The song was familiar to her almost immediately, although she’d never known what it was called. When she looked up, Gabriel was watching her, and she smiled at him.
‘I know this,’ she said. ‘It’s beautiful. Don’t brides sometimes walk down the aisle to this?’
He nodded. ‘They do. To be honest, it took me a moment, seeing this part out of context like that, but the moment I played it—’
‘You played the sheet of music I gave you?’ She sighed. ‘Of course you did. I wish I’d been there to hear it.’How special would that have been, seeing the sheet of music come to life on his violin.
‘It’s a stunning piece when it’s played well, and my guess is that it was an important piece for whomever the violinist was. Perhaps they had been practising it for a concert or an audition? Perhaps this was their one chance to prove themselves?’ Gabriel laughed. ‘I might be getting carried away in the story of it all, but there’s something about it, the whole romance of it being left behind, I suppose. I mean, there has to be a story behind it, right?’
‘So we’re thinking that this piece was for something special, an audition perhaps, and this B, whoever they are, wrote a little note of encouragement on the sheet?’
Gabriel nodded. ‘I think that’s the only explanation. But how you ever find out who B was, I don’t know. It seems like a complete needle-in-a-haystack situation if you ask me, although I’m prepared to keep showing it around. Who knows, maybe one of the older members will know more. Our principal violinist has been away due to illness, but when he’s back, I want to see what his take is.’
‘Thank you,’ Ella said. ‘Even if we find out nothing else, I’m so grateful that you’ve pieced together a little of the puzzle for me.’
‘So, what’s next?’
She sighed, taking a sip of wine. ‘There is no next. I don’t know what else I could do, because how would I ever find the women in the photo? I mean, the only thing I’m certain of is that it was taken on one of the Greek islands, potentially the island of Skopelos.’
He leaned forwards, his eyes on hers. ‘Ella, what if you went to Greece?’
She spluttered her next sip of wine. ‘You think I should travel to Greece?’
‘Why not? You’ve just told me that you don’t have any other leads, and if the only starting point is an island…’ He laughed. ‘Tell me you haven’t already considered it?’
She sighed, knowing she needed to be truthful. ‘Of course I’ve considered it. But I decided it was mad and impulsive and—’
‘A brilliant idea?’ he finished for her, reaching over and stroking her hand, his thumb against hers. ‘You’ve told me a few things tonight. One of them is that the photograph points to Greece, and the other is that you wished you’d followed your heart and become an artist.’ He paused, his eyes searching her face. ‘So would it be so mad for you to take some time off work to have a holiday, and solve a mystery along the way? There are worse places to go than Greece, you know.’
That made her laugh. ‘There are mostdefinitelyworse places to go than Greece.’
Gabriel poured them both another glass of wine as she digested his words. Would it be so mad to take some time off? She’d been telling herself for months that she needed to have a break, so that she didn’t burn out, or that one day she simply might not be able to face going into the gallery. She loved it there, but it took everything from her. And she had seen that gorgeous little house for rent…
‘Look, it’s not every day you find out that clues left to your grandmother about her birth have surfaced. Your family could have a secret heritage that you’d never otherwise uncover, and who knows? You might have time to rediscover your passion for painting while you’re there.’
She didn’t tell him that she’d already been so inspired by him that she’d gone and bought supplies to start painting again.
‘So I go there with the intention of looking for a beautiful Greek woman who may or may not play the violin?’
Gabriel groaned. ‘Unfortunately, I think you’re looking for anoldGreek woman who may or may not play the violin. But there’s a chance someone might recognise her in the photo, or remember a woman who left the island to follow her dream of becoming a musician.’
‘Or an old man,’ Ella mused. ‘I keep thinking this sheet of music must have belonged to my great-grandmother, but what if it belonged to my grandma’s father? Maybe the music belonged to a man?’
‘Do you know what I think?’ Gabriel asked.
She watched him expectantly, unable to drag her eyes from his as they seemed to dance under the lights in the restaurant.
‘I think we should order our food before the kitchen closes. Our server has been hovering for at least an hour, and I fear that if we don’t order what we want soon, the server won’t be able to bring us anything.’
They both laughed, and Ella wondered all over again how she could be so relaxed with Gabe after so many years apart. His company was lively and fun, the way he smiled at her making her feel more alive, moreseen, than she had in a very long time.
‘But while we wait for our food, how about you show me the photo?’ Gabriel asked, shuffling his chair closer to hers. ‘I’m rather invested in the whole mystery of it now.’
Ella grinned, more than happy to oblige as she took the photo from the box and slid it the short distance across the table for Gabriel to see.
* * *
It had been the most enjoyable evening with Gabe. He was kind and funny and ridiculously charming, and even if they never crossed paths again, she’d had a wonderful time with him. Although deep down, she was very much hoping to see him again.
