Read Online Tell Them I'll Be There by Gerard Mac - Free Book Online Page A

until he was forced to draw her arms gently from about his neck. He looked deep into her eyes and whispered, ‘Independence Day.’
    Caitlin nodded and tried to smile and then they were gone.
    Â 
    In a different way saying goodbye to Tim was just as difficult. True, he would be around until September, but they knew that from now on and for the rest of their lives they were not going to see much of him. Sure, families split up all the time. Brothers, sisters, they go their own way. Of course they do. But their little trio had always been together, aware of each others strengths and weaknesses, knowing they could always rely on each other.
    A brief abrazo on the steps of St Patrick’s and Tim left, turning once and raising a hand before dissolving into the subdued light of the cathedral’s dim interior. Dan and Michael, standing in the bright sunshine, raised their hands in response.
    Dan wanted to sit down with the visitors and office workers on the wide steps and take in the events of the morning.
    â€˜Just you and me now,’ he told Michael.
    â€˜Yeah,’ Michael said, clearly raring to go. ‘That’s right.’
    Dan sat down and pointed to the space beside him. ‘Sit down,’ he said, ‘and tell me what’s on your mind. I can see something is.’
    â€˜Well,’ Michael said, ‘like I told you, I went to see Nathan. I want you to come with me, now, this afternoon, and see him, see what he’s doing. He’s got a great job. No kidding.’
    â€˜A great job?’ Dan questioned doubtfully. ‘So soon?’
    â€˜He’s playing the joanna and singing.’
    Dan laughed. ‘He can play the piano, but he can’t sing. And that’s not a proper job. Playing piano in some club at night.’
    â€˜No,’ Michael said, his enthusiasm undimmed. ‘He’s playing all day at this music shop. He sells sheet music. You know, all the latest songs and everything. Come on, I’ll show you.’
    He set off from the steps and Dan followed. 
    â€˜Where is this place’?’ he asked.
    â€˜Twenty-eighth,’ Michael said, as if he knew his way around.
    â€˜East or west?’
    â€˜I don’t know, do I? It’s down here somewhere. Just follow me. I’ll know it when I see it. I was there Tuesday.’
    Dan glanced up. ‘Forty-ninth Street, Forty-eighth.’
    The sidewalk was crowded on both sides of Fifth Avenue and Michael sang all the way. It was a long walk but part of the way they stole a ride on the step of a trolley, only dropping off when the guard appeared.
    Nathan was sitting outside Levi’s Music Store at a small piano that could be wheeled indoors if it rained like the one on the boat. He was banging out a tune but nobody was listening and when he saw Michael he stopped in mid-flow.
    â€˜Hey, Mikey! Dan! How’re you doin’?’ He already had the twang.
    â€˜What are you doing, Nathan?’ Dan asked. ‘What’s the job?’
    â€˜I play the tunes and the people buy the music. I get two cents on every sheet.’
    â€˜You play on commission? No sale, no pay?’
    Nathan nodded cheerfully. ‘Yeah, that’s right.’
    â€˜And are you selling many copies?’
    â€˜Well, no,’ Nathan admitted. ‘That’s the problem. The manager says I gotta sing. People wanna hear the words. That’s why I need Michael. He can sing. The girls’ll love him.’
    Michael glanced at Dan sheepishly. They had obviously come to some arrangement, something he hadn’t told Dan about.
    â€˜I want to give this a go, Dan,’ Michael said. ‘I don’t want to go on stacking boxes in that old warehouse. No future in that.’
    â€˜Mrs O’Malley has to be paid,’ Dan said mildly.
    â€˜Well, that’s another thing. If I’m going to be here, working with Nathan, I need to be living here.’
    Dan nodded. This was something