Chapter 18

Kate was standing there looking nervous.

"I hope you don't mind me calling," said Kate.

"Of course not," said Amelia-Rose, perplexed. She opened the door wider to let Kate in.

Kate walked past Amelia-Rose into the lounge. "Your cottage is kitted up beautifully," she complimented.

Amelia-Rose joined Kate in the lounge and signaled for her to make herself comfortable on the sofa.

"I really enjoyed the music session this lunchtime," said Amelia-Rose.

"You play beautifully," complimented Kate, "which is why I've come to see you."

Amelia-Rose waited wondering what Kate wanted to say. The day was becoming more surprising by the minute.

"I really just wanted to make sure that you would come again to join in," said Kate. "Musicians as good as you are rare and I wanted you to know that you're especially welcome."

"You didn't need to make the effort, you already made me feel welcome at the inn."

Amelia-Rose was observing Kate minutely and continued ...

 "But I suspect that there was something else you want to say."

"Not only talented but also very observant..." Kate's voice had developed an edge.

"Is it about Ralph?"

Kate looked away, a mixture of embarrassment and determination etched on her ruddy face.

"He's the best thing that ever happened to me. My husband spends all his time working on our farm. Ralph is more than just a friend... He is someone who is very close to my heart. When I saw him looking at you, I felt him slipping away from me. Then I found you together arm in arm after such a short length of time, it seemed that you had just walked in and taken over."

"Go on," said Amelia-Rose.

"We went to the same schools here when we were young. We knew each other very well and this kept us apart and led to bad decisions. Then his wife left him for the bright lights and we grew closer but there was still my husband and you can't split a farm up. So we make the best of a bad job and by and large we are on an even keel. Ralph and I have a rare happiness."

Her voice trailed off, as if there was more to say but she thought she'd said enough.

"So you came here to warn me off?"

Amelia-Rose s instantly regretted how blunt it sounded.

"I didn't come here to warn you off, I came here to ask you nicely. I just feel you could take him away from me. I wanted you to know what the cost would be."

"I'm sure you're over-rating me," said Amelia-Rose slowly, but deep inside she thrilled at the thought Kate believed Ralph fancied her.

"Don't you believe it," said Kate. "If I hadn't come down here to see you, he would have been here himself. He has a second violin and he wanted to lend it to you."

She reached inside the large shopping bag she was carrying and pulled out a violin case. She slid it over to where Amelia-Rose was sitting.

"He was going to bring it down. I knew he was interested in you because he didn't want us to come together."

Amelia-Rose opened the case and ran her finger across the chestnut colored wood. It looked very old and well played. It called out to her to pick it up. She couldn't wait to take it in her hands and listen to its sound but it would have been impolite so she closed the case and turned back to Kate.

"I don't know what to say... thank you ... It seems so inadequate. But how did you know that I don't have a violin of my own?"

"That's easy. We're all musicians. We love our music and our musical instruments. The way you held that violin today told us you were welcoming a long lost friend. The passion of your playing told us more than words could ever do. It was like somebody coming home from a wilderness. It was a rediscovery. Now, if you'll accept the violin, I'll go before I make a bigger fool of myself."

Kate stood up and trudged to the door. She paused with her hand on the doorknob, looking back at Amelia-Rose.

"Will you leave him for me, please?"

"I promise..." said Amelia-Rose.

But as Kate closed the garden gate behind her and Amelia-Rose followed her with her eyes, she knew that she had not specified what she'd promised.

There was a strange singing in Amelia-Rose's heart. Kate had confirmed that Ralph liked her and Kate obviously knew Ralph very well.

The excitement she suddenly felt made Amelia-Rose wonder if she was falling in love. Kate wanted her to make a promise but it was probably a promise that she could not possibly keep. Sighing, she took Ralph's violin from its case and put it to her chin.

Outside, Kate was climbing into the seat of her Land Rover when she heard the sound of the violin bringing the tiny cottage alive with its music.

She paused, listening to the radiant sounds that flowed outward in waves, sadly shook her head and started the engine.

The note that was revealed when Amelia-Rose lifted the violin out of its case was short.