Pas de Deux

by M. J. Duncan

  Addison shook her head. “It’s fine, sweetie. Why don’t you go take some Tylenol or something to help with your fever, and then we’ll go cuddle until it’s time for me to get back to this soup.”

  “But I made a reservation—”

  “I called and canceled it.” Addison smiled unrepentantly as she dropped a kiss to Mallory’s forehead. “And I’m making you my mom’s famous homemade chicken noodle soup to help you feel better.”

  “It smells wonderful,” Mallory assured her as she peered into the soup pot on the stove. Sure enough, a whole chicken was boiling away in there. “But how did you even know where I made the reservation?” She shook her head as she realized the answer to her question the moment she finished asking it. “Never mind. Will told you, didn’t he?”

  “Yup.”

  “Traitor.”

  Addison smirked. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I had to threaten to tell Siobhan that he hadn’t even ordered flowers yet to get him to tell me?”

  Mallory chuckled. “You don’t mess around, do you?”

  “Not when it comes to you.”

  Mallory sighed as her heart fluttered at the absolute conviction in Addison’s voice. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” Addison pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of Mallory’s mouth. “When you’re feeling better,” she murmured as she nuzzled Mallory’s cheek, “we will celebrate this properly. But, for now, it’s Tylenol and cuddles. Couch or bed?”

  “Whichever you’d prefer,” Mallory replied as she slipped from Addison’s hold.

  “I want you to be comfortable. Come on, babe. What would you rather do?”

  Mallory sighed. She would be more comfortable in bed, but she didn’t want to fall asleep again and risk not being able to sleep later. “We can do the couch in the lounge. That way we’re close to the kitchen in case anything needs monitoring.”

  Addison nodded as she slipped gracefully off the counter. “Okay.” She tilted her head toward the bathroom. “Go take some medicine while I give this a stir, and then I’ll meet you out there.”

  When Mallory returned to the lounge, Addison was already stretched out on the couch scrolling through Netflix, and she smiled as she laid down between her legs and rested her head on her chest. “Thank you for coming over,” she murmured as she settled her ear over the steady beat of Addison’s heart.

  Addison draped an arm over Mallory’s ribs to hold her close as she promised, “Always, my love.”

  “This, here, is where Thad tends to get a little too into the piece and loses some of his control.” Mallory drew a small mark above the section of music she was going over with Charlie, who would be taking her spot in that evening’s performance while she was on stage in Covent Garden. “So you’ll need to step up a bit to hold the group until he comes back around…” She pursed her lips as she scanned the music and made another small mark where things had gotten back on track in the performance they’d just finished. “Here.”

  Charlie chuckled and made similar notes on his own sheet music. “He’s a little different from Clara, huh?”

  “Just a little.” Mallory nodded. Thad was fun to work with—he was energetic and enthusiastic and genuinely loved his job, which translated into his performance at their concerts—but it definitely required more of her position as leader than when Clara was at the helm. Thankfully, Charlie had been in the business a good decade longer than her, so he was more than up to the task. “But you’ll be fine.”

  “Of course we will. Are you ready for your big show tonight?”

  “As we’ll ever be. I’m just glad that the cold that knocked me out two weeks ago didn’t linger. And that Addy didn’t catch it. Devereaux upped our rehearsal schedule this week to make sure we were prepared, and if I’d still been ill…” She shuddered. “It would have been awful.”

  “Do you even have an understudy for it?”

  “No.”

  He nodded. “Really good thing you got over it after a few days, then.”

  “I know you can’t come tonight, obviously, but if you and Keiko would like tickets to one of the other two shows we’re going to do, just let me know, and I’ll get you guys tickets.”

  “That would be great, thanks. I’ll talk to her about it and then have a look at our schedule.”

  Mallory reached blindly for her phone, which had begun vibrating against her desktop, as she replied, “Perfect.” She flipped it over to look at the screen and grimaced when she saw the time and Addison’s name. She was late. “Oh, bugger,” she muttered as she accepted the call and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello, darling.”

  “Hey, beautiful. Mom and Dad’s tour this morning ran a little late, so we’re just leaving the theatre now to head over to Persephone. Are you there already?”

  “Not yet.” Mallory pinned the phone against her shoulder and began gathering her things. “Charlie and I were just going over some notes for the performance tonight, and I didn’t realize how late it’d gotten, so I’m actually still at the office. If I leave right now, I can be there in maybe thirty minutes? Are you walking over?” she asked hopefully. Not that it was a long walk from the Royal Opera House to the restaurant, but it would give her a few more minutes than if they were taking a car.

  “Yeah. There’s no point trying to track down a taxi since it’s so close. And if you need to do a little more work, that’s fine. I know you don’t like missing concerts.”

  “It’s fine, darling. I promise. And I think we’re good here.” Mallory was relieved that Charlie nodded in agreement and flashed him a grateful smile as she began shoving her things into her briefcase. “Persephone, right?”

  “Yeah. I need a good bowl of pasta to get me through the performance tonight. Do you want me to order for you?”

  “If you lot are too hungry to wait, sure. That’d be lovely. You know what I like.” Addison’s answering chuckle was positively salacious, and she shook her head as she murmured, “Behave, you.”

  Charlie laughed and got to his feet. “And that’s my cue to leave. Break a leg tonight, Mal.”

  Mallory angled her phone away from her mouth as she replied, “Thank you, Charlie. Send me a text later to let me know how it went here?”

  He shook his head as he slung his violin onto his back and picked up his briefcase. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us here. You just focus on what you’ve got going on. We’ll go over it all before the concert tomorrow night.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “That’s what my wife tells me,” Charlie quipped. He gave a little wave and added, “See you tomorrow,” before he sauntered out the door.

  Mallory lifted her phone back to her ear. “Sorry, darling. Are you still there?”

  “Nope,” Addison teased, her smile evident in her tone.

  “I’m on my way out the door now. See you soon?”

  “I can’t wait.” Mallory smiled at the sound of what had to be Addison’s father mocking her response in the background. “My dad thinks he’s funny,” Addison muttered, confirming Mallory’s suspicions. “Come save me?”

  Mallory laughed softly and nodded. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Good.” Addison huffed a breath, and Mallory could just imagine her rolling her eyes at whatever antics her father was up to now. “I’ll see you soon, sweetie. Bye.”

  Mallory sent a quick text to Noah, whom she’d once again hired for the week leading up to their performance, to let him know that she was ready to leave, and then she slipped her phone into the outer pocket of her briefcase. She pulled on the coat she had left draped over the back of her chair when she’d arrived earlier, and shook her head as she buttoned it over her dress. She had hoped to sneak home and change out of her blacks and into something more appropriate for a casual meal before heading over to the restaurant, but that plan was out the window now.

  Because she and Charlie had lingered to discuss the performance she was going to be missing, the halls of the Cen
tre were nearly deserted, and she was able to hustle out the door without having to politely beg off any kind of conversation with anyone. Twenty-eight minutes after she left her office, Noah had pulled up to the curb in front of Addison’s favorite restaurant in Covent Garden, and she checked the time on her phone as she waited for him to get her door.

  Which was ridiculous, really, because she had been checking it obsessively for the entire trip, but it was easier to fixate on the time and her progress than worry about what would happen if Addison’s parents didn’t like her.

  “Here you are, Miss,” Noah declared as he opened her door and offered her a hand. “Do you want to leave your things in the car? I had lunch earlier, so I’m just going to head over to the car park and wait.”

  Mallory pursed her lips thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. “I’ll leave my violin,” she said as she set the instrument back onto the seat, “but I’ll take my briefcase.”

  “Aces. Just ring when you’re done, and I’ll be here in a jiffy,” he promised as he helped her out of the car.

  “Ta, Noah,” Mallory murmured as he let her hand drop. “I’ll text you in a bit, then. Keep your fingers crossed for me that this goes well, yeah?”

  He smiled and crossed the index and middle fingers on both of his hands. “But you won’t need it. Enjoy your lunch, Miss.”

  Mallory smiled and nodded as she turned to the door. “See you in a bit.”

  “Welcome to Persephone,” the girl working the front counter greeted her before the door had even fully closed behind her.

  “Hiya. I’m meeting my friend and her parents. Leigh?”

  The girl nodded as she glanced at the laminated seating diagram on her podium. “They’re upstairs. Would you like me to show you to the table?”

  “No need.” Mallory shook her head and fiddled with the strap of her violin case as she looked toward the stares. “I’m sure I’ll be able to find them,” she added as she turned away from the podium.

  Because tea time was still a good couple hours away, the restaurant was nearly empty, and it wasn’t difficult at all for her to spot Addison and her parents the moment she reached the restaurant’s upper level. Her fingers rubbed faster over the strap she’d been playing with as she approached their table on legs that felt increasingly unsteady, and she forced what she prayed passed as a genuine smile when Addison’s mother noticed her.

  “I’m terribly sorry I’m late,” she apologized as she stopped beside Addison’s chair. “I was going over some things with a colleague and lost track of time.”

  Addison beamed up at her as she got to her feet and pulled her into a quick hug. “Breathe, sweetie,” she whispered against her ear, her voice tinged with amusement. “Everything’s fine.”

  Mallory huffed a weak little laugh, embarrassed that her unease was so obvious, and nodded.

  “Good.” Addison brushed a kiss over her cheek and took her hand as she turned to her parents. “Mom. Dad. This is Mallory.”

  “Figured as much,” Addison’s mom chuckled as she stood to offer Mallory her hand. She had the same build and coloring as Addison, though her auburn waves were flecked with gray, and her smile was so warm and genuinely pleased that Mallory felt her nerves begin to ease. “Celine. It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

  “You, as well,” Mallory murmured as she shook her hand.

  “Robert,” Addison’s father said as he, too, stood to greet her. He was tall—easily six and a half feet—with a lean build, dark hair, and kind hazel eyes that sparkled with an oh-so-familiar mischievousness behind his wire-framed glasses. “Addy did tell you that you didn’t have to dress up for us, right? I mean—”

  “Bob,” Celine interrupted, rolling her eyes.

  “Dad,” Addison groaned as she leaned her head on Mallory’s shoulder.

  Mallory laughed when he winked at her, looking utterly pleased that he managed to embarrass his daughter and make her laugh at the same time, and dipped her head in a short nod as she replied, “It’s a pleasure, sir.”

  “The pleasure is all ours, dear,” Bob replied with a sincere smile. He motioned toward the empty chair to Addison’s right and added, “Sit. Sit. Lord knows you’re going to be on your feet enough later tonight.”

  Mallory dipped her head in a short nod as she slipped her things from her shoulder and set them carefully on the floor beside the spot they’d saved for her. She shrugged out of her coat and draped it over the back of the chair as Addison and her parents retook their seats and cleared her throat softly as she sat beside Addison. She bit the inside of her cheek at the feeling of Addison’s hand settling reassuringly on her thigh, and took a deep breath as she turned her attention to Celine and Bob. “Did you enjoy the Globe Theatre tour?”

  “It was wonderful,” Celine answered, nodding. “I wish we’d have done it on a nicer day, but it was still an amazing experience. How was your concert?”

  “It went well. It’s always a bit of an adventure when Thad is at the helm, but it keeps things interesting, at least,” she elaborated as she gave the tabletop a quick glance and noted that it was devoid of menus.

  Addison saw this, and gave her thigh a squeeze as she said in a low voice, “I ordered you the capellini fresco that you got last time.”

  Mallory covered Addison’s hand with her own and rubbed her thumb along the backs of her knuckles. “Perfect. Cheers.”

  “Thad is your conductor?” Celine asked, bringing the conversation back to music.

  “One of the two we have employed to lead during the season, yes,” Mallory answered, straightening slightly in her seat. “Our other conductor is Clara Martin. She led the first half of the season, but she’s in San Francisco at the moment working with the symphony out there. She’ll return in May to close out the season with the LSO.”

  “She’s also going to conduct our final performance, right?” Addison chimed in.

  Mallory nodded. “I believe that’s the plan. Though if complications get any more complicated…”

  “Yeah,” Addison sighed.

  Mallory curled her fingers between Addison’s and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she asked Addison’s parents, “I know we’re meeting you for lunch tomorrow, but do you have any other plans while you’re here? Addison said you fly home on Tuesday.”

  “Tuesday morning,” Bob confirmed. “And, not really. Just wandering the city.”

  “He’s an architect,” Celine explained, rolling her eyes fondly at her husband. “So he loves the juxtaposition of the different architecture styles in European cities.”

  “So is my friend Siobhan.” Mallory smiled. “Her firm does a lot of the modern skyscrapers around the city. Are you in commercial or residential design?” she asked, glad to turn the conversation in a direction that would allow her to sit back and listen instead of being the center of attention.

  Bob seemed pleased to be able to talk about his work and his observations of London, and he carried on until well after their food had arrived. The rest of the meal was spent in friendly conversation that bounced from one topic to another, not terribly unlike when she was with Addison, Will, and Siobhan, and by the time their plates had been cleared away and Bob had insisted on covering the bill, she felt like she had known Addison’s parents for years.

  “Are you girls going to rest before your performance this evening?” Celine asked as they all pulled on their coats.

  “As much as we can, I think,” Addison answered, looking to Mallory for confirmation. When Mallory nodded, she added, “We need to be back at the theatre by half-past six, so we don’t have too much time, but it’ll be enough.”

  “Well, we appreciate you two letting us take you out to eat,” Celine said, looking every bit the proud mother as she gave Addison’s arm a squeeze. “Mallory, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you.”

  “You, as well.”

  “Are you going to hang out after the show later?” Addison asked as they started for the stairs, giving Mallory time to send Noah a
quick text to let him know they were on their way out the door now.

  “I doubt it,” Bob answered after looking to his wife to see what she was thinking. “We’ll leave the stage door to your fans. We’ll just gush about how incredible you were at lunch tomorrow.”

  “Don’t jinx us, Dad,” Addison warned.

  “Are your parents going to join us tomorrow?” Celine asked.

  Mallory shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I know my father’s been in Belgium for a work thing and that my mother went with him, but I don’t know when they’re coming back. I did leave a message on my mother’s voicemail the other day when Addison mentioned it, but I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Well, if they can’t make it, we’ll just double-up on the gushing, then,” Celine replied.

  “Or you could just focus on Addison,” Mallory suggested with a wry smile.

  Celine laughed. “Nice try, dear.” She wrapped an arm around Mallory’s shoulders and the other around Addison’s and pulled them into a hug. “But from the way my daughter talks about you, I think it’s safe to say that you’re pretty much stuck with us. Break a leg tonight, girls.”

  “Thanks, mom,” Addison murmured.

  “Thank you,” Mallory echoed as she gave Celine’s waist a light squeeze.

  “Come on, Celine, let them go so they can rest a bit,” Bob teased when Addison and her mother—and Mallory, by proxy, though she couldn’t help but smile at how accepted and included the Leighs made her feel—lingered in the embrace.

  “Okay, okay,” Celine muttered as she gave them both one last squeeze. “We’ll see you two tomorrow at noon,” she said as she pulled away. “Addy gave us the address of the restaurant you suggested, so we’ll meet you there. And if you sleep in and it looks like you’re going to be late, just let us know, and we’ll change plans. Okay?”

  Addison laced her fingers with Mallory’s and nodded. “Thanks, mom.”

  “We will see you tomorrow,” Mallory added. She offered Bob her right hand—glad that Addison was holding her left—and said, “It was lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for the meal.”