I took a deep, centering breath in before I allowed the music to take over my mind, body, and soul once more. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction when I didn’t stumble or blunder over the most difficult parts. When the song ended, I opened my eyes and smiled. I looked over at my phone.
“Thank you,” I spoke directly at the screen.
Before I lost my nerve. I sent it.
“Want to order something to eat for lunch?” Jemmy came into the room in her bright pink bikini, her breasts on display. A black sarong tied around her tiny waist. She stopped short when she saw Remy sprawled across the leather couch. His arm thrown over his eyes.
I had been going over my music sheets once more, ensuring I had all the notes in the right places as I let my fingers of my left hand gently caress the ivory keys.
I looked at her sheepishly. “Later,” I mouthed as I got up and followed her out of the room.
“Why is Remy here?” she hissed as we went down the hallway. “He’s not due back until Monday.”
“I’ll tell you later,” I linked my arm through hers. “I promise,” I insisted at her suspicious look. “Do we have anything in the fridge or pantry?” I knew money was insignificant around here, but I still felt like it was such a waste of money to eat out when eating in was cheaper.
“Why are you cooking?” she scoffed. “Cause the cooking gene,” she flourished her hands in a circle in front of herself, “skipped me. In fact,” she frowned jokingly. “I believe my evil brother used all mine up. He sucked that gene right up. Leaving none for me. He’s so selfish.”
I giggled. “I can cook. I’m no Drake, but I can make decent food.”
We got to the kitchen and Ella was sitting at the bar eating some chips, her hair still dripping wet and a towel wrapped around her little body, waiting for us.
“Blake! Guess what?” she cried excitedly. “I can swim with no floaties now!”
I embraced her, even though she was getting me wet. “Good for you! I’m soooo proud of you!”
“Well,” Jemmy said with a smile. “She can’t go in the deep end yet, but she will put her head under the water, and she’s brave enough to take her floaties off in the shallow end. We need to talk to Drake. He can have you swimming in no time. He is part frog.”
Ella smiled. “Do you think he will?!”
“I’m sure,” Jemmy winked at me. “If someone were to ask him nicely, he would do anything for them.”
I quickly turned to open the refrigerator to see what I was working with and to avoid Jemmy’s x-ray eyes. I swear she was worse than a bloodhound on a scent.
The refrigerator was stocked with everything imaginable. I looked through the pantry and cabinets and saw that they were stocked to the brim as well.
I pulled out some chicken broth, canned tomatoes, garlic, basil, sugar, butter, and heavy cream. I set them on the island and put the tomatoes and chicken broth in a saucepan. Then I minced some of the garlic and threw it in the saucepan. I set the stove on high and waited until it came to a boil before grabbing the loaf of sourdough bread out of the pantry. I pulled out a griddle and set it on top of the stove so it could warm up. I went back into the refrigerator and grabbed some muenster cheese, yellow cheddar, and asiago.
“Oooh grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup,” Jemmy said excitedly. “I am so famished. Swimming is so draining. No wonder my brother eats like a fat man before lipo.”
I laughed but rolled my eyes at her. “I’m glad the five-year-old trapped in an eighteen-year old’s body approves.”
She stuck her tongue out at me. “I know you are, but what am I?”
I laughed once more before adding some butter and garlic to the grill pan. “When do you want to take us over to the school?”
“After lunch?” Jemmy suggested.
I nodded. “That works for me. My song is finished, so it’s nothing but practice for the rest of the weekend.”
“When can I hear it?” Jemmy asked as she munched on a handful of chips.
I thought for a moment as I added the rest of the ing
redients to the tomato soup. I really didn’t want to play it in front of more people I knew. I liked the anonymity of playing for strangers. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know my story. They can only assume, and I was okay with that. “How about Sunday? Before I go out.” I wished I could have recalled the words after the onslaught of questions began. I quickly turned my back to Jemmy and Ella. I slathered butter on to the sourdough bread before I put it on the garlic butter flavored pan. “Ella, can you jump in the shower before lunch so we can go visit our new school after lunch.”
“But I want to swim some more,” Ella whined.
I looked at her sternly but spoke gently to her. “If we have time after we get back before dinner, maybe I’ll go swimming with you. Now hurry, so our lunch doesn’t get cold waiting for you.”