For the Love of Music (Sixty Minute Romance) Read Free Page B

shouted back. Ed packed his guitar away into a hard case with his music. The
driver took the guitar and went on out to the car.
    “I can’t wait to get my
own car, it’s coming in a few weeks. So do you want to do this again?” Ed
wanted a definite ‘yes’ from Anne.
    “Same time, same place,
next week?” Anne asked, she was still recovering from the experience of playing
such good music together with Ed.
    “Suits me.” Ed went after
his lift in his wheelchair leaving Anne and Gail looking at each other.
    “You never told me you
could play like that.” Gail said, still mopping up her face from her tears.
    “You never asked.” Anne
replied.

Chapter Three
     
    The following four weeks
went as planned with Ed and Anne playing together at the old concert hall. Gail
was not needed anymore as a chaperone and Anne went on her own. As the weeks
had gone on, they had started chatting to each other and generally getting on
well. They had a lot in common. They had both played their instruments since an
early age. They had also both studied at Music College.
    They needed short breaks
between pieces, because when they played the music together, they both became
totally consumed and involved in the music. They couldn’t think of anything
else but the music. Anne started looking forward to the sessions each week and
began to think that she was getting at least as much benefit out of them as Ed
was.
    Ed stopped being quite so
blunt and forthright, and even showed signs of appreciation for what Anne was
doing in playing with him.
    On the fifth week, Ed brought
two friends with him. His plan was that they would  just sit and listened to Ed
and Anne playing together.
    “I hoped you wouldn’t
mind. These are just about the only two sensible guys from Mandeville I could
bring. They like hearing me play solo and wanted to hear us play together.” Ed
said.
    “Well, I do mind Ed! I
hope you are not showing me off to your mates for fun.” replied Anne. Anne knew
that Ed did not understand subtleties in conversation. So she always spoke the
bare truth to Ed, knowing that he would respect and understand it.
    “Way to go Sergeant. We
are all in trouble now.” The two guys enjoyed Ed’s embarrassment and discomfort.
    “Well, thanks for that
honesty. Will you tolerate them for today?” Ed asked in his direct manner.
    “Let’s get on, shall we.”
Anne replied harshly but with a slight grin in the corners of her lips. She
wanted to play music. She had been looking forward to it.
    The two guys were an
intrusion to the normal proceedings but they were well behaved. The friends
didn’t interrupt Anne and Ed once, as they worked through some Latin American Salsa
and some gentle Pop ballads. They had discovered over the weeks that they both
liked a wide range of music. They had played Classical and Pop music, as well
as some Latin music and a Shostakovich Jazz piece.
    At the end of this
particular session, they received a polite and genuine round of applause from
Ed’s friends. It had been a good session.
    “Good stuff Sergeant. You
weren’t kidding, were you? She’s a cracker.” One of the guys had said too much
again.
    Anne looked directly at Ed.
Ed wanted to look away, but he was held in her gaze and tried to apologize with
his eyes. For the first time, Anne knew for certain, that Ed had been talking
about her to his colleagues and friends. She wondered how far his thoughts and
conversations had gone. She had talked briefly to Gail and Jayne about their
music sessions, but she had not thought about anything other than that. She was
helping out a man who desperately needed it. Anne was the best person for the
role because of her musical ability.
    Now there were some warning
bells going off inside her brain that she did not want to hear. She decided to
ignore the bad thoughts and vibes, and pretend that they weren’t happening.
    “I enjoyed today’s session
Ed. Thanks.”
    “Me too. I won’t bring the
rabble again. That