Page 41 of Save the Dance

According to Jason, every child in Heart’s Landing could recite the story of Captain Thaddeus, but how many knew Mary’s side of things? Had she shared the same deep, abiding commitment to her marriage? Had the captain’s wife actually lashed herself to the railing while she’d watched for her husband’s ship?

There was only one way to find out.

She’d have to read all of the diaries from cover to cover. But her time in Heart’s Landing was rapidly coming to a close, and she didn’t have a minute to waste. She traced the initials engraved in the leather cover on the top of the stack. Tonight, as soon as she returned from dinner, she’d get started. She crossed her fingers. Her only hope of salvaging her career, her dreams, lay in disproving the “love for the ages” that had formed the foundation of Heart’s Landing.

“Jason, can we talk?” Evelyn whispered from the doorway.

Laughter tugged at Jason’s lips. He looked up from the calendar of upcoming weddings that would be held at the Captain’s Cottage. “I don’t know. Can we? Or does the cat have your tongue?”

Across the room, his cousin’s fingers spanned her neck. “Laryngitis,” she croaked, her voice barely a whisper.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Even as he said the words, Jason’s grin collapsed. He glanced at the calendar. The Smith wedding, one of the largest events of the season, would take place that night. Already, the Cottage hummed with activity as caterers, decorators, and florists prepped the ballroom. The couple had gone all-in on their nautical theme, from engraved invitations that featured the image of a swashbuckling sailor right down to a ship-shaped head table. And the highlight of the evening was an appearance by none other than Captain Thaddeus and his wife, who’d entertain the bride and groom’s three-hundred-plus guests with sea shanties and love ballads. Something that couldn’t happen if “Mary” squeaked like a mouse every time she opened her mouth.

Evelyn gave her head a vigorous shake. Crossing to his desk, she sank into one of the guest chairs. “I wish,” she hissed.

“Have you gargled? Taken something for it? Tea and honey? Throat lozenges?” He leaned forward to catch Evelyn’s whispers.

“Doc says there’s a virus going around. I’m not supposed to talk for three days. I could do permanent damage to my vocal cords.”

That was that, then. He’d have to find someone to take Evelyn’s place. He reached for his cell phone.

“Clarissa?” Evelyn whispered.

Jason made a face. “No.” His ex-girlfriend hadn’t just backed out at the last minute. She’d reneged on all their practice sessions. He doubted she knew the melodies, much less the words to the songs. “I’ll call Lydia Thomas.” The mayor’s daughter had filled in for Evelyn once before.

But his cousin shook her head. “She has the same thing. Caught it from her dad.”

Jason groaned. Lydia had been his last hope. His thoughts shifting, he considered alternatives. Performing solo wasn’t ideal, but he could usually do it in a pinch. In this case, though, that wasn’t an option. The couple had specifically requested a ballad at the end of the performance. The love song had been written as a duet. He couldn’t handle it on his own.

His heart sank.

On the other side of his desk, his cousin tried and failed to speak. Her lips pressed tightly together, she snagged a pad and a pen. After scribbling something on the paper, she held it up for him to see.

Ask Tara.

His heart hauled his thoughts back to the night he’d held her in his arms on the dance floor. He swallowed dryly. “You think she’d do it?”

Evelyn’s head bobbed. She wrote another note.

She knows the music, the songs.

Jason closed his eyes. With his hands tented, he tapped his forefingers to his lips. The day Tara had joined Evelyn in the music conservatory, he’d been so intrigued by her voice that he’d lingered in the hallway far longer than anyone had suspected. He had no doubt that with just a little more practice, Tara could handle the music. After all, she sang in her church choir each week. The Captain’s songs weren’t nearly as challenging as some hymns. His pulse rate steadied. He couldn’t wait for her to experience the joy their performance brought to the bride and groom, their families and friends.

“Okay.” He opened his eyes. “I’ll ask her. You’ll accompany us on the piano?” Thank goodness laryngitis hadn’t affected Evelyn’s fingers. If it had, they’d really be in trouble.

When his cousin nodded, he rose. After dinner last night, Tara had told him she needed to spend the morning working in her room. He’d head there. “I’d better talk to her right away.”

He knocked on her door a few minutes later. Tara opened it, looking adorable in sweat pants and a loose T-shirt, her hair piled in a messy top-knot.

“Hey.” Warmth bloomed in his chest and spread through his midsection. “Busy?”

She brushed a wayward hank of hair from her face. “Yeah, but I could use a break. What’s up?”

“I need to ask a favor. It’s a pretty big one,” he warned.

“As much as you’ve done for me these last few days, I’d have to be an ogre to turn you down.” A soft smile broke across her face. “Whatever it is, if I can, I’d be happy to help out.”

“Evelyn and I were scheduled to appear as Captain Thaddeus and Mary at a wedding tonight, but she’s developed laryngitis. The woman who fills in for her is sick, too. I’d really appreciate it if you could take her place.”

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