Magnificent Folly Read Free

quieter and more and more bewildered under the barrage of publicity that had surrounded her when the world discovered her genius. Yet how could Lily wish for the music to vanish, when it brought Cassie so much joy? There had to be a way for Cassie to have the joy of creation without being in the glare of the spotlight, and by heaven, Lily knew she would find it. It wouldn’t be easy—but then, nothing had been easy since the moment she had made the decision to have a child, and she had never regretted thechoice. From the moment she had felt Cassie stirring in her womb she had known only passionate gratitude and the determination to give her child all the love and care she would ever need or want.
    She straightened, and then turned and moved toward the door. Well, taking care also meant financial support, and she was wasting time. Her own career as a photographer was just beginning to flourish, and it was difficult enough to make ends meet these days. There was work to be done.
    Lily was quietly closing the bedroom door behind her when she heard a half-audible murmur from the bed across the room. She paused, waiting to see if Cassie would stir into wakefulness. Then, when there was no further sound, she started to swing the door shut again. The drowsy murmur came once more, clearer this time, and Lily stiffened, her hand clenching the doorknob.
    “Andrew …”
    The man wasn’t on the cliff the next evening.
    Lily had made sure she was available to overseeCassie’s entire stay on the beach, and had so primed herself to do battle, she felt flat when denied the opportunity. She sat down in the sand and linked her arms around her bare knees as she watched Cassie wade into the surf. “Your friend Andrew seems to have deserted us.”
    Cassie plopped down in the water, her fingers digging into the wet sand. An abstracted frown creased her brow as she gazed out at the scarlet streaks mirrored on the water. “What?”
    “Never mind.” Cassie was hearing her music, and Lily knew the child was lost to her for the time being. For a moment a wave of loneliness surged through her, before she firmly dismissed it. “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Oh, you said …” Cassie buried her fingers deeper in the sand. “Andrew’s around somewhere.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Hello.” The deep baritone voice behind Lily made her jump. “How are you this evening, Cassie? Ms. Deslin?”
    Lily tensed as she glanced sharply over hershoulder. A tall man was walking toward them. The brilliant light of the sunset made it impossible for her to see his features, but the way he moved was unmistakable. Then, as he came closer, she felt a little of the tension ease from her rigid muscles. This young man didn’t look at all threatening. He couldn’t have been over twenty-four or twenty-five, and had the lean, sensual grace of one of the college men on a USC calendar. His sun-faded jeans were rolled up to reveal muscular calves, and his navy blue sweat shirt was bleached by salt and sun until its original color was scarcely discernible. Barefoot, his toes curled with evident pleasure in the softness of the sand as he strolled toward them.
    “Andrew!” Cassie grinned and waved. “Oh, great. You’ve come down from the cliff. Why didn’t you come before?”
    Cassie was speaking to the man as if she had known him all her life, Lily realized with astonishment. Had Cassie not told her the truth about knowing him?
    “It wasn’t time. How’s the concerto coming?”The man was only a few yards away now, and Lily could see that his dark blond hair was sun-streaked and his golden tan had to have been acquired from a stronger sun than shone on this Oregon coast.
    “Fine.” Cassie stood up and turned to face him. “How did you know that I was working on a concerto?”
    “Yes, how did you know?” Lily stood up also, and there was a hint of belligerence in her stance as she dusted the sand from her shorts before taking a half step forward to stand