Page 38 of The Woman

Several times, I asked to go to work with him simply for a change of scenery or his company. But besides that one time, he always said no.

It seems like he may be thinking about the very same thing as me because he turns away with a look that could pass as guilt, and focuses on the patties he’s searing. Once he’s satisfied with how they look, he turns off the burner and places the patties on a tray before sliding them into the oven.

“I didn’t realize men cooked,” I observe as I watch him pull apart some lettuce to wash. “I mean, besides the chefs who came in to teach us. Where did you learn?”

He eyes me quickly before slicing into a tomato. “As soon as I was taller than the counter, my father taught me some simple recipes. But before I moved out, he made sure I could cook a large variety of meals. He even had his friend, who is a chef, teach me some things. There was no guarantee I’d have a woman at twenty-five, so he wanted me to be completely independent and self-sufficient.”

I guess I never really thought about that, but it makes total sense. Men don’t always have a woman around to make their food.

“What is that piano piece you were playing?” he asks, changing the subject.

My mind flitters back to earlier today when I lost myself to the music and then opened my eyes to see him standing there, watching me.

“I don’t know what it’s called. But it’s something that is passed along to any WOUN.” I pause a moment before admitting, “I also taught it to a girl there.”

I’ve been wondering how she’s doing without me there.

Phoenix has a thoughtful look on his face as he finishes up but doesn’t say anything in response until after he steps over to the sink and washes his hands, then returns to the same spot.

“Play it for me.”

I stare at him. He’s still using that bossy tone that has me wanting to resist. If he’d simply ask me to do something rather than demand, I may be more eager to do as he asks.

“I realize you’re probably used to bossing everyone around, but asking is nicer.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, and his eyes do that thing where it looks like he’s smiling, but nothing has actually moved.

“Please, play it for me.”

It’s still not quite asking. Nevertheless, I push to my feet and walk over to his piano, hesitating a beat before seating myself on the bench. I never thought I’d find myself playing for a man, and I suddenly feel nervous about it.

To make matters worse, instead of making himself comfortable on the couch, Phoenix takes a position by my side as if he wants to watch me play rather than just listen. It’s a little distracting, so I lift my hands to the keys, then close my eyes, trying to ignore his close presence.

It doesn’t take long to immerse myself in the melody once I’ve started. I pour myself into every note and every stroke of the keys. I love this piece and could play it in my sleep.

I would have loved to have been able to learn more songs than I did, but I could only sneak away to play through the night, and I was limited to what Valerie could teach me before she left.

Women aren’t taught to play. Normal women don’t have the mental capacity to learn.

Listening to the men play wasn’t an option either. I can count on one hand how many times I saw one at the piano in my wing the whole time I was there. Had it not been for the WOUN making use of it, it would have sat there collecting dust.

I reach the final notes and finally open my eyes again. Phoenix is still standing next to me, watching my hands. But his gaze is far away as if lost in thought. Finally, his eyes shift to my face, refocusing.

“I had convinced myself that I was seeing things that weren’t there. That you weren’t really showing me glimpses of a personality,” he says out of the blue. “What were you planning on doing?”

“What do you mean?”

He walks to the nearby window, looking out at the city lights – a beautiful sight that left me in awe the first few times I saw it.

“Were you just going to pretend for the rest of your life?”

I shrug, even though he’s not looking at me. “Yes. There was no other option.”

Nodding, he starts toward the kitchen again.

“Let’s eat.”

Chapter 18

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