Are you still awake? Can I call you?
Yes, please.
Mr. Beckett’s text perked me right back up. I kicked off my heels and eagerly awaited his phone call. I’m sure it was to check on Sasha, but at least this way I could apologize to him one more time. I felt a little swirly inside. He definitely added some zing back in my life.
My phone rang and I took a second to compose myself before I answered it. “Hello.”
“Good morning.”
“Way too early for that.”
He laughed. I was happy to hear that melodic sound. Maybe he didn’t hate me.
“What time is it there?”
“We are seven hours ahead.”
“You’re up early for traveling all day.”
“I never went to bed.”
“I hope you get a nap then.”
“It’s easier to adjust if you skip a sleep cycle.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
There was a pause.
I took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry about this morning.”
“Before we address that issue, tell me how Sasha is.”
He didn’t know how nervous that made me. The lighthearted tone left his voice. “Of course, I should have told you right off she’s doing well. She and Toby seem happy together. I know he’s not your ideal candidate, but he’s being very sweet with her. I wonder if he innately knows.”
“Sometimes the ideal person is not who you are meant to be with.”
“You sound like you are speaking from experience.”
“Your observation was spot on this morning. I thought I’d schooled my feelings better, but once in a while I fail, as you pointed out.”
My heart sank. I knew he was a long shot, but he was in love with another woman. “Again, I apologize.”
“I’m not upset with you, love. I should bloody well be over her by now.”
“But you’re not?”
He took a moment and I let him. “I am.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’d be mental not to be.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Why was I asking that? I hated knowing he wasn’t available.
He chuckled and heaved a heavy sigh. “She . . . Jaime.”
I noticed him purposely not using any emotion when he said her name.
“We were an item back when I attended Duke. She was my ideal: well-traveled, gorgeous, kind to a fault, witty as hell, but her heart belonged to Christopher, the arse.”
I laughed, though I felt like crying a little. “I thought he was your best mate?”
“He is, the lucky prat.”
“You are all still friends? Does Christopher know how you feel about his wife?”
“Christopher knows neither Jaime nor I would ever be disloyal.”
“It must be difficult for you.”
“I hope you don’t have it in your head that I’m still in love with her.”
“But aren’t you?”
“Not romantically.”
“If you believe it.”
“You are cheeky and perceptive. I’m chuffed for my friends.”
“Chuffed?”
“Happy for them,” he translated.
“I still feel there is a ‘but’ in there.”
“I’m in earnest, but there are times I find it difficult not be envious.”
“I can understand that.”
“Do you remember the first time we met?”
I laughed. “How could I forget? I thought you were the most despicable human being I had ever come across.”
“That came through loud and clear.”
“So maybe I was a little too cheeky?”
He chuckled. “It was well deserved. I wasn’t in the right state. Jaime had just let me in on a little secret and I had recently ended a relationship. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with another beautiful woman at the moment. You were supposed to be plain and unassuming.”
“And let’s not forget well-educated.”
“Are you ever going to let that go?”
“Maybe. Tell me why Jaime still affects you so much if you aren’t in love with her.” I rubbed my head while waiting for his reply. This conversation had me confused. Was he or wasn’t he still in love with this woman? And was he still pining after the recent break-up? I wanted to ask, but I thought I was already pushing the boundaries. I hardly knew this man who consumed so many of my thoughts.
“It’s just reminders, love. Nothing more.”
“If you say so.” I let out a deep breath. I wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not.
“Tell me about your day. Or are you too tired?”
I noticed he didn’t argue with me. And I was very much invigorated by him. “Well … the first part of my day didn’t go so well. Some Englishman didn’t call me back and I felt awful.”
“I do apologize. I wanted to gather my thoughts before we spoke and I was on a plane for several hours.”
“I suppose I forgive you.”
“My thanks. In return, I will forgive you for your offensive language.”
“What offensive language?”
“Gorgeous, I don’t know what television show you’ve been watching, but we Brits don’t use words like cheerio or pip pip.”
I busted out laughing. “After all that had happened this morning, that’s what offended you?”
“Highly offensive, I assure you.”
“Well, please accept my sincerest apologies on behalf of yourself and the United Kingdom.”
“I can’t speak for the Queen, but maybe as a peace offering you will allow me to buy you dessert when I return.”
I smiled from the inside out. “I’ll think about it.” Like all the time.
“Ah,” he sounded disappointed, but he recovered. “In the meantime, tell me how the rest of your day went.”
I could tell he didn’t want the conversation to end, and neither did I. But I wasn’t sure I should be getting involved with him. I already felt like he was out of my league. I didn’t want to be a rebound, or worse, someone’s second choice because option one was never available. I wanted a man’s whole heart. I didn’t want to have to patch it up only to find out it would never do, that I would never do. And I knew in my own heart falling for the Englishman could have devastating consequences.
But for now, I would share my day with him. “The end of the day was kind of amazing. I got to perform tonight. Do you know who Ella Fitzgerald is?”
“I happen to own her complete works in vinyl.”
“Are you serious? I’m jealous.” And maybe half in love. I admired a man with excellent taste in music.
“We could listen to them over dessert.”
“Tempting.”
“I’m doing my best.”
He had no idea how much, or maybe he did. “Anyway . . . I sang ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’ and it blew the crowd away. I earned more tips than I ever have, which means I might get to buy Noah what he wants for Christmas after all.” Why I divulged that last part I didn’t know.
“Hmmm.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Sounds like a smashing night. Where do you work again?”
“Bangers, it’s near the Ryman Auditorium. Have you ever been to the Ryman? The acoustics are amazing.”
“A few times. Jaime is a musician, so she’s always dragging Christopher and me to some show.”
“Really? What does she play?”
“Piano.”
“Oh.” Is that what he meant by history repeating itself when he saw me play the piano?
“I better let you go. Rest well, love.”
“You too, or I guess I should say good luck staying awake.”
“I’ll talk to you soon.” Those were his final words.
I lay on my bed long after, thinking about him and him and him and him.
Chapter Eleven
Call me if you get a moment.
Isn’t that expensive for you?
It’s well worth
the cost.
I smiled and bit my lip. I take my lunch break at eleven today. Will you still be up? You have to be exhausted. I knew I was. I barely got three hours of sleep.
I will be fully alert.
Talk to you then. I pressed my phone against my chest and headed to work. My class patrons were going to have it easy today. I didn’t have it in me to go full force. What was I doing with my life? I was anticipating eleven o’clock, that’s what.
As predicted, class sizes were dwindling. Exercise was usually a low priority this time of year. I knew if I had the option, I would be doing other things as well. I had to keep reminding myself to focus on the good, like a phone call from a certain someone. He was making my holidays bright, or was that crazy? I knew I was insane to entertain the thought of him and me, but he was interested, right?
I took my lunch out to my truck for privacy. The whole gym was already in a tizzy from his appearance a few days ago. If he was looking for someone to date, I had a whole slew of coworkers ready and willing, even those who were seeing someone else.
I downed a few bites of my flatbread sandwich before dialing his number.
He picked up on the first ring. “Hello.” Just like butter.
“You sound tired.”
“Right as always.”
“Then why don’t you go to bed?”
“My mum insists we go to a Christmas pantomime, so sleep is not an option.”
“What is a Christmas pantomime?”
“You Americans really should adopt this tradition. There is nothing like terrible jokes and men in drag to start the holidays off right.”
I laughed. “Are you serious?”
“I’m not having a laugh at you, I assure you.”
“Well. . . I think we will stick with going to midnight mass.”
“That is one tradition we share. How else do you spend your holidays?”
He surprised me. It was like he really wanted to get to know me. I thought for a moment. “Mass and serving at a homeless shelter on Christmas day are about the only traditions we keep since Momma died. But my momma used to make a big to-do about it. She loved this time of year. We used to bake and bake, and we always went to see the Rockettes at the Grand Ole Opry, and a Christmas show at the Ryman. She used to make sure I sang in the choir during midnight mass. She always finagled it so I had a solo.” I felt myself getting choked up.
“Why don’t you carry those on?”
“The short answer is the expense, but the long answer is my heart isn’t really in it anymore. Maybe someday it will come back, or I’ll win the lottery,” I teased.
“Your friend Jillian mentioned to Christopher your situation. You know I could help you sell your house, or recommend a good lender to pull some of the equity out.”
“No. I won’t sell the house. And the thing about getting loans is you have to make money. We do fine on our own.”
“Forgive me, I did not mean to cause offense.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry to be short with you. I appreciate your willingness to help, but I have a plan. It’s just taking longer than I thought it would.”
“Is it your music?”
“That train left the station already. I’m trying to build up my personal training clients.”
“How many more do you need?”
“I need to be able to see six to seven clients each weekday, so I should have thirty to forty active clients total. I currently have fifteen. But let’s talk about something less depressing. It is the holidays, after all, and you are going to see men in drag pantomiming.”
He laughed deeply.
“Any other fun traditions?” I asked.
“Besides drinking brandy and lighting the Christmas pudding on fire, not really. We should be more like you and help the homeless.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“You’re a remarkable woman, Ms. E. Call.”
So maybe I got a little swirly again inside when he said my name so dang properly. “Not really. Just doing what I promised my momma I would do and that’s to take care of Noah.”
“You’re doing a brilliant job, as far as I can tell.”
“I try. And maybe with a little Christmas magic, I’ll be able to make his holidays a little merrier this year.”
“And what would you like from Father Christmas?”
“That’s my secret.” An image of him wrapped up with a bow under my tree popped into my head.
“I like a mysterious woman.”
“Do you, now?”
“You have no idea. Goodbye, love.”
Oh, holy hell. I was on fire.
~*~
I hope I’m not waking you up, but the most amazing thing happened tonight. I don’t know why I wanted to tell him, but he was the first person that popped into my head after an angel dropped a thousand-dollar tip into my jar. I wanted to thank her, but she did it so quickly I didn’t realize what was going on. All she said was, “You’re a spectacular musician.” Then she ran off. I cried when I looked in the jar.
Kent told me to take it all and he gave me a hundred-dollar bonus to boot. I kissed his cheeks and the old codger had blushed.
I took the eleven-hundred dollars to bed with me like it would disappear if I didn’t. You heard about large tips being given on the news and internet, but I never thought it would happen to me. It really was a Christmas miracle. During my lunch break later that day, my plan was going to be to drive as fast as I could to get Noah that gaming console and some new games to go with it. Toby and Sasha were getting new chew toys, too. The little lovebirds. They were even sharing Toby’s bed.
While lying down in bed I kicked my feet like an excited teenaged girl. I was so pumped, but exhausted. The Englishman hadn’t responded to my text, so I sent one last text. Sweet dreams. I drifted off in a matter of minutes into a sound slumber. Not even caring that I was flirting with the him. If he were here, I would have kissed him and that’s just real, like Noah loved to say. I would have regretted it eventually, when no other man lived up to the standard he would set, but at the moment I didn’t care. I felt happy and I hadn’t really felt that way in a long time.
Chapter Twelve
I woke up with a spring in my step. I even sang Christmas carols in the shower while getting ready for the day. I finally had the heart to place Noah’s gifts under the tree, knowing that tonight I would get to add one more. I admired Momma’s flocked tree filled with all the Keepsake ornaments she had purchased for us over the years. The Barbie ones were my favorite when I was a young girl. But what touched me most was the small, poorly wrapped gift that was hidden behind the tree. My name was on it in Noah’s handwriting. Tears consumed my eyes and fell down my face. He had no idea what that meant to me. I wasn’t expecting anything this year. I couldn’t even imagine what he would get me or when he purchased it. The tip from last night paled in comparison.
I thought about running upstairs and kissing the kid’s cheeks, but I decided it was best not to wake him up. Besides he didn’t like the attention. But he better watch out Christmas morning. Instead, I loved on Sasha and Toby.
I knelt down and rubbed Sasha’s beautiful face. She had a glow in her eyes. So jealous. “So tell me, lady, what do you really think of your owner?”
As if she were really answering me, she nodded her head up and down.
I blew out a large amount of air. “That’s what I was afraid of.” It was easier when he was a jerk.
On my drive over to the gym, my phone rang. I’d given the Brit his own ring tone, “God Save the Queen,” which had the same tune has “My Country Tis of Thee.” Who knew? My insides felt like a whirlwind. I swiped the green accept button and put him on speaker. “Good morning.”
“Good day, love.”
The whirlwind became a category five hurricane, so what if he called his dog “love” too. “How are you this morning, I mean, I guess afternoon for you?”
“I’m knackered.”
“That sounds awful an
d contagious.”
His melodic laugh rang through. “I’m exhausted, gorgeous.”
“You should have just said so,” I teased.
“You’re in a mood this morning. Tell me your amazing news.”
I was anxious to, so I jumped right in. “Last night I decided to go with another classic, so I sang, ‘Love is Here to Stay.’”
“By Gershwin?”
Okay, I was going to fall in love with this man if he kept on talking like that. How many guys would know that? Not many I know, and that’s saying something considering my first career choice. “Very good. Have you seen, An American in Paris?”
“No. I own the Frank Sinatra album with his version. How about we watch the movie while sharing dessert?”
Oh, hell, oh hell. My resistance was weakening. “Your place or mine?”
“Either would be smashing.”
“Let’s say your place, and I’ll bring the dessert.”
“Brilliant. Now finish your story.” There was an eagerness to his tone.
I had to think for a second about what we were talking about. All that was going through my brain was sitting on the couch in a darkened room with the him of my fantasies. “Uh … Yeah. So, it went flawlessly, if I do say so myself. The applause was almost deafening, but the most amazing thing came after I was back at the bar. Some woman in an odd shaped hat dropped a thousand-dollar tip into my jar and said how spectacular I was.”
“She talked to you?” He sounded alarmed.
“Barely. She ran out before I could reply or see what she had done. I wish I could thank her.”
“She shouldn’t have said anything.”
“What? Why?”
He cleared his throat. “It is my opinion that gestures like that are best done anonymously. Would you recognize her if you saw her again?”
“Wow, you are taking this much differently than I thought. I don’t think I would. Like I said, she was wearing a hat. I could tell she was pretty, but she wore these odd pantaloon pants with bright geometric shapes on them.”
“Sounds about right,” he grumbled.
“Did you say sounds about right?”
Beck and Call (Pianos and Promises #2) Page 6