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“You’re in for a treat,” Cooper said, taking my hand as we followed Joey around the corner
“What would you like to hear?” Joey said to me
“You pick”
When the first strain of Tchaikovsky hit nized it as theswan scene in Swan Lake, every muscle in my body locked
There was a part of ht-year-old play Tchaikovsky
But aof my little sister and the fact that the anniversary of her death was only a mere thirty-one days from now
I’d been trying to push it aside, hoping thatinto a new place, would help et However, it was like someone didn’t want me to Someone didn’t want me to finally have peace after all these years
Tears welled inswan rushedsince she was a kid, and she’d been a talented ballerina She’d danced until the end She’d finally gotten an audition for the School of Aet in
It was the one thing that had kept her focused Kept her going
Everything fell apart after that moment
Bailey wrapped her ar ood”
I could feel Cooper staring at me, but I refused to look at him I didn’t want hi,” I whispered
Because, despite what his
A war hand curled around mine At Cooper’s touch I couldn’t help but look up at him He stared back at me, concerned
He saw far too much
I squeezed his hand and smiled to cover up what I didn’t want seen “You must be so proud,” I whispered
His answering nod was slow because he was still scrutinizing me
Thankfully, Joey finished and I was able to avoid Cooper by whooping and clapping along with Bailey and Cat
“So?” Joey turned around on the seat to grin at me “Did you like it?”
I returned his grin “Like it? I loved it! You, Mr Lawson, have the hands of a world-class surgeon”
Joey’s whole face lit up at the thought before it quickly turned crestfallen “I find insides yucky, remember”
Cat laughed and uess you’ll just have to stick to being a piano prodigy”
He grinned at his mom and then jumped off the stool to hurry over to me He tilted his head back to look up at me “What next?”
My an to slip away Joey was adorable and it was heartwar that he see about someone I hadn’t seen in a few days “Do you like books?” I had a suspicion he did
I was right
His blue eyes grew round “I love books!”
“Yeah? What’s your favorite?”
“I can’t choose just one, silly,” he scoffed
I laughed Oh yes He definitely had to meet Emery “I know someplace where there are lots of books” I looked up at Cooper and Cat “And coffee for us”
Cooper shook his head, but he was s “You can’t be serious, Doc She’ll have a heart attack if we all walk in together”
“I don’t think so” I looked down at Joey “Trust me”
Not too long later we found ourselves at Emery’s The place wasfor a coffee and a good book to read on the beach There was a girl behind the coffee counter I’d never seen before, while E area itself was euessed because it was so nice outside
E up with her customer, came toward me Her footsteps faltered as she realized Cooper ith me
“Hey” I grinned at her “Guess who decided to stick around?”
“I heard,” she said, her smile shy now “Iris told me”
“You talk to Iris?” Cat said, not hiding her surprise
Emery immediately blushed
“I brought so Joey toward Emery
As for Joey, he was staring up at Emery with his lips parted in wonder
As for Emery, when she looked down at Joey all her timidity seemed to disappear “Hey there”
Joey just blinked at her
I covered a chuckle and placed o with Emery and she can help you pick out a book? My treat”
He nodded, still staring at her, that wonder only increasing when Emery held out her hand to him “So what kinds of stories do you like?” she said as they walked away together
“Your treat?” Cat said “If the plan is to buy my kid’s affection with books and a woman who looks like a character frorinned at me and strode toward the coffee counter
Confused, I turned to Cooper “Frozen?”
“The Disney movie”
“I don’t watch a lot of movies”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and shook his head in disbelief “Jesus Christ, Doc, I’m a thirty-six-year-old bar owner and even I’ve heard of Frozen” o;You’re in for a treat,” Cooper said, taking my hand as we followed Joey around the corner