Beautiful Music Read Free

in apology. “What’s wrong with Mary?”
    He sighed. “Mary’s hurt herself worse than we thought. Madel- er, The Madame took her to the physician around 5 this morning. I have no idea when she’ll be back.”
    Rahab settled back a bit, biting her lip.
    “I thought it was pretty bad. I mean, you should have seen how she landed. I think everyone in the theatre heard the snap. And if they didn’t, they certainly heard her call for you.”
    Alaric sat up more, in a panic.
    “Snap?” he asked.
    “Crunch, crack, snap, it’s all the same sound. That’s why I was surprised that she didn’t run right off the physician… You mean you didn’t know it could have broken?”
    “I considered it…It didn’t look as such… damn” Alaric threw off his blankets, getting up. “This could affect her whole career.”
    “Mary doesn’t want to dance all her life.”Rahab settled down into the warmth Alaric had left.
    “She wants to sing. She wants you to teach her to sing like you teach Carol. She wants you to pay attention to her like you do Carol.”
    Alaric turned around softly.
    “Have you ever even heard her sing, Alaric?”Rahab continued, her voice sounding odd. “Have you ever even listened to your daughter’s love of music, just like you?” She gulped then, looking up at the Recluse, his tall frame seeming tired, weighed down as he sighed.
    “Is it beautiful?” he asked, unmoving. Rahab nodded.
    “Yes. I’ve never heard a voice so high, and yet it’s so childish and cute…It’s beautiful like her…”
    At that moment, Rahab’s eyes filled with tears and Alaric realized it was more than just Mary who was asking for attention. He settled back down into the nest of blankets.
    “And you, Rahab? What is it you want? What troubles you such, angel?”
    The girl fiddled with the ring on her finger for a bit, and it was then Alaric realized that she was no more an adult then Mary. Try as she would to be his best friend, and she was, her fears of going out into the world and leaving her. And Rahab was already engaged, ready to be married…yet, not.
    “I miss you,” She managed. “I’m so scared, Alaric. I don’t know what’s going to happen, to you, or me, or everybody…I’m scared…When did we stop being friends, Alaric? When did you stop loving me?”
    “Rahab…” He said, astonished that she would even ask such a question.
    “It’s true. I used to be able to spend my nights and days down here, to tell you everything. Now every time I touch you, you tense, every time I hug you, you freeze. What changed?”
    He sighed, wrapping his arms around her, asking himself the question. What had changed? What excuse did he have for neglecting this child, really? Because they gave into lust once? That wasn’t about each other, that was lust, need… and the friendship to give it. Because he and Madeline had grown closer…was that any reason why Rahab couldn’t be around as well during their “dinners”? Because he was smitten with Carol? What difference did it make, it’s not that he was in love with Rahab.
    “Nothing. Nothing changed. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he whispered, reaching down to cover her ringed hand with his gloved one. “I wish I could have been here for all of this, Rahab… Helped you through all of this…” He looked at her tear streaked face, the only one he found physically beautiful. And when he saw the fear in her eyes, he understood something else. “You’re leaving us, aren’t you Rahab?”
    She nodded, burying her face in his chest. He took a shuddering breath, trying to come up with the right words to encourage her in something he didn’t want her to do.
    “Why so sad? You’ll be off to live with the man of your dreams, on your own, the lady of the house, and what a wonderful one you will make as well.”
    “But I’ll miss you, Alaric!” She sobbed harder, clinging to him. “I’ll miss you! I love you!”
    “Rahab…” His voice broke slightly, as he tried