
All morning, she couldn’t stop singing about love. All of the most heartfelt love songs that the stage had to offer, she’d belted them out one after another, lost in her emotions. Some were about longing. Some were about fulfillment. But all of them were, in one way or another, about love.
“So In Love” from Kiss Me, Kate.
“Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors.
“Something Wonderful” from The King and I.
“I Can Hear the Bells” from Hairspray.
It was the most like herself she’d felt since…
Well, damn. She couldn’t remember since when. That couldn’t be a great sign.
Even through her wispy haze of glee, there was an underlying nervousness. In fact, that was the other way that these feelings were reminiscent of her high school does-he-like-me-does-he-not kind of infatuations: the crushing uncertainty about what the future would hold.
Would she stay here or move back to New York?
Was this thing with Troy a fling or something more?
What did the future hold for her?
Yeah. She had plenty of questions floating around in her mind. She was pretty short on answers, though.
“Beautiful.”
She startled at the deep voice resonating through the living room and whirled around on the piano seat. “Oh my God, Troy! You’re lucky I wasn’t holding a mug!”
He came and sat down on the piano bench next to her. “True. Although I think holding a hot mug might’ve compromised your playing, so I was probably on pretty safe ground.”
She leaned up and kissed him. “Smartass.”
“Yep.”
“I was a little worried when I didn’t hear all that trademark banging and sawing this morning.”
“Really? I thought you’d be glad for the opportunity to catch up on your sleep after the workout I gave you the other night.”
She giggled. “True. But I was kind of afraid that the trial by fire, so to speak, had scared you off.”
He put a hand to his chest. “Never! Although, I do have to tell you that apparently we’re the talk of the town.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, yeah. Welcome to small town living. It’s more than just fun softball team camaraderie. There’s the highly developed intelligence community, as well.”
“Ha. Okay, consider me warned. Although, I don’t really mind if people find out about us. Even if it does cause a little gossip along the way. In fact, let them talk. I think we’re pretty interesting. If we can provide some entertainment, I say why not.”
“Wow. The consummate performer. Always ready to entertain, even if she has to burn the house down to do it.”
“You know it, buddy.”
