“I looked it up recently actually.Music therapy.Bryan mentioned it as an option for you after seeing everything you’ve been doing for those kids at the rec center.”
“That isn’t music therapy.”
Seth turned the sink on and washed his hands.After he finished and dried his hands, he turned to me, crossing his arms over his chest.Again, I was momentarily distracted by his forearm.“What do you think music therapy is?”
I shrugged.“Sitting in a room and listening to music?”
“You should look into it.While you aren’t working as a therapist, what you’ve been doing for them falls in line, I think.You are giving those kids a safe space to express themselves in ways that they haven’t been able to.And we both know they need that.And you’re doing it without even realizing how special those music classes are for them.Just look at the holiday concert.Half the participants created their own songs for it.Because of you.Your help.Your support.Your encouragement.”
Seth pulled me into a hug, barely giving me time to safely put the knife down before I stabbed one of us.
“I love and hate how much you do for them and you don’t even realize it.If anything, you probably feel like you don’t do enough for them.”
I sunk into Seth, listening to his voice as it rumbled through his chest, letting it quiet everything in me.That was something that was happening more and more often lately with the guys.When I was with them, when they talked to me, gave me hugs, touched me, I became quieter in a comfortable, settled way.Like they calmed me into a state of peacefulness that I hadn’t felt in a while.It was becoming scary addicting.
“Music therapy,” I whispered.
“There’s something to consider.You keep your connection to music and you work with children.Seems like a good fit for you.”
“It’s definitely tempting.When I think about everything I’ve done, my favorite has been when I worked with the other kids.Especially with Calvin.”I let the idea of it settle inside me.It felt nice.Right.“I’ll look into it.”
“And if it doesn’t, look up circus schools.I think those exist too if you really want to be a mime.”
I laughed and nudged my elbow gently into his side as a warning.“Where did that come from?”
“I just figured Toby rubbed off on you.I caught him looking at circus schools the other day.”
“Are you serious?”
Seth nodded slowly.“Telling Aunt Laura was the most hilarious moment in a long time.She was ready to find him and knock some sense into him.”
We laughed as we finished cooking dinner and Seth told me more Toby moments of silliness when it came to researching different degrees.Like when he seriously considered puppetry or even floral design.
Chapter Eleven
Thanks to Seth’s tutoring, I was doing a lot better in the kitchen.Which meant when Dad arrived for our weekly dinner on Thursday, I’d managed to not burn the house down and the food actually looked okay.The chicken was a little darker than I would have liked, but at least I knew it was cooked through.
