AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"There's a back gate on the other side of the cemetery that leads to Washington Street. That's where my friend was supposed to enter."
"Lead the way," I said.
We ran around the back of the mausoleum, moving deeper into the cemetery. I thought we might be able to get away. Then I heard a shout behind us. The beam of a flashlight lit me up.
Fear drove me to run even faster, but as we dove into the shadows, it was hard to see where we were going. I stumbled, hitting my knees on a protruding gravestone that tumbled me to the ground. I scrambled back to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my leg, as I prayed for a way out.
A gunshot rang out, the blast instinctively making me duck my head. Swearing, I ran faster, flying over the ground, desperate to get back to my life. "I'm not dying tonight," I swore. "Not here. Not now."
A flash of lightning and an earth-shaking roar of thunder followed my words, the skies opening up with torrential, windy rain. Maybe the storm would provide the cover we needed to escape.
I had to survive this night. I had to get home. I had to…
CHAPTERONE
Carmel,California
The biggest call of my life came at three o'clock on a Thursday afternoon in the middle of September. I'd been working at my sister's clothing boutique in downtown Carmel when Ray Price's name flashed across my phone screen. I couldn't take the call in the shop, so I'd jumped into my car and driven a half-mile to the beach where I'd parked along the coastal trail and called him back.
"You're in," Ray said, his voice filled with excitement. "The Pacific Coast Orchestra wants to hire you as a second chair violin for our upcoming European tour. It's the chance of a lifetime, Brynn. We'll be touring for eight weeks starting in November and ending just after the New Year. You'll get to play in eight major cities, ending in Paris."
My heart pounded hard against my chest. "Are you sure? I can't quite believe it's real."
"That's because you've never really believed in how good you are."
"You've always been one of my biggest supporters," I said gratefully. I'd met Ray nine years ago in a music class at UCLA. Ray also played the violin, and we'd become instant best friends. But while we'd started out on the same path, mine had diverged after college, when I'd given up my goal of playing in a world-renowned orchestra and decided to run a clothing boutique with my sister. That goal had seemed far more practical and attainable than the other.
While I'd played for community orchestras on the side and earned extra cash giving lessons, I'd thought it was too late to go back to that childhood dream of mine. But then, last week, Ray had asked me to audition for a last-minute opening with his orchestra, and I'd given it a shot, thinking the odds were very much against me.
"Rehearsals won't start until the first of October," Ray continued. "But they'll need your answer by Monday. Not that I think you need that long to decide. You can't turn this down."
"I don't want to turn it down, but I need to talk to my sister," I said, dreading that conversation.
"I'm sure Dani will be thrilled for you."
"I'm not sure about that," I replied. I was going to bail on our business and that would not make Dani happy. Although it wasn't reallyourbusiness; it was Dani's store. But I'd been by her side since she'd first opened the clothing shop four years ago. I'd helped her grow the business and managed the store when she'd gone through difficult personal trials.
"Why wouldn't she be happy for you?" Ray questioned. "You have a gift, Brynn, and you're not using it. Your sister can find someone else to help her run the store. She'll want you to take this job. Just say yes."
"I'll call you back as soon as I talk to Dani, but since they are giving me until Monday, I'm going to take the weekend to get things organized here."
"All right. Congratulations, Brynn."
"Thanks, Ray. I know you put in a good word for me."
"I just told them the truth. You're one of the best violinists I've ever had the pleasure to play with."
"Right back at you. I'll call you soon."
As I set down the phone, I looked out the window at the crashing white-capped waves of the Pacific Ocean. There was a storm blowing in, and I felt like the sea echoed the turbulent emotions running through me. I liked my life best when everything was relaxed, on an even keel. I didn't like highs because they were usually followed by painful lows. Today was one of those days that seemed too good to be true.
But it was true. I had an offer to play with an incredible orchestra touring across Europe. It was an unbelievable opportunity. I wanted to believe that my sister would be happy for me. We'd always been there for each other, but the last several years had been more about me being there for her.
I'd moved to Carmel with her after college, when her very serious boyfriend had popped the question right after graduation. Steve had just finished law school and was about to join his parents' firm in Carmel. Dani hadn't wanted to move there without me. So, I'd gone to help her get settled and plan her wedding. It wasn't supposed to be forever. But after the wedding, she'd wanted to open the boutique, and she needed my help again. Then had come her issues with pregnancy, miscarriage, and sadness. My sister had needed me, and I couldn't say no to her, because when I'd needed her, she'd been there.
It had been the two of us against the world since my mother had died when we were seven. Our dad had been around, but his grief had taken him away from us, mentally and emotionally. He hadn’t come out of that grief until he'd remarried, and then it was all about his second wife, Vicky.
But even without the attention of my father and stepmother, I'd always had Dani. Born twenty-two minutes before me, Dani had taken on the role of big sister from the minute she was born. She'd been the bossy one, constantly looking ahead, making sure I wasn't breaking any rules and acting like my second mother. I'd needed her to fill that role. I owed her a lot and leaving now would hurt her. Not just because she'd need to hire someone at the shop, but because after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, she was now four months pregnant, and the last thing she needed was stress in her life. It wasn't the best time to leave.
