Returning to Life

Chapter Seven

"Dammit!"

Leelah looked up from where she was crouched stocking the the lower cabinets.  Jay was usually cool headed and laid back. 

Right now, he looked anything but...

"What's wrong?"

He looked down at her and exhaled a long breath, his cell phone in his hand. 

"It's Friday night.  One of most busy nights and we advertised live music all week.  The girl we had lined up just canceled.  Hours before she was suppose to be here.  Can nobody be a professional anymore? Is that too much to ask for? We have customers coming to hear someone sing and no performer."

Leelah nodded.  "Cant we just post it was cancelled last minute and offer a discount on one of the beers?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"We could.  But it's the principal.  We gave our word to our guests that we would provide something.  And now, we can't keep our word.  It makes us look bad.  Some of these guest will be first time visitors.  Their first impression is that we lured them in with false promises and then couldnt provide.  I need to find a replacement at the very last minute and that is going to be rwdiculously difficult."

She stood up and glanced at the low stage in the far corner of the pub.  An old piano stood.  She knew it was kept on good condition.  They had performers come in before and use it.  She bit her lip. 

James narrowed his eyes on her.  "You know how to play.  I remember your mom and sister trying to talk you into it when you first started and they came in."

She looked at him hopelessly.  "I'm a bartender James, not a performer."

"A bartender is a performer by nature."

"Mixing drinks.  Not playing a piano."

"Sometime you habe to improvise in business. Leelah.  I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important to me. You know that. Can you really play?"

She puffed out her cheeks, an old habit she had when she felt pressured.  She nodded.

He smiled.  "I'll give you the payment we were gonna pay the original girl. And you wont be on your feet all night you can just sit there and play the piano.  I have a couple piano music books over there.  How gopd are you?"

"Shouldn't you ask that before you decide I'll do it."

He shrugged.  "I'm desperate."

***

The rustic pub was surprisingly crowded when Raiden walked inside.  It was just getting dark, and they were already busy.  As a business man, he appreciated good business.  He edged around the crowd, finding a small, high table and chair in the back corner.  He had just set down when the waitress approached with a smile.

He ordered a random drink and took a moment to observe the atmosphere.  It was a good size establishment.  A well kept, well stocked bar lined the wall and far corner, opposite the front doors.  Tables and booths directly in from of the bar. 

Towards him, high tables like the on he set at edged the room.  A large space was cleared in the center for people to dance.  In the front was a low risen stage with various speaker and an old piano in the corner with a mic standing beside it.  He remembered reading they occasionally had live poformances. 

He watched, silently as she came out of the back room behind the bar.  She was biting her lip again.  She looked a bit frazzled.  She wore black slacks, common to bartenders, and a form fitting white blouse that left one slim shoulder bare. 

A man came out behind her, leaning down a saying something to her.  Raiden watch as she almost smiled.  He still didn't know why he found her so fascinating when he found nothing else worth his thought or time.

She was pretty, but he had seen many beautiful women.  But something about her drew him in.  She stood out to him.  Color against a black and white background.

He watched, curious as she winder her way through the crowd to the stage.  She paused every now and then when a patron said something to her or called her by name.  They liked her.  Some cheered as she stepped onto the stage.  The man followed her.  Waiting for her to sit at the piano.

"We would like to first thank all of you beautiful people for spending your evening here at Jay and J's with us.  Many of you are regulars and know us.  Tonight we have promised a live performance.  You guys know we like to treat you and tonight will be a treat indeed as our very own Leelah has come out from behind the bar for the first time to show our appreciation for you as you enjoy the night."

The crowd clapped, some shouting out encouragements.

The lights dimmed and when she gave a small smile, a moment of silence and anticipation filled the room. 

The first notes were hesitant, slow, and almost sad.  After a moment they smoothed out, ushering in a moment of musical wonder.  She played extremely well. 

And then she begin to sing.

It was a sad, lonely, soulful song.  Captivating. Haunting. Her voice rich, even, and clear, blending with the piano music effortlessly.  She played and sang with her eyes closed.  He sensed she was completely lost in the music.  He was watching something rare and elusive.  And he wasn't the only one who recognized it.  He could tell by how the crowd watched her, completely caught by her voice.

Even the workers had paused in their works and were watching her as if they had never seen her before.  He smiled.  She was a hidden jewel.

She went from one song to another fluidly, no pauses.  Some couple took to the dance floor as she sang slow love songs and older songs such as Perry Como's 'killing me softly' and Doris Day's 'Fly Me To The Moon'.

She sang various old folk songs that the older patrons seemed to love.  She took a couple requests, most were old tunes he was surprised she even knew.

It wasn't until she stood up and the crowd cheered and applauded that he realized he had been sitting there for hours listening to her.

She was just stepping off the stage when a small commotion drew her attention to a table close to the door.

A waitress was speaking to an older man who had wandered in and set down just inside the door.  He wasn't sure if it was the fact that the man obviously lived on the streets or the fact that he had a dirty dog laying by his feet.  The man was speaking quietly, but the other guest were beginning to make noise about him and the animal. 

The man and waitress glanced in Leelah's direction.  The man shook his head and headed towards the door, a heavy limp in his step.  The dog followed him without word, it's head held low. 

He frowned and watched.  He knew the exact moment she seen the man and instantly recognized him.  She made it to the door before the man did, a smile on her face as she crouched down and pet the dog who was now cautiously wagging it's tail.  She spoke to the waitress and the man who had introduced her on the stage before leading the old man to a side room beside the bar.

He watched as she disappeared behind the bar and returned with two plates of food.

He smiled.  She wasn't just pretty and talented.  She was kind.