Chapter 2

Chapter 2


I was a mess. But only on the inside. On the outside, I played my role well. I was Daddy's little princess practicing the piano like a good girl. On the inside I burned. I hadn't slept well the night before. His eyes haunted my dreams, watching me. Now, wide awake, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I knew nothing about him, didn't even know his name, yet he filled my thoughts so completely.
"How long are you going to be playing?" Claudia asked for the sixth time.
"Until I think I've got it," I repeated my first answer.
In truth, I enjoyed playing. It helped me deal with the emotions I didn't fully understand. What I couldn't and wouldn't express in words, I was able to express through the music.
"You sound fine."
I sighed as I played the final notes for apparently the final time. I closed the piano and spun around to face her.
"There. Happy?"
"Yep." She beamed and we went up to my room to change. I put on my red bikini and threw my red sundress over it. I wouldn't wear the dress for long, but I couldn't resist. Daddy had bought them for me as a set and I insisted on wearing them as such. Besides, I could always wear it again later.
The day was just as hot as the one before, but clouds lingered on the horizon. I wondered how long it would be before the bad weather hit.
Claudia launched herself into the pool while I laid our things on the chairs. Knowing it was futile to do so, I looked around the yard hopefully. They were just here yesterday, no reason for them to come back again today. I sighed and stepped into the pool. I swam laps lazily, preoccupied with trying to figure out when he might possibly return. When would I have the chance to look into those eyes again?
"I really wish you'd either tell me about him or snap out of it," Claudia snapped at me.
I blushed.
"Come on. I'm your best friend. It can't be so bad that you can't even tell me."
"I told you. I don't even know anything about him."
"Where'd you see him?"
I blushed again.
"Oh come on, Ella!"
"Oh fine. Promise me you won't laugh."
She crossed her heart.
"He was here yesterday, just before you came."
"What? Like one of your dad's friends or something?"
"No." I blushed deeper.
"Wait a minute," she thought about it a minute. Sudden understanding lit up her face. "The gardeners?!? One of those Mexican guys?"
"Shhh!"
"Which one?" She seemed to be searching her memory trying to pick out the one I could have been so enamored with.
"I don't know how to describe him." The gorgeous one. The perfect one.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
"Nothing really. He just happened to look at me at the same time I looked at him."
"And you clicked. Oh that's just classic." She was rolling with laughter.
"You promised." I scowled at her.
"Sorry Ella. I'm trying not to. It's just sort of ironic, you know?"
"How so?"
"Well, look at you. You could have any guy you want. ANY guy. And you're fretting over some Mexican gardener that you know nothing about. I mean, he might not even speak English! He could be an illegal for all you know."
"I know." She was right, but I couldn't help feeling very offended. I turned away and began swimming laps again.
"Your Dad'll flip if he finds out."
"Which is why he's not going to find out," I practically growled.
"So what? You're just going to admire him from afar?" She pretended to swoon.
"What choice have I got? It's not like I'll ever speak to him."
"Good point."
Frustrated, I climbed out of the pool and went to lay on one of the chairs. There was no reason for me to be angry with Claudia. She only spoke the truth. I expected nothing less from her. I felt the tears threatening to spill as I thought of never speaking to the mystery man. Suddenly I wanted desperately to know his name at least. It seemed a tragedy that I would never be allowed to unravel the man behind those eyes.
"Hey, you alright?" Claudia asked cautiously as she relaxed in the chair beside me.
"Yeah. I'm good."
She looked at me carefully, clearly not believing me. Eventually she shrugged and laid back.
"So what's with the piano recital tonight?"
"Daddy's friends," I sighed. "Somehow it came up in conversation that I played and next thing I know, Daddy's inviting them over for an impromptu concert tonight."
"Who are these people?"
"Some doctor and his wife," I shrugged. "You have to be there tonight. These aren't the most exciting people and I'm going to be bored out of my mind."
"Of course!"
Claudia was always thrilled to be a part of any gathering, no matter how dull. If things went well tonight and Daddy was in a good enough mood, I'd have to ask him to let her stay with us. She needed it desperately. Of course, I knew better than to mention it to her before I had his okay. It would crush her if he said no after she'd already gotten herself worked up about it.

I probably spent more time getting Claudia ready that night than I spent on myself. She was a nervous wreck and she wasn't even the one putting on a show. Poor girl. She wore my deep violet dress that went beautifully with her skin and I curled her hair for her. I simply wore the same outfit I wore earlier in the day and pulled my hair back into a loose braid.
We went downstairs and checked that refreshments were perfect and my music was laid out on the piano.
"Aren't you nervous?" Claudia looked at me in amazement.
"Nah. This isn't the first time Daddy's done something like this. I suppose I'm used to it."
The doorbell rang making Claudia jump. I handed her a glass of punch so she wouldn't have to think about where to place her hands and we waited for our guests to arrive.
"Good evening, Dr. Sanders, Mrs. Sanders. How are you this evening?" Daddy greeted them in the front hall.
"Very well, thank you," Dr. Sanders replied stiffly.
"Ella's very excited about tonight," Daddy said as I heard them walking down the hall to the sitting room where we waited. "She's been practicing all day."
I cringed at Daddy's exaggeration. Quickly I composed myself and began walking across the room.
"Good evening Dr. Sanders," I smiled brightly shaking his hand.
"Ella, you're looking lovely this evening," he beamed.
"Good evening Mrs. Sanders." She merely nodded in recognition. "I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Claudia."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said timidly. Dr. Sanders shook her hand briefly without saying a word while Mrs. Sanders turned away and went to pour herself a glass of punch. Claudia didn't seem to notice this snub. She continued to grin as if there was no other place she'd rather be at that moment.
"Ella, why don't you start us off with a little Pachelbel?" Daddy suggested. He knew very well that was what I planned on starting with. I grinned at him and he winked at me. I turned to the piano and sat down. Claudia sat in the chair nearest to me while the others mingled. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began playing.
"What's Jason up to this evening?" Daddy asked casually.
"He went out with some friends. I tried to convince him to come, but he wouldn't have it."
"We can't wait to meet the young man."
"I'd like nothing more. I'm sure he and Ella will get along just fine."
I rolled my eyes. I hated when Daddy and his friends played matchmaker. What kind of stuck up loser was this Jason anyway? He had to be pretty bad if he need his father to set him up with girls.
I closed my eyes and was immediately greeted with the memory of those eyes. I smiled as I remembered the way he looked at me. My fingers drifted into Beethoven and I let my emotions run wild as I continued to bask in the memories. Maybe tomorrow he'd be back. Maybe he'd look my way again. Maybe I'd smile at him. Maybe...
"She really is her mother's daughter," Dr. Sanders voice interrupted my daydream.
"Through and through," Daddy answered softly.
"She plays beautifully," Mrs. Sanders barely whispered.
Trying to ignore them, I drifted back into my fantasies as I played. I ended with Moonlight Sonata, one of my favorites. As the last notes hung in the air Daddy stood up and clapped while everyone else followed his example. I spun around on the bench and blushed at their applause wishing they'd just sit down and start talking again.
"Ella, you've been holding out on us," Dr. Sanders exclaimed. "You said you only dabbled!"
I simply shrugged.
"Your mother taught you well. That was truly beautiful."
"Thank you."
"I do wish Jason could have been here. Even he couldn't deny that was beautiful."
I stood up and Claudia walked with me to the refreshment table. I could hear Dr. Sanders and Daddy talking in hushed tones and I tried not to listen.
"Ella, you played very passionately," Claudia grinned at me knowingly.
"Oh hush," I hissed.
"I've got to see this guy," she whispered more to herself than to me. I rolled my eyes.
I truly was grateful for Claudia's presence as we continued the evening with forced conversation. Daddy offered the Sanders drinks before they stood up to leave.
"Well Mr. Murphy," Dr. Sanders said as they lingered in the hall. "I guess we'll see you tomorrow around six?"
"We'll be there."
"Goodnight ladies," Dr. Sanders called.
"Goodnight," we called back.
Claudia and I tinkered with the piano for awhile, playing chopsticks, while we waited for the Sanders to drive away. Once they were gone, Claudia said goodnight and went home.
"You were wonderful tonight, Princess," Daddy sighed as he relaxed into a chair.
"Thanks Daddy." I spun around on the piano bench to look at him. He seemed totally at ease. Smiling.
"You've really impressed the Sanders. I owe you big time."
It seemed like the perfect opening.
"Daddy, I was thinking. What do you think about Claudia staying with us for awhile? Maybe bring her to the club a couple of times? Let her mingle in society a little?"
"Hmmm," he sat up a little and thought about it. Well, at least he didn't immediately say no. "Let me give that some thought." He laid back and closed his eyes. Clearly I wouldn't get my answer tonight. I stood up and went to kiss him on the cheek.
"Goodnight Daddy."
"Goodnight Princess."

Sleep evaded me that night. Storms raged and I sat by the window and watched. A deep melancholy fell over me. Somehow he seemed even further from me tonight than he had before. I tried to comfort myself with the possibility of him returning with the landscapers in the morning, but that did no good. Looking at him would feel like torture when I knew I would never be allowed more than that.
I sighed.
I considered the brewing situation with Daddy and the Sanders. I didn't know Dr. Sanders' son, but it didn't matter. I didnt' want him. Yet I knew we would be forced together. It was inevitable. Daddy had set me up with his friends' sons before, and I always endured it without complaint. I had a role to play after all. I considered the dull dates we would go on. Obviously we'd have dinner at the club a few times. That seemed the default date location.
Lightning lit up my room followed by a crash of thunder.
It was just wrong! It felt like a betrayal to be with anyone else! How could Daddy expect me to do this?
"Get a grip Ella!" I growled at myself.
I would go out with this boy and I would do it with a smile. I might even enjoy it. There was no betrayal because there was nobody to betray.
I stomped to my bed, threw back the blankets, and climbed in with a huff. I would not let him intrude on my thoughts anymore. He was making a mess of my life! It had to stop. I forced myself to think of nothing until I finally drifted off to sleep.
My dreams were filled with his perfect face smiling at me.