The Low Notes by Kate Roth Read Free Book Online Page B

beauty of her voice. The velvet sweetness flowing out of her in a captivating song. Kevin opened his eyes and realized he was still standing in the open doorway and his eyes flitted down the street in the direction of where he knew Nina was. He took a second to look down and examined his clothing. His snap decision made, Kevin shut the door and started walking down the sidewalk toward the restaurant.
    He would go because... well, he just would.

Chapter Eleven
     
    Nina peeked out around the thin black curtain on the side of The Black Jewel’s small stage. The room wasn’t very crowded and she didn’t recognize anyone, making her feel at ease and discouraged all at once. She saw Louis playing the black baby grand piano that would be hers in just a few minutes. It was nine o’clock, a later time slot than last week which meant there was a different group to perform for.
    Walking back to the women's restroom, she shut the door and took in the image of herself in the mirror. Her blue dress dipped into a V at her neckline and in the back as well showing a bit more skin than the black one she donned last week. She was wearing the dress for Kevin though she'd never say that truth out loud. Her hands smoothed down the sides of the satin dress and she let her eyes linger in the mirror. He's not coming . Her heart sank. It was better to come to terms with it now than in an hour.
    Nina walked out of the ladies room and passed Louis in the hall. He was a slender man about seventy. White hair and large wire-rimmed glasses framed his sweet but aged face.
    “ You're up, Cookie,” he said, walking by without looking at her. Nina gave a little laugh and pushed her way through the black curtain to the stage. She loved the sound her heels made as they clicked against the hardwood floor. She loved the scene that was laid out before her as she stood there looking into the crowd. Candles were lit on every table and there was a sprinkling of romantic couples and mysterious loners. She took a seat on the shiny black bench and scanned the room in one fluid look.
    “ Thank you,” she said softly at the minimal applause she received. She played the starting notes of “I Fall To Pieces” and drew in her first breath when she saw the front door open slowly. Kevin breezed in just as Nina sang out her first line of the classic song set to her own slower arrangement. Kevin stopped just inside the door and starred at her as Nina continued on with her song, not missing a beat though her heart had all but stopped at the sight of him. She turned her head back to the keys, breaking the gaze held so intently between them. As he moved to the bar, Nina felt a chill run up her spine. Nina watched him in the back of the dark room as he stood listening to her. The words she sang were coated in a sad tone. She couldn't help it. He started moving back from where he came and when his hand touched the door, the moment between them was nearly lost. Turning back to meet her eyes one last time before vanishing, her lips formed the words that were all too true for the both of them. Nina finished her song feeling each phrase dig into her heart, leaving gaping holes filled with sorrow. Every song she heard, every song she sang, would always be about him from then on one way or another. The crowd gave a light applause and she was off the stage in a flash. Nina jogged in her heels back to the ladies room and shut the door firmly behind her sliding down to the floor pulling her knees to her chest.
    He walked in and walked out. How could he have been so cruel? Was it out of spite? Walk in to show her he could and walk out to show her he didn’t really want to be there? A lump formed in her throat, the kind that warned her tears were on the way. She breathed in deeply through her nose and blew out a huge gust from her mouth. She repeated it again and again and still the moisture started to build in the lower rim of her eyes. When the light knock sounded at the door, she