The Music Box (17 page)

“Miss Angie—” Luke began and stuttered to a stop as more and more cars halted and the people piled out, and those in the front yard came down to join them. The crowd grew and grew around them, and all Angie could do was look out over the smiling faces. Years of students there with parents and friends, and friends of her own parents, three and even four generations of the townsfolk standing there and smiling.

“Miss Angie,” Luke started anew, only this time a young voice cried, “Wait, wait, we've got to be there too!” A way was made for Melissa and Carson Nealey to move up to the front.

“And me!” The dark hair and a brilliant smile marked Gina's arrival. Her eyes glistened with joy as she beamed at Angie.

Luke's big hands kept turning his hat brim round and round nervously. “Miss Angie . . .”

“You said that already, Luke, dear,” Emma sang out from the car's other side. “You can skip on to the next part.”

“We've noticed your house has been in need of a new coat of paint,” Luke said. “And, well, that is—”

“I declare, Luke, there's food getting cold.” Emma shouldered her way around to stand in front of Angie. “Honey, you are a friend to everyone in this town, and we all just want to say thank you.”

Angie stammered, “For what?”

“For everything,” called a voice from the back.

“You've been through a hard time, years more than anybody nice as you deserves,” Emma said. A chance ray of sunlight slipped between the wind-rushed clouds and played across the gathering, pausing long enough on Angie to make it hard for her to see clearly. Emma went on, “We just want to celebrate with you now that happiness has come back home.”

“And we're gonna paint your house,” Luke finished determinedly.

She could not reply. People close up saw the raw emotion on her features and started up the walk. Others took their place, as though everybody needed to glance and see what she was feeling. Just a glimpse, mind. It was enough.

“Don't tell me you aim to stand down here and watch.” Emma shook her head, her grin as bright as the sun. “I do wish you could see your face right now.”

“Come on, dearest,” Carson said, taking her hand. “Let's go say hello to everybody.”

Angie let herself be led across the lawn, stopping for hugs here and there, shared words she neither heard nor fully realized she was speaking. Then the music started, and she looked over and saw with a start that Clem Cannon was picking a tune with two other men she knew vaguely from her highland travels. One plucked the strings of a banjo, the other sawed at a fiddle. Mother Cannon looked up from where she was cutting pies and joined in the shared smile.

Clem waved and asked, “Hope you aim on joining us for a song or two, Miss Angie.”

“I told Miss Emma,” a voice to her side said as a small hand joined hers. “Miss Emma talked to Pastor Rob. Then he talked to me. Then he talked to his momma. And she talked to Clem.” Melissa paused long enough to draw breath, then demanded, “Will you come inside with me now?”

Only then did Angie realize that Melissa was carrying the music box. “What are you doing with that, honey?”

“I told you, I wanted to move it into your house today.”

“Our house,” Angie corrected quietly.

“That's right.
Our
house. Can we go now?”

Angie followed her across the yard and through the front door. The banging and clattering was muffled when she closed the door behind them. Angie asked, “Where shall we put it?”

Melissa shifted the box so that she could point with one hand and say, “Right here, on the table by the door.”

A cloud of unseen weight seemed to lift from her heart. “Perfect,” she said quietly. “I'll move this bowl of mine upstairs.”

“No,” Melissa said quickly, putting her box down and opening the lid. As “Greensleeves” filled the hallway, she went on, “Beside your crystal jar. Together. And whenever we come in or go out, we'll look at them and remember the good things.”

“That's right,” Angie agreed, taking Melissa's hand. “Only the good things.”

****

Books by Davis Bunn

The Book of Hours
The Great Divide
Winner Take All
The Lazarus Trap
Elixir
Imposter

Lion of Babylon
Rare Earth
All Through the Night
My Soul to Keep

A
CTS OF
F
AITH
*
The Centurion's Wife • The Hidden Flame
The Damascus Way

S
ONG OF
A
CADIA
*
The Meeting Place • The Sacred Shore
The Birthright • The Distant Beacon
The Beloved Land

H
EIRS OF
A
CADIA
†
The Solitary Envoy • The Innocent Libertine
The Noble Fugitive • The Night Angel
Falconer's Quest

*
with Janette Oke       †with Isabella Bunn