Page 37 of Single Malt

“So, what’s Dale doing this afternoon?” I asked Maggie, hoping my question sounded casual. I’d been trying to find out more about her boyfriend, but the answers I’d gotten had been brief before she changed the subject. This was one of the few things I hadn’t brought up yet.

“He’s visiting his parents.” She pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “They live in Queens, so we usually see them at least once each weekend, but they’ve been on a cruise for the past two weeks. He wanted to stay for lunch and dinner, which would have meant I’d have needed to cancel plans with youandwork on my new piece tonight. Not going with him meant I can spend the day with you and then practice while he’s gone.”

I thought that was a much longer explanation than was necessary, especially since I hadn’t really asked for a reason why she hadn’t gone. If Dale hadn’t been the reason Maggie and I had missed her birthday the last couple years, I would’ve assumed that she’d simply told him she couldn’t go with him because she and I had plans.

As we pulled up to Radio City, I pushed my concerns aside. Maggie was an adult, and if she wanted to keep some things private, who was I to argue? Our family was tight-knit, and while we tried to mind our own business, it wasn’t always easy to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Especially with the younger ones, and even more so with my sisters.

Today wasn’t the day, though. Today was about Maggie and me spending time together and celebrating her birthday. Before I dropped her off at her place, I’d make sure that she knew she could come to me with anything.

Britt was waiting at the door, and as soon as Maggie and I stepped inside, she held out her hand and offered Maggie a brilliant smile.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.” Maggie glanced at me, curiosity replacing confusion.

“We have something very special to show you today,” Britt said. “In fact, you’re the first members of the public to be shown the latest addition to our tour.” She held out a tri-fold brochure, and then she and I waited while Maggie read it.

It took about thirty seconds for her to understand why we were here, and her entire face lit up.

“Seriously? This is original sheet music?”

Britt nodded.

Maggie turned and threw her arms around me. “Thank you!”

I hugged her back and mouthedthank youto Britt. This was better than I’d imagined. Definitely a birthday to remember.

Twenty-Three

Freedom

My last semesterwas not going the way I’d thought it would. I was supposed to be sitting in class right now, but instead, I was on my way to pick up Karina from her apartment and take her to hear Dr. Worthington’s first lecture.

After his ‘lunch’ invitation the other day, I’d gone back to calling him by his title rather than his first name.

I tried telling myself that the lecture could be interesting. I hadn’t gotten much real information when I’d asked him to tell me about his presentation, so most of it would be new. And it wouldn’t be difficult to pay attention, since the entire reason I was going was to translate anything for Karina that she didn’t understand.

By the time Karina opened the door, my patience had already worn thin. She wasn’t a student in the class he was lecturing, and I had no idea why she wanted to go. I just knew that my own schedule had been disrupted, and she didn’t even have the consideration to be ready on time.

“Hola,” she said brightly as she stepped out into the hallway.

My eyebrows went up. I’d never been a student who’d worn pajamas to classes like others did, but even on the days when I’d been more dressed up than casual, I’d never worn anything like this. She looked more like she was going to a club. Skintight and sparkling, I doubted she’d be able to sit in that dress without flashing her panties. If she was even wearing any.

But she was an adult who wasn’t my child or my sister, which meant it was none of my business, and I was glad for it. If she wanted to put fashion over common sense, that was on her.

“It’s fairly windy,” I said. “Do you want to get a jacket?”

“A jacket would completely ruin my look.” She ran her hand down her side and hip, as if she was smoothing the dress down. Not that the outfit had any room to wrinkle.

“All right.” I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “Let’s go.”

“Have you met Dr. Worthington?” Karina asked as we made our way to the lecture hall.

“I picked him up at the airport,” I said, glancing at her as a suspicion popped into my mind. “Did one of your professors recommend the lecture?”

Based on what I knew of her class schedule, I doubted it, but professors sometimes brought up lectures and events that weren’t necessarily connected to their own areas of study.

She shook her head. “Felicity said we needed to go because Dr. Worthington is,” Karina frowned, “caliente?”