Page 79 of Singing For His Kiss

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Elizabeth’s fingers danced over the piano keys playing the well-known ballad originally sung by a dulcet-voiced diva. The notes wove throughout Crown Casino’s Grand Foyer, gently caressing the marble floor and climbing to dance through the crystals of the massive chandelier that hung directly above her.

What had started as a once a week opportunity a couple of months ago from playing a few tunes in the corner of a bar had now escalated into a daily, fully promoted hour-long show set right in the middle of Melbourne’s prestigious casino’s hotel foyer.

She even had a couple of regulars who came to hear her play. A couple of them had even asked her out, but she always politely refused. Her heart couldn’t take that.

The trial had finally ended. Eight months of tortuous legal proceedings that had enabled her to refund the money David Logan had stolen and untangled a network of illegal bookies around Australia, David having been only one of them. She’d been a key witness, and from her details, the police had cracked a complicated set up of bank accounts and offshore bank accounts where the money had ended up.

She was saved from the nightmare of the court, being off location for her safety. David hadn’t been able to see her, but she knew James had come to court, and she hadn’t been there to see him either.

Apparently she wasn’t considered guilty, having been coerced by David to do his bidding. Because she was under physical threat, she was deemed innocent.

Although the trial had taken everything out of her, the most horrible thing was knowing what she’d done to Madeline and James.

She’d woken in that hospital to find that the bullet had ripped right through her side, having missed her kidneys by the grace of god. James had stalked the corridors outside her room, but she’d refused to see him. It hadn’t put him off. He’d come every day, and every day she told the policeman stationed outside her door to send him away.

She’d left the hospital after a couple of days, not wanting to put James through any more torture. She’d taken the coward's way out and slunk away in a taxi. She couldn’t understand why James would want to see her after what she’d done. Nothing could make up for the mess she’d put them in.

She’d dream of them every night though, riding horses on the beach, finding shells, singing those simple songs she taught Madeline. She also dreamed of private nights of just her and James and what a relationship might have felt like if she hadn’t messed things up. She just hoped Madeline was able to recover from this episode. It was something no child should suffer.

She probably had to some degree. Children were resilient, and the trial had ended months ago now.

Hopefully James had moved on, and she’d be an unpleasant, distant memory. Now she just had to live with the knowledge that she’d destroyed the best thing in her life that had ever happened to her.

She’d set herself up in a cheap one bedroom apartment when she’d arrived in Melbourne. The police helped her disappear. She had a new name. New identity. Protection against David’s long reach. She’d lost herself in music lessons and practice. Piano, guitar, singing. Hours and hours of practice. She’d bought cheap instruments from the Op Shop to practice on. In music, she’d found peace. Blessed hours where she could forget the damage she’d done.

For the first time in her life, she’d unlocked a part of her she’d kept protected. Music centered her. It flowed through her. She was being true to herself, and she was healing.

Someday, she might become whole again.

As usual, the song became one with her. She lost track of time, where she was, caught up in the melody and poignancy of the words. She came back to Earth as her fingers became still on the keys.

There was an instant applause. She’d forgotten she had an audience again. She smiled, darting a gaze around the room. The crowd was bigger than it had ever been. People milled in groups, resting on the bar, sitting, watching…her.

A trim figure broke through the crowd. Elizabeth’s smile faltered as she recognized the cut of expensive clothing, the costly jewelry, the skirt that showed a lot of leg, the makeup that had been applied with a talented hand.

Elizabeth’s heart stumbled several beats. She looked for a way out, but she was in the center of the room with nowhere to go. She swallowed, steeling herself. She notched her chin up, readying herself, and stood.

Anastasia swept up to the piano, looking down on her as she rested her hip against the glossy side of the instrument. Her jewels glittered, even in the subdued lighting, making the chandelier look dull.

“You do play well.”

It took a moment to realize Anastasia was complimenting her. “Errr. Thank you?” Elizabeth eyed Anastasia, wondering where the conversation was leading.

Anastasia glanced around the luxurious foyer. “Your style suits this place. I have to say, you do have a remarkable talent. You can go a long way with a voice like yours.”

Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. The last time Anastasia commented about her singing, it wasn’t complimentary at all.

“I guess you’re wondering why I’m here.”

“I…well, yes.” Elizabeth felt her brow puckering.

“You need Botox, darling. Those lines will stay if you keep looking like that.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but Anastasia cut her off. This was the Anastasia she was used to.

“James is miserable.”

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