Page 18 of A First Sight
FOURTEEN
MAGGIE
“Gilmore.”I smiled at David Geffen Hall’s security guard sitting behind the desk, grateful it was him. He wasn’t the most intimidating guard at around eighty, but he was the most respected. “How are you doing?”
“I’m well, Miss McCrae.” He beamed at me. “What brings you to see me?”
“Yesterday, Leyla brought me some flowers. They came without a card or a name,” I said. My heart beat faster. “I know they had to come through security, right?”
“Of course. We always check gifts that come in.” He frowned. “Was something wrong? Did we miss something?”
I shook my head.
“No, not at all. I just have a request.” I gave him a smile I hoped looked more genuine than it felt. “Anything that comes in without a note, anything that isn’t from my family or Dale, please send it back or keep it. Take it home or let one of the others take it.”
Gilmore looked confused.
“Are—are you sure, Miss?” Gilmore’s question was uncertain. “Anythingthat doesn’t come from Mr. Leighton or your family?”
I nodded.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll do as you ask.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, genuinely grateful.
After a few more pleasantries, I left, detouring to the restroom where I stood in the silence, letting go of the control I kept wrapped so tightly around myself.
My hands shook, and my chest tightened, making it impossible to breathe. I gasped, pain shooting through my sides. It was going to be agony to keep it up the rest of the night, even worse to play, but my only other choice was to call in sick.
And I’d be damned if I was going to give him that satisfaction.
I gritted my teeth as another wave of pain washed through me. Every step was excruciating, but sitting was worse.
And not only because of the blows.
No onedeserved what had happened to me.
FIFTEEN
DRAKE
I never promisedthat I wouldn’t attend future performances. However, I knew both Uncle Ben and Stellan would find my presence the very next night a tad…obsessive. But I wasn’t pursuing her. I didn’t send flowers tonight, after all. And I had no plans to learn more about her either.
It was simple. I’d already purchased the ticket and didn’t want to waste it.
As I took my seat, I reached for my glasses. I intended to pay close attention to everything if this would be my last show…for a while.
I scanned the stage to prove she wasn’t the only reason I was here. Then, I went to her.
Less than ten seconds later, I was frowning. Something was wrong. Maggie’s entire body seemed stiff. Not the same good posture and powerful movements I saw last time. The hand on the neck of her violin wasn’t quite right either. It took me a moment, but I realized her wrist was resting on it instead of being held at a ninety-degree angle. Her face was drawn, with nearly invisible lines at the corners of her mouth. Skin that was pale yesterday had a slightly grayish tinge to it today. I’d worried about her being sick before, and now I wondered if I was right.
The more I watched, the more my gut twisted and churned. The more something deep inside me said, something was very wrong with Maggie.
When I’d told Uncle Ben and Stellan I wouldn’t pursue any sort of connection with her, I had been honest, but this had changed things. If she was in some kind of trouble, I couldn’t just walk away, not if there was anythingIcould do.
I wasn’t grabbing at straws to justify my desire to continue watching her. If she were in danger, I’d see it, and help her. If she weren’t, there’d be no harm done.
I returned my attention to the stage. After the performance, I’d find out what was happening in her life and how to fix it.
