A Jar of Hearts by Clarissa Cartharn Read Free Book Online

been enjoying their little battle.
    “I’ll be in the next room. Just give me a shout when you need something,” he said, shuffling uneasily. He didn’t want to leave her. But he knew if he pushed too hard, he’d drive her away.
    She ignored him and began playing slowly, the soft tunes of the piano filling his usually quiet house. Her presence, her touch, her smell transformed it into the home he had always wanted it to be. And until she had walked into it, he hadn’t realized she was the only person who could fill its emptiness.

CHAPTER 9

     
     
     
     
     
    He heard her testing and trying out the keys. And when she grew accustomed to the instrument, she began playing one sweet melody after another. But then she grew quiet for a brief while and he perked his ears, wondering why she had stopped.
    He ambled back to the living room and saw her sitting upright and frozen in deep thought. She had drifted into a world of her own, unaware of anything else around her. Was she okay? He moved to ask her but her fingers pressed lightly onto the keys again.
    He stopped, mesmerized when she began to sing along to her tune. When did we lose our way? Easier to let it go…Don’t be scared about it, don’t forget it was real…
    Her voice was beautiful and yet reflected the pain in her heart. How could he tell her he hadn’t forgotten how real she would always be to him?
    He sat gently beside her and she stopped mid-way.
    “Don’t stop,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful.”
    She pulled her fingers away, clasping them tightly on her lap. “I’d rather you weren’t here.”
    “It’s Do you remember? by Jarryd James, right?” he said quietly. “I’ll trade off by singing with you.”
    She bit her lips as if contemplating his offer and then began playing again.
    He closed his eyes, focusing on his breath as he sang How do I make you stay, when it’s easier to let you go… call me when you made up your mind but you won’t… only love could ever hit this hard… do you remember the way it made you feel?
    Sometime in the midst of the song, she joined him as they both drew towards the end chorus in unison. Finally, as one.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    They sat silently by each other for a long while. She fiddled with her fingers and he, staring down at them, trying to restrain himself from clasping them.
    “I’m ready to go home now,” she said at last.
    He turned to her immediately and picked her up, placing her on his lap.
    “Do you need to?” she whispered.
    He held her close to him, staring into her face. “Yes.”
    She put her arms around his nape to brace herself. “And here I was beginning to think you weren’t such a chauvinistic pig after all.”
    He sighed and leaned his brow into her shoulders. He didn’t want her to go. He wanted his old life back… with her.
    For some reason, she didn’t flinch. Instead, she touched his head lightly and ran her fingers through his hair, making him tremble against her. Anne , he groaned inwardly. 
    He lifted his head slowly, and she lowered her fingers to his face, tracing it.
    “Anne,” he mouthed softly against her finger tips as she caressed his lips.
    She stiffened, her face growing grim and stern. Had he said something wrong?
    “Can we go home now?” she said.
    He stood up quietly, carrying her with him and began to head over towards her house.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    The back door snapped opened by a startled Julia.
    “James?” she asked with alarm as her eyes drew over to the woman kicking and screaming over his shoulders.
    “Let me down! What sort of stupidity is this? Let me down now!”
    James clasped her legs tightly before she could throw another nasty kick into his stomach.
    “You playing fireman?” Julia teased.
    “We might as well,” he grinned. “Where is her bedroom?”
    “My bedroom? Why would you want to take me to my bedroom? Julia, tell him to put me down!”
    “Up the stairs and to the left,” Julia directed with a