Page 7 of Rim Shot Rebound

“Well, what if you guys didn’t make mistakes this time? What if you gave him a chance to do the right thing? Do you want him to be there with you through it this time?”

Kelsey shook her head. “He’s still with Bria.” She knew that if she told him now, he’d immediately break up with Bria, thinking that was the right and noble thing to do. But the last thing Kelsey wanted was someone tied to her out of some sense of obligation. “I don’t want to go through all of that complication if I don’t have to. Especially if there isn’t any point in the end.”

Natalie stopped again. This time she put a hand on Kelsey’s arm. “You love him. That’s the point.”

Kelsey popped her sucker back in her mouth while her stomach rolled and her throat tightened. Of course she loved him. She couldn’t imagine a world where she didn’t love Eric. But she also knew she’d never be enough for him. The moment she and the baby weren’t a package deal anymore, it was easy for him to walk away. She may have held the door open for him to leave, but he’d walked through it.

So, no. Loving him wasn’t the point.

“If there’s still something to tell, I’ll tell him after the festival.”

Natalie stared at her for a few moments, then nodded. “Okay. Until then, lots of ice cream dates with me.”

Kelsey laughed. “Please, no ice cream.”

“Fine.” Natalie smiled. “Crackers and herbal tea dates?”

Kelsey bumped her friend’s arm as they continued their walk around the block. “Now you’re talking.”

 

* * * * *

 

Eric tapped his student’s index finger to remind her which key to press next. The six-year-old was a quick learner, but she was struggling to remember the interval jumps. Or at least it seemed that way. Eric suspected it was more of a confidence falter than a memory falter.

“Good,” he said when she played the next three notes correctly then paused. “What’s next? You know this.”

A couple seconds later, she played the right note and finished the one-line song. She looked up from the music book at him, a wide, bright smile stretched across her round little face.

“Great work! See, I knew you could do it. I want you to know that you can do it. Because you can. You’re a rock star, you know that?”

She giggled.

He grabbed her assignment book and began writing on that week’s page. “Now, I want you to practice that scale we learned and work on this new song. Plus, I want you to practice last week’s pages until you can play them smoothly with no mistakes or pauses. Okay?” That should help build her confidence.

His student, Abigail, nodded. Eric handed her books to her, which she tucked into her tote bag. Then he held the practice room door open for her. Her mother was waiting in the hall. She took Abigail’s hand and said, “Ready? Had a good lesson?”

Abigail gave an enthusiastic, “Yes!”

Eric smiled. “She did great today, Mom. You watch, she’s going to be playing better than me and fighting me for gigs in no time.”

He winked at Abigail and told them both goodbye and to have a nice week. With a quick look around the hallway, he realized his next student wasn’t there yet, so he walked to the music school’s front desk.

Normally if his last student ran late, Eric would stay late to give them their full time. But today wasn’t a normal day. Today he was meeting with Kelsey. As much as he loved his students and wanted to help them out, sticking around for more than a few minutes wasn’t an option.

The college student who normally handled the phones and appointments wasn’t at the front desk. In her place was Josh, a guitar player with a mountain of curly orange hair bundled on top of his head. Eric had played in bands with Josh at bar and church gigs over the years. Amazing guitar player. Really fun dude. But not exactly the most organized guy Eric had ever met. His case was usually filled with folded and crumpled sheet music, and it took him forever to find a tune on his iPad. Not that it affected his playing. He had an incredible ear. Didn’t make him the most obvious choice to be sitting at the front desk though.

“Hey man,” Eric said. “Charlotte’s not here?”

“Nah, she had to leave early today. Rehearsal or test or something at school.” Josh squinted at the computer screen and made a few clicks. “I’m just filling in ’til closing.”

“Cool.” Eric looked around, but didn’t see his next student out front either. “Do you know if my 4:30’s here yet?”

“Nope. Haven’t seen them.” Josh looked up from the computer and leaned back in his chair. “Got a gig tonight? Or a hot date?”

“Neither.”

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