“That’s about how long it took last time we drove down together. And I loved lunch at that fantastic Greek restaurant where we stopped along the way.”
“That was a memorable meal. Their chicken shawarma was tender and juicy, not dry like it is at our local Greek place. I think I may have saved their location on the GPS.” Mom patted the pile of jeans and pullovers. “Can I help you pack this stuff?”
“Sure, if you wouldn’t mind. I know I’m overdoing it for a long weekend, but I want to make sure I have more than just everyday casual stuff in case Dex and I go somewhere nice. Or go to church Sunday.”
Mom shifted things around in the suitcase and carefully placed Aria’s clothes in it. “I was just thinking. It’s Thursday. Aren’t you supposed to be at music practice with the professor tonight?”
“I haven’t heard from him since last week when we met at the studio for practice. He usually calls on Tuesdays, and we arrange our meeting place for Thursday night. But, this week, I never got a call and didn’t get an answer when I tried to contact him. His voicemail seemed to be turned off, so I couldn’t even leave a message.”
Mom rose and moved closer to where Aria stood ironing. “The last two times, you’ve met the professor at your studio. Is there a chance he just assumed you were meeting there?”
“That’s what I thought, so I asked Uncle Angelo to call me if he showed up. But now it’s almost eight, and I haven’t heard a thing.”
“How strange.” Mom shook her head.
“I know. Last week when I told Professor Jacobs you and I were taking a trip to North Carolina to visit Dad and Dex, I made it clear that we were leaving Friday morning, and that I was still available to practice tonight.”
“Well, there’s nothing you can do about it now. I’m going to make a quick run to the store and get some car snacks for tomorrow. Be back in a jiffy.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.”
Aria threaded her dress pants onto a hanger and hung them in the closet next to the top she planned to bring. She chose shoes to match, packed them, then closed and latched the suitcase and put it on the floor.
Her phone rang. Professor Jacobs. Finally. “Hello, Professor. I’ve been trying to reach you all week. Is everything okay?”
“No, everything’s not okay.” Curt and forceful, Jacobs’s tone set Aria’s nerves on edge.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just got off the phone with Bianchi. When I told him the lineup of music I’d chosen for your audition, he wasn’t at all pleased with the Chopin piece. Said he hated it.”
“Okay, so we’ll change it. No big deal.”
“No big deal?”
Aria jerked the phone from her ear. Jacobs’s volume had risen to a near shout. Easily remedied, the situation with Chopin didn’t warrant the level of anger or frustration she detected in the professor’s voice. “Sir, all we have to do is—”
“Stop. Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll choose another piece and we’ll start working on it Saturday afternoon.”
“Saturday won’t work for me. Remember, I told you I’d be out of town this weekend and wouldn’t be back until Tuesday night?” Surely he couldn’t have forgotten. He’d whipped out his pocket planner and made a note when she’d told him her plans.
“If you hope to outshine all other contenders and make it into Bianchi’s orchestra, you’re going to have to be flexible and be willing to make sacrifices. I’m not going to waste any more time on you if you’re not going to take this opportunity seriously.”
Aria’s heart sank. She couldn’t let this chance of a lifetime slip away. Dex loved her. Surely he would understand her precarious position. “All right, where and at what time do you want to meet on Saturday?”
“Three o’clock, your studio. Call or text me if you would like to push it back to four or five. I can do any of those time slots. Goodbye.”
An invisible clamp squeezed Aria’s chest. Breathing became a chore. Mustering all her strength and courage, she called Dex.
* * * *
Dex trotted to the bedroom, unplugged his phone from the charger, and answered Aria’s call. “Hey, babe. I’ve been thinking about you all day and was planning to call in a few minutes to see if you were packed and ready for tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Dex.” Aria sniffled and breathed choppy breaths. “I-I can’t come.”
“What do you mean, you can’t come? You sound upset. Is there some sort of family emergency up there?”
“No, nothing like that. Professor Jacobs just called and said Bianchi didn’t like one of our selections, so—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What does Jacobs or Bianchi have to do with you coming down here?” Whatever the reason, Dex was sure he wasn’t going to like it.
“The professor wants to get together on Saturday to practice a new piece.”
“So, tell him no. What’s so hard about that?”
“I can’t say no. He made it clear that I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice. What did he say to make you think otherwise?”
Aria choked as if she were on the verge of crying. “He said he wouldn’t waste his time on me anymore if I didn’t show that I was serious enough about the audition.”
Dex paced around the bedroom then into the living room. Jacobs had dumped a heavy load of stress and anxiety on Aria’s shoulders. And for what? A stupid, insignificant piece of music that hardly qualified as an emergency?
“Don’t let Jacobs do this to you, Aria. He’s trying to manipulate you with threats and ultimatums. I know how badly you want a spot in the orchestra, but you still have a life to live outside of that quest.”
“I know. But I’ve got only six weeks left before the audition, and it’s important that I’m ready when the time comes.”
“What about us? Are we important?” He walked over to the bistro-style table and chairs he’d bought especially for Aria’s visit and stroked a petal of the dozen roses he’d picked up for her on his way home from work.
“Of course we’re important. I love you, Dex. Believe me, I’m not happy about this either.”
“Then come, and be with me this weekend. It’s been way too long since we’ve been together. I miss you more than I ever thought possible.” He didn’t care that he was revealing his deep feelings.
“I feel the same, but please don’t be mad at me for not coming. What would I do if the professor left me high and dry?” Aria wept softly. “I’m sorry, Dex.”
“All right, babe. Don’t cry. We’ll figure something out. Maybe next weekend.”
“You want me to call you tomorrow night?”
He’d hoped for more, but a phone call would have to do. “Yeah, that would be good. Love you. Have a good night.”
Dex hung up and laid his phone on the kitchen counter. There went his weekend, and all because of the sleazebag Jacobs.
* * * *
As tires whirred on the driveway and the garage door hummed, Aria popped off the bed and wiped tears from her cheeks. A minute later, the kitchen door opened and closed, and Mom’s cheerful singing floated up from the first floor.
Mom would be on her way up the stairs any second. Not enough time to go into the bathroom and splash water on her face to hide the fact that she’d been crying her eyes out on the pillow.
“Guess what, Aria?” Mom walked into Aria’s room and set a white plastic grocery bag on the dresser. “They had the coconut M&Ms you like so much. I got you two bags.”
“Oh, good. They’re hard to find. Thanks.”
Mom turned with M&M bags dangling from each hand. Immediately, her smile disappeared, and she tossed the candy onto the dresser. “Uh-oh. You’ve been crying. What’s wrong?”
“Everything.” Or so it seemed. And now she’d have to rehash the situation for a second time. �
�The professor called and more or less demanded we meet on Saturday because we have to swap out one of our pieces.”
“Demanded?” An angry scowl pinched Mom’s face. “Who does he think he is to demand anything from you? And why now, this particular weekend?”
Aria told her mother everything about her conversation with Jacobs.
“I hope you gave him a firm no.” Still scowling, Mom narrowed her eyes. “Ari?”
Everything in her wanted to cry. The world was imploding, and Aria was being crushed in its core. “Dex said the same thing, that I should have said no.”
“Please don’t tell me you bent to Jacobs’s beck and call and agreed to the Saturday thing.” Leaning close, Mom gave Aria a probing gaze. “Oh, Aria! You called Dex and told him you weren’t coming, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Neither decision, go or stay, seemed right. I was stuck.”
“Because you thought Jacobs would dump you as his protégé? I don’t like this at all. It wasn’t nice of him to make you feel obligated enough to cancel your trip. What kind of guy would do something like that?”
Aria hung her head. An hour ago anticipation hung in the air like fairy dust, the magic of preparing for the journey filling her heart with songs and gaiety. How quickly that bubble had burst. Now, no one seemed happy, least of all her. “You think I made the wrong decision, don’t you?” As if she really needed to ask.
“Yes, and I don’t like the way your professor friend coerced you into it.” Mom shook her head. “I’m going to go read for an hour or so before bed. I’ll be leaving around eight thirty in the morning. I hope that after you sleep on it, you’ll change your mind and decide to come with me. Your father’s not crazy about me driving all that way alone, and I’d be awfully glad for the company. Good night, sweetheart.”
“G’night.” Aria’s stomach churned and her head throbbed. It would be a miracle if she could sleep at all tonight.
Chapter 24
Already running late for breakfast with the guys before work, Dex closed and locked his apartment door and rushed to his car. A note on lined, yellow paper lay flat under the driver’s side windshield wiper blade. He snatched it out.
Dex,
Sorry about the scrape on your car. I tried to back into my space this morning to load something into my trunk and sort of hit you a little bit. My bad. I knocked and rang your doorbell, but you didn’t answer. Will give you insurance information when I get home from work.
Your neighbor,
Maxine
At least now he knew who was at the door when he was in the shower. Dex walked around the rear bumper to the passenger side. The swatch of scraped paint running from the rear quarter panel to the front door hardly qualified as a little scrape.
He let out a long sigh. Nothing he could do about it now. He folded and tucked the note in his shirt pocket and drove to the diner.
Edward, Marcus, Stanley, and Zook stood talking in the parking lot. They gawked at Dex’s car as he cruised by and parked in a nearby space.
“A neighbor raked my car this morning while backing into her space,” Dex said, walking up to the guys. “Judging by all the dents and scratches on her vehicle, she can barely drive forward without hitting something, never mind backward. Great way to start a day, huh?”
Zook shook his head. “Bummer. At least it’s just cosmetic and not bashed in.”
“Guess you’re right about that. Still, I’ll be without wheels for the couple of days it’ll take to get it repainted. Unless Maxine’s insurance provides for a rental car, which is a strong possibility.”
Zook tossed an arm around Dex’s shoulder. “Good thing you’ve got friends that’ll offer you a ride even after you unmercifully evicted them out of your house.” He threw a light jab into Dex’s ribs.
Dex laughed. Zook and Stanley hadn’t stayed mad for long. The Christmas break seemed to squelch any animosities they had, even to the point of helping each other move into their new places. Good guys, just not compatible roommates.
Peanut pulled into a spot farther back in the parking lot and got out of his pickup.
“Something isn’t right.” Edward chin-nodded in Peanut’s direction. “I haven’t seen him with that hangdog look since before Christmas. He’s walking like he’s got ten pounds of wet mud stuck to his boots.”
“He sure is,” Dex said. Until now, Peanut hadn’t quit smiling since his girl accepted his marriage proposal during the holidays.
Huffing a long sigh, Peanut stopped in front of Dex and shoved both hands in his pockets. “Suzy called off our engagement last night.”
“What? But why?”
“I dunno. She gave me the, ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ spiel. I’m telling you, Suzy just hasn’t been the same since the accident.”
Marcus stepped up to the plate, offering a consolatory pat on Peanut’s back. “Come on, let’s get some food in you. We can talk about it inside.” With a little push, he coaxed Peanut toward the diner’s entrance.
Dex trailed behind. He could relate to Peanut’s pain. True, he hadn’t proposed to Jasmine before she’d dumped him last summer, but the rejection had burned like a branding iron to his heart. Looking back, he couldn’t figure out why he fell for her in the first place. She was bad news. All the guys back home had told him so when he first started seeing her. What a sucker he’d been.
Aria wasn’t like Jasmine. Not by a long shot. Aria loved him. He didn’t doubt that. Still, it chapped his hide that she had chosen an hour with the professor over a weekend with him.
* * * *
Aria’s suitcase stood upright at the foot of the bed, handle extended, ready to go. Sleeping on the decision did little good. She’d woken with the same knots in her belly she’d gone to bed with.
In the next room, Mom opened and closed drawers, shuffled around in the closet, happily humming as if she were looking forward to the day ahead with bubbly enthusiasm.
Aria put on comfortable jeans and a lavender pullover and gathered her hair into a reasonably tamed French twist. She leaned toward the mirror, her palms pressed on the dresser top. “Okay, maestro. Are you staying or going?”
Mom tapped on the door. “Aria?”
“Come in.” The moment of decision had arrived.
“I’m ready to leave. Are you coming with me, or staying here?”
The air seemed too thick to breathe. “I’m staying.”
“I’d hoped you would have changed your mind, but suit yourself. Enjoy your weekend. Alone.” Stern-faced, Mom backed out of the room and closed the door.
Footfalls faded down the stairs. The window for Aria to change her mind was closing.
The kitchen door opened and closed, shutting her window more.
No! This wasn’t right. She’d made a mistake. Everything in her ached for Dex. She had to go see him. Now.
Aria snatched the pants and top from the closet, grabbed her suitcase, and ran out of her room and down the stairs. The garage door hummed as she raced through the living room and kitchen.
She threw open the kitchen door. “Mom, wait!”
“I thought you’d never get here.” Mom stood smiling with the rear door of the SUV standing wide open.
Aria tossed her bag in the vehicle and laid her pants and top over it. “You knew I’d change my mind?”
“I had a pretty good idea that you would. Now run back inside and get your coat. And where’s your purse? Is it in the suitcase?”
“No, I left it upstairs. With my brain, evidently.” Aria finally had it in her to smile. “Thanks, Mom. For believing I’d make the right decision, that is.”
“I always believe in you, sweetheart. Now, take your time, and go get your stuff. I’ll warm up the car.”
Aria gathered her things and brought them to the SUV. Minutes later, Mom drove out of their neighborhood and headed toward the high
way.
“Dex is probably at work. I’ll call and try to catch him around lunchtime.” Smartphone in hand, Aria looked over to her mother. “Think it’s too early to call Professor Jacobs?”
“Too early? Nah. But send him a text instead of calling. That way you won’t have to put up with it if he tries to lay a guilt trip on you for going to North Carolina.”
“Good idea.”
Aria thumbed a message. Professor Jacobs, I need to cancel for Saturday. I am going to NC as planned this weekend. She tapped Send.
Ding. A text came in seconds later. FINE!
Mom stopped at a light. “What’s it say?”
Aria held the screen so her mother could see it.
“All caps, exclamation point? Sounds rather immature to me.”
“Or angry. How do I interpret it? Fine, I’ll call you when you get back, or fine, we’re done?” She definitely preferred the former.
“Guess you’ll find out next week.”
* * * *
Dex rubbed his neck and rolled his shoulders a few times. Lying on his belly in the dirt while looking through the scope of a sniper rifle a good part of the day had left his muscles stiff and achy. He waved to his teammates over the hood of his car. “See you guys Monday.”
No use cooking the chicken cordon bleu he’d planned if Aria wasn’t coming. He made a stop at a Chinese takeout place, brought his dinner home, and sat at the bistro table to eat.
A knock on the door broke the monotony of dead quiet in the apartment.
“Dex, it’s me. Maxine.” She gave a few more soft raps on the door.
He shoveled the last spoonful of pork-fried rice into his mouth, tossed the container in the trash, and answered the door. “Hi. Did you come over for some backing-up lessons, little lady?”
A good egg, his middle-aged neighbor could take a little ribbing and laugh about it.
“Apparently.” Maxine shook her head. “Sorry about damaging your car. Here’s the insurance information I promised. Again, I’m so sorry.”
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