Lost Melody by Lori Copeland Read Free Book Online Page A

changed the subject. “You mentioned the fact that you don’t have a job. Have you given any more thought to going back to school for an advanced degree, like we’ve discussed?”
    Jill forced herself to relax again. There were still a couple ofsubjects she wasn’t ready to face, and Robert was one of them. Thinking of him was too painful, too vivid a reminder of everything she’d lost. Admitting that made her feel like a failure. But at least she had some progress to report on the job front.
    “Yes, I have, and I’ve decided not to for now. Until I know what I want to study, I need to start making some money.” A humorless laugh heaved in her chest. The money she earned on the concert circuit before the accident hadn’t run out yet, but it wouldn’t last forever. “I’m going to give piano lessons. I decided last night.”
    Doreen’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a big step. Do you think you’re ready for that?”
    Jill turned the doctor’s trick around on her. “Do
you
think I’m ready for that?”
    The woman smiled an acknowledgement of Jill’s use of her own technique. “If you do, then so do I.” She sobered. “Here’s an even more important question for you. Do you want to marry Greg? Do you love him?”
    Finally, a question she could answer with certainty. She met the doctor’s gaze straight on. “I love him more than anything. Yes, I want to marry him.”
    Doreen dipped her head in a nod. “If you want my opinion, I’d say last night was a big night for you. You got engaged, and you made a decision that you know will place you in a painful situation — back in front of a piano.” She caught Jill’s gaze and held it. “You’re not broken, Jill. You’ve been wounded, but you’re healing. Just keep the lines of communication open with Greg. Make sure he knows what you’re feeling, what you’re going through.” She glanced at her watch and stood. “Perhaps you should try a different prescription to help you sleep.”
    Jill shook her head as she, too, stood. “No, thank you. Nomore sleeping pills for me.” She leaned over and scooped up her purse. “I’d rather not risk another disaster dream like last night.”
    “Well, if you change your mind, call me.” Doreen replaced the pen in the holder and rounded her desk, a sign that the session was truly over. “I’ll see you next week. Oh, and congratulations on the engagement.”
    “Thank you.”
    Jill left the room and nodded a silent farewell toward the receptionist in the small outer office. She felt better, her perspective restored. She did love Greg, and he loved her. It’s not like she was trading her dream of being a world-class pianist in order to marry him. She’d envisioned herself married to Greg for years, and pictured their marriage as an overlay to her career, another layer in a satisfying life. The career may be gone, but that just left her with an altered version of the original picture. Their life together would be wonderful. And who knew? Maybe helping him with his campaign would be just what she needed to force herself out of the apartment and back into public view.
    As for last night’s terrible dream, no doubt the counselor was right. Yesterday had been a big day for her. A good day, but it was normal to experience some anxiety after making two life-changing decisions within a few hours of each other. No matter how much she loved Greg, marriage was a huge step and hers was going to happen in one month. That in itself was enough to send most brides cowering in a corner for a session of thumb sucking.
    In some ways, the other decision felt bigger, more alarming. A custom-designed stress dispenser. Was she really ready to sit down in front of a piano again, even if it was only to teach? It felt like progress, a step in the right direction, and progress never came without a cost, right? Not that she had to jump into anything quickly. The end of June might be a good time to start,when school let out for the summer.