Chapter 14

Concerning item #5: The Key Around His Neck 8 (continued)

-

Spot frowned. What was this, the key didn't fit? Was she playing with him some more? Crazy broad. He backed up away from the building, checking the address again, just to be sure.

That's when the door opened.

"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" Cat said with a wide grin. Spot looked at her. She was clothed in a lacy, white, high-necked dress, with a black sash around her little waist, and a small black feathered hat. Her hair was pinned in an updo of curls.

It took Spot a moment to regain some composure, having been distracted at the sight of the poverty stricken little girl he once knew in a fancy dress like that, and spent another moment trying to figure out what she was talking about.

"Oh, you mean the key?" he asked, pointing to it.

She nodded, her smile widening.

"What is it for, then?" Spot pressed.

Her smile turned mischievous.

"You'll find out, I hope. Come on inside."

No, Spot thought to himself. It was time to go. His guilt overwhelmed him all at once.

"It's late," Spot said, trying to find an excuse to leave.

"You don't have a curfew," she argued, grabbing his wrist and pulling him onward.

"No, I really have to--"

"Why do you lie to me?" she said with a strong hint of a cruel irony, making Spot remember when he spoke those exact words to her. "Why do you tell me you have to go when you really don't?"

He rolled his eyes like he was irritated, when they both knew he wasn't. He knew he shouldn't be here, but at the feel of her warm hand on his wrist, his feet decided not to listen to his mind's protests.

So he let her drag him in through iniquity's doorway. Through that door were many dining tables with overturned chairs placed on top, each covered with its own white tablecloth, making each one seem like a luminous ghost in the dim candle lighting. Many of the tables were moved against the wall, leaving a large area bare. He had definitely been expected here.

"How did you…?" Spot began, but she interrupted.

"Howard, the rich man courting me, owns this restaurant. He says I can come whenever I want to play for people."

"Play what?"

Cat grinned and pulled a white sheet off of something big nearby.

A piano.

A large, extravagant Grand, with ivory keys and a mahogany inlay.

"Howard bought it just for me," she said sheepishly. Spot examined it closer. The front had custom carvings and the bench was upholstered in red velvet. No doubt it has cost dear Howard a very pretty penny.

"Do you remember when I wished for one of these?" she said fondly, running her hand along the wooden edge as she walked around it.

"I remember," Spot replied sullenly. It was a sad memory of good times past. "Ya wished ya knew how to play it too."

She laughed.

"Yes, that's right. Well, I am most fortunate now to have both of those wishes granted to me."

She strolled over to the bench and sat down with her hands in her lap.

"I wanted to play for you."

Spot's heart lurched. Oh God. She was too wonderful, too perfect sitting in that little chair in front of the pretty piano. He needed to get out of here…

She opened the cover and scooted the bench up to the keys. She placed her delicate fingers on them, and pressed.

Music emerged, wonderful music like he had never heard before. Not even so long ago when he was rich himself, and the hired professionals would come and play at the snooty parties.

No, not even then had he heard a more beautiful piece of music. The melody paralyzed him. He leaned on his cane for support, thinking he may not be able to stand otherwise. He could only stare. Could only listen.

Her fingers danced across the keys like they were born to do so, and her body rocked with each beat of a chord, and her eyes drifted closed as she got lost in her own skill. She was enchanting.

That's when Spot knew it for sure. He was lost to this little girl. No, this woman, he corrected his own mind, for that's what she had surely become.

When she opened her mouth and began to sing, Spot nearly died then and there.

You see me hide behind my dreams
And so many dreams are now in my reach
Too many times I've tried to leave
And find that you're still keeping me

I'm determined to
See you
Without your crowns and glory
For you're the only
Dream left
That hasn't come true

Come and save me
Or give me back my soul
For it's not fair
That you own both…

I have waited an eternity
And this eternity beckons me
For beautiful lies are all I see
And still I'll die in happy tragedy

Cause I'm determined to
See you
Without your crowns and glory
For you're the only
Dream left
That hasn't come true

So come and love me
Or give me back my soul
For it's not fair
That you own both…

For it's not fair
That you own both…

That's when he knew she was lost to him in return.

When she stroked the last key of the song, she lingered on it for more than a moment, letting it echo through the room. Then the place fell silent again.

She gulped and breathed very heavily, but Spot couldn't even draw one breath. He wanted her to say something, anything

"I wrote it," she said at last.

Spot gulped too, trying to act casual, but failing.

"I figured that," he said, barely loud enough for her to hear.

Quiet swept the room like a cold breeze.

"Aren't you going to tell me what you thought of it?"

Spot shook his head. But she was right back there on the docks… they had grown apart.

"No," he said decidedly.

She looked down at the piano keys again.

"Spot… If there was no Jack and me, no Howard, no Miss Gray, no Brooklyn--"

"--But there is," Spot interrupted. "You can't linger on the 'what-ifs'."

She hung her head.

"Spot… I have loved you since--"

Spot backed away and shook his head to stop her.

"Don't," he said. "Just shut the hell up. Don't do this t' me."

She put her hands in her lap and bit her lip.

"I'm sorry I brought you here," she said shakily, her eyes welling up. "I should go."

So she got up and started for the door.

Spot wanted to say something. He knew it was his turn to say something. But he was paralyzed from the mouth down. He couldn't do it.

But before she left, she glanced over her cute little shoulder.

"I'll ask only one more thing," she said boldly. "Can you just tell me that you don't love me, right to my face? I'll leave you alone if you do. Can you just do that for me?"

When she said that, something tore inside Spot, and he miraculously had feeling return to his legs. He quickly went to her, put a finger under her chin, and lifted her eyes to meet his. She shook all over. It made Spot sick to his stomach. Anger sifted through him, at his own stupidity, at the injustice of it all… She should be his… Oh, he wanted to put his mouth on hers… Just kiss her then and there. It would make them both happy… So why couldn't he?

"No… I can't," he admitted through his harsh breaths. Because she wasn't his, that's why. He had to hold himself back so hard… They weren't meant to be that way, he supposed.

"I can't tell you that," he said. "That's one lie I won't evah tell… But you listen t' me…"

He looked her straight in the eye, as the tears began to escape her hold.

"I ain't evah gonna do nottin' about it," he said harshly, through the pain it caused him to say it. "Evah, alright? Not evah!"

"I understand," she said with a nod. She sniffed, and Spot lifted her chin again.

"Hey, hey. None a' that. Don't be gettin' all sniffles on me, heah?"

She chuckled through her tears, and nodded again. Spot wiped one tear away, then quickly pulled his hand away, realizing he was too close, too close to her face, her mouth… He had to leave before he lost control completely.

"I gotta go," he choked. "And I wouldn't expect me back if I was youse."

She nodded once more, not taking her eyes off him.

He walked her back to her building slow, neither speaking the entire way. The silence was as cold as the night air. But there was nothing more to say. Spot was afraid if he opened his mouth, words he'd regret later would pour out in a flood. The walk seemed forever, even though it was barely one block down.

When they finally reached her stoop, they found Jack sitting on the bottom stair, waiting all by himself. His hat was pulled over his head, and if Spot hadn't known better, he'd say he was asleep. If only they were so lucky.

"I figured you'd be heah," Jack said, looking right at Spot.

"I'd bettah go," Spot said, the guilt catching up with him, though he hadn't really done anything wrong, he knew that in his mind, he had done it all.

"But, Spot…" Cat seemed disappointed, but he turned his back to her anyway. As Spot passed Jack, he paused for a moment.

"Nothin' happened," Spot said silently for only Jack to hear. Jack nodded.

"I know, Spot."

So Spot nodded in reply, then left them to talk. He wandered the empty streets alone, taking his time back to the lodging house.

-

Cat's song written by me, and me alone, though was inspired in part by Chelsea Williams "Crowning Jewels". Go find her on the net, she's a wonderful indie artist and needs your support.
Go ahead and review now.
Signed,
--RedRogue