Maeve's Symphony by Marianne Evans Read Free Book Online

vibrating thunder of the student body on football Friday. So many beautiful memories. He opened his eyes and came upon yards and yards of brownish-green grass just pushing back to life and the time honored white and gold logo of the Westerville High eagle. “Maeve, I had no idea what was to come.”
    “Me neither.”
    Josh sensed they were both expressing sentiments that extended far beyond high school dreams and ambitions.
    She slid her hand against his and curved her fingers snug. His pulse did a neat little skip, but she didn’t focus on him. Instead, she started to walk, beginning a leisurely circuit of the oval asphalt track course that framed the football field. They had done this countless times during less complicated, more carefree days. He wondered if the connection she initiated stemmed from affection, or automatic reflex. Regardless of the answer, strolling at her side felt natural as drawing a breath.
    “I have a confession to make. I wear your jersey on game days.”
    Josh stopped walking and held her in place for a second; his senses tingled. “I appreciate that. Furthermore, I’ll bet the Honolulu blue never looked so good.”
    They resumed walking. A rise of color tinged her cheeks. While they meandered, she watched him for a beat or two. Something in her eyes, a flicker of warmth, of longing, lit embers of hope in his chest and kicked those embers into a small, hopeful fire.
    “I didn’t mean to be so curt and off balance during the meeting.”
    “Maeve, I understand. Don’t worry about it. I know I took you by surprise.” Slow, synched footsteps took them around a curve in the track. “Part of me knows I need to apologize for the time away—for the way we were forced apart. I feel like I should have tried harder.”
    “Me, too. Leaving Westerville was hard on both of us. You were only half of the equation. We remained the idealistic sweethearts of Westerville High until graduation and life swept in.”
    True enough—but her words didn’t tell the whole story. Not for him, anyway. Maeve was right, they had remained a romantic pair until the end of school, but in subtle ways she changed after that night in February when they had succumbed to a pull greater than any he ever could have imagined. A sense of reserve colored her disposition and their entire relationship after that point. They stayed together, but Maeve shuttered her heart and withdrew from him. The shame factor prevented Josh from broaching the topic of their mutual lapse in judgment and stalled any attempt to cross the broken bridge that yawned between them. Mutual avoidance took them to graduation, then came the inevitable split—Maeve to her life in New York City, Josh to the west coast. The damage had never been repaired, and that ate holes in his psyche, because he treasured her.
    “Life definitely rushed at us. During college there was no time to breathe. I allowed relationships from one part of my life to fall away while new ones took shape and dominated everything else. The football fraternity at UCLA was like a lifeline amidst all the intensity, all the craziness that overtook my world when I went to California. Then, I was drafted by Detroit and parked my entire life in Michigan of all places. My insular world only intensified. Out of necessity, I became part of a very tight-knit entity second only to God and my family.”
    Maeve focused on him, waiting, so he continued.
    “You mentioned Doug. I meant to connect with him before I arrived in New York. I’ve missed him, Maeve, and he probably doesn’t even realize it. I meant to stay in closer contact with everyone. My friends in Westerville mean a lot to me.”
    “We know that.” Her gentle voice carried to him like a song that stirred sweet strains of tenderness, and forgiveness. “What else could you have expected? You left high school and entered a whirlwind. A vortex that sucked you in. We understood, and we cheered you on. We still do.”
    “Part of me knew