Piano in the Dark by Eric Pete Read Free Book Online

took the liberty of ordering for you. Hope you don’t mind.”
    She pointed for the wings and waffle order to be placed in front of her. The other plate, the one with a cheezy 3 omelet and two biscuits, was for me. My favorite. All that was missing was…
    “I already poured the hot syrup for your biscuits,” she said, sliding the small maple-filled plastic container my way.
    Too much. She had me spooked now. It was as if someone had given her a script. “Really. Who are you?” I asked, semi-serious.
    “Chase!” someone called out from behind me before Ava could respond. She motioned for me to acknowledge whoever it was. I looked over my shoulder to see Jacobi and our client Iris as they sought an open table. It would be a funny coincidence if I didn’t have to explain myself to my friend later. He grinned as he carried the number for his table’s order, his eyes travelling between me and the woman with whom I sat. From my previous description of Ava to him, he had to know this was her. My mystery woman.
    They stopped, leading me to think they were going to ask to sit with us. The look on my face begged him to spare me and not to ask. Nevertheless, I reached up to shake his hand.
    “Hey, man. Early lunch too, huh?” I asked calmly as if my skating out on them back at the office were no big deal.
    “Mrs—Iris here,” Jacobi said, correcting himself at her insistence, “wanted some fresh air, so I suggested we grab a bite to eat. I see great minds think alike.”
    “Yes,” I said, knowing the bite he wanted to eat was Iris. I was trying to avoid similar thoughts of my face stuffed between Ava’s legs at the moment, but wondered recklessly if she could deliver on the promises of my imagination.
    “Hello. Jacobi Stewart,” he said, shaking Ava’s hand before I had a chance to willingly introduce them.
    “I know you!” Iris blurted out from around Jacobi as she leaned in to get a better view of Ava. At least somebody remembered her. “It’s been a couple of years, hasn’t it?”
    “Yes. You’re right,” Ava answered nervously, something unspoken between the two of them. “How’ve you been, Iris?”
    “I’m doing good these days. Real good,” Iris replied. “These fine young men are helping me with my case.”
    “Yes, so if you ever need a good law firm, call us. Or just call Chase here,” Jacobi said to Ava as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “I still didn’t get your name, miss.”
    “Charla Nuttier,” Iris answered for her enthusiastically. “You’ve never heard of her? I have several of her paintings. Incredible artist,” she said to Jacobi.
    “Thank you. You’re too kind,” the woman who told me her name was Ava replied. “Actually, some of my other works are on the wall here,” she said to both of them, confirming my earlier suspicions. I looked at the paintings again. She was an impressive artist and even more an enigma than before.
    “I’ll have to check them out, ma’am,” Jacobi stated. “It was nice meeting you.”
    As Jacobi and Iris darted for a freshly open table, I stared at Ava, who seemed uncomfortable with the attention. And why did Iris know her by a different name? We began eating our food with me enjoying this simple time with Ava. But she kept Iris in her sights, pausing from her chews whenever Iris spoke to Jacobi and looked her way. Suddenly, she dropped her fork mid-meal. “I have to go, Chase,” she said.
    “But you didn’t finish your food,” I blurted out, relishing the meal she’d bought me.
    “I know. I have to go, though.”
    “Well, let me walk you out.”
    “You don’t have to,” she said, suddenly trying to distance herself from me as if I no longer interested her. She fetched her purse from beneath the table, then excused herself. I left a tip, hastily taking a final bite of my syrup-drenched biscuit, then followed in pursuit.
    “Charla Nuttier? Why does she know you by that name?” I asked, overtaking her in the parking lot. My