Chapter 26

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           Iwakewithajolt.IthinkI’vejustfallendownsomestairsinadream,andIboltupright,momentarilydisoriented.Itisdark,andI’minChristian’sbedalone.Somethinghaswokenme,somenaggingthought.Iglanceoveratthealarmclockonhisbedside.Itisfiveinthemorning,butIfeelrested.Whyisthat?Oh—it’sthetimedifference—itwouldbeeighta.m.inGeorgia.Holycrap…Ineedtotakemypill.Iclamberoutofbed,gratefulforwhateveritisthathaswokenme.Icanhearfaintnotesfromthepiano.Christianisplaying.ThisImustsee.Ilovewatchinghimplay.Naked,Igrabmybathrobefromthechairandwanderquietlydownthecorridor,slippingonmyrobeandlisteningtothemagicalsoundofthemelodiclamentthat’scomingfromthegreatroom.

           Shroudedindarkness,Christiansitsinabubbleoflightasheplays,andhishairglintswithburnishedcopperhighlights.Helooksnaked,thoughIknowhe’swearinghisPJbottoms.He’sconcentrating,playingbeautifully,lostinthemelancholyofthemusic.Ihesitate,watchingfromtheshadows,notwantingtointerrupthim.Iwanttoholdhim.Helookslost,sadeven,andachinglylonely—ormaybeit’sjustthemusicthat’ssofullofpoignantsorrow.Hefinishesthepiece,pausesforasplitsecond,thenstartstoplayitagain.Imovecautiouslytowardhim,drawnasthemothtotheflame…theideamakesmesmile.Heglancesupatmeandfrownsbeforehisgazereturnstohishands.

           Oh,crap,ishepissedoffthatIamdisturbinghim?

           “Youshouldbeasleep,”hescoldsmildly.