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He leaned in to kiss her and her heart swelled with love and appreciation Sa to love her even more once she was able to deliver her Christmas surprise She could hardly wait

Chapter 35

Sam

Beth had cooked up so hi for her, too, but it would need to wait until after the holidays Everything had been going well between the He was busy ork and the volunteer projects Beth had introduced him to over the last couple of months

Beth was deeply involved with her students at the high school She took a personal interest in her piano students, especially a twelve-year-old girl nas were good on the home front From tidbits of conversation with both Sunshine and Beth, he’d learned that Phillip and Ellie were eager to have Beth honed him and Ellie up for a cruise to the South Pacific as a surprise Christ so in Chicago for teeks He wouldconfident that they werepart of his world and he couldn’t i how he’d sworn never to get involved in another roiven up until he’d met Beth

On Saturday, the day before Beth was due to fly to Chicago and join her family for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, she asked him to accompany her to some piano function She see kids at a recital wasn’t high on his entertain Truth was he’d do just about anything for this woman and she knew it

He picked her up around five When she opened the door, his heart leapt as he was struck once again by her beauty Whatever he’d done to deserve this woood She was beautiful She wore a red dress with an angel pin clipped at the base of her throat In el

"You look … " He couldn’t find words adequate enough to describe how lovely she was

As expected, Beth blushed It was hard not to take her in his ar but he resisted, knowing it would be hard to stop and they were on a schedule First this recital and then dinner with Rocco and Nichole at soame for the si, he’d drive her to the airport and off she’d go to Chicago

Beth gathered her coat and had the address for the iddy

"Any of these your students?" he asked

"No, these are more advanced Kameron should be at this level by next year"

He wasn’t sure why it was so important that Beth attend when none of her own students were part of the program, but he didn’t question it She’d made friends with severalto support a newfound friend

Thanks to Beth, he’d been working with Habitat for Humanity on Jazroup of volunteers Beth often joined hiuys fro they’d complained, but all it took was one Saturday Since that time a nu so back was addictive

Sam drove to the address of the school that Beth provided They had a hard ti spot and barely ram offered at the front door of the auditorium and he followed her inside Because they were a few minutes late, the only available seats were in the back That suited Sa as sure to be a long hour

He had zoned out for the ram when Beth elbowed hiirl we caer, whothe piano She had on a white dress and her dark hair was curled Sliding onto the bench, she glanced nervously toward the front row

Sam felt for the kid, as clearly anxious

"Oh Saed From this distance they all sort of looked the same He did sit up and take notice when her hands went to the keys Her back straightened and before his eyes, the teenager was iirl who had been self-conscious and jittery took on a conize the nuirl was clearly gifted It was as if she surrendered herself to theover her heart When she finished, there was a moment of awe and silence before the room exploded in applause

Sam applauded, too

The next student was introduced, and Beth leaned close and whispered, "We can go now if you want"

"We can?" This was an unexpected surprise

She nodded and stood They were at the end of the aisle, so their leaving didn’t disturb anyone Sam waited until they were outside before he spoke