Chapter 20

When the final notes of the piano faded, the room settled into a profound stillness. Georgie’s hands rested gently on the keys, as if unwilling to break the connection between her and the instrument. The silence wasn’t empty — it hummed with the echoes of her music, the kind that seemed to linger in the very walls, as if they had soaked in the melody for safekeeping.

I opened my eyes, blinking as if coming out of a trance. The spell was broken, yet the aftertaste of her playing clung to the air, sweet and intoxicating. My voice came out in a reverent murmur, hushed as if afraid to disturb whatever magic still lingered.

“That,” I said, my words slow and deliberate, “was something else.”

Georgie looked up at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. It wasn’t the dazzling kind meant for cameras, but the shy, unguarded one that made my chest ache in the best way. She brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, and I swear even that simple gesture was enough to leave me breathless.

“It’s one of my favourites,” she said, her voice light but carrying the depth of someone who felt every note she played. “Mozart knew how to speak without words.”

I nodded, still under the weight of the moment. “You do too,” I said softly, and her cheeks pinked just enough to make her look even more beautiful, if that were possible.

She hesitated for a heartbeat, her expression shifting. Her lips parted, and then she asked, her voice trembling just slightly, “Alex ... Tell me, was I dreaming last night? Did you really say that you loved me?”

My throat tightened. I had faced death more times than I could count, flown through storms that threatened to tear me apart, but nothing had prepared me for the vulnerability in her eyes. “Yes,” I croaked, my voice raw with truth.

Her gaze didn’t waver, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Is this why you showed me this studio?” she asked, her tone searching, her fingers idly tracing the edge of the piano as if grounding herself.

I shook my head. “No,” I said firmly. “I would have shown it to you anyway. Even if you said you didn’t love me.”

Her brow furrowed slightly. “Why?” she pressed.

“Because...” My words caught in my throat. I took a breath, steadying myself. “No ... it doesn’t matter.”

“Say it, Alex. No secrets between us,” she urged, her voice soft but insistent.

I looked at her, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Even if you didn’t say you loved me, I would’ve shown you this setup. Because I want Mockingbird to enjoy this studio.”

For a second, I thought I’d ruined the moment. But then she was moving — not walking but flowing — and before I knew it, she was in my arms. I didn’t know if she’d come around the piano or vaulted over it, and I didn’t care. She was there, and that was all that mattered.

The kiss she gave me could’ve peeled paint from the walls. Her lips were fire and sweetness, and I could taste her love in every second of it. Then she pulled back with a sharp exclamation.

“Ouch! Ow, ow, ow...”

I froze, horrified. “Sorry, Gee. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“It’s not you, Alex,” she said quickly, her fingers brushing my cheek. “It’s me. My lips are still a bit tender.” She gave me a sheepish smile, her other hand ghosting over the bruise under her eye. “But I’m going to do it again.”

And she did. This time, the kiss was softer, gentler, but it lingered, as if we were savouring every second. When we finally pulled apart, it felt like the air had been knocked out of me.

“I’ll do it better in a day or two,” she teased, a little laugh bubbling out as she laid her head on my chest. “I love you, Alex ... and it’s not Stockholm syndrome. I’ve been fantasizing about you since the first day I saw you after ... after Brian’s crash.”

“Ditto, little one,” I murmured, my hand cradling the back of her head. “I’ve been fantasizing about you since I saw you on TV.”

She giggled, a sound that felt like sunlight breaking through clouds. “There are a lot of guys that do, you know. But I...”

“Sjuu, sweetie,” I interrupted, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Give those lips a rest. You’ll need them later.”

Her laugh was soft and musical. “Oh, so I don’t kiss too badly, then? You’d want to kiss me again?”

“Yes,” I said, the word heavy with promise. “But you also need those lips for other things. Talking on the radio, TV ... and helping Mockingbird stop the choirs of heaven.”

Her lips quirked, her fingers tracing little patterns on my chest. “Oh...”

I tilted her chin up, brushing another kiss to her temple. “Come on, let’s head upstairs before they send a search party after us,” I said, chuckling.

“Okay,” she said with a grin. “I’ll come play later...”

Her fingers laced through mine, and as we walked away, I couldn’t help but feel that the music she played on the Steinway, was only for me — whether with words, touches, or a piano — was the kind of melody that could last a lifetime.

Walking towards the stairs, I pushed open the door to the gym and gestured for her to follow.

“If anyone catches us coming up the stairs, you can tell them I showed you the gym,” I said, stepping aside to let her take a look. I threw the switch and the lights flickered on, illuminating the spacious room. Rows of sleek equipment, polished weights, and a mirrored wall gave it a professional yet inviting feel.

“Nadia, Mai-Loan, and Darya know about the gym,” I continued, lowering my voice conspiratorially, “but not about the sound studio.”

Georgie’s lips twitched as she stifled a giggle. “Okay,” she said, her eyes scanning the room. She took a step inside, her gaze lingering on a treadmill. “Well, I can appreciate this place too, you know. It’s impressive.”

“You’re more than welcome to use it any time,” I said, smiling.

“What’s the gym fees?” She giggled.

“Oh, a kiss, and a cuddle sometimes...”

“Alex! Even without the gym and the sound studio, I’ll kiss and cuddle you every day anyway.”

“Well, it’s yours to enjoy any time.”

“Thanks, Alex,” she replied, turning to face me with a playful glint in her eyes. Her tone dropped into something teasing. “But I think I’ll enjoy the other ‘gym’ a lot more.”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking at her choice of words. “Yes, I suppose so,” I said. “But you might want to think this through. If you tell everyone you’re heading to the gym and someone decides to come looking for you — only to find it empty — how are you going to explain that?”

Georgie’s cheeks flushed a light pink, but she laughed. “Oooh, we’d be so busted!” she said, her voice rising slightly as she clasped her hands dramatically. The way she giggled, shaking her head like she was already imagining some elaborate excuse, made me chuckle too.

“You’ll need a cover story,” I said with mock seriousness. “Something airtight. Maybe you were, uh, stretching in the hallway?”

“Stretching in the hallway? That’s the best you’ve got?” she teased, swatting my arm lightly. “They’d never believe that.”

“Well, then you better stick to using the actual gym once in a while,” I quipped, leaning against the door frame as she glanced back at the equipment. The easy banter between us felt natural, her laughter echoing faintly in the spacious room. For a moment, the hidden sound studio didn’t seem like such a big secret — just another layer to the unspoken camaraderie building between us.

“Oh, Gee,” I said as we walked together, “I hope you don’t mind, but I took your cell phone yesterday and got Susan’s number. I called her to let her know you’d had a little accident and to ask if she could keep an eye on your cat. You know, make sure it’s fed and everything.”

Georgie stopped mid-step and turned to me, a flicker of surprise in her big blue eyes. “You called me ‘Gee’, I’ve not been called that in a long time...”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll not call you that again.”

“No ... No ... Please do. I like it...” Georgie replied and smiled, then she added: “What did Susan say?”

“She didn’t say much,” I replied. “Just that you should call her as soon as you’re able to talk. Oh, and she told me to tell you to get well soon.”

A soft smile spread across her lips. “I’ll give her a call later,” she said, her voice warm with gratitude. “Thanks again, Alex. You really do think of everything.”

“It’s no problem,” I said, waving off her thanks, though it did feel good to hear it.

We reached the bottom of the stairs, and she slowed her pace, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “If you don’t mind,” she said, her voice quieter now, “I think I’ll go take a nap for a bit. This medication makes me so drowsy, and I don’t want to fall asleep mid-conversation with someone. That’d be embarrassing.”

Her wide blue eyes looked up at me, earnest and tired, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Well, go on, then,” I said gently. “Get some rest. If you’re not around by lunchtime, should I come wake you?”

She thought for a moment and then nodded. “I think I’ll be up before lunch, but if I’m not, yeah, please come get me.”

“Deal,” I said with a grin. “Sweet dreams, Georgie.”

We climbed the stairs in companionable silence, and as we reached the landing at the top, she paused, glancing around the hallway as if to make sure no one was there. Then, without warning, she stepped closer to me, her movements quiet but deliberate. She rose up on tiptoe, her face mere inches from mine, and kissed me. Her lips were soft and warm, the kiss brief yet tender, leaving me momentarily stunned.

When she pulled back, a giggle escaped her, light and sweet. “Our first kiss goodnight...” she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Before I could respond, she took a step back and gave me a little wave. “I’ll see you at lunch, Alex,” she said with a soft smile, turning and walking down the hall toward her room.

I stood there for a moment, frozen in place, my lips tingling from the unexpected kiss. Shaking my head with a bemused smile, I muttered to myself, “Well, that’s one way to say goodnight. Although it’s still mid-morning.” Then I turned and made my way back down the passage towards the kitchen in search of coffee, my thoughts lingering on Georgie’s quiet boldness and that fleeting, tender moment.

The house was unusually quiet as I worked in my study, running some online errands and going over the day’s to-do list. The faint aroma of something delicious wafted in from the kitchen, where Malita, my ever-reliable housekeeper, was busy preparing a light lunch. She’d been with me for years, and her timing was impeccable as always. Lunch would be ready by 13:00—an ingrained habit from my years in the SAAF. That military rhythm of a 13:00 to 13:30 lunch break had stuck with me, like so many routines from those days. Funny how some habits never leave you.

As I sifted through emails, my phone chimed, breaking the silence. Leon’s name flashed on the screen. I swiped to answer.

“Morning, Leo,” I greeted, leaning back in my chair. “What’s up?”

“Hi there, Red Two!” His voice was warm, laced with energy. “I’ve got two things on my mind, and both need your attention. Well, one needs attention, and the other needs advice.”

“That sounds serious,” I replied, intrigued. “Smoke on, GO!”

He chuckled. “Okay, first up: we’ve been invited to do an airshow at Upington. It’s for the ICAD open day.”

“International Civil Aviation Day celebrations? They’re doing it at Upington this year?”

“Yes. And they’re incorporating the Youth Aviation Development program too.”

“That’s a great initiative. Are you taking Firefly with you?”

“That’s the second point of discussion,” he said, his tone shifting slightly.

“Oh?”

“I’ve been speaking to Don Lambert and Dave. They put me in touch with Joe Franks...”

“About what?”

“I want to adopt Zara.”

I sat up straighter, caught off guard. “Leo, she’s sixteen. Another two years and she’ll be an adult.”

“And in the interim? She needs to go to school, have medical coverage ... you know, stability. I can give her that.”

I paused, letting his words sink in. “Hmm ... What does Ally think about it?”

“She’s over the moon. Wants a sister and everything. The two of them get along like a house on fire. That’s actually what got me thinking about adoption.”

“And Zara? Have you talked to her about it?”

“I did,” Leon said. “At first, she was a bit apprehensive — understandable, given her past. But once we talked it through, she got excited about the idea. She said she’s tired of worrying about fending for herself and likes the thought of having Ally as a sister.”

“Well, that sounds like your answer, Leo. But how are you, as a single guy, going to navigate the adoption process? Social services and all that red tape?”

“Don and Dave have been through it. Tracy was adopted by Don, and Dave had Lucy emancipated at sixteen. They put me in touch with Brigadier Joe Franks. He helped them, and he’s agreed to help me too.”

“That’s a solid plan, then. Go for it! And, for what it’s worth, you have all my sympathy.”

“Sympathy? Why’s that?”

I chuckled. “For raising two teenage daughters on your own!”

Leon laughed. “Well, you’ll be babysitting for me when I need a break. And besides, there might bee something in the air between me and Frieda.”

“Who’s Frieda?,” I teased, knowing about the Airbus Sales Rep he met at the Rustenburg air show.

“A friend ... We spend some time together and it seems like Ally and Zara like her too.”

“Good for you! You four must come around soon.”

“We will. Ally is missing her other friend...” Chuckle.

“But babysitting them, I can only fit one of the two into the backseat of the Albatros.”

“Damn!”

“Don’t worry, Leo. With two of them, I’ll be safe.”

“You think so? Ally’s growing up fast, and I’m sure Zara’s been enlightening her about ... you know...”

“Leo, Ally’s been in the know about the birds and the bees long before Zara entered the picture.”

“I know, I know,” he sighed. “My little girl’s growing up.”

“Speaking of which, I’ve got some news of my own,” I said, deciding it was time to share.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“I’m thinking of adopting a little redhead of my own. She comes with baggage, though ... a cat.”

Leon burst out laughing. “A red-headed, blue-eyed news hawk, by any chance? Alex, you can’t adopt her — you’ve got to marry her!”

“Well, we’ll see how it goes. But let’s just say the feelings are mutual.”

“Good for you! So, are you up for the gig in Upington?”

“Count me in.”

“Perfect. I’ll email you the details.”

“Thanks, Leo. Make sure to include the dates and logistics.”

“It’s still a little way off. I also need to contact Louis and see if he’s available.”

“Got it. Keep me posted.”

“Will do. But first, I need to get the ball rolling on this adoption thing.”

“You’ve got this. Zara will fit in well with you and Ally.”

“Thanks, Alex. Now I’d better get moving. Lots to organize.”

“Cheers, Leo.”

“Bye.”

As the line went dead, I leaned back in my chair, letting the conversation sink in. Life had a funny way of shifting gears when you least expected it.

It was time to go wake Georgie. The others might also return shortly. The event was lunch. Lunch at Pilgrim’s Nest was something to behold nowadays. Malita has gone out of her way to not only display her culinary skills, but catering for the Angels, Georgie and some of the rangers that sometimes drop by. I must remember to ask her to conjure up her Cape Waterblommetjie Stew.