“I’m thinking we should let Mr. Norris know we can play this weekend at the Roadhouse again. What do you think?” Maddy’s question brought Whitney’s good spirits to a crashing halt.
“Must we so soon?” Did that sound like a whine? She worked to keep her breathing slow and steady but couldn’t stop the rapid beat of her heart.
All eyes shifted to her. Why had she even bothered to open her mouth? Why did Maddy have to bring up the subject in the first place?
“Is something wrong?”
“Are you not feeling well?”
“We all miss Granddad...”
Everyone spoke at once.
Whitney dabbed her napkin to her lips. She was too tired to deal with this right now. Laying the cloth down, she took a steadying breath. “I don’t mind if you and Havyn play without me.” She looked at Maddy’s shocked face. “But I don’t want to. I’m not sure if I’ll want to do that anymore. I’m sorry.”
Shock seemed to be the expression of the moment. Then Havyn started crying.
Which made Maddy wrap her arms around their sister and cry too.
Which made Daniel and John comfort their wives.
Which made Whitney feel like a heel.
She stood. “Excuse me, I’m going to head to bed. I’m really tired.”
But as she left the room, her feet took her to the piano instead. The music toFantaisie-Impromptulay open. Right where she left off.
Her fingers itched to play.
It wouldn’t do any good. She didn’t learn the piece when Mama asked. Didn’t play it for Granddad.
She’d missed her chance. And now ...
Well, Maddy and Havyn had Daniel and John. They didn’t need her. Their music would be beautiful without her.
She closed the music and tucked it back onto the shelf and then shut the lid to the piano. There. For now, it was best.
As soon as she walked away from the piano, she regretted it. What waswrongwith her? She loved music. Loved her family.
When she made it to her room, Ruth was there, waiting. “Punishing yourself isn’t going to do any good.”
Whitney frowned. Pushed past Ruth into the room. “I’m not punishing myself.”
“I saw how you looked at the piano just now. You can’t fool me.”
She shot a glare at Ruth. “You don’t know me. I know you think you do, but you don’t. You don’t understand what I’ve been through. Everything that I’ve lost. Everything that has changed.”
“Whitney!” Havyn’s voice, full of shock and shame, came from the hallway.
“Keep at it, sis. You’ve almost got that motherly scolding voice down.” Where was this snippy tone coming from? She put a hand to her forehead. Here came the pain. Good grief. She needed a drink. But she needed all of them to leave so she could have one.
Havyn put a hand to her belly and took a long, deep breath. A sure sign she was tempering her words. “Look. I came back here to tell you what happened. We didn’t discuss it at dinner. I know we promised not to do anything without you, but the hotel caught fire and we had to move Ruth and the kids here. We went ahead and moved everyone’s rooms around. Just like we talked about.”
“All except yours.” Maddy tossed in from behind their sister.
“I see.” Whitney darted her gaze to Ruth.
“I think we need to get some rest. Tensions have been high lately, so why don’t we talk in the morning?”
