Page 17 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

The telltale sound of a text being sent filled the air.

All. Louis’s. Fault.

She really was going to murder him.

* * *

Louis winced when he noted Hannah’s expression. They were pushing her too hard, too fast. He could see she wanted to become a teacher, but there were so many obstacles, and they were overwhelming her.

As far as he was concerned, it was her time to shine as brightly as the sun on a cloudless day. But she needed time and space to work through the barriers and wrap her mind around the career change.

"So what are y’all doing for Christmas?” he asked, knowing she loved the holidays.

“Oh! The piano in the barn needs tuning,” Hannah said, clapping her hands together. “Does anyone know of a local tuner? The one who did mine after we moved cost me an arm and a leg.”

“Must be difficult playing now,” Louis said dryly, earning a chuckle from Cassandra.

“Wise guy,” she murmured with a smile, and he caught Hannah flashing her a look.

“The kids’ Christmas concert is coming up,” Hannah explained, “and the barn’s piano is horribly out of tune. Nobody’ll be able to sing on key if I can’t get that thing back in shape.”

“You’re accompanying the singers?” Louis asked, perking up.

She nodded.

“Are you going to come?” Athena asked him.

“I’m sure you’ll be busy, given your hockey schedule,” Hannah stated quickly.

He shrugged. “I’ll probably have a game or late practice.”

“We have some days off around Christmas, Louis,” Athena said, her tone dry as though she was busting him in a lie. “Come listen to the little kiddos sing out of tune. It’s cute.”

“Maybe I will.” He’d like to see Hannah perform, if he was free that day. In high school she’d played the piano while the kids sang, and there had been something about the way she’d become swept up in the music that had led him to learn guitar, piano and a few other instruments. He loved putting sounds together and had recently begun creating sound baths for his players, to help them settle and focus before a game.

“Yeah, well, if you come, don’t lurk at the back and stare at me like you did in high school,” Hannah grumbled.

Louis swallowed. She’d noticed him? He’d left before she’d finished her performance, worried that she’d track him down and demand to know what he was doing there. A high school kid at a children’s concert, watching the singing, having snacks and waiting for Santa to appear with some presents… Yeah, it looked weird. He’d gone out of curiosity and had been enthralled by her hidden musical talent.

“Fine. I’ll sit in a seat. And I can tune a piano,” he added, immediately wondering why on earth he’d said that.

They all faced him.

“What?” Hannah asked softly.

“I rented a room from a piano tuner when I was taking my paramedic courses. I can probably get it sounding okay if it’s not too far out of whack.”

“You’re hired!” Cassandra exclaimed. She dug around in her jeans pocket. “In fact, I happen to have the key for the barn right here. I was dropping off a tree earlier. I’ll let Mrs. Fisher know you and Hannah have the key. Feel free to tune it at your leisure—as long as you have the key back to her by the end of her shift today.”

Hannah took the horseshoe key chain and handed it to Louis, being careful not to touch him in the process.

He shook his head. “I need someone to come with me.”

“Why?” Hannah asked. "You’ve forgotten where the community barn is?”

He remembered. It was a gorgeous old structure that had been converted into a community hall, just outside of town. You tended to remember places where you felt your life change.

“No,” he said slowly. “I need someone to tell me if my tuning is up to her royal specifications.” He took Hannah’s hand, and she inhaled sharply as he gave her back the key, folding her fingers around it.

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