Jingle Bell Romance by Mia Ross

Author:Mia Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Lainie had to be at the church early Wednesday night, something about one of the wise men needing a bigger turban. Feeling generous, Nick offered to keep an eye on Hannah until rehearsal started. Fortunately, that was easy. All he had to do was sit down at the piano.

Skipping up behind him, she stopped and gazed longingly at the old upright. “I really love the way you play, Uncle Nick. It’s so pretty.”

Beginning the simple warm-up his mother had taught him as a child, he grinned. “It’s not hard. Wanna try?”

Frowning, she held up her hands. “Aren’t they too small?”

“Actually, they’re just the right size.” To prove it, he took them in his and placed them over the keys. She couldn’t span as many notes as he did, but he showed her how to glide along and do a basic scale.

“I did it!” Clearly delighted, she gave him a gap-toothed grin. “Can you teach me a song?”

“Depends on which one you want to learn. Some are harder than others.”

“‘Silent Night,’” she replied instantly. “It’s Mommy’s favorite Christmas song.”

That one I can manage, Nick thought with a grin of his own. “Sure, munchkin. Just do what I do.”

Concentrating intently, she mimicked him more closely than he’d expected. She missed a couple of black keys, but when they went through it again she played it flawlessly. When he heard her humming along, he suggested, “Let’s sing it, just for fun.”

She was a natural with music, he thought, like Lainie. Because she wasn’t wrapped up in deciphering the written notes and trying to get them right, Hannah played with an ease that amazed him. Nick was a decent pianist, and he had a fair voice, but his talent paled in comparison to his niece’s.

“You’re fantastic all on your own.” He complimented her without reservation. “If you got some lessons with Gramma, you’d be awesome.”

“Really?”

“Definitely. How ’bout we play it again?” he suggested. “This time, I’ll add in the chords while you do the melody, and we’ll see how it sounds.”

Partway in, another voice picked up the alto harmony line, and Nick glanced back to find his mother standing behind them. When they reached the end, she spread her arms to hug them both. “Very pretty, you two. It does this Irish heart good to hear such fine music in my family.”

“Uncle Nick taught me, Gramma,” Hannah informed her proudly. “He’s really good.”

“I had a great teacher,” he added, smiling up at his mother. “Turns out, I remember more than I thought.”

Beaming, she patted his shoulder in a fond gesture. “I’m so glad.”

“How’s Dad feeling?”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “Well enough to ignore the doctor’s orders. When I left, he was outside knocking icicles off the gutters. Todd offered to do it, but your father wouldn’t let him.”

Nick felt a stab of guilt as his mother headed for the choir box. With the frigid weather settling in, he should’ve thought to help out at their place. He’d been so busy

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