Free Be Mine by Kris Calvert Page B

away, not wanting to be a part of his tirade. They knew all to well what was in store for him in the end.
    The conceited maestro’s cranky attitude fell away with each beautiful note Sarah played. She knew her work, and she’d been studying and rehearsing this Beethoven piece for as long as she could stroke a bow on strings. When she finished, she knew no one would ask her again if she was ‘ready to get to work.’
    “Beautiful, Miss Brooks,” he conceded.
    Sarah merely nodded. Watching him kick himself was way more satisfying than doing it herself. “My apologies again for being tardy. But sometimes life gets in the way,” she smiled as she rose from the chair and walked off the stage.
    Still gloating on the inside for putting the asshole in his place, she gave Ben a quick wave before ducking into a rehearsal room.
    “Hold up, Fancy!” Ben shouted, catching the door. “You got another delivery this morning.”
    “What?” she asked as she sat down, a little exhausted from peacocking during the Beethoven run through.
    “Yes, ma’am. Came by courier this morning.”
    “It’s not…” Sarah asked, sheepishly longing for it to be her admirer yet again.
    Ben nodded with a smile, “I’ve got it up front in my office.”
    Sarah didn’t say a word, but walked past Ben as he quickly lumbered behind her.
    When he opened the door to his office, Sarah could smell the flower.
    “What kind of rose is that anyway? My office has never smelled so sweet,” smiled Ben as he motioned to a small table by the desk where the flower and another envelope sat.
    “It’s called a sterling rose. Did the same courier deliver it, Ben?” she asked, not taking a breath.
    “Yes.”
    She opened the card and read the note to herself.
    Be calm. Only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together – Be calm – love me – today – yesterday – what tearful longings for you – you – you – my life – my all.
    When the day of love draws near, look up.
    “What?”
    “Is something wrong?” Ben asked.
    “I’m so confused. He’s sending me quotes from Beethoven and then writing, ‘When the day of love draws near, look up’.”
    “Day of love?” Ben questioned. “Do you think he means Friday? Valentine’s Day?”
    Sarah took a deep breath. “That would make sense. What else could it mean? But I don’t understand the ‘look up’.”
    Ben shrugged. “I don’t know, Fancy Pants. But every time I look up I see your face on the sign outside.”
    “The billboard?” Sarah asked. “Yeah, well, no one needs to see that much of me. Besides, the front office told me it was coming down this week. Thank God.”
    “That’s too bad,” Ben smiled. “I like seeing your face up there.”
    “You and my mother,” Sarah laughed. “Thanks for getting this to me.”
    “Let me know when he finally shows up,” Ben shouted as she walked away. “He needs the Big Ben stamp of approval.”
    “I will, Ben. I will.”

Tuesday, February 11 th
    E llen hustled to yoga. After Penn’s amazing gesture, she couldn’t wait to see him. She couldn’t wait to tell him she wanted to go out on a real date. She wanted more than a smoothie or a bottled water. She wanted to get dressed up and have an evening with him that didn’t include sweat and a yoga mat.
    She arrived a little earlier than usual and went to the locker room to change. She’d never been one to fuss with her looks before working out – she left that to the other girls. But tonight she took a little extra time picking out her sports bra and yoga pants for class. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and gave it a little extra love and attention. She wanted to look amazing, but she didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard.
    She grabbed her mat and walked into the yoga studio, scanning the room for Penn. When she didn’t see him, she regarded the time and knew he was always one of the last in the room. But when class began and