Inside her house, he found Cassie sitting at the baby grand piano they’d given her for Christmas. She’d rearranged the furniture in the living room to make room for it in front of the picture window, leaving the room a little cramped. The happy glow on her face every time she played it made up for cramped knees and bruised shins.
He was especially glad now that they’d chosen to replace the piano her father had sold years before because she’d sat at it a lot in the several days since the spanking, finding solace in her music.
Joseph’s treatment and recovery were progressing, and he and Ivan were already talking plans for the new incarnation of Divine Drip. The same, only better, with more seating, a bigger menu, and evening hours for the night owls. But Cassie still insisted on being closed on Sundays.
“When I retire, you can set whatever hours you want. Until then…I’m the boss,” she’d said and then had giggled when Samson had cocked a brow. It’d been the first time Ivan had heard that sound in days.
Delicia had announced the day before that she was going away to spend a few days with her sister, who lived in San Antonio.
“What are your plans?” Cassie asked.
Delicia kissed her daughter’s forehead. “We’re spending some girl time together and might go shopping if the weather is pretty. Don’t worry, mi hija, no gambling. I promise. And she’s picking me up and bringing me back home so you don’t need to worry about me driving.”
Cassie had looked reassured and relieved by that news, and over her mom’s head, she’d winked at him suggestively. Although Delicia’s vision wasn’t as good as it had been, her hearing was as acute as ever so they’d kept their lovemaking quiet. Thoughts of the rambunctious fun they’d planned for her once they were finally alone had caused him to walk around with a semi-boner all day. He could almost taste her.
She was so wrapped up in the tune she played, she gasped when he came up behind her and pressed a soft kiss to the spot at the juncture between her neck and her shoulder, knowing the skin was so sensitive there it would spread a trail of goose bumps all over her body.
“You startled me. Oh, how gorgeous!” she said as she reached for him, admiring the paper-wrapped bouquet he laid on the piano so he could embrace her.
“Don’t let me disturb you if you’re working. The melody is beautiful.”
“I was making supper, and it came to me. So while my casserole was baking I’ve been writing.” She paused and smiled. “I used to do that all the time, have bits of melodies or lyrics come to mind that I’d write down to work on later, but then I got married and Bill wanted supper on the table and the house picked up when he got home…and then kids came along. I’d tell myself I’d remember and write my ideas down later, but with little ones and a husband to take care of, I’d forget. After a while, that creativity…tapered off until it stopped. I found some of those notes mixed in with the sheet music in my guitar case this afternoon, and it all started coming back.”
It pleased Ivan that her eyes shone with happiness, but her smile had a sad quality to it, and he said, “Bill was a throwback from another time, taking advantage of your devotion. It doesn’t help much now, but if I’d been lucky enough…” The sudden thought of being the one who’d fathered her children and come home to her every day made him breathless so he took a seat on the bench beside her. “I would’ve helped you and not made a servant out of you.”
Placing her hand on his chest, she said, “I didn’t resent my role. I was proud of taking care of my family, and the kids were so good, and he was a stable provider. To complain felt like…inviting trouble. Now I’m in a season in my life where I can pick up those loose threads.” She caressed the black lacquer finish of the piano. “And I even have a piano to work with. Despite the bad stuff, life is good.”
“And only going to get better, baby,” he murmured as he brushed his lips against hers. “Samson texted that he’d left work and should be here soon.”
Checking her watch, she said, “Supper is nearly done. I’ll have it on the table in just a few minutes.”
He stopped her and said, “I’ll handle it. I need to put the flowers in water, too. You relax and finish what you were writing.”
Sounding surprised, Cassie said, “I still need to cut up the ingredients for a salad to go with the chicken and rice. I can have it done in no time—”
Ivan chuckled and urged her back to the piano bench. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m pretty handy with a knife.”