Love's Dilemma (Sixty Minute Romance) Read Free Page A

make friends with you.” That came as a relief; maybe Max was not
spoken for.
    “How did you know that we were the ones he was talking
about?” Clair was very unsure about this girl.
    “He told me I would know you if I looked around the
room, and he was right!” Sandy looked very pleased with herself for guessing
correctly that Clair and Jo were the ‘Drop dead gorgeous girls that looked
like a pair of backing singers in an eighties band.’ Sandy caught Max’s
eyes and gave him a double thumbs up. He did the same and smiled at all three
of them.
    Clair felt embarrassed and slightly wrong footed in
this situation. This was a new experience for her. She thought that she should
be at least a little bit nice to Sandy, because after all, her brother had
bought them a drink. On the other hand, who were these people who almost forced
themselves upon them? It wasn’t truly like that, but Clair had never been
introduced to anyone in this way.
    After about twenty five difficult minutes for Clair and
Jo, the band took a five minute break and Max jumped off the small stage to
greet them. They quickly learnt each other’s names and Clair and Jo started to
feel a bit more comfortable.
    “What did you think? Did you like it?” Max was full of
enthusiasm for his own performance.
    “You were great, Max. You get better every time I see
you perform.” Sandy was effusive and positive in her praise.
    Clair and Jo had barely paid attention to the music
although the band’s Thin Lizzy cover was good.
    “I liked the Thin Lizzy song. Very good.” Clair tried
to sound as gushing as Sandy but failed. Max didn’t notice anything wrong and
offered to buy them another drink. In fact he didn’t even ask. He just nodded
over to Duke at the bar and within two minutes they had another pear and mango
juice with ice in their hands.
    “I’ve got to talk to you!” Max was forthright in the
extreme. He was no longer struggling to look into Clair’s eyes. Clair looked at
him with suspicion and intrigue. What was happening on this Friday evening? It
was the weirdest night out she had ever experienced.
    They all decided to go outside into the garden so that
they could talk. It was much quieter in the cooling breeze of the beer garden.
    “OK, cards on the table. You are a singer and you can
sing! You are the best soul singer I have ever heard! No Exceptions.” Max was
looking directly at Clair, his initial reticence had disappeared. Clair looked
startled at this revelation.
    “I’ve seen you once before, a few years ago in the SU
at Exeter. You were amazing. I’ve never forgotten it.” Max was staring in
excitement at Clair.
    Clair was taken unawares and mumbled something about
remembering that she had sung there once upon a time.
    “You didn’t just sing, you were incredible!” Max was
making Clair feel uncomfortable again.
    “What do you do now? Where do you sing? Are you in a
band?” Max was unstoppable with his inquisition.
    “Max, behave yourself. I’m sorry Clair, he is always
like this when he gets an idea into his head.” Sandy started trying to slow
things down a little for Clair’s benefit. While this was happening the band
started playing their second set inside the pub.
    “Shouldn’t you be singing with the band right now?” Clair
asked. She thought that a few minutes of deep breathing and cool reflection was
in order, but she couldn’t do that in the face of the onslaught of questions
from Max.
    “Oh! No, I was filling in for Duke. It’s his band and
he is doing the vocals for this set. My own band is on after this.”
    “Oh I understand now.” Clair didn’t understand anything
at all at this precise minute. Then she asked the fateful question.
    “What idea have you got in your head?” She knew what was
coming, and sure enough, it arrived right on cue.
    “I want you to sing with us tonight. Just a song or
two. I have to hear you sing again. It was magical the last time.”
    Jo looked at Clair. Clair looked