How To Choose a Sweetheart Read Free Page B

about his friends.”
    Max cringes, his guts seeming to shrivel up and dry out as he stands there. A distraction is what he needs, so he goes over to one of the pictures to get a closer look.
    “That’s my favourite,” Cath says. Lucky strike, thinks Max. “It’s called ‘A Piece Of My Heart’.”
    The relief at his choosing her favourite washes through him and settles his guts. Next, all he needs to do is avoid a cheesy response. “It’s really very beautiful,” he says. That will do. No gushing yet, he’s seriously in control.
    “It was by a lady called Kitty. I met her when I was little.”
    Kitty?  More posh.
    She picks up a photograph from a shelf and hands it over to Max. He takes it and studies it as if he’s about to take an exam on the subject.
    “I used to watch her paint when I was very young,” Cath tells him.
    It’s a nice photograph, but there’s nothing about the lady that helps Max think of anything interesting to say. He passes it back and she carefully returns it to the shelf.
    “Please sit down,” Cath tells him.
    Max puts his satchel next to the armchair and sits. The cushion gives, but keeps its firmness so that he doesn’t sink in. Pure luxury. “That’s a beautiful piano.” And it is.
    “It was my father’s.”
    “And remind me how old your daughter is.”
    “Alice has just turned six.”
    “That’s a good age to begin.” It probably is. “Do you play?”
    “Not really.” She runs her fingers through her hair and Max lets his eyes drop just this once, catching the neat outline of her breasts and the pattern of freckles that decorated the space between them. If she’s wearing a bra, it’s a very subtle one. A lump forms in his throat as she carries on. “Just one piece Father taught me – Moonlight Sonata. The introduction. I’m afraid I’ve got two left hands.”
    Max coughs to clear his throat. “I’d love to hear it if you don’t mind.”
    Cath sits on the piano stool and tucks herself under. “If you blink, you’ll miss it.”
    Her movements are full of grace. She lifts the piano lid. Her back is perfectly vertical, her hair looking even longer now it’s straight. As she plays, her head tilts to one side like she’s listening to something far away. Max sits back in his chair, completely captivated by the melodies that fill the air. 
    The introduction comes to an end. Cath pauses as the piano continues to hum, then looks over her shoulder smiling, like Natassja Kinski in Paris Texas Max thinks.
    Her smile quickly breaks into laughter.
    “Are you sure you need to pay a teacher?” He can hardly believe he’s asking – does it sound like he’s turning down the job?
    “I told you, I don’t have the time, and that tune’s all I know. I’d like her to get to be better than I managed.” It makes a lot of sense to Max. “Anyway, now it’s your turn,” which makes sense but can’t be allowed to happen.
    It’s the thing he’s been dreading, being tripped at the first step. He ignores the guilty glow that warms his ears and tries a body swerve. “No, no. I couldn’t after that. Besides, I get nervous in front of strangers. And I haven’t even met your daughter yet. She might not like me.” Is it a protest too far? Max holds his breath while he waits for the verdict.
    Cath leans forward and calls through the open balcony doors. “Alice, come over here, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
    Alice appears at the edge of the room and takes a tentative step onto the shiny, wooden floor. Her blond hair is tied back into a ponytail that’s held in place with a pink scrunchy. A pair of blue glasses brings out the lazy colouring of her eyes. She’s wearing the summer uniform of one of the local schools, a red and white checked dress. Max notices she has no shoes on her feet. She looks at him very quickly, turns pink and looks away, hiding her hands behind her back.
    Cath reaches out, inviting Alice to walk over, but Alice doesn’t seem to