A/N: Betaed by Jen.
Part Eighty-Three
On the Tuesday evening, Karen had all her windows open, letting the fragrant spring air flow through the flat. She was practicing her viola, the slow, rhythmic sweeps of the bow helping to calm her down after a long day in Larkhall. She found this particular pastime relatively relaxing, sometimes playing with just the score, and sometimes trying to play along with the CD she'd got around to buying the other day. It was taking up a good deal of her spare time, but Karen found herself appreciating the fact that being involved with 'The Creation', did make her take some time out from her job, ensuring that not all her evenings were spent slaving over a hot computer. A brief shiver ran over her every time she thought of how pure George's voice had been on Saturday. Karen had been so proud of her, so enchanted to realise that this beautiful, talented, utterly sensational woman was hers, or at least partly hers.
As John drew his car to a stop in Karen's driveway, he could hear the sound of her viola, the sultry, sensual climb and descent of notes, a sound as rich as melted chocolate carried on the air. He stood listening to her for a while before ringing the doorbell, unwilling to disturb such a blissful accompaniment to the birds singing in the trees. When Karen came downstairs to let him in, she looked happy, peaceful, as if her playing had managed to draw out all the badness a day in Larkhall could leave with her. "You're certainly in good sound tonight," He said, kissing her cheek. "I doubt my neighbours will think so," Karen replied, leading the way back upstairs. "Don't you believe it," He insisted. "Your playing reminded me of a rich, red Burgundy, with so much body, that it needs to be taken gently and lingeringly, just like a beautiful woman." Karen grinned. "You're obviously in a good mood, what are you after?" "You're always so suspicious of my motives," John protested, the glint of amusement in his eye. "I wondered if you knew anyone who plays the violin, who might be interested in filling the one remaining slot we have for a second violinist." Pouring them both a glass of white wine, Karen pondered his enquiry. She couldn't immediately think of anyone she knew who could play the violin, apart from John himself. Picking up her address book, she began to flip through its pages, hoping to hit on some inspiration. Halting on the phone number for one, very familiar couple, she smiled. "I didn't think I could, but I might just be able to meet your demands." John smirked at her attempt at flirtation. He and Karen had always been comfortable with harmlessly flirting with each other, both of them knowing that it would never again go any further. Picking up the phone, Karen dialed Cassie and Roisin's number.
When Roisin answered, Karen made some minor small talk, feeling slightly guilty that she hadn't really been in touch with Cassie and Roisin too much recently, thinking that it was about time she started catching up with all her friends, not just the ones associated with George. "Roisin, you play the violin, don't you?" Karen asked, finally getting round to the reason she'd rung. "When I can find five minutes here and there, yes," Roisin answered, wondering what was coming. "Would you be interested in playing second violin in a performance of 'The Creation'?" Roisin stayed silent for a moment, mulling the possibility over. "I don't know if I'm good enough," She said, really not thinking that she was quite up to that sort of standard. "Would you like to find out if you are?" Karen asked persuasively, now really wanting Roisin to take part in this. "Well, yes, I suppose I would, but how?" "Are you busy, right now I mean?" "No, not really. Michael's quite capable of doing his homework without me, And Cassie can do the ironing for a change." Karen smiled. "Do you want to come over, so that our resident leader can decide if you're up to the job?" "What aren't you telling me?" Roisin asked suspiciously. "Nothing bad, I promise," Karen said with a little laugh. "I don't have my violin though, it's in for a service." Putting her hand over the receiver, Karen looked towards John. "Do you have your violin with you?" "Yes, it's in the car. I don't go anywhere without it these days." "Could Roisin borrow it, just to see if she wants to join us?" Then, at John's slight hesitation, she added, "She will be gentle with it, I promise." At John's nod, Karen removed her hand and said, "We have one you can borrow." "You really want me to do this, don't you?" Roisin asked, praying that she could live up to Karen's faith in her. "Only if you want to do it," Karen said soberly. "I haven't played in an orchestra since I was at school," Roisin said wistfully. "Okay, I'll come over, but no promises."
When she arrived, Karen went down to let her in. "Barbara told me quite a lot about this on Sunday," Roisin said in greeting. "I took Michael and Niamh to church, and we got talking about it afterwards." "I thought you were Catholic," Karen said in surprise. "I was, before I met Cassie," Roisin said, following her up the stairs. "But the Catholic Church isn't very welcoming of those who become sexually involved with their own sex. I've been going to Henry's church since Barbara got out and they settled here. Cassie wouldn't be seen dead in one though." When they entered the lounge, Roisin stared at John in surprise. "Now Barbara certainly didn't tell me you held the no doubt coveted position of leader." John moved forward to shake her hand. "For once, my reputation doesn't precede me," He said with a smile. "Babs said that Grayling's singing Adam," Roisin said, turning her gaze on Karen. "Yes, and a very good one he's going to make," Karen replied with a smile. "He was really quite a surprise." Spying John's violin on the table, which he'd fetched from the car before her arrival, Roisin asked, "So, what do you want me to cut my teeth on?" John picked up Karen's copy of the score that she'd been practicing from, and handed it to her. "Take your pick," He said, gently lifting his violin from it's case, running his hand lovingly along the strings, and feeling a sense of brief betrayal that he was letting another play his most prized possession. Flipping through the score, Roisin selected something that neither looked too difficult, nor too easy. She wanted to show what she could do, without making a complete fool of herself. Turning to the page she wanted, she propped the score on Karen's music stand. When John carefully handed her his violin, Roisin took it with all the delicate control, of one who knew how to properly cherish a magnificent object. "That's a beautiful instrument you have there," She said, sliding it under her chin, and fitting her left hand around its neck. When John handed her the stunningly crafted bow, Roisin took a moment or two to warm up, getting herself used to the sound and feel of someone else's treasure. She could smell the lingering aroma of John's aftershave, from where the violin must regularly come into contact with his neck.
John stood by her shoulder, watching as her bow slid confidently over the strings of his instrument, creating, to his amazement, an entirely different sound to that he usually made. It wasn't better, it wasn't substandard, it was just different. It quivered slightly, the hint of vibrato barely perceptible beneath the surface notes. John turned pages for her whenever necessary, leaving her hands completely free to manipulate string and bow. After giving her a moment to settle down, Karen lifted her viola and joined her, providing a slightly disconnected feeling, with the two most understated string parts, suddenly taking all the limelight. After almost half of the aria Roisin had chosen, John held up a hand to stop them. "Would you like to join us?" He asked, looking Roisin right in the eye. "Yes, I would," She said, feeling the tingling of anticipation flowing through her body. "Then we'll be very pleased to have you," John said with a smile, thinking that his day had just got an awful lot better. "Thank you," Roisin said, handing his violin back to him. "It's a very long time since I got involved with something like this."
A little while later when John left, Karen walked out to his car with him. "Keep your hands off her, John," She said quietly, as he slid behind the wheel. "You're talking as though I had intentions of doing the opposite," He said carefully. "I saw that smile, when you asked her if she wanted to join us," Karen said knowingly. "I'm just asking you not to go there, that's all." "And you have my word, that I won't," John said deliberately. "And we both know just how fickle your word can be," Karen reminded him, turning to walk back inside before he could contradict her.
Once back upstairs, she poured Roisin a glass of wine and refilled her own. "I think I'm going to enjoy this," Roisin said, putting down the score and accepting the glass. "If the first rehearsal was anything to go by," Karen said, lighting a cigarette. "You definitely will." "I probably shouldn't say it," Roisin said self-deprecatingly. "But I think it might do me good to do something that doesn't involve Cassie." "Is everything all right with you two?" Karen asked in concern. "Oh, everything's fine, couldn't be better. Well, apart from Lauren being in prison for the next few months. But I sometimes think we do too much that involves each other, if that makes any sense." "They say a change is as good as a rest," Karen said, taking a long drag. "I love Cass to bits," Roisin insisted, lighting a cigarette of her own. "But I know that doing something apart from her won't do either of us any harm." "I'm sorry I haven't been in touch a lot lately," Karen said regretfully. "How is the job?" Roisin asked, knowing how day to day occurrences could take over one's entire life. "It's great, well, most of it. But sometimes I find that I've barely got time to catch up with the ironing, never mind spend time with friends. Even George has to battle through the paperwork to spend some time with me these days." "How's it going with her?" "When I see her, it's wonderful, couldn't possibly be better." "And what's she like as Eve? Babs did tell me that much." "She's incredible, sings like an angel." "Oh, and that wouldn't be a touch of bias in there by any chance, now would it?" Roisin said with a smirk. "Possibly," Karen admitted. "But she is perfect as Eve." "We saw Yvonne the other day," Roisin said carefully, knowing she had to introduce this topic at some point. "How is she?" Karen asked, just as carefully. "She misses you," Roisin said simply. "I know," Karen said regretfully. "And you don't know just how much I wish there was something I could do about that." "Sweetheart, I didn't say it to make you feel guilty," Roisin said gently. "That's just how it is. She's not angry with you for moving on, for getting on with your life and finding someone new, she just misses you, and though she didn't actually say it, I think she'd like to see you." "Suggestion received and acknowledged," Karen replied, thinking that some time in the next week or two, see Yvonne she must, and see Yvonne she would. She knew she'd neglected everyone but those under her immediate concern over the last few weeks, but that was no excuse. She needed to start reassessing her priorities, putting some of her good intentions into practice, rather than simply using them to pave the proverbial road to hell.
Part Eighty-Three
On the Tuesday evening, Karen had all her windows open, letting the fragrant spring air flow through the flat. She was practicing her viola, the slow, rhythmic sweeps of the bow helping to calm her down after a long day in Larkhall. She found this particular pastime relatively relaxing, sometimes playing with just the score, and sometimes trying to play along with the CD she'd got around to buying the other day. It was taking up a good deal of her spare time, but Karen found herself appreciating the fact that being involved with 'The Creation', did make her take some time out from her job, ensuring that not all her evenings were spent slaving over a hot computer. A brief shiver ran over her every time she thought of how pure George's voice had been on Saturday. Karen had been so proud of her, so enchanted to realise that this beautiful, talented, utterly sensational woman was hers, or at least partly hers.
As John drew his car to a stop in Karen's driveway, he could hear the sound of her viola, the sultry, sensual climb and descent of notes, a sound as rich as melted chocolate carried on the air. He stood listening to her for a while before ringing the doorbell, unwilling to disturb such a blissful accompaniment to the birds singing in the trees. When Karen came downstairs to let him in, she looked happy, peaceful, as if her playing had managed to draw out all the badness a day in Larkhall could leave with her. "You're certainly in good sound tonight," He said, kissing her cheek. "I doubt my neighbours will think so," Karen replied, leading the way back upstairs. "Don't you believe it," He insisted. "Your playing reminded me of a rich, red Burgundy, with so much body, that it needs to be taken gently and lingeringly, just like a beautiful woman." Karen grinned. "You're obviously in a good mood, what are you after?" "You're always so suspicious of my motives," John protested, the glint of amusement in his eye. "I wondered if you knew anyone who plays the violin, who might be interested in filling the one remaining slot we have for a second violinist." Pouring them both a glass of white wine, Karen pondered his enquiry. She couldn't immediately think of anyone she knew who could play the violin, apart from John himself. Picking up her address book, she began to flip through its pages, hoping to hit on some inspiration. Halting on the phone number for one, very familiar couple, she smiled. "I didn't think I could, but I might just be able to meet your demands." John smirked at her attempt at flirtation. He and Karen had always been comfortable with harmlessly flirting with each other, both of them knowing that it would never again go any further. Picking up the phone, Karen dialed Cassie and Roisin's number.
When Roisin answered, Karen made some minor small talk, feeling slightly guilty that she hadn't really been in touch with Cassie and Roisin too much recently, thinking that it was about time she started catching up with all her friends, not just the ones associated with George. "Roisin, you play the violin, don't you?" Karen asked, finally getting round to the reason she'd rung. "When I can find five minutes here and there, yes," Roisin answered, wondering what was coming. "Would you be interested in playing second violin in a performance of 'The Creation'?" Roisin stayed silent for a moment, mulling the possibility over. "I don't know if I'm good enough," She said, really not thinking that she was quite up to that sort of standard. "Would you like to find out if you are?" Karen asked persuasively, now really wanting Roisin to take part in this. "Well, yes, I suppose I would, but how?" "Are you busy, right now I mean?" "No, not really. Michael's quite capable of doing his homework without me, And Cassie can do the ironing for a change." Karen smiled. "Do you want to come over, so that our resident leader can decide if you're up to the job?" "What aren't you telling me?" Roisin asked suspiciously. "Nothing bad, I promise," Karen said with a little laugh. "I don't have my violin though, it's in for a service." Putting her hand over the receiver, Karen looked towards John. "Do you have your violin with you?" "Yes, it's in the car. I don't go anywhere without it these days." "Could Roisin borrow it, just to see if she wants to join us?" Then, at John's slight hesitation, she added, "She will be gentle with it, I promise." At John's nod, Karen removed her hand and said, "We have one you can borrow." "You really want me to do this, don't you?" Roisin asked, praying that she could live up to Karen's faith in her. "Only if you want to do it," Karen said soberly. "I haven't played in an orchestra since I was at school," Roisin said wistfully. "Okay, I'll come over, but no promises."
When she arrived, Karen went down to let her in. "Barbara told me quite a lot about this on Sunday," Roisin said in greeting. "I took Michael and Niamh to church, and we got talking about it afterwards." "I thought you were Catholic," Karen said in surprise. "I was, before I met Cassie," Roisin said, following her up the stairs. "But the Catholic Church isn't very welcoming of those who become sexually involved with their own sex. I've been going to Henry's church since Barbara got out and they settled here. Cassie wouldn't be seen dead in one though." When they entered the lounge, Roisin stared at John in surprise. "Now Barbara certainly didn't tell me you held the no doubt coveted position of leader." John moved forward to shake her hand. "For once, my reputation doesn't precede me," He said with a smile. "Babs said that Grayling's singing Adam," Roisin said, turning her gaze on Karen. "Yes, and a very good one he's going to make," Karen replied with a smile. "He was really quite a surprise." Spying John's violin on the table, which he'd fetched from the car before her arrival, Roisin asked, "So, what do you want me to cut my teeth on?" John picked up Karen's copy of the score that she'd been practicing from, and handed it to her. "Take your pick," He said, gently lifting his violin from it's case, running his hand lovingly along the strings, and feeling a sense of brief betrayal that he was letting another play his most prized possession. Flipping through the score, Roisin selected something that neither looked too difficult, nor too easy. She wanted to show what she could do, without making a complete fool of herself. Turning to the page she wanted, she propped the score on Karen's music stand. When John carefully handed her his violin, Roisin took it with all the delicate control, of one who knew how to properly cherish a magnificent object. "That's a beautiful instrument you have there," She said, sliding it under her chin, and fitting her left hand around its neck. When John handed her the stunningly crafted bow, Roisin took a moment or two to warm up, getting herself used to the sound and feel of someone else's treasure. She could smell the lingering aroma of John's aftershave, from where the violin must regularly come into contact with his neck.
John stood by her shoulder, watching as her bow slid confidently over the strings of his instrument, creating, to his amazement, an entirely different sound to that he usually made. It wasn't better, it wasn't substandard, it was just different. It quivered slightly, the hint of vibrato barely perceptible beneath the surface notes. John turned pages for her whenever necessary, leaving her hands completely free to manipulate string and bow. After giving her a moment to settle down, Karen lifted her viola and joined her, providing a slightly disconnected feeling, with the two most understated string parts, suddenly taking all the limelight. After almost half of the aria Roisin had chosen, John held up a hand to stop them. "Would you like to join us?" He asked, looking Roisin right in the eye. "Yes, I would," She said, feeling the tingling of anticipation flowing through her body. "Then we'll be very pleased to have you," John said with a smile, thinking that his day had just got an awful lot better. "Thank you," Roisin said, handing his violin back to him. "It's a very long time since I got involved with something like this."
A little while later when John left, Karen walked out to his car with him. "Keep your hands off her, John," She said quietly, as he slid behind the wheel. "You're talking as though I had intentions of doing the opposite," He said carefully. "I saw that smile, when you asked her if she wanted to join us," Karen said knowingly. "I'm just asking you not to go there, that's all." "And you have my word, that I won't," John said deliberately. "And we both know just how fickle your word can be," Karen reminded him, turning to walk back inside before he could contradict her.
Once back upstairs, she poured Roisin a glass of wine and refilled her own. "I think I'm going to enjoy this," Roisin said, putting down the score and accepting the glass. "If the first rehearsal was anything to go by," Karen said, lighting a cigarette. "You definitely will." "I probably shouldn't say it," Roisin said self-deprecatingly. "But I think it might do me good to do something that doesn't involve Cassie." "Is everything all right with you two?" Karen asked in concern. "Oh, everything's fine, couldn't be better. Well, apart from Lauren being in prison for the next few months. But I sometimes think we do too much that involves each other, if that makes any sense." "They say a change is as good as a rest," Karen said, taking a long drag. "I love Cass to bits," Roisin insisted, lighting a cigarette of her own. "But I know that doing something apart from her won't do either of us any harm." "I'm sorry I haven't been in touch a lot lately," Karen said regretfully. "How is the job?" Roisin asked, knowing how day to day occurrences could take over one's entire life. "It's great, well, most of it. But sometimes I find that I've barely got time to catch up with the ironing, never mind spend time with friends. Even George has to battle through the paperwork to spend some time with me these days." "How's it going with her?" "When I see her, it's wonderful, couldn't possibly be better." "And what's she like as Eve? Babs did tell me that much." "She's incredible, sings like an angel." "Oh, and that wouldn't be a touch of bias in there by any chance, now would it?" Roisin said with a smirk. "Possibly," Karen admitted. "But she is perfect as Eve." "We saw Yvonne the other day," Roisin said carefully, knowing she had to introduce this topic at some point. "How is she?" Karen asked, just as carefully. "She misses you," Roisin said simply. "I know," Karen said regretfully. "And you don't know just how much I wish there was something I could do about that." "Sweetheart, I didn't say it to make you feel guilty," Roisin said gently. "That's just how it is. She's not angry with you for moving on, for getting on with your life and finding someone new, she just misses you, and though she didn't actually say it, I think she'd like to see you." "Suggestion received and acknowledged," Karen replied, thinking that some time in the next week or two, see Yvonne she must, and see Yvonne she would. She knew she'd neglected everyone but those under her immediate concern over the last few weeks, but that was no excuse. She needed to start reassessing her priorities, putting some of her good intentions into practice, rather than simply using them to pave the proverbial road to hell.