Play a song tonight
The ice cube in Theo's glass was starting to melt. He'd nursed this drink a little too long but was still debating if he wanted another. Work was never the issue but he felt ridiculous that his mood and the tone for the evening was being decided by his mother. Theodore Durrant was not only a grown man, but the eldest of two boys and yet at nearly fifty that woman still found a way to crawl under his skin. It was enough for Tristan to leave town and go stay with his sister.
Theo hated when they fought. Tristan just wanted Theo to tell his parents the truth. His brother Ian knew, and was quite happy for them. Hed thought over the years that perhaps she'd figure it out, that hed never have to speak the words 'I'm gay' but damn it if Rowena Durrant wasnt going to fight him till her death about the whole thing. Always with the comments about grandchildren. He and Tristan talked about maybe adopting one day but times like this, when they fought? Theo had to wonder somedays if they'd last that long. Not because of his lover. No, because he knew he was too weak to just come out of the closet. What would it do to his reputation? The reputation of the paper? And would it send Rowena to an early grave?
He liked coming to The Piano Bar when he was feeling melancholy. Most nights the pianists were so-so but the young woman performing tonight was always radiant. He wished he could play as fluid as she but watching her was the next best thing. It was mesmerizing. His lip curled in disgust with himself that he was hurting Tristan. Liquid courage wasn’t what he needed. When the song ended, the woman stood and he stood in turn and walked closer to the piano. “I’m sorry, Miss, I know you’re taking a break but I was wondering. When you come back do you think you can play a specific song? I mean, do you take requests?” He paused, knowing this was one of Tristan’s favorite pieces. “If you know it, it’s called Gaspard de la Nuit by Ravel?"
@hold-on-etta
