Free Certainly Sensible by Pamela Woods-Jackson Page A

said. “We have dinner commitments already lined up, and of course you’re out of town on business next week. Maybe after we’re settled in here, but really it’s not a good time right now.”
    Daniel shrugged and took a few steps toward the living room. “Allie?” he called. “Allie, can you leave off that playing a minute? I haven’t seen you in months.”
    The music stopped, and Allie appeared in the doorway, sheet music clutched in her arms, her jaw set tight and a glum look on her face. Daniel held out his arms, inviting her to come give him a hug. Instead, Allie walked right by him and toward the door, never making eye contact.
    “Allie?” Daniel tried again as she swept by him.
    She stopped in the open doorway and turned to face him. “Take care of the piano, Dad. It needs tuning.”
    “Allie, listen, hon. You’re welcome to use the piano any time.”
    Sharlene wanted to scream, but again she calmly reminded him, “Daniel, that isn’t going to work either. The contractors will be here, and the piano will just have to be covered with a tarp and moved aside until they’re done. I don’t see how Allison could possibly practice under those circumstances.”
    “Well, then, Allie, how about when the renovations are done?” Daniel asked. “Allie?”
    Allie grabbed Megan by the arm and stormed out the door.
    Sharlene smirked. Mission accomplished.
    ****
    Susan looked around the new house. Boxes were stacked everywhere, furniture left sitting askew, and at that moment it didn’t seem possible that order would ever be restored. The house had just the one family room, an eat-in kitchen, a small master bedroom with full bath, two other tiny bedrooms and a hallway shower/bath for the girls’ use, and finally a screened-in back porch that needed the piles of leaves swept out. It’s going to be an adjustment, that’s for sure . At least the previous owners had completely renovated it, with all new kitchen cabinets and appliances, fresh paint and laminate flooring, and new bathroom fixtures. The plumbing and electrical systems had been updated in the fifty-year-old house, and there were some lovely large trees in the fenced backyard.
    Maybe we can get a dog . Daniel had always hated dogs, and Megan had always wanted one.
    Emily found Susan gazing at the backyard. “Maybe you can adopt a dog.”
    Susan laughed. “It’s like you can read my mind.” She gave her best friend’s shoulders a squeeze. “Emily, I can’t thank you enough for all your help these last couple of days.”
    Emily smiled. “That’s what friends are for.”
    “I imagine you’d like to be on the freeway headed to Chicago about now. You’re welcome to stay the night, but this isn’t the mansion of yore. I do have a free sofa, though.”
    Emily chuckled. “Truthfully, I was thinking that if I got started right away I could be home in time for a late supper with Sara. Would you mind?”
    “Of course not.” Susan hugged her friend again, then went back to staring at the boxes stacked everywhere in the small family room.
    Emily watched her in silence for a moment. “What’s wrong?”
    Susan sighed. “I’m really worried about Allie. She usually spends her summers taking private music lessons, but now, well… Caroline will be fine, you know how strong she is, plus she has a job, sort of, and Megan will adjust. But Allie.” She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    “Say, listen, I’ve had an idea about Allie. A former client of mine lives near here in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. He’s a music professor at Bradley University, and he also gives private lessons in his home. I know he has a piano because the house I found him had to be large enough to accommodate it. I’m wondering if he’d be willing to take Allie on as a student for the summer.”
    Susan gave that some thought. “How much would that cost me? You know I’m on a tight budget.”
    “I’m sure you could work something out. His name’s Brandon