“You look like you could use it.” As soon as I say it I see her body go on the defense. “I don’t mean it like that. I mean, you could use a new violin. That is for an intermediate player.” I hold up the Vigato again. “This is for a professional. It’s has quite a few miles on it but it’s a better grade for you. You’ll play better.” I offer the instrument to her again.
A breeze passes through the park and I watch as the hair in her ponytail dances in the wind. She eyes the violin I am holding and then looks at me, questioning my judgment and her own.
“Why would you give that to me? Is it stolen? Am I being set up or something?”
“No. I just have no use for it anymore.” I hold up my hand and show her the scar. “I’ve been put out of commission indefinitely and she needs a new home.”
Allyce doesn’t question my referencing of the violin as she. She places her old violin on the ground and takes the Vigato.
“She’s beautiful.” She studies the hour-glass shape of the Italian-made instrument. She then places it up to her chin and checks for comfort. They look like a perfect fit. “I’m sorry to hear about your hand. Must have been rough. Why would you want to give her up to a complete stranger?”
Looking down at the pavement, I think about that for a moment. The truth is, I have no idea. In fact, this is the third most impulsive thing I’ve done this year, and perhaps in my entire life.
The first was asking Luke to drive fast. The second was stripping naked in front of a god with a cello. Those two events left me feeling empty. But this? Well, if it makes me feel empty again I can live with that. For some reason, I don’t think it will.
“I don’t know. I just know it will get better use with you. Selling it feels wrong. I can’t imagine her going to the wrong person. You two just look right together.”
Allyce takes my answer and seems to understand it in an odd way. She places the bow to the strings and starts playing. As soon as the bow hits the strings I feel burn in my eyes and a feeling of loss takes over me. Before I start to lose it, I turn around and start to walk away.
My feet are just a few feet from Allyce when she stops playing. “Wait.” She says and starts to walk toward me. “What do you do now? I mean, now that you can’t play?”
I turn back around toward Allyce. “I work at the Juliette Academy. It’s a free music school over on—”
“I’ve heard of it. Wait right here.” She says before walking back to her spot and gathering up her old violin that was wrong for her. She puts it back in its case and walks it over to me. “Here. Pay it forward.”
“No. Thank you but you don’t have to do that—”
“Actually, I do. I believe in karma. Giving you an old violin for a new one is the least I can do.”
I nod my head and with pure reluctance accept it. “Thank you.”
Allyce nods her chin and steps back, walking to her place by the bench. “Any requests?”
“La Vie En Rose.”
With a smile, she lifts the violin to her chin and starts to play. The beginning chords vibrate so beautifully. I can’t stand to listen so I take the old violin and walk out of the park. My heart rate is not as rapid as I thought it would be. My anxiety levels are manageable. This was a good thing to do. It was right. My mouth is widening on my face. I actually feel okay.
Near the exit I see a black SUV and today I don’t think it’s a coincidence. My smile instantly fades.
I stomp over to the car and as soon as I reach it, I grab the handle and open the back door. I nearly jump out of my skin when, instead of finding an empty backseat, my entire field of vision is filled with Alexander Asher.
As the door opens, his body jerks back in surprise. He must not have expected me to approach the vehicle, let alone open the door. His mouth is open and his eyes are wide; a shocked expression mirroring my own.
Okay, I’m surprised, too. I assumed Devon was the driver but I’m not prepared to see him here. I was just going to launch the case into the seat and slam the door or something.
“Here.” Hands shaking, I shove the case onto his lap. His hands rise as he stares at the violin resting on his thighs. “It’s a gift for the school.” I step back and am about to close the door when I add, “And stop following me.”