Chapter 7
Ric kissed Elizabeth on the forehead as they danced, and he pulled her closer. He started to listen to the music, then realized what song was playing. He quickly pulled away from Elizabeth. It was so fast that it almost scared her.
Elizabeth looked around to see what startled Ric. "Ric? What's wrong?"
Ric looked at Elizabeth's alarmed face and realized what he had done. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He smiled and quickly dug through his head to think of a lame excuse. "You're good," he said with a smile. "When I'm with you, I forget everything else that happens around us."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Sweetie, I hate to cut this wonderful evening short. .But I've got a long day tomorrow. This romantic setting you've created here almost made me forget how late it was."
Elizabeth looked at her watch. "Oh-I'm so sorry. I didn't even realize-"
"No, it's okay. Really." Ric gently slid his hand down Elizabeth's cheek. "I promise to make it up to you. I'll take you dancing at this beautiful place in New York City-"
Elizabeth placed her index finger on Ric's lips to stop him. "Tell you what," she replied understandingly. "You can make it up to me by doing the dishes."
They both turned and looked at the dishes that were left on the counter. Ric smiled. "You've got it. I'll even clean up everything else."
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked and Ric nodded. Elizabeth walked over to the counter to pick up her purse.
Ric walked her to the door. They both looked at each other for a moment. Ric leaned down and kissed Elizabeth goodnight. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered to her. He watched her walk away, then turned around to start cleaning up.
He noticed that the jukebox was still playing. It was playing "We're in Heaven" by Brian Adams. It reminded him of Natalie. It was a very dear song to Natalie and him back then. It didn't feel right when he danced to it with Elizabeth in his arms. He turned off the music then stopped. What was that? A piano? It sounded like it was coming from the club. He quickly walked across the room and down the stairs that led to the club. The music got louder as he walked farther down the steps. He stopped and realized what song it was. It was the song he and Natalie first danced to on that bluff. He smiled to himself. How could he forget? He reached the bottom of the steps and peeked around the corner. He was surprised to see that it was Natalie playing the piano!
He didn't want to interrupt her and ruin her concentration, so he started to turn around to leave. He stopped and realized that she won't stop if she didn't know he was there. After all, it had been so long since he's heard her play. He missed that. He watched her as her fingers glided up and down the keyboard with ease. He started to think about the first time she played for him.
***
"Isn't this breaking and entering?" Ric asked as Natalie tugged on his arm.
"Who said anything about 'breaking'?" Natalie asked. "We're just.entering."
They were in the backstage of an auditorium in one of the high schools from the area. Natalie picked a lock to get in. Now they were rummaging around in the dark. "What are you doing?" Ric asked as he watched Natalie running her hand over a wall.
"We need light to see, don't we?" She finally found the light levers on the wall. She strained her eyes to read the labels of what each light was for. She lifted her arm and pulled one lever down. Suddenly, they saw a thin stream of light that came from the stage. Natalie grabbed Ric's hand. "Come on. I've got something to show you."
They pushed a piece of the stage curtain away to reveal the stage. The light was shining on a baby grand piano. "They had a piano recital tonight," Natalie said as she sat down on the piano bench.
Ric walked around the stage to take a look around. Then, he ran his hand over the top of the piano. "Well, it's obvious that we missed the recital. Maybe we should get the time right next time."
"Ric, please." Natalie rolled her eyes. "That's not why we're here." She opened the cover of the piano, then looked up at Ric. "I am going to play you a song."
Ric raised his eyebrows. "Oh really?" He crossed his arms. "What's the occasion?"
"This is to pay you back for all of the times I made you play guitar during those open-mic nights."
Ric smiled. "Oh, well, in that case.this better be good."
Natalie smiled back shyly. She normally never played a concert for one person. She was used to playing the piano at a fancy restaurant. She was the live entertainment. This particular moment was very strange to her. She was so used to playing in front of people. Why did she feel so nervous all of a sudden? After all.it was only Ric! She cleared her throat, then started to play.
Ric felt honored to be able to witness Natalie's extraordinary talent. His head jolted back when Natalie started to sing. He wasn't expecting a serenade.
Oh - once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Yeah - nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way
He crossed his arms on top of the piano and leaned forward. Natalie had a beautiful voice. It mesmerized him and he was drawn to every word she sang.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Ric stopped leaning against the piano and slowly started to walk towards Natalie. He ran his hand over the top of the piano as he walked and he never took his eyes off of her.
I've been waitin' for so long
For somethin' to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Yeah - I'll be standin' there by you
He sat on Natalie's right-hand side on the piano bench as she played. He watched her fingers delicately dance across the keyboard.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
Ric's eyes drifted towards Natalie's lips. He was so drawn to them that he wouldn't have been able to look away if he was forced to. As Natalie began to finish the song, she had to reach over Ric to play the higher octave keys.
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Ric's heart jump as he smelled the scent that came from Natalie's hair. As Natalie played the last measures, she realized that Ric was looking at her. She caught his eyes and slowly played the last notes of the song without looking. With the last notes being in the higher octave of the piano, she was still leaning over Ric. She was finally finished with the song and they were left staring at each other. With the music stopped, there was silence.and the only sound in the auditorium was from the beating of their hearts.
Ric raised his hand and cupped it on Natalie's cheek. Natalie lowered her arms from the piano and they laid limp by her sides. Ric gently pulled her face towards his lips and he kissed her tenderly.
***
Ric smiled. 'That was our first kiss,' he thought to himself. He shifted back into the present time and continued to watch Natalie play the piano in the club. When she was done, he quietly made his way back up the stairs to finish cleaning up. Natalie never knew he watched her.
Ric kissed Elizabeth on the forehead as they danced, and he pulled her closer. He started to listen to the music, then realized what song was playing. He quickly pulled away from Elizabeth. It was so fast that it almost scared her.
Elizabeth looked around to see what startled Ric. "Ric? What's wrong?"
Ric looked at Elizabeth's alarmed face and realized what he had done. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He smiled and quickly dug through his head to think of a lame excuse. "You're good," he said with a smile. "When I'm with you, I forget everything else that happens around us."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Sweetie, I hate to cut this wonderful evening short. .But I've got a long day tomorrow. This romantic setting you've created here almost made me forget how late it was."
Elizabeth looked at her watch. "Oh-I'm so sorry. I didn't even realize-"
"No, it's okay. Really." Ric gently slid his hand down Elizabeth's cheek. "I promise to make it up to you. I'll take you dancing at this beautiful place in New York City-"
Elizabeth placed her index finger on Ric's lips to stop him. "Tell you what," she replied understandingly. "You can make it up to me by doing the dishes."
They both turned and looked at the dishes that were left on the counter. Ric smiled. "You've got it. I'll even clean up everything else."
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked and Ric nodded. Elizabeth walked over to the counter to pick up her purse.
Ric walked her to the door. They both looked at each other for a moment. Ric leaned down and kissed Elizabeth goodnight. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered to her. He watched her walk away, then turned around to start cleaning up.
He noticed that the jukebox was still playing. It was playing "We're in Heaven" by Brian Adams. It reminded him of Natalie. It was a very dear song to Natalie and him back then. It didn't feel right when he danced to it with Elizabeth in his arms. He turned off the music then stopped. What was that? A piano? It sounded like it was coming from the club. He quickly walked across the room and down the stairs that led to the club. The music got louder as he walked farther down the steps. He stopped and realized what song it was. It was the song he and Natalie first danced to on that bluff. He smiled to himself. How could he forget? He reached the bottom of the steps and peeked around the corner. He was surprised to see that it was Natalie playing the piano!
He didn't want to interrupt her and ruin her concentration, so he started to turn around to leave. He stopped and realized that she won't stop if she didn't know he was there. After all, it had been so long since he's heard her play. He missed that. He watched her as her fingers glided up and down the keyboard with ease. He started to think about the first time she played for him.
***
"Isn't this breaking and entering?" Ric asked as Natalie tugged on his arm.
"Who said anything about 'breaking'?" Natalie asked. "We're just.entering."
They were in the backstage of an auditorium in one of the high schools from the area. Natalie picked a lock to get in. Now they were rummaging around in the dark. "What are you doing?" Ric asked as he watched Natalie running her hand over a wall.
"We need light to see, don't we?" She finally found the light levers on the wall. She strained her eyes to read the labels of what each light was for. She lifted her arm and pulled one lever down. Suddenly, they saw a thin stream of light that came from the stage. Natalie grabbed Ric's hand. "Come on. I've got something to show you."
They pushed a piece of the stage curtain away to reveal the stage. The light was shining on a baby grand piano. "They had a piano recital tonight," Natalie said as she sat down on the piano bench.
Ric walked around the stage to take a look around. Then, he ran his hand over the top of the piano. "Well, it's obvious that we missed the recital. Maybe we should get the time right next time."
"Ric, please." Natalie rolled her eyes. "That's not why we're here." She opened the cover of the piano, then looked up at Ric. "I am going to play you a song."
Ric raised his eyebrows. "Oh really?" He crossed his arms. "What's the occasion?"
"This is to pay you back for all of the times I made you play guitar during those open-mic nights."
Ric smiled. "Oh, well, in that case.this better be good."
Natalie smiled back shyly. She normally never played a concert for one person. She was used to playing the piano at a fancy restaurant. She was the live entertainment. This particular moment was very strange to her. She was so used to playing in front of people. Why did she feel so nervous all of a sudden? After all.it was only Ric! She cleared her throat, then started to play.
Ric felt honored to be able to witness Natalie's extraordinary talent. His head jolted back when Natalie started to sing. He wasn't expecting a serenade.
Oh - once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Yeah - nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way
He crossed his arms on top of the piano and leaned forward. Natalie had a beautiful voice. It mesmerized him and he was drawn to every word she sang.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Ric stopped leaning against the piano and slowly started to walk towards Natalie. He ran his hand over the top of the piano as he walked and he never took his eyes off of her.
I've been waitin' for so long
For somethin' to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Yeah - I'll be standin' there by you
He sat on Natalie's right-hand side on the piano bench as she played. He watched her fingers delicately dance across the keyboard.
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
Ric's eyes drifted towards Natalie's lips. He was so drawn to them that he wouldn't have been able to look away if he was forced to. As Natalie began to finish the song, she had to reach over Ric to play the higher octave keys.
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Ric's heart jump as he smelled the scent that came from Natalie's hair. As Natalie played the last measures, she realized that Ric was looking at her. She caught his eyes and slowly played the last notes of the song without looking. With the last notes being in the higher octave of the piano, she was still leaning over Ric. She was finally finished with the song and they were left staring at each other. With the music stopped, there was silence.and the only sound in the auditorium was from the beating of their hearts.
Ric raised his hand and cupped it on Natalie's cheek. Natalie lowered her arms from the piano and they laid limp by her sides. Ric gently pulled her face towards his lips and he kissed her tenderly.
***
Ric smiled. 'That was our first kiss,' he thought to himself. He shifted back into the present time and continued to watch Natalie play the piano in the club. When she was done, he quietly made his way back up the stairs to finish cleaning up. Natalie never knew he watched her.
