Page 7 of A First Sight

I listened and nodded, appreciating the history and knowledge, but I found my mind drifting a bit. Then something caught my attention, and my brain registered it.

“Music.”

“Ah, yes.” Homer stopped. “The orchestra is rehearsing today.”

We listened as the instruments faded until only one was left. A violin.

“I believe that’s our second chair violinist and assistant concertmaster,” he said after a few minutes. “She’s quite talented.”

“She sounds like it,” I agreed. I was tempted to stay longer, but it was time to pick up lunch.

As I excused myself, I decided to come back as soon as I could find space in my schedule. If a single violinist sounded that good in rehersal, I could only imagine how magnificent the entire orchestra would sound. It was something to look forward to.

SIX

MAGGIE

I setmy bow in its place and closed the lid to my case. Rehearsal had been strenuous today, and I was exhausted. We spent the last two weeks trying to get through the changes Irene had made, and it had everyone on edge as our opening performance drew closer. Nehemiah and Irene were more annoyed than I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t blame them. The changes were simple, but we just couldn’t seem to get them right.

“I don’t see why we had to change it in the first place,” Dale complained behind me. “The changes were completely unnecessary.”

I liked them. I felt they tied the pieces together much better than they had been before. Not that I’d tell Dale that.

“Are you ready?” Dale was suddenly at my side. “I’m starving.”

“I’m ready,” I said, flashing him a smile. “Do you want to pick up something?”

“We’re going out to eat.” He put his arm around my waist and patted my hip. “Tuscany Grill in Brooklyn.”

I forced a smile. It was Dale’s favorite restaurant, and usually, I didn’t mind, but all I wanted to do was to get something quick, take a bath, and go to bed.

“Come on.” He squeezed my hip before letting go. “Let’s go home and change, then go eat.”

I stifled a sigh.

By the time we made it to the restaurant, my stomach was growling, and I had a bad feeling we would have a long night. Dale insisted I wear a dress rather than slacks and a sweater, which made me think he had plans for us after dinner. I hoped he didn’t want to be out too late.

“Yes, that table will be perfect.” Dale gave the hostess a charming smile and held out a folded bill, neatly tucked between his first two fingers.

She let her fingers linger on him, her eyes flickering to me for only a moment before dismissing me.

I hated when women gave methatlook. I wasn’t an idiot. When a woman dismissed me like that, it wasn’t because she didn’t think I was pretty enough for Dale. It was because she didn’t see someone who could be a threat to anything she wanted.

Dale put his hand on the small of my back, and I lifted my chin. It didn’t matter how she saw me. When Dale and I left here, we’d go back to our home. Our bed. My life wasn’t dependent on the opinions of a woman who judged me with a single look.

After we settled and ordered our drinks, I turned my attention to the menu.

“Order something light,” Dale said. “We’re going to a club next, and you won’t want something heavy on your stomach.”

I pressed my lips together and swallowed a complaint. Going out to dinner and then dancing was a nice date night, and it had been a while since we’d had one. Sure, it would’ve been nicer if it hadn’t been in the middle of the week or if he’d asked me first, but it was still a date.

When the waiter came back, I ignored my stomach’s protests and ordered the Chicken Tuscany with no sides. I wanted a pasta side and all the extras, but I already knew I was pushing it with my entrée order rather than a salad.

“No wine for her,” Dale told the waiter. “Just water.”

The two of us drank very little, but we rarely declined when wine came with the meal. I didn’t argue, though. It wasn’t worth it for a glass of white wine that I didn’t care about.

“Very well, sir.” The waiter took our menus and disappeared.

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