Rayne laughed and took Garrett’s outstretched hand as they walked into the dim interior of the venue. It was small and intimate and she wondered what type of concert they were seeing. Garrett handed her the program and she smiled in gratitude.
She heard a gasp to her right and looked over curiously to see a large man pointing at her and whispering to his companion. She quickly averted her face and hurried after Garrett as he pulled her to the front row.
“Rob’s the best. It doesn’t matter if we’re watching the Mariners play or someone play the violin, he always insists on sitting on the front row,” Garrett said as he nudged her in front of him so she could sit by Wren, leaving him to sit by some nameless stranger. She was kind of relieved, hoping the sight of Garrett’s muscles and hard features would frighten off anyone who was tempted to approach her. Too bad, sitting on the front row meant that anyone could walk up and stand right in front of her though.
The same man who had gasped loudly at the sight of her now stood in front of her with a man wearing a tuxedo at his side.
“Excuse me, but are you Rayne Nyman?” he asked reverently, clasping his hands as if he was praying in church.
Rayne nodded her head sharply and folded her hands in her lap. “I am.”
The man’s chest heaved as he clutched his heart. “It would be the greatest honor if you’d play a song at the end of our program. Just having you here at our benefit . . . there are no words. To know that we have your support and that you’d come tonight . . .”
Rayne watched in horror as the man wiped a tear away and she bit her lip uncomfortably as she felt the heavy weight of Rob and Wren’s stares. She nodded her head. “Fine, I’ll play one piece at the very end. But just one,” she said wishing once again that she could just go out on one date with Garrett without being recognized.
The man gasped again and turned to the man in the tuxedo who had covered his mouth with his hand, he was so overcome. The man bowed to her bringing even more curious stares her way and she blushed, wishing she and Garrett had just gone out to the movies instead now.
“You Ms. Nyman are an angel sent from God. Blessings on you. Blessings on you,” he said over and over as the man in the tuxedo pulled him away.
She smoothed her hair back as Wren and Rob leaned around her to stare at Garrett in surprise.
“Care to introduce us to your date again, Garrett?” Rob asked sounding curious.
Garrett smiled and put an arm around her, making her feel immediately better. “Rayne is a world renowned concert pianist. We went out to dinner the other night and a couple came by and about had a heart attack that they were seeing her in person. She’s kind of a big deal,” he added, sounding almost grim for a moment.
Rayne looked up at him but his face was expressionless and he leaned down and kissed her lightly.
“You’re kidding me,” Rob said doubtfully. “You usually date girls you meet playing pool or girls Taryn forces you to take out. How in the world did you meet a
concert pianist
?” he said looking at her as if she was an exotic animal in a zoo.
Rayne sighed lightly and licked her lips, not feeling so alive any more. She felt Wren touch her arm and looked up to see her smiling in embarrassment. “Sorry, Rayne, Rob doesn’t mean to talk about you as if you were a zoo animal. Just ignore him.”
Rob winced and smiled in embarrassment. “Sorry, Rayne. Ignore me,” he said quickly and sat back as Wren turned and glared at him.
Rayne felt a finger on her chin and she turned and looked up into Garrett’s face and found him frowning. “You okay? You look so sad. Rob didn’t mean anything by it. In a really strange way, it was a compliment.”
Rayne tried to smile and shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Garrett looked at her doubtfully, but let it go as the lights signaled the beginning. Everyone quieted down and Rayne sat back and enjoyed the concert more than she had thought possible. Most of the performers were young and just starting out in their careers. She watched their faces as they each finished their pieces and she remembered what it was like to be so nervous. She smiled as a young Asian man stood up and pumped his fist into the air. The crowd loved it and clapped harder. She laughed and wondered when the last time was that she had felt that excited about performing.
The man who had approached her earlier took the mic and cleared his throat and everyone quieted down.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, our next performer is not listed on the program but I could not be more excited to announce that Rayne Nyman is here in our midst and she has kindly and generously agreed to play for us. To know that an esteemed and lauded musician like Rayne Nyman supports the Elizabeth Smart Foundation is incredibly humbling. Ladies and Gentlemen . . . Rayne Nyman.”
Rayne stood up slowly as the sound of applause rose to a deafening level. She walked up the stairs and loosened her fingers as she walked to the mic. She smiled into the bright lights and waited for the clapping to fade.
“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s an honor to be here tonight with all of you. I’m gratified that my presence will in some small way benefit this worthy foundation. And as always, please be generous tonight,” she added and then turned and walked towards the piano. She fell back into concert mode and blocked everything out except for the piano in front of her.
She closed her eyes and let her fingers gently touch the keys and suddenly knew what she would play. Mozart’s concerto No. 22 in E Flat. One of her favorites. She opened her eyes and began, pouring her heart and soul into the music, still relishing the excitement and joy in music that she’d witnessed from the other performers. She let it build inside and at the end of the piece she was surprised to find that her heart was beating fast and that she was grinning. She stood up fluidly and moved away from the bench, bowing to the crowd as the audience exploded with applause and shouts of
Brava!
She was tempted to throw her fist into the air but restrained herself. She bowed again and then looked to where Garrett was standing with everyone else. Her smiled dimmed as she saw that he didn’t look happy. He looked worried.
She waved to the crowd and walked off the stage to another wave of applause and sat down again. She let out a big breath and concentrated on relaxing all of her muscle groups one by one. When she looked up, she saw Wren in her line of site staring at her with big eyes. She noticed Rob was leaning around his wife, staring at her in awe and she sighed, wishing suddenly for the blessed anonymity that she’d enjoyed for too short a time. Now Garrett’s friends wouldn’t look at her and see her. They’d see the concert pianist.
“It’s too bad you can’t play that well,” Wren said with a pitying look in her eyes.
Rob choked as Garrett whipped his head around in shock. Rayne felt her mouth lift in a small smile. “Do you mean it?”
Wren nodded her head. “It’s a shame really.”
Rayne grinned and reached out a hand to Wren. Wren shook her hand. “Friends not fans,” she said firmly.
Rayne leaned her head back as a little bit of joy and aliveness came back. “Friends, not fans. Love it. We’re hanging out.”
Wren nodded her head. “We’ll do more than that. You’re coming to the restaurant next week and I’m making you lunch.”
Rayne nodded her head eagerly. “I can’t wait.”
Rob and Garrett looked at each other in confusion as she and Wren chatted comfortably. They left each other with a hug in the parking lot and it wasn’t until Garrett had her in his truck and driving down the freeway that she stopped grinning her head off.
“So I’m a little lost. Wren tells you your performance stinks and then you’re best friends? I will admit right now that I don’t understand women at all. I thought you were magnificent,” he said quietly, sounding somber. “My heart was racing right along with the music. I’ve never enjoyed a performance more. It’s right up there with the 3 Doors Down concert I went to last year.”
Rayne had never heard of 3 Doors Down but decided to take it as a compliment. “Two things. Thank you. I’m always gratified when I can make someone feel something. And what you heard and what was said were two different things. Wren telling me I didn’t play that good was her way of saying,
you know what, I can see that you play the piano and that you’re pretty good at it, but I’m going to see you as a real human being and I’m going to be your friend. I won’t idolize you and make this weird.
Honestly, one of the nicest moments of my life,” she admitted, smiling widely again.
Garrett smiled at her and shook his head. “Like I said, I’ll never understand women, but I’m glad you do.”
Rayne turned in her seat and studied Garrett with a slight frown. “When I was up on the stage, and I looked down at you, you were frowning. You looked sad.
Why?”
Garrett grimaced and stared out the window before glancing at her. “You’re a star, Rayne. You don’t belong in Fircrest, Washington. You belong in Europe. You belong on the biggest, brightest stages of the world. And you definitely don’t belong with some regular guy like me. You belong with someone who knows the difference between Mozart and Chopin. I don’t.”
Rayne sucked in her breath as if she’d been slapped and turned away and looked out the side window as she stared at the passing car lights. Here she was again. Too different. Like always.
“So what is this Garrett? You don’t want to date me anymore because I play the piano?” she asked, wishing her voice didn’t sound so shaky.
Garrett frowned and ran his hand through his hair. “
No
, you’re not that lucky. If I was a good guy, I’d step back and let that idiot in the sweater vest slip back into your life. I probably shouldn’t be dating you, but I don’t care. I’m going to anyways,” he said quietly, making her whip her head around and stare at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Rayne swallowed and closed her eyes, wondering why she felt so relieved. “You’re such a good guy Garrett. I love being with you. Please don’t categorize me or yourself. I’m just a girl and you’re just a guy.”
Garrett snorted and glanced at her out of the side of his eyes. “You made Rob cry. I saw him wipe a tear off his cheek. You’re not a just
anything,
Rayne. But you’re right about me. I’m just a guy who can’t seem to stop thinking about you. I’m just a guy who can’t stop wanting to kiss you.”
Rayne smiled slowly and reached out slowly to touch the side of his hand resting on the seat. He automatically clasped her hand in his and she felt her heart begin to beat again. “What if I admitted that I can’t stop thinking about you either and that when I see you, I automatically wonder when you’ll kiss me again?”
Garrett’s shoulders relaxed a little and he turned and grinned at her. “I’d have to point out the fact that you’re thinking a lot about a guy from the wrong side of the tracks and that someday down the road, you’re going to figure that out.”
Rayne frowned at him. “That’s so Romeo and Juliet. Look Garrett, I’m not into pointless tragedies based on idiotic false ideas of the worth of people based on their bank accounts or background and heritage. Either man up and be in this dating thing with me or drop me off at the corner and I’ll walk home,” she said feeling a lick of anger whip through her body.
Garrett laughed softly and pulled into the parking lot right next to the street light. She stared at him in exasperation and then opened the truck door and jumped out, so mad she could spit. She’d never in her life spit in public but she was close.
She marched toward the street corner and wondered exactly how far she was from home and how far she was going to make it in three inch heels.
“Hey there, firecracker.”
Rayne ignored him and reached the street light and pushed the button for walking. “Please ignore my presence you measly landscaper. I’m too far above you to be seen talking with you, let alone associating with you, dating you or horror of all horrors, kissing you,” she said in her snottiest voice and then surprised herself by spitting.