Read Online My One Regret (Martin Family Book 3) by Brooke St. James - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Brooke St. James
Ads: Link
peace" with me going that night, and I had to laugh at her for bringing God into it.
I was glad she came upstairs while I was getting dressed. We had some good sister time. I had just cut about 8 inches off of my hair, and she helped me style it. It now rested just above my shoulders instead of halfway down my back, and I wasn't quite used to dealing with it. Alex helped me put loose waves all over with a curling iron, and I turned upside-down and shook it out, causing it to stand on end. I knew it would fall by itself, so I sprayed it and left it like that.
My sister and mom both seemed really relieved by my willingness to do something edgy with my hair—like it was a symbol that I was returning to my old self. I wore a pair of shorts with a loose black top that hung off of one shoulder, exposing my pink tank top. I added an assortment of necklaces and bracelets and finished the look with bubble gum pink Chuck Taylors that matched my tank top. Mom and Alex were pleased as punch with themselves for their hand in my choice of outfit even though I put the whole thing together myself. I think they were just happy that I was finally getting out of the house and looked a little bit like my old self.
It took me nearly an hour to drive to my destination in New Orleans, and I thought about turning around the entire time. I stayed the course and arrived at the restaurant not long after the band was scheduled to start.
I was meeting Claire, along with some people from her work at a restaurant where a jazz band was playing. We studied jazz history and played in an ensemble during college, so Claire had an affinity for it, and I liked it, too. Besides, Alex was right; I needed to get out of the house. I smiled as I walked into the restaurant, hearing familiar jazz chords playing.
Chapter 9
Jackie B's was a popular steakhouse that had live jazz two times a week. New Orleans was famous for brass bands that played up-tempo songs for dancing and marching in parades, but Jackie B's always had regular jazz bands who played standards and ballads, more like background music.
I could see the stage from the door when I walked in, and I took note that it was a four-piece band with drums, bass, piano, and sax. I recognized the pianist as a guy named Chris Jefferies, and knew he had been the one who put the band together.
They were playing without a singer, which was pretty typical since most of the tunes they played were instrumental pieces anyway. I had been checking out the band so intently that it took me by surprise when the hostess approached me with a quizzical look on her face.
"Are you meeting someone?" she asked, smiling at me.
I used to know a few people who worked at Jackie B's, but this girl didn't look familiar to me. "I'm meeting Claire King and a group, but I'm not sure what name the table is under."
Her smile broadened. "Of course, Claire told me she had another friend joining them," she said. "She's over in the corner booth." She waved for me to follow her, and I did, thinking the whole time about how weird it was that I'd been out of this loop for two whole years. Life went on without me. Claire and the group from her work were sitting in a huge, circular booth in the far corner of the room.
I made eye contact with Chris (who was sitting at the piano but not playing since the bassist was taking a solo). We smiled at each other instantly, but then he recognized me, and his smile broadened as he added a little wave. I waved back as I followed the new girl toward the booth.
Claire made a few people get out of the way so she could scoot to the edge of the booth and stand up to meet me. "Oh my goodness, you look so beautiful!" she said, hugging me. "I'm so glad you decided to come."
I hugged her back. "You look great, too," I said.
We scooted into the booth and she introduced me to the people at the table. I already knew two of them, but there were three others I had never met.
"I didn't know Chris was
I was glad she came upstairs while I was getting dressed. We had some good sister time. I had just cut about 8 inches off of my hair, and she helped me style it. It now rested just above my shoulders instead of halfway down my back, and I wasn't quite used to dealing with it. Alex helped me put loose waves all over with a curling iron, and I turned upside-down and shook it out, causing it to stand on end. I knew it would fall by itself, so I sprayed it and left it like that.
My sister and mom both seemed really relieved by my willingness to do something edgy with my hair—like it was a symbol that I was returning to my old self. I wore a pair of shorts with a loose black top that hung off of one shoulder, exposing my pink tank top. I added an assortment of necklaces and bracelets and finished the look with bubble gum pink Chuck Taylors that matched my tank top. Mom and Alex were pleased as punch with themselves for their hand in my choice of outfit even though I put the whole thing together myself. I think they were just happy that I was finally getting out of the house and looked a little bit like my old self.
It took me nearly an hour to drive to my destination in New Orleans, and I thought about turning around the entire time. I stayed the course and arrived at the restaurant not long after the band was scheduled to start.
I was meeting Claire, along with some people from her work at a restaurant where a jazz band was playing. We studied jazz history and played in an ensemble during college, so Claire had an affinity for it, and I liked it, too. Besides, Alex was right; I needed to get out of the house. I smiled as I walked into the restaurant, hearing familiar jazz chords playing.
Chapter 9
Jackie B's was a popular steakhouse that had live jazz two times a week. New Orleans was famous for brass bands that played up-tempo songs for dancing and marching in parades, but Jackie B's always had regular jazz bands who played standards and ballads, more like background music.
I could see the stage from the door when I walked in, and I took note that it was a four-piece band with drums, bass, piano, and sax. I recognized the pianist as a guy named Chris Jefferies, and knew he had been the one who put the band together.
They were playing without a singer, which was pretty typical since most of the tunes they played were instrumental pieces anyway. I had been checking out the band so intently that it took me by surprise when the hostess approached me with a quizzical look on her face.
"Are you meeting someone?" she asked, smiling at me.
I used to know a few people who worked at Jackie B's, but this girl didn't look familiar to me. "I'm meeting Claire King and a group, but I'm not sure what name the table is under."
Her smile broadened. "Of course, Claire told me she had another friend joining them," she said. "She's over in the corner booth." She waved for me to follow her, and I did, thinking the whole time about how weird it was that I'd been out of this loop for two whole years. Life went on without me. Claire and the group from her work were sitting in a huge, circular booth in the far corner of the room.
I made eye contact with Chris (who was sitting at the piano but not playing since the bassist was taking a solo). We smiled at each other instantly, but then he recognized me, and his smile broadened as he added a little wave. I waved back as I followed the new girl toward the booth.
Claire made a few people get out of the way so she could scoot to the edge of the booth and stand up to meet me. "Oh my goodness, you look so beautiful!" she said, hugging me. "I'm so glad you decided to come."
I hugged her back. "You look great, too," I said.
We scooted into the booth and she introduced me to the people at the table. I already knew two of them, but there were three others I had never met.
"I didn't know Chris was
Similar Books
