For Money or Love by Heather Blackmore

Author:Heather Blackmore [Blackmore, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626397576
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2016-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

*

Once Jess turned onto Mountain Avenue, TJ asked, “We’re going to GU?” Griffin University was where she was studying for her degree.

Jess cast TJ a sideways glance. “We are.”

“Are we here to study?”

“In a matter of speaking.”

At the guard kiosk, Jess handed over her driver’s license and a GU ID card.

“You’re an alum?” TJ asked.

With a wink, Jess said, “No. Family discount.”

“Ah.” Given that one of the university’s graduate programs was in Derrick Spaulding’s name, TJ understood the perk. In all likelihood, as a member of a family that had donated millions to the university, Jess had access to every nook and cranny of its hallowed grounds and halls.

“Don’t go thinking you know what you’re in for, because I assure you, you don’t.” Jess stuffed her identification cards back into her purse and accelerated.

“I’m with you. Surprises are the norm.”

Jess parked in one of the staff lots at the Performing Arts section of campus. She pulled an insulated carrier from the trunk and headed up the walking path. “Follow me.”

Winded after climbing the many steps to the top of the hill, they stopped and caught their breath. “Hear that?” Jess asked as their breathing returned to normal.

“Piano?”

“Eine kleine Nachtmusik.” Jess paused to listen. “Not that piece specifically, but that’s what we’re here for: a little night music. Come on.” Jess headed for a set of small cabin-size buildings that rested on the path’s decline. She stopped at a picnic table several yards from the first cabin. “Have you been here?” At TJ’s head shake, Jess said, “These are piano practice rooms. Anyone can come here to play.” She waved TJ over to sit next to her. “The soundproofing’s good but far from perfect. If you’re in a room, you can’t hear much on the outside. But if you’re outside, you can get a flavor for the musician. Occasionally, one will invite me in to listen.”

The person in the room closest was practicing scales. Jess started down the path and stopped outside the second cabin. No sound emanated from its walls, and the darkened skylight in the angled roof indicated it was empty.

As they made their way still lower, TJ began to hear another piano. It was subtle, as if a sea of pillows surrounded the instrument. The pianist was well into whatever song it was, as far as TJ could tell. Jess’s eyes grew wide, and she covered her mouth before excitedly pointing to TJ to sit on the picnic-table bench outside the small building.

The music was magnificent. TJ couldn’t imagine that a student’s hands were bringing the piece to life. Surely this had to be some sort of maestro? TJ was familiar with the music but didn’t know its title or composer.

When the piece concluded, silence again filled the night sky except for faint notes echoing from the other piano rooms. “That was sublime,” TJ said, not sure why she whispered. With whatever insulation was built into the rooms, it seemed no one but Jess might hear her for miles.

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