Maeve's Symphony

by Marianne Evans

  “I’m so proud of you, Maeve.” He didn’t release her hand right away, but turned to encompass his friends. “I’m proud of all of you and everything you’ve accomplished. I was at your show in Detroit and it was amazing. What a performance.”

  Aileen’s jaw dropped. “Do you mean to tell us you were at our concert and didn’t say hello?”

  Hands on hips, Aileen posed the question in a tone of mock censure. Maeve kept silent.

  “I really wanted to, but the arm injury was pretty fresh at that point, and I wanted to be able to see you when I could spend time getting caught up. Plus, if memory serves, your team was headed to Chicago right after the show ended.” Josh looked at Maeve. She diverted her gaze and pulled her hand free. He refused to let her reticence become dissuasive. “Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t quite right.”

  Kassidy looped her arm through his, directing them both toward the dark wood conference table. “None of that matters. You’re here now, and that’s what’s important. This is awesome.”

  Josh gave Kassidy a smile. Always such an angel, he recalled. Tough and strong, her love flowed with ease over her nearest and dearest. She had come a long way since her wilder days at Westerville High, as the vividly winking diamond on her ring finger now attested.

  “That’s a mighty nice sparkler you’re sporting, KC and the Sunshine Band.”

  Kassidy laughed and studied her engagement ring. “Thanks—and, I haven’t heard that nickname since senior year.”

  “Seems like a good time to resurrect it. Who’s the lucky guy?”

  “His name is Drew Wintower. He’s our tour manager. The best in the business.”

  “Drew knows all about the opportunity Josh is presenting.” Liam leaned forward. “Zion’s Peak is definitely going to utilize his services for this production. He couldn’t make it today because of meetings already scheduled at Ganneton Productions, but I’ll bring him up to speed once we’re finished finessing the details.”

  “OK then, fill us in, because at this point, my head is spinning. What’s going on? What have you got planned?” Siobhan’s eagerness prompted Josh to relax through the shoulders. This was all about coming home again, helping kids and endowing a future of hope rather than despair. Eyes on the prize, he thought. Eyes on the prize.

  That thought pinged his gaze straight to Maeve.

  “The Lincoln Center project is a fundraiser I created for my foundation, Goal to Go. Being a pro ball player has given me an opportunity to network with all kinds of people in the entertainment industry, and I’ve recruited some of them to help orchestrate a live performance that’ll be recorded and televised nationally. The proceeds will benefit underprivileged kids who show a talent and passion for sports. I’d like Sisters in Spirit to be a main component of that show.”

  For a few seconds he allowed that to sink in; by now, Maeve wasn’t the only one in shock.

  Aileen caught her breath, then gushed. “Josh, this is…just…wow. It’s absolutely incredible.”

  “I know your group will bring down the house. My motives are purely mercenary.”

  “Sure they are.” Delight bubbling over, Aileen gave Maeve’s shoulder a nudge. “This is like a dream. Can you imagine, Maeve? Lincoln Center!”

  “Trust me, Ailee, I’ve dreamed, and I’ve imagined—but to be presented with an actual opportunity…it’s beyond belief.”

  “Not beyond belief for a woman who’s graced Broadway.”

  Josh’s low spoken comment drew Maeve’s attention; her features melted to shyness almost immediately and his blood ran thick.

  “Off-Broadway.” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. You know that I performed—”

  “I kept up, Maeve, and New York Theatre is New York Theatre. Off-Broadway is a tremendous accomplishment.”

  Several seconds beat by before Josh shook free of her spell and pushed ahead. “Preps for the benefit will be time intensive. It would require that the team live in New York City for a couple weeks due to rehearsal schedules, promotional efforts, the performance and taping.”

  Kassidy’s face lit with enthusiasm. “Do you think we could make that work? As it stands right now, Drew’s been dividing his time between Westerville and Ganneton headquarters in the city. This would be ideal as we plan our wedding, but Siobhan, what about you and AJ?”

  At the mention of vows, Josh could have sworn he detected a subtle flinch from Maeve.

  Aileen captured the attention of her friends. “Shall we discuss this privately? We all have plans brewing that are equally important and shouldn’t be ignored, or decided all at once.”

  Siobhan arched a brow, tossed a glance toward Kassidy and Maeve. “Do we really need a side-bar to determine whether or not we should perform at Lincoln Center? Like Liam said, we’d be headed to the city anyway to record an album and produce videos. I want to discuss this with AJ, and we need to pray about what’s to come, but we’re only talking about weeks here. I don’t think that’s a huge amount of time.”

  Liam spoke up. “And the logistics wouldn’t be a problem as far as Zion’s Peak is concerned. We have residence-style hotel spaces available where you could stay, but I leave the final call to the four of you. I had intended the second part of our meeting to center on plans the label is developing to produce a second album. Our main studios are in the city, so that would work, as long as these ideas meet with everyone’s approval.” Liam took a moment to study the faces of his artists.

  Admiring Liam’s business savvy, Josh nodded and stepped into the plan as well. “We can finalize specifics over the next couple of days, so take your time. I don’t want you to feel rushed, or pressured. I don’t need an answer today.”

  “If you opt in,” Liam continued, “the production team would like you to choose three songs to perform.”

  Aileen’s eyes widened to the shape of pale blue saucers. “Three songs? Holy night, Liam, that’s like a mini concert. I’m stunned.” She tilted her head to bequeath Josh a large, enchanting smile. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

  “Nothing was given. You earned it.”

  While exclamations rounded the table, Josh watched Maeve. For the most part, she kept to herself and clenched her hands tight against the surface of the table. He hated the fact that she couldn’t seem to relax and engage fully in the conversation. But she had been ambushed.

  As soon as the meeting ended, he moved to remedy the situation.

  Goodbyes were exchanged and Maeve lifted a large, gray leather purse from the back of her chair, settling the strap against her shoulder. When she eyed the coat closet at the far end of the room and began to move away, Josh followed. Apparently, she wanted to execute a hasty exit; that recognition launched a twist through his midsection. He ambled to a stop just behind her.

  He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from pulling her in tight and never letting go. “It feels good to be home.”

  Maeve’s back went straight and taut. In slow movements, she unhooked her coat from the hanger. Not much about her nuances had changed, he thought. She was working to compose herself before meeting him eye-to-eye. Well, he wanted what was real—be it good or bad. He used a gentle grip to turn her around. A formal smile curved into place with perfect timing—she was a gifted actress—but Josh looked deeper and absorbed the storm clouds that chased across her eyes.

  “It’s really good to see you again.” She clutched a long, red wool coat to her chest. “Congratulations on your success in Detroit. I always knew you’d rock the gridiron.”

  Josh opted not to answer those overly polite, stilted statements. Rather, he lost himself in the depths of an Irish green gaze that had haunted him for years.

  And he stuffed his hands promptly back into his pockets.

  “Please don’t treat me like a stranger. I can honestly say this is one of the weirdest episodes I’ve faced in a long time, but it’s worth Liam’s orchestrations to see you again, Maeve. It’s worth it to have a chance to spend some time with you
. I’ve missed you. Very much.”

  Her lips trembled, until she pulled the lower one between her teeth. Again, an old habit of hers that reflected disquiet—a disquiet that simmered despite the way she also went a touch soft and loosened her tense posture.

  “I’m sorry, Josh. I just don’t know how to act.” She hung her head; he quirked a fingertip beneath her chin and lifted.

  “First of all, I don’t want you to act.” There, he waited, vindicated by a delicate line that furrowed to life against her forehead, that she maintained eye contact. “Second, you have nothing to apologize for.” Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand.

  “How long will you be in town?”

  “Through the weekend.”

  She nodded, ingested. “I’m sure my folks will want to have you over for dinner. Have you touched base with Doug yet?”

  “Dinner would be great.” Affection swelled when Josh thought of Maeve’s brother, who was a year older than she was. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Doug yet. There hasn’t been time. I planned to call him tonight.”

  “He’ll be so excited to see you again.”

  “Likewise. He was such an awesome receiver.”

  “A legend in his own mind.”

  A playful spark came to life in her tone, which made Josh smile. “That’s part of his charm. Hey, is the Cuppa Café still around?”

  “Yep—and doing blockbuster business.”

  “Would you like to go there? Just the two of us? I’d really like to catch up.”

  Her bottom lip vanished again. Maeve studied him intently, head tilted, fiery hair tumbling around her shoulders. Josh withstood the perusal without a flinch—especially since it gave him the opportunity to study her in return. Maeve Callahan was more gorgeous, more heart-stealing than ever.

  “Do you have a car?”

  “Don’t I always?” The topic spurred Josh to tease because back in high school, he had taken pleasure in driving Maeve wherever she needed to go. His lips curved on sweet memories and Maeve chuckled before she could seem to help herself.

  She narrowed her eyes in a form of challenge. “OK, then. I have an idea that’s even better than the coffee shop.”

  His heart thumped at a brisk beat. “I’m in.”

  ****

  “You’re kidding. Seriously? This is the perfect spot!”

  Josh could barely contain his excitement. Maeve had directed them out of town to the back end of Westerville High School. To the football field. Here Josh’s homecoming ran full circle. They exited his rental car and strode toward the line of empty bleachers just ahead.

  “All we need is a football.”

  Josh delivered a sidelong glance. “All we need is for you to dump a duffle on the sidelines and sit in the grass after you’ve finished with a cross country meet or practice. Remember when you’d watch me run drills on the field and help spot me during conditioning exercises?”

  “I remember.”

  They passed under the steel girders of the main grandstand and entered the field. Touched by silky, floral breezes, this early March day held the barest temptation of spring on the bloom. They crossed onto the gridiron and for a delicious moment Josh lost himself in the simple pleasure of standing at midfield, eyes closed, filling his chest with cool, fresh air just barely warmed by bands of sunlight that poured from a cloudless blue sky.

  “This place is so ingrained into my head it’s like I never left. It even smells the same.” He could almost hear the wild cheers, feel the vibrating thunder of the student body on football Friday. So many beautiful memories. He opened his eyes and came upon yards and yards of brownish-green grass just pushing back to life and the time honored white and gold logo of the Westerville High eagle. “Maeve, I had no idea what was to come.”

  “Me neither.”

  Josh sensed they were both expressing sentiments that extended far beyond high school dreams and ambitions.

  She slid her hand against his and curved her fingers snug. His pulse did a neat little skip, but she didn’t focus on him. Instead, she started to walk, beginning a leisurely circuit of the oval asphalt track course that framed the football field. They had done this countless times during less complicated, more carefree days. He wondered if the connection she initiated stemmed from affection, or automatic reflex. Regardless of the answer, strolling at her side felt natural as drawing a breath.

  “I have a confession to make. I wear your jersey on game days.”

  Josh stopped walking and held her in place for a second; his senses tingled. “I appreciate that. Furthermore, I’ll bet the Honolulu blue never looked so good.”

  They resumed walking. A rise of color tinged her cheeks. While they meandered, she watched him for a beat or two. Something in her eyes, a flicker of warmth, of longing, lit embers of hope in his chest and kicked those embers into a small, hopeful fire.

  “I didn’t mean to be so curt and off balance during the meeting.”

  “Maeve, I understand. Don’t worry about it. I know I took you by surprise.” Slow, synched footsteps took them around a curve in the track. “Part of me knows I need to apologize for the time away—for the way we were forced apart. I feel like I should have tried harder.”

  “Me, too. Leaving Westerville was hard on both of us. You were only half of the equation. We remained the idealistic sweethearts of Westerville High until graduation and life swept in.”

  True enough—but her words didn’t tell the whole story. Not for him, anyway. Maeve was right, they had remained a romantic pair until the end of school, but in subtle ways she changed after that night in February when they had succumbed to a pull greater than any he ever could have imagined. A sense of reserve colored her disposition and their entire relationship after that point. They stayed together, but Maeve shuttered her heart and withdrew from him. The shame factor prevented Josh from broaching the topic of their mutual lapse in judgment and stalled any attempt to cross the broken bridge that yawned between them. Mutual avoidance took them to graduation, then came the inevitable split—Maeve to her life in New York City, Josh to the west coast. The damage had never been repaired, and that ate holes in his psyche, because he treasured her.

  “Life definitely rushed at us. During college there was no time to breathe. I allowed relationships from one part of my life to fall away while new ones took shape and dominated everything else. The football fraternity at UCLA was like a lifeline amidst all the intensity, all the craziness that overtook my world when I went to California. Then, I was drafted by Detroit and parked my entire life in Michigan of all places. My insular world only intensified. Out of necessity, I became part of a very tight-knit entity second only to God and my family.”

  Maeve focused on him, waiting, so he continued.

  “You mentioned Doug. I meant to connect with him before I arrived in New York. I’ve missed him, Maeve, and he probably doesn’t even realize it. I meant to stay in closer contact with everyone. My friends in Westerville mean a lot to me.”

  “We know that.” Her gentle voice carried to him like a song that stirred sweet strains of tenderness, and forgiveness. “What else could you have expected? You left high school and entered a whirlwind. A vortex that sucked you in. We understood, and we cheered you on. We still do.”

  “Part of me knew that’s how my life would play out, but the reality of it, especially during my freshman and sophomore years, was tough. Character building, is how the coaching staff described it. I describe it as lonely. Nothing but.” He braved a long, drenching look into her eyes. “I never for one second forgot how special you are. I never stopped thinking about us.”

  Instantly, her body stiffened and her features went stoic. Mask-like. Josh took the hint. Us was most definitely a closed topic.

  That was OK—for now. He had said enough, and they had time. If the Sisters team accepted his performance offer, there would be an opportunity for the two of them to start all over again. So, he surrendered the need to know more, forcing himself to take baby st
eps when it came to reestablishing solid ground.

  A couple entered the field wearing long sleeved shirts, running pants, and baseball caps. They began to jog along a section of the track just ahead of them. Josh let their motion lull him.

  “I’m so sorry for what happened to your arm.” Maeve watched after the pair as well, her quiet voice carrying to him. “I can’t stand watching replays of what happened, and for a while your tackle was all I kept seeing during football games. It made me sick inside. I know how important football is to you, and you’ve worked so hard. I really love watching you play. You’re getting to live out your dream.”

  “That means more to me than you know. I like the idea of you watching, and cheering for me.”

  As they walked, her shoulder bumped lightly against his. Curving winds tumbled a few fast food wrappers across the grass. Small sticks skittered across the barren expanse of the football field. She tugged him toward a set of metal stairs that lead to the stands. Josh released her hand and draped an arm loosely against her shoulders when they claimed space on the first row of seats. The seats were cold, so they huddled automatically.

  Maeve shifted to face him. “So you’ll be in New York for a while?”

  “That’s the plan, probably until I report for training camp in a few months. Rehab resumes in earnest on Monday. I’ve had three days off as it is, and I can already tell that’s been three days too many. Stiffness and a touch of soreness set in.”

  “Wow. So, you work at it every day?”

  “I have to. I want to, actually. At least coming here will make recovery a little easier to handle. I wanted to be away from the local spotlight. Plus, spending time in Westerville and New York City gives me a chance to visit a few of the community centers that are supported by my charity.”

  “Where will you stay while you’re in the city?”

  “A friend of mine from UCLA plays for the Giants. Since it’s the off-season, he’s letting me use his condo because he’s back in LA.”