Chapter 6 #2
In the silence that filled the room without the music, the only sound that could be heard was his breath coming out in ragged pants.
Without thinking it through, I put my hand on his back, wanting somehow to relieve him of the panic and frustration that warred inside him.
He didn’t move away, letting me rub slow circles along his spine as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m trying so hard.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to be brave all the time.”
Reid let out a strangled laugh. “Says Superman.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” I said, and waited until his eyes were on mine.
Sadness swirled in their brown depths, and I wished to God I could wipe it away.
Give him the fresh start he needed. There was something so trusting about the man sitting beside me, and it was why I didn’t hesitate in what I said next.
“I’ve never been as scared as I was the day I saw you facedown in your car.
I think I prayed more that day than I ever have in my life. ”
“Really?” he said. “Why?”
“Because you were somebody to me, whether we knew each other or not. I knew your life could depend on how fast I could get you out of that car. How quickly we could get you stabilized and to the hospital. I guarantee you I wasn’t feeling very brave then.”
Reid’s eyes welled as I held his gaze, so he could feel the truth of my words. I didn’t care if he saw through me then; I only wanted him to feel the human-to-human connection he so desperately needed.
He swallowed hard before dropping his eyes, his lids falling shut. “Thank you, Ollie.”
“You’re welcome, Reid.”
Straightening again, he took a deep breath, and I dropped my hand from his back. My arm brushed alongside his, sending goosebumps down my spine and a visible tremor through Reid. Then he began to play, his fingers gliding across the keys once more.
The melancholy from earlier shifted into something more peaceful, almost like a lullaby I could fall asleep to.
“I like this one. Do you know what it is?”
“I’m not playing this from memory,” he said softly, and as he continued to make up the song as he went along, I let my eyes drift shut. All too soon, though, it was over, and Reid chuckled as he pushed into me.
“I made you fall asleep. That’s not good,” he mused, though his lips curved up.
“I don’t think I’ve been so relaxed in weeks. I could listen to that song every night.”
“I’ll take that compliment.”
“You should. It was beautiful.” I glanced over to see if the woman was still around, but after Reid’s emotional display, she must’ve slipped off to the back to give us some privacy. “You know, I think the woman who works here was your teacher.”
Reid’s mouth tilted up on one side. “She’s not the one I grew up with, but…maybe later? I don’t know. I’d feel strange asking, though.”
“Nah, just say, ‘Hey, I’ve had a massive brain injury and I have no idea who the hell you are, so can you enlighten me, please?’”
He laughed. “Just like that, huh?”
“Yep. Easy.” I looked down at where his fingers were still on the keys. “And speaking of easy… Care to play me another?”
“Yeah?” he asked, his grin growing wider. “Okay, let’s see.” After a moment, he began to play an upbeat, happy tune that I recognized but couldn’t place, and he danced along a little in his seat, causing us both to chuckle.
“Reid, this is obviously something you’re amazing at, and if you were making a living doing what you loved, then why would you give it up? Did…Natasha…know?”
“Apparently, my parents weren’t very keen on my career choice.
Which is funny when you consider that they forced me to take piano lessons three times a week growing up.
To be cultured,” he said with a smile. “I think they meant the lessons to be more of a ‘keeping me out of trouble’ thing than a career.”
I raised an eyebrow. “They have something against the arts?”
“It’s just not a ‘real’ job. My parents… The thing is, they didn’t come from money. My dad worked his way up through the bank, and it was practically drilled into my head growing up that I needed college and a steady job.”
“It’s your life.”
“Yeah. But what happens when you can’t pay the bills and your family offers you some sort of stability? A new car, an apartment, a way to get on my feet financially instead of traveling like a gypsy and hoping for a gig.”
“You took it.”
“I took it.” Reid sighed. “They’re good people. They mean the best, I know they do. But it’s hard not to be resentful after everything that’s happened—”
“Because you wouldn’t have been back here with a new car, and there wouldn’t have been an accident,” I finished. “That’s a good reason to be pissed off to me, but I’d be willing to bet their guilt is just as bad.”
“That’s why I’m trying not to be pissed.”
“Well, things could be worse. You could be a banker like your dad. Although middle schoolers might be worse. What’s your mom do?”
Reid looked up at me and smiled sadly. “Mom’s a teacher.”
Ahh. Well, there you have it. He didn’t have to say anything else. The pressures of family and a lack of money would lead anyone to choose the stable life.
As Reid finished the last few notes, I began to clap, and then he stood and gave an exaggerated bow.
“I think you deserve a tip after that.”
“Twenties and fifties only, please.”
“Damn. If that’s the going rate for a pianist tip these days, I’ll have to stay home. I was thinking of something a little sweeter?”
“Oh yeah? I’m willing to negotiate.”
“It all depends on if you’re still full. There’s a killer ice cream shop down the street, and—”
“Sold,” Reid said, grabbing my arm to pull me off the bench, while I laughed at his eagerness.
“Ice cream is his kryptonite. Good to know,” I said to myself as I got to my feet.
“Hurry up, Ollie,” Reid said, his eyes glittering. “I’m suddenly starving.”