Page 142 of Hidden Ties

“You’re welcome.” Gail’s expression lightened. “What type of music do you like to play?”

For the rest of dinner, they discussed their appreciation of the classics. Gail’s love of music mirrored her own so much so that Sage was sad when dinner ended, bringing their discussion to an end.

After dinner, they returned to the living room.

“Do you mind if I go save Desmond?” Kent whispered in her ear.

“Not at all. I’ll go talk to Haley.”

“We should be able to leave in twenty minutes.”

“Take your time. No hurry.”

He left before she could tell him that she had told Gail she would play for her.

When she checked her cell phone to make sure Glory hadn’t called, she was relieved she hadn’t. Taking a seat next to Haley, she refused an offer of another drink by a passing caterer.

“You seemed to be getting along with Gail during dinner,” Haley remarked once she sat down.

“I did. Kent told me you run a charity for homeless teens. I work two jobs, but if there is anything I can to do help, I would be willing to do what I can.”

Haley smiled. “You’re going to wish you hadn’t offered. We’re always in need of help with something.”

“I’ll give you my number and email. Just send me a list of things you need, and if I can help, I will.”

They exchanged numbers, and Haley told her not to expect an email until Monday.

“I promised him the weekends are just for family time.”

“You have children?”

“Yes,” Haley patted her stomach. “We also have another on the way. I found out last week.”

Sage was congratulating her when Gail’s voice rose above the chatter in the room. “Everyone, please find a place to sit. I managed to talk Sage into playing for us tonight.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks as everyone turned to stare at her.

Catching the surprised look on Haley’s face, she rose from the couch and made her way to the piano. She sat down on the bench, her hand lovingly smoothing the beautiful wood.

Listening to the noise in the room die down, she placed her fingers on the keys. She didn’t think it was her wisest move to play so soon after just getting the support bandage off yesterday, but there was no way she could resist playing the beautiful instrument.

When she had seen the majestic piano in the formal living room, she had ached to touch it. It was meant to grace a stage with an orchestra as a backdrop, not be a conversation piece to showcase the wealth of someone who could purchase it to never show off the potential it was capable of.

Sitting straight on the edge of the bench, she let the piano tell her which piece of music it wanted her to play. She stared at the piano keys as she mentally stepped into another world, where there was a shadowy lover who had been waiting for her return.

As if from a far off into the distance, she heard Gail say, “I keep music in the bench of the seat.”

Not acknowledging that she had spoken, Sage lifted her hands to the piano keys.

Show her what you’re capable of.A shadowy voice came from out of her imagination, giving a voice to the piano.

No. I’m going to show her what you’re capable of, she answered back.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Her fingers started pressing down on the keys. The piano deserved to be admired by hundreds of people. She started playing Rachmaninoff’sConcerto No. 2. She had practiced it so many times it was committed to memory.

In her mind, she could hear the soft strains of an orchestra playing as her fingers moved over the keys.