From the Heart

with Beethoven,” Kasey explained. “So I went upstairs for my friend. He’s been helping me.”
    “He?” Jordan shot Alison a look as he sat on the sofa. He pulled her down on his lap. “Don’t you think it’s rather odd to call a guitar ‘he’?”
    Alison giggled and looked up at him. “I did, but I didn’t like to say so.”
    “Very discreet.” He nuzzled her neck.
    Alison responded by flinging her arms around him and clinging. The depth of his reaction shook him. Kasey had told him there was nothing comparable to a child’s love, but he hadn’t fully understood. Now, with the small girl hugging him, he felt the total power of it. How had he missed it before? How had he ignored it? Closing his eyes, he held her close and let the sheer pleasure of unconditional love run through him. She smelled of powder and shampoo, and her hair was fine and soft against his cheek. His brother’s child. His, now. And he’d already wasted too much time.
    “I love you, Alison,” he murmured.
    He felt her grip tighten. “Really?” Her voice was muffled against his neck.
    “Yes.” He kissed her hair. “Really.”
    He heard her sigh and relax. She kept her face buried against his neck. He opened his eyes and met Kasey’s.
    She was weeping silently. When he looked at her, she shook her head violently as if to deny the tears. She rose, but he stopped her before she could dart from the room.
    “Don’t go” was all he said.
    She turned back to look at him, then began to fumble for acigarette. For the first time, he heard her swear at the lack of a match. She walked to the window and stared out.
    I love them both, she thought and rested her forehead against the glass. Much too much. To see them together like this, to watch them find each other—the joy of it filled her. She sighed and let the tears run their course. He had looked so stunned when she had put her arms around him. Kasey could see each emotion move through him.
    How much time do I have before I lose them both? Taking a deep breath, she worked to bring herself under control. I won’t think about it now. I can’t think about it now. When I opened the door, I knew it was going to shut in my face sooner or later. She felt the pain ebbing. Kasey brushed the drying tears from her cheeks. She turned back just as Beatrice glided into the room.
    “Jordan, I’ll be leaving now. The Conway party.” Seeing Alison on his lap, she frowned. “Is Alison ill?”
    “No.” He felt the child straighten and kept his arm around her. “Allison’s fine. Enjoy yourself.”
    She lifted a brow. “You should be attending yourself. You shouldn’t neglect your social duties.”
    “I’ll have to neglect them awhile longer. Give my best to the Conways.”
    Beatrice sighed. As she turned to leave, she spotted Kasey’s guitar. “What is this?”
    “That’s a guitar, Mrs. Taylor.” Kasey stepped back into the center of the room.
    “I’m aware of that, Miss Wyatt.” Beatrice sent her an arched look. “What is it doing here?”
    “It’s Kasey’s,” Alison put in. She felt protected and secure in Jordan’s arms. “She’s going to teach me to play.” She glanced up at Kasey, having taken this for granted.
    “Is that so?” Beatrice’s voice was clipped and frosty. “And what possible use would it be for you to learn such an instrument?”
    “It’s essential that a child develop an interest in music at an early age, don’t you agree, Mrs. Taylor?” Kasey smiled and cut off the cold response Jordan had on the tip of his tongue. He saw his mother’s brow crease and relaxed again.
    “Naturally.”
    “I’m an advocate of introducing children to the classics, and all forms of music, in infancy. There have been some very interesting studies on the subject.”
    “I’m quite sure there have.” Beatrice’s eyes swept back to the guitar. “But—”
    “The Spanish guitar, such as this one, was developed from Oriental models during the seventeenth century.” Kasey had on her lecturing voice, and Jordan was struggling with a grin. His mother was definitely outmatched. “During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries a succession of Spanish virtuosos, including, as I’m sure you know, Andrés Segovia, have proven the guitar to be an important artistic instrument. I’m sure you’ll agree that broadening Alison’s musical abilities will be a tremendous asset to her when she takes her place in adult society.”
    Beatrice was still frowning but looked