Page 143 of Hidden Ties

She hadn’t touched a piano in years after leaving Julliard. It had been too painful leaving her dreams behind. Even when she had been forced to sell her own piano, she hadn’t been able to play to say goodbye. She had to lock that part of herself away and would have continued to do so if Kent hadn’t brought her to the dinner party.

The majestic piano sitting to the side of the room being ignored as if it didn’t exist cut her to her soul. It didn’t belong there any more than she belonged in a file room, yet both of them were there. Neither of them fulfilling what they had been created for—to make music.

She had gotten her love of music from her mother, who would turn on classical music to lull her to sleep. When she entered kindergarten, the music teacher would have to pry her away from the piano in music room.

After her mother had received negative feedback on her progress report, she had gone to school to talk to the music teacher. When the teacher saw how upset her mother was at my behavior, she offered to stay after school and teach her how to play.

By the time she was in second grade, the music teacher had told her mother that she needed someone more accomplished at playing than she was. Her parents had found a different teacher, and her father had taken on a part-time job to buy her a used piano and pay for lessons.

Every waking moment, she had spent at the piano, unless she was in school. She loved the make-believe world where swans glided on beautiful waters and bumblebees danced. Throughout it all, her imaginary friend grew with her, urging her on to play more difficult pieces.

Reunited with her friend, her fingers glided over the keys. Like riding a bicycle, the familiarity of the keys underneath her fingertips sank under her caress.

The emotional piece she was playing was one of her favorites. Closing her eyes, she sank deeper into the world the composer had created.

Glory and her life had been burned to ashes. Each time they tried to rise from those ashes, they were ground down. Her car had been stolen. The chance of it being returned intact were slim to none. She would have to get another car. They had thought the custody hearings were behind them, but from the way Victoria had acted today, she would never stop. Glory’s heart was giving up, and when the inevitable happened, she was going to lose what was left of her family.

Sadness welled within her. The piece was coming to an end. She wanted it to last forever, to never leave her old friend again while knowing it was their final goodbye.

The last note hung in the air as her fingers slipped away from the keys to rest on her lap. She slowly rose from the bench, her focus returning to the people in the room, seeing the stunned amazement in their eyes.

Searching for Kent, she saw him standing next to Haley and Desmond. On her way to him, she passed Gail, who touched her arm when she would have walked past.

“That was lovely. Thank you for playing.”

Sage shook her head. “Thank you for allowing me to play,” she said, stepping away from her touch.

When she reached Kent, she was unprepared for Haley to reach out and hug her.

“I don’t know why, but I felt you needed this,” she whispered into her ear. Taking a step back, Haley scanned her closed expression. “You played beautifully. My friend is going to be angry at herself she missed tonight. I’m not a fan of classical music, but you brought tears to my eyes.”

“I am a fan of classical music,” Desmond spoke up. “You have a gifted touch.”

The compliments brought a blush to her cheeks.

“Do you play any other instruments?” Haley asked.

“No, I wanted to learn to play the violin, but my father put his foot down. My music teacher lent me one to bring home to practice on, and my dad made me take it back the next day. He used to joke that my teacher only let me bring it home because it was too painful to let me practice at school.”

Desmond’s chiseled face broke into a smile. “Your mother didn’t try to change his mind?”

“No, my mother was already taking the hit for fostering my love of classical music. Dad said the least she could have done was thrown in some rock.”

Kent’s arm slid around her waist. “Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes.”

Sage looked to where Desmond was looking when a hard expression crossed his face. Garrett was heading toward them.

“We’re right behind you.”

From Desmond’s expression, he had taken enough of Garrett’s fawning over him.

Sage let Kent tell their hosts good night, noticing Haley had done the same.

Outside, Haley turned toward her while her husband waited by their limousine door. “I enjoyed meeting you, Sage. I’ll be in contact. Perhaps we can work out a way for us to get lunch one day without the men.”

Sage smiled. “I’d like that.”