Page 61 of Echoes of a Silent Song

“Why?Because I choose quality music instead of the middle-level drivel they’re used to?Because I demand the absolute best they’re able to give instead of halfhearted effort?Because I want them to learn as much as they can here since high school choir is about so much more than music?Because I want them to be equipped for success in life, not just in choir?”He stopped, both hands resting on the newly covered grand, a muscle in his jaw twitching.

“We’ve been over this.Equipping them for success means giving them confidence, Callum.Andnobodyhas confidence after a performance like that.”She turned her back on him and walked toward the wings.

“I do,” he said quietly.

She spun to face him.“How?”

“Because even though this performance wasn’t anywhere near where we wanted it to be, we made progress.They’re better than they were in August.They’re working.They’re trying.”

“But if you don’t give them music they can succeed with, then they’ll get frustrated and give up.”

He stepped toward her.“They’ll get frustrated and give up?Oryouwill?”

“Do you think for one single minute that I would ever give up on these kids?I’m the only consistency they’ve had for the last seven years, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.One of us has to be loyal to them.One of us has to love them.And it’s been clear from the moment you took this job that it isn’t going to be you.”

“So I should just phone it in.Keep them locked up in their comfort zone.Give them music they could sing in their sleep, just so they’ll besuccessful?”He framed the last word with air quotes.“What does that even mean, Blair?What is it that you want from me?You’re annoyed with all the previous directors because they apparently didn’t try hard enough.And I’m working my butt off for these kids, and you don’t like that either.”

She blinked at him, stunned speechless.At least for the moment.

He ran a hand through his hair.“You’re an incredibly difficult woman to please, Blair Emerson.So would you just tell me, once and for all, so we can get through the rest of this year without killing each other ...what do youwant?”

He stood there, not ten feet from her, cheeks flushed and breathing fast.He looked rumpled and disheveled and exhausted, and he was the most infuriating person she’d ever met ...but he had never been more handsome.His methods could use some refining, but his motives were pure.He truly did want the best for her beloved kids.For this school.For the community.

And what did she want?

She wanted this to not be their only year together.

And more than that, she didn’t want him to just be her coworker.

She wanted ...

She wanted ...

Oh,crap.

She wanted to kiss him.

To her shock, it seemed he wanted the same thing.Dark brows furrowed a fraction.Disbelief etched his face.

Then disbelief changed to something else entirely.And maybe he walked toward her, or maybe she walked toward him, or maybe they moved at the same time, but then they collided and he was kissing her and she was kissing him and nothing else in the world mattered.

His hand tangled in her hair.Her hip bumped into the piano.His kiss deepened, filled with the same unbridled passion she’d seen at the podium.With the kids.He was wild and free and unrestrained in a way she’d never been.

Not until now, anyway.His kiss made her come alive.Awakened something in her heart she’d thought long dead.Or maybe that had never even been there at all.

Comfort zone?Ha.She was so far beyond her comfort zone that she couldn’t even see it anymore.

And maybe that was okay.Maybe this was exactly where she needed to be.

Maybe this was where God had been leading her all along.

Chapter Twenty-Four

December 3,1969

THE GRANDFATHERclock played the familiar Westminster chime tune, then bonged once.

One.It was one in the morning.