Skye sighed in frustration.“Jordan,” she began self-consciously, “it’s my neighbor.”
“So I heard,” Jordan said in a voice that sounded very much like a snarl.“I want to talk to you, Skye.Get rid of him.”
Skye turned her back to John and cupped her hand over the mouth of the receiver.“I tried,” she whispered spiritedly.Jordan was out of sorts; Skye could feel his impatience.“I want to talk to you, too,” she added so there would be no doubt where her preference lay.
His breath was expelled harshly.“All right, I’ll phone back in ten minutes.Will that give you enough time?”
“Yes...yes, I think so.”
Actually it took her only five minutes and a few choice words to show John exactly what she thought of his rude behavior.Because of his unfailing belief in his male charm, Skye’s repeated rejection had fueled a challenge too blatant to be ignored.When she told him that if he bothered her again she would contact the apartment manager, John looked totally confused.Women didn’t usually treat his attention lightly.
The phone only rang once.“Jordan?”
He didn’t bother with a greeting.“Is he gone?”
“Yes, he’s gone.”She took the phone and curled up on the davenport.“And good riddance.”She laughed lightly.
“As I was saying,” Jordan began again, “I’ve had a change in plans.I’ve got to cancel tomorrow, but I should be in Frisco in about two weeks.How about dinner then?”
“Fine,” Skye said shamelessly.She didn’t even bother to look at her calendar; if other plans had been made, she’d cancel them.Being with Jordan was worth more than anything she could have scheduled.
“Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, give me the full name of that singer from the hospital again.I’d like to have Dan Murphy contact her.From the little I heard, the girl’s got talent, exceptional talent.”
“Dan Murphy?”
“He’s the fellow who owns the radio station that employs yours truly.”
“Oh.”Skye had backed herself into a corner, forced to tell another white lie.“I told you her name is Jane, but honestly, Jordan, I don’t think she’s interested.”
“You sound jealous.”It was an accusation that rankled.
“That’s ridiculous,” she denied.“It’s just that I find it disconcerting to have you phone me to ask about another woman.”
They spoke for only a few minutes longer, the conversation suddenly stilted and unnatural.Skye replaced the receiver with a heavy heart.Her father had told her several years ago thata liar is a fool who buries himself with deceit.And here she was digging her own grave.Skye had always thought of herself as an honest person, yet somehow she had fallen into the habit of telling white lies.Had she been living a lie for so long that it had become second nature for her to utter half-truths indiscriminately?She had lied to herself and lied to God for eight years.Darn you, Jordan Kiley,she thought,for what you’re doing to me, and bless you, too, for forcing me into the light.
Skye didn’t hear from Jordan for the remainder of the week.She’d scheduled several projects for herself, including painting the kitchen and some spring cleaning, so her days were full and busy.Nonetheless, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed that Jordan hadn’t called.It had become of primary importance that she talk to him and explain her deception.She hadn’t meant to lie; it had begun as a joke but had soon ballooned into a full-scale untruth.
The following Monday morning the children were happy and excited to be back in school.Skye had always loved children and was normally very patient, but by early afternoon she found herself snapping and fidgeting.
“How many times have I told you not to run in the classroom, David?How many?”she lashed out at the youngster from her desk.
Five-year-old David stared at her, his lower lip quivering.“I’m sorry, Miss Garvin, I won’t run again.”
Yelling was no way to deal effectively with children, and Skye immediately felt guilty.“I’m sorry, too, David.I shouldn’t have shouted.”
What had gotten into her to behave this way with the children?The answer was obvious.Misleading Jordan was weighing heavily on her mind, and she desperately needed to clear up things between them.
Tuesday night, after fulfilling her volunteer duties, Skye remained later than usual waiting for Sally.A melody had been running through her mind most of the day, so while Sally finished up a few odds and ends Skye sat at the piano in the reception room.Slowly her fingers moved over the keys, transcribing the melody into notes.The pencil held in her mouth was jerked from its location countless times as she scratched out the notes and marked new ones on the music sheet.Finally satisfied, she set the pencil down, ready to play the piece through.
The familiar sound of Sally’s footsteps echoed from the back of the room.
“Listen to this,” Skye commanded without turning, not wishing to break her concentration.Her fingers played the first chords of the introduction, filling the silent room with vibrating sound.The song had a natural rhythm, and Skye stopped only once to change a single note.The music was bright and breezy, as her songs often were, with the kind of melodies that made people want to sing along and tap their feet.As the final notes faded, Skye smiled in satisfaction.A sense of accomplishment came over her.It was a good beginning, and the words were beginning to form in her mind.
“Sounds good, doesn’t it?”she asked Sally, turning toward her friend.
But it wasn’t Sally who stood behind her.
“Jordan,” she whispered in disbelief.
