her announcement was coming as a surprise and, coward that she was, hightailed it out of the office with a hastily muttered, “Look at the time.”
Francesca stared at the closing door with a frown. With a regretful gaze at the tottering stack of work, she deemed discovering what was going on with her daughter more important than making a dent in that never-ending pile.
Francesca left the office to find that Yvette wasn’t even at her desk. Probably hiding in the copy room.
Clearly something was up with Gabrielle, that much was a given. Ashokan High was within biking distance of the lodge, but since Gabrielle hadn’t brought her bike from Phoenix, she must have walked from school. Had she missed the bus?
That was a no-brainer.
If she’d missed the bus, she would need a ride home, which would have left her two choices—either calling Francesca for that ride or dealing with the situation on her own.
Getting a ride from school wasn’t an issue as Gabrielle well knew. The fact that she’d already needed two rides this week…well, apparently she didn’t want to deal with the questions that her actions would invite.
Something was up. Another mystery.
Strolling past the restaurant windows, Francesca glanced inside. The lodge hosted a monthly tea. The activities director occasionally hired professional entertainment, but more often than not, she encouraged residents to showcase their talents.
As a result the monthly tea was a well-attended event, so well attended that they’d established an arts and entertainment council whose sole function was seeking out the talent hiding in the lodge and keeping it from getting dusty.
Today, showcased on the small stage, was none other than… her daughter.
Gabrielle wasn’t performing alone. Rather, she was seated beside Eddie Shaw, guitar player extraordinaire, who accompanied her on what Francesca believed to be a mandolin.
The audience sat in small clusters around tables decorated with fresh flowers and red and white tulle. They sipped coffee and tea, nibbled cookies and scones and enjoyed the music, an intricate piece that must have taken a good bit of rehearsing.
Likely the reason Gabrielle had been missing the bus.
Making her way to the restaurant’s main entrance, Francesca hovered in the doorway to hear the performance better.
Gabrielle was very talented. She’d been playing the violin since second grade and had routinely earned superior status at solo and ensemble competitions. And every year she’d been invited to perform in All-County and All-State ensembles.
But guitar was her passion. She had her head filled with bands and concerts, not unlike her mother at that age, and to Francesca’s sorrow, Gabrielle hadn’t joined orchestra in high school because she’d wanted to use any free time left after schoolwork and social life to practice.
Of course, guitar had taken precedence to everything.
Francesca didn’t enter the restaurant until the performance ended to appreciative applause and the guests began to chitchat among their groups. She spotted Nonna seated with Auntie Pippa and zigzagged through the tables to a chorus of polite greetings that announced her presence.
Gabrielle was primed and ready by the time Francesca reached the table. “Hello, Mother.”
“Hello, dear. Miss the bus?”
Once upon a time, Gabrielle would have had the grace to look abashed when caught in the act. Now she gave an amused laugh. “Not exactly. Been practicing with Mr. Shaw.”
She slanted her gaze toward the man who was now making his way to them, greeting his crowd of appreciative admirers. With bright blue eyes, a shock of thick white hair and a quick grin, Eddie Shaw looked the part of celebrity heartthrob. He was a charmer in every sense of the word given how often Francesca encountered him chatting with women in the hallways. Married and widowed alike.
As far as Francesca was concerned there were two types of charmers—charming gentlemen and charming
Francesca stared at the closing door with a frown. With a regretful gaze at the tottering stack of work, she deemed discovering what was going on with her daughter more important than making a dent in that never-ending pile.
Francesca left the office to find that Yvette wasn’t even at her desk. Probably hiding in the copy room.
Clearly something was up with Gabrielle, that much was a given. Ashokan High was within biking distance of the lodge, but since Gabrielle hadn’t brought her bike from Phoenix, she must have walked from school. Had she missed the bus?
That was a no-brainer.
If she’d missed the bus, she would need a ride home, which would have left her two choices—either calling Francesca for that ride or dealing with the situation on her own.
Getting a ride from school wasn’t an issue as Gabrielle well knew. The fact that she’d already needed two rides this week…well, apparently she didn’t want to deal with the questions that her actions would invite.
Something was up. Another mystery.
Strolling past the restaurant windows, Francesca glanced inside. The lodge hosted a monthly tea. The activities director occasionally hired professional entertainment, but more often than not, she encouraged residents to showcase their talents.
As a result the monthly tea was a well-attended event, so well attended that they’d established an arts and entertainment council whose sole function was seeking out the talent hiding in the lodge and keeping it from getting dusty.
Today, showcased on the small stage, was none other than… her daughter.
Gabrielle wasn’t performing alone. Rather, she was seated beside Eddie Shaw, guitar player extraordinaire, who accompanied her on what Francesca believed to be a mandolin.
The audience sat in small clusters around tables decorated with fresh flowers and red and white tulle. They sipped coffee and tea, nibbled cookies and scones and enjoyed the music, an intricate piece that must have taken a good bit of rehearsing.
Likely the reason Gabrielle had been missing the bus.
Making her way to the restaurant’s main entrance, Francesca hovered in the doorway to hear the performance better.
Gabrielle was very talented. She’d been playing the violin since second grade and had routinely earned superior status at solo and ensemble competitions. And every year she’d been invited to perform in All-County and All-State ensembles.
But guitar was her passion. She had her head filled with bands and concerts, not unlike her mother at that age, and to Francesca’s sorrow, Gabrielle hadn’t joined orchestra in high school because she’d wanted to use any free time left after schoolwork and social life to practice.
Of course, guitar had taken precedence to everything.
Francesca didn’t enter the restaurant until the performance ended to appreciative applause and the guests began to chitchat among their groups. She spotted Nonna seated with Auntie Pippa and zigzagged through the tables to a chorus of polite greetings that announced her presence.
Gabrielle was primed and ready by the time Francesca reached the table. “Hello, Mother.”
“Hello, dear. Miss the bus?”
Once upon a time, Gabrielle would have had the grace to look abashed when caught in the act. Now she gave an amused laugh. “Not exactly. Been practicing with Mr. Shaw.”
She slanted her gaze toward the man who was now making his way to them, greeting his crowd of appreciative admirers. With bright blue eyes, a shock of thick white hair and a quick grin, Eddie Shaw looked the part of celebrity heartthrob. He was a charmer in every sense of the word given how often Francesca encountered him chatting with women in the hallways. Married and widowed alike.
As far as Francesca was concerned there were two types of charmers—charming gentlemen and charming
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