Cecilia's Secret by Sharon Ryan

Author:Sharon Ryan [Ryan, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2020-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

By six o’clock, Peter wheeled his wife onto the stage, and Cecil noticed that Jerri was becoming increasingly decrepit. Perhaps the matron’s anger was making her lame.

“Friends,” Jerri shouted while moving her arms wildly, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your support, neither I nor our lovely girls of the night would be able to survive. Your business is extraordinary, excessive. You are simpatico. We owe you a debt. This afternoon, I offer you an angelic voice: the talented Cecil Lammott.”

Jerri clapped wildly, and so did a few men in the crowd.

Cecil took the stage and as the pianist began to play a somber melody, Cecil sang the following:

I know thy tender heart, Mother

Still beats as warm for me

As when I left thee, years ago,

To cross the broad, blue sea;

And I love thee just the same, Mother,

And long to hear thee speak

As Cecil sang, she looked up at Jerri, who sat grinning with eyes closed as she took in the song. One of the girls, surely not older than seventeen, ran out to Jerri, and she was clearly distraught. Jerri opened her eyes, and with both hands, held the girl’s small face. Cecil could tell that Jerri was speaking to her in a stern, condescending voice. As the girl walked away, Cecil was positive that she saw tears.

Cecil looked at the crowd of drinking men, all uninterested in her performance, the tragedy of her song. However, she noticed a handsome young man with blond hair who focused on Cecil, clearly enjoying the music. When Cecil finished, she smiled at the young man. He smiled at her, too. She wanted to talk to him but knew that she would have to go upstairs to drink with Jerri Embry to celebrate the performance.

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