An Unexpected Suitor by Anna Schmidt Read Free Book Online

sighed. “I told you I do not play except at church.”
    He ignored this. “I was chatting with some folks after services and Oliver mentioned that you’ve done some composing.” When her eyebrows shot up in surprise, he added, “Oliver also said you had planned to attend the conservatory in Boston but then your father died.”
    “There was a time when I had thought…” Nola stopped herself in midsentence, horrified at what she had almost revealed to this man.
    “You had hoped for a career in music,” he guessed and leaned forward, elbows resting on knees as he searched for more. “You were going to but then your father…”
    “My family’s history is none of your business,” she said tightly as she focused all of her attention on her clenched hands to avoid meeting his eyes.
    “I remember now, Nola. Even after the whaling industry collapsed your father refused to give up. He made one last run but his ship was caught in a storm and all were lost at sea. That left your mother—and you—to manage the family. When she died you took over that parenting role even though your brothers were older by three years. You see? I know a great deal about you. Yes, now as I recall…” He frowned as if trying to retrieve a long-buried memory.
    She looked up at him, curious in spite of herself. “What?”
    “Well, it’s just coming back to me how your brothers were always at every school or church function. And your younger sister as well.”
    Nola brushed the memory aside. “As was I. What’s your point?”
    “They were there with the rest of us—the young people, the children. You were always with the adults.”
    Nola fidgeted uncomfortably. “As usual you have moved us away from the topic at hand.”
    Again he continued as if she had not spoken. “You gave up your dreams and ambitions for them.”
    Someone had to take responsibility, she wanted to shout at him. What did he think? That it was easy? Keeping them alltogether? Making sure there was some money coming in so the others could get through school and find lives of their own?
    To her utter dismay, Nola felt the grief over her own lost youth that she had effectively stuffed inside for years threaten to explode.
    “Nola?”
    Starbuck leaned even closer, his hand hovering an inch from hers, his eyes watching her with concern.
    “Please do not presume to understand anything about the choices I have made in my life. And now I must ask you to please leave,” Nola whispered.
    He stood up but did not make a move to leave. “I’m sorry for upsetting you,” he said quietly. “Here’s what I came to say. You know the play I’m working on for the opening of the cabaret? Well, today during church it came to me that the message of the play would be more powerful if it were told in the form of an operetta. Time is short but I think if I set the lines to old classics—even some old hymns—it might just work, at least for the preview at the cabaret. Would you be willing to read over what I’ve written and see if you can perhaps suggest some classics that might work?”
    She drew in a breath but said nothing. Did he truly think he could win her trust by asking her advice on his play?
    “I’m not trying to pull anything over on you here, Nola, by flattering you. I was genuinely impressed with the way you adapted the accompaniment to fit my solo this morning. You have a natural gift—in the business we often refer to it as a natural ‘ear.’”
    She soaked in his words, examining each for any hint of trickery.
    He stood up and when she heard the creak of the top porch step, she risked looking at him. “Hey.” He half turned then added with that trademark boyish smile, “What could it hurt to have a look at it?”
    Nola sat stone still.
    “Okay,” he said, putting on his hat. “How about this? I’ll drop off a copy tomorrow. You take your time, but I’d be grateful for any thoughts you might have.”
    And then he was gone.

Chapter Four
    T ry as she