Chapter 8
Elizabeth Simmons stood back and scanned the chaos whirling around her. Elliot and Zachary Hamilton crawled on the kitchen floor as they pushed Matchbox trucks around the table, all the while providing the proper engine and crashing noises as they plowed the toy vehicles into one another. Underneath the table, Danny Jergens and Timothy Carlson pretended they were Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader as they shot their "lifelike-sound" ray guns at each other. And in the middle of it all, Jacob tried to put candles on the cake that sat in the center of the small, square piece of furniture as their son suddenly rolled a truck over his foot.
Six candles. Six. It's hard to believe. A smile crossed her face as her gaze moved from her husband to her son. She was very fortunate and blissfully happy. She loved them both more than she could put into word or thought.
But as she looked at Elliot, she also felt a little twinge of sadness tug at her heart. He was growing up so very fast. Oh, she knew the days on the calendar weren't actually passing with any more speed than was normal. They just felt like they were moving at an obscenely quick pace. Her son wouldn't be her 'little' boy for too much longer. And as much as she looked forward to watching him grow into a young man, she wished she could somehow delay the process, keep him her precious six-year-old bundle of joy for a few more years. It was selfish, she knew, but she just couldn't help it.
"Hey! No fair! You can't do that!" The objection issued from under the table, and Elizabeth bent down to see what the problem was. Danny sat up on his knees as he pointed to his blond sparring partner. "You can't use a laser gun and a light saber at the same time."
But Tim nodded as he begged to differ with his brown-haired friend. "Can too. I'm Darth Vader. Can too."
"Cannot," was the reply.
Beth couldn't help but grin as she sighed. She'd only invited three of her son's school friends over for dinner and the birthday celebration in hopes of keeping the turmoil to a minimum, but she should have known better. Sometimes it only took one six-year-old to create a high level of pandemonium, let alone four. Danny and Tim were good kids, but 'boys will be boys.'
"Ah...guys?" Elizabeth interrupted the squabble. Two sets of young, blue eyes quickly turned to look at her as she peered under the table. "I think you fellas need to come out and put the toys away for a little while. It's time for cake and ice cream."
"Yay!" The unanimous approval was followed by a couple of big smiles as the children crawled out from their make-shift fortress. Beth indicated where she wanted them to put their toys.
"All right!" The news was not lost on the two boys playing demolition derby, and they jumped up from the floor, voicing their happiness at the same time.
Elliot and Zachary started toward the table but Elizabeth stopped them. "Hey, you two. Get the trucks off the floor, please. Put 'em over here." She pointed to a small shelf at the end of the counter where Danny and Tim were storing their implements of destruction.
Green eyes looked up at Beth as Zachary nodded his red head. "Yes, ma'am." He turned to retrieve the truck with which he'd been playing.
"Okay, Mom." Elliot followed his friend's example.
With the toys safely out of the way, Elliot's friends took their places at the table. Before he joined them, the guest of honor looked up at his mother. "Mom, when is Nick going to get here? I thought he was going to be here for cake? To see me blow out the candles. He said he would."
Elizabeth quickly glanced over at her three young guests who were noisily fidgeting in their newly taken seats. The subject of Star Wars had resurfaced. Danny and Tim were ardently debating who was the stronger, Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker. She sighed at the collection of young energy and knew it wouldn't stay settled for very long without some kind of distraction. But she didn't want to disappoint her son by starting the celebration without Nick.
Looking at her watch, Beth chided herself. You should have paid more attention to the clock, woman.
She'd wanted to try and get a handle on the increasing disorder the boys were creating and hadn't checked the time before making her announcement. She now realized, regrettably, that she'd jumped the gun a wee bit. She'd told Nick they would have cake around 6:30. It was twenty past now. He still had a few minutes. Turning her attention back to Elliot's concerned face, she knelt down in front of him. "Well, we are starting a bit early. Do you want to wait a few more minutes? I'm sure Nick will be here soon."
Her son's face brightened as he enthusiastically nodded his head. "Yeah. Can we? Please?"
"Sure we can." Elizabeth pulled her precious child into her arms and gave him a fierce hug. "We'll wait as long as you want." Putting her mouth close to his ear, she whispered. "I love you."
"Me, too" was the quiet response as small arms moved around her neck.
Beth gave her son another squeeze before releasing him. She stood up and looked over at her husband who had stopped his task of doling out paper plates to watch her and Elliot's interaction. The love in his eyes caused a wonderful warmth to spread through her. She smiled her love in return as the tones of the front doorbell pealed through the house.
"Nick!" Elliot was out of the kitchen and running down the short hallway before Elizabeth had a chance to react to the summons.
As the other boys made to get up and follow their friend, Beth halted their movement. "Guys, you stay here. Elliot'll be back in just a minute." She ignored the collective grumbling that resulted from her intervention. She didn't want the rambunctious troop escorting her son. She had them in their seats and wanted to keep them there if at all possible. She looked meaningfully at Jacob. "Mr. Simmons will get you some chocolate milk." Her husband nodded and smiled, silently agreeing with her strategy. She returned his smile as her eyes fell back to the boys. "Okay?" She didn't wait for a reply, but as she left the kitchen in pursuit of her son, she heard the approving comments.
"Chocolate milk. Cool. I love chocolate milk," Zachary offered enthusiastically.
"Me too." Tim agreed.
"All right!" Danny's was the third voice of praise.
Good ol' chocolate milk. Works every time. She smiled to herself as she walked down the hall.
She caught up with Elliot just as he pushed the storm door open. Nick's face beamed with boyish delight when he stepped into the house and greeted her son. "Hi, little man. Happy birthday."
Elliot gazed up at the tall, blond man. The grin on his face was contagious, and Beth felt the corners of her mouth lift as her small bundle of energy returned the greeting. "Hi, Nick."
Knight raised bright eyes to Elizabeth. "Hi, Beth. I hope I'm not late."
She shook her head. "No. You're right on time. We were just about to light the candles."
"Great." Nick's attention returned to her son as he squatted down. "Come here, you." Elliot happily stepped forward, and the detective drew him into a loving embrace. Elizabeth looked on with a singular contentment as her child wrapped his arms around Nick's neck. On occasion, it surprised her just how close the two had become. They'd hit it off, as it were, from the very beginning and hadn't looked back.
She recalled the day Nick entered their lives with both fondness and trepidation. The almost paralyzing fear that had gripped her when she'd been unable to find Elliot was something she never wanted to experience again, while the policeman's help was something she was not likely to forget. She couldn't remember ever feeling anything as powerful as the relief and joy that had washed over her when she'd turned the corner to find her son safe and sound in the detective's capable hands. She and her husband owed Nick a great deal. The life of their son. When she thought about what could have happened.... A disturbing chill ran down her spine. She didn't want to ponder the possibilities.
As Beth watched Nick fervently embrace her son, she considered the family's good friend. Detective Knight was a warm, caring, intelligent man with a few oddities thrown in here and there, but nothing that would outweigh the positive characteristics. Beth found it hard to fathom that he wasn't married with children of his own by now. As she looked at his smiling face, she recognized, not for the first time, that he was a very handsome man as well. Even his pale complexion, a result of his skin allergy so he'd told them, didn't detract from his attractive features. She was married and deeply in love with her husband, but she wasn't blind. Nick presented a very nice combination of attributes. He would make someone very happy someday.
Someone? She laughed to herself. Not someone. Doctor Natalie Lambert. As far a Beth was concerned, there was little doubt. She'd only seen Nick in Doctor Lambert's company once or twice, but from the way they looked at each other it had been more than obvious they were both in love. Nick said they'd known each other for six years. How long were they going to wait?
Several times over the months Elizabeth had caught Nick looking at Jacob and Elliot with such an intense longing on his face that she'd felt the ache in her own heart. It was very clear, to her at least, that he wanted a family. And her instincts told her that he wanted one with Natalie. But she could only guess at the detective's feelings in this area because it was a subject they'd never broached. Nick always shied away from any discussion of the possibilities of marriage. Well, he never confided anything when she was around. She didn't know if he and Jacob had ever talked about the topic. Who knew what men discussed when they were alone? A smirk lifted her mouth. Did she really want to know? Well, yes, actually, she did.
She looked on as Nick released Elliot. He straightened and glanced down at the brightly wrapped package in his hand. Elizabeth watched some of the pleasure leave his face as a hesitant concern shadowed his eyes. As he eyed the gift, he appeared uncertain. Worried? As if he were having second thoughts about giving the present to Elliot. His momentary doubt surprised her a little. Apprehension was only natural. Wondering if a person will like what you are giving them is part of the giving, hoping you picked the right thing. She was feeling it now as she thought about the choice she'd made for Elliot. But, for some reason, she got the impression Nick's concern went deeper than the usual, light uneasiness, and it made her suddenly very curious about what the slender box contained.
"This belongs to you, birthday boy." Nick's statement interrupted Beth's meditation. She refocused her attention on the pair in front of her as the detective held the gift out to her son, the uncertainty still lurking in his eyes.
"Cool! Thanks!" Small hands greedily took the long package. Elliot held it close to his ear as he gave it a vigorous shake, but the box remained silent. "What is it?"
Nick chuckled and his features relaxed with the amusement, the anxiety seemingly forgotten. "I'm not telling. You'll have to wait until you open it."
Large, brown eyes turned to Elizabeth, but before her son could ask the question she shook her head. "Not now, sweetheart. Go put it with the rest of the gifts, and you can open them all together after we've had cake. It won't be long. All right?"
For once, he didn't seem to mind obeying his mother's wishes. "Okay." He started toward the kitchen, but stopped to look back at Nick as he motioned for his friend to follow him. "Come on, Nick. I don't want you to miss me blowing out the candles."
The detective shrugged out of his coat as he shook his head. "I wouldn't miss that for the world. I'll be with you in a minute. Just let me hang up my coat."
"Okay." Elliot nodded before turning to skip down the hall.
Nick hung his coat on the rack in the corner and turned back to Beth. Leaning forward, he gently kissed her cheek. "Unfortunately, I can't stay long. I'm on tonight. Have you got a big crowd in there?" He indicated the eating area with a nod of his head.
"That's all right, Nick. This little get-together should be breaking up soon anyway. Cake, then gifts and then the boys go home. I asked parents to be here around 7:45." An excited uproar from the kitchen halted Elizabeth's words. She laughed as she continued. "As far as the 'crowd' goes, it may not sound like it, but there are only four, count 'em four, six-year-olds in that room." She pointed down the hall.
"Oh, I believe it. The little man and his buddies can certainly make their presence loom very large. I seem to remember a sleepover a month or so ago that...." Nick left the sentence hanging as a wicked smirk curved his lips.
Beth nodded her recognition. "Oh, yeah. You witnessed the first hour or so of the bedlam before escaping with my husband to a concert, as I recall. Cowards." Her eyes sparkled as she teased. "By the time you returned to the scene of the upheaval, everyone was conked out. You two timed it perfectly."
"Now, Beth." Knight put a friendly arm around her shoulders. "You don't believe we ran out on you on purpose, do you?"
She couldn't help but grin at the mischievous expression on his handsome face. But her smile was quickly replaced by an astonished look of wide-eyed innocence as she pointed to herself. "Who? Me? Think that of you two? Absurd."
Nick's impish expression didn't change. "We'd been planning to go to that concert for weeks. We did ask if you wanted us to stay. Remember?"
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows as she continued to playfully feign her amazement. "Was that what that was?" She laid a finger to her cheek while pretending to be deep in thought. "Let's see. How did Jacob phrase the question? Oh, yes." Putting her hands on her hips, she lowered the tone of her voice in an unsuccessful attempt to mimic her husband. "'You can handle this, honey. You wouldn't want us to miss the concert, would you?'" She chuckled along with Nick at the miserable impression, as well as the thinly-veiled excuse. "I could tell he was just bitin' at the bit to stay." She slowly shook her head. "Impossible. Sometimes you two are impossible."
"Yeah, but ya love us." The laughter still brightened Nick's features as he placed another kiss on her cheek.
Beth smiled warmly at her friend as she agreed. "Yeah." She gave him a playful jab in the ribs as they started to walk down the hall to join the party.
The next thirty minutes passed very quickly for Elizabeth as she got caught up in the excited tension of the moment. First came the introductions. She looked on with an endearing smile as Elliot proudly presented Nick to his classmates. Zachary and Tim, who had been at the sleepover, remembered the detective, while Danny seemed impressed to finally meet the policeman. With the greetings out of the way, the serious business of the celebration got underway. Beth happily directed the flurry of activity as candles were lit, a song was sung and a wish was made. She was relieved to be able to capture some the happening on film. After the candles were extinguished, she, Jacob and Nick set about distributing cake and ice cream to their impatient patrons who eagerly gobbled the confections at an alarming rate. Then, once sticky hands and faces were cleaned, it was time for opening gifts.
The job of passing the birthday packages to Elliot fell to Jacob. As their son opened one, his father would give him another one.
Elliot opened his classmates' gifts first. More miniature cars. While her son's young guests congratulated him on his good fortune, Beth sighed facetiously to herself, Great. Just what he needs.
Next, Elliot received clothing coincidentally supplied by both sets of grandparents. All of the youngsters at the table seemed less than taken with the presents, a fact that didn't surprise Elizabeth, but as she noted her son's indifferent reaction to the sweaters and pants, she acknowledged that, impressed or not, he did need them.
Jacob then handed his son the gift from Mom and Dad. Last year Elliot's father had done the shopping, and he'd done a good job. The baseball and glove had gotten a good workout over the months, so much so that a new ball might be in order before summer. However, this year Beth had wanted to get her son something that would help to encourage the interest in music he had been showing recently. Elliot's teacher had been very enthusiastic about his musical future at their last parent-teacher meeting. But getting him an expensive instrument was out of the question. Not only could they not afford it, but it would be foolish to spend the money at this early stage. She didn't know if this fascination would last. So when she'd spotted the small keyboard in a discount store a few weeks ago, she'd been very excited and pleased with her decision to buy it for Elliot.
Biting her lower lip, Beth nervously waited for her son's reaction to her choice of gift. She watched anxiously as he finished removing the paper from the box and took a good look at what he had in his hands. His eyes scanned the picture on the cardboard before moving to his mother's face. "Wow. Neat. Thanks, Mom." He looked at his father. "Thanks, Dad." He then set about pulling the instrument out of its container.
"You're welcome." Elliot's mother and father made the response in unison.
Elizabeth breathed a happy sigh of relief. He liked the gift. The word 'neat' had told her that much. She knew that 'neat' or 'cool' were her son's chosen words of approval. If either one was used, there could be no doubt that he was truly pleased.
She glanced over at Nick who leaned silently against the counter watching the proceedings. He had a lazy smile on his face, but she thought she saw the earlier concern return to his eyes as he looked at her son's newest acquisition. There was another emotion lurking there also. Disappointment? Regret?
"Boy, that's great, Elliot." Beth's attention was draw from Nick as Zachary offered his endorsement. "My older brother's got a bigger one and it's a lot of fun. I can play 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' on it."
"Yeah, those things are a blast to fool around with," Danny added as he nodded his head.
Elizabeth smiled gratefully at the boys before turning her eyes back to her son. Placing the keyboard on the table in front of him, he fingered the keys. No sound resulted. "I've put batteries in it already, sweetheart. You just need to turn it on there." She pointed to an orange switch on one side of the instrument.
Small fingers pushed the button and moved back to the keys. He pressed several at the same time, and a jumble of uncoordinated notes issued from the speaker. He raised a big smile to everyone in the room. Beth felt an expectant satisfaction at that moment. It wasn't Beethoven's Fifth or even 'Mary Had A Little Lamb', but her son seemed to get pleasure from the instrument, and maybe it would lead to a further pursuit of music. She had high hopes.
Elliot's undisciplined effort brought a chorus of laughter from his friends. He joined in the merriment as he continued to run his fingers haphazardly over the keys, mischievously pretending to put serious effort into his playing. Beth couldn't help the giggle that escaped her as she watched her son's hijinks at the keyboard.
Boys! And as she looked at the two men in the room, she saw that they too were amused by the performance. Jacob laughed while Nick simply grinned.
"Well, I guess that's it." Jacob's words served to calm the commotion.
Elizabeth cast questioning eyes in his direction. That's not right. There should be one more. But before she could say anything her son beat her to the punch.
"No." Elliot's focus snapped up from the keyboard. He looked at Nick. "What about your present?" Not waiting for an answer, he turned to his father. "Where is it, Dad?"
Beth noted the inquiring expression on Nick's face as he looked over at the counter where all the presents had been sitting. She followed his gaze. It was empty. Her husband, who had also scanned the area in question, turned to their son and shrugged. "I don't see it anywhere. But it has to be around here someplace." He stepped behind the counter and disappeared from view as he bent down. Elizabeth sighed her relief when Jacob reappeared, the gift in his hand and a smile on his face. "Looks like it fell on the floor in all the excitement. Here ya go, Sport." Walking over to the table, he handed the box to its owner.
Glancing back at Nick, Elizabeth didn't encounter the satisfaction she'd expected to see in his face as his gift was presented to her son. Instead, she once again witnessed apprehension and doubt as concern clouded his eyes, fear of her son's reaction radiating from him. As before, she marveled at the strong emotion that gripped him and wondered at its cause.
As Elliot's attention left the keyboard, Zachary pulled it in front of himself and began to experiment. Danny, who sat beside him, didn't seem to be able to keep his hands off the instrument either as he stuck a mischievous finger in under Zach's arm to press a couple of the keys. Beth was happy to see that Zachary didn't seem to mind the intrusion and continued to contentedly fiddle with the keyboard. As for Tim, he didn't appear to have too much interest in what his friends were doing as he amused himself with Elliot's new cars.
Returning her gaze to her son, Elizabeth watched him flash Nick a big grin before concentrating on the last unwrapped gift. A small envelope stuck out from under the bow that decorated the box, but Elliot was so anxious to see what Nick had gotten him, he didn't even notice the card as he started to remove the paper. After the wrapping was discarded on the table, Beth reached over and removed the card. The scene on the front was drawn in the fashion of a young child. It had been made to look as if it had been created with brightly colored crayons or markers. Pictured was a large yellow sun with a happy face smiling down on three children as they watered their garden of colorful flowers. Beth opened the card to find that it didn't contain any words supplied by the company that manufactured it, only a note written in Nick's hand. 'To the Little Man, A gift to nurture the soul. Happy Birthday. With love, Nick.'
The warmth of Nick's words curved Elizabeth's mouth as she closed the card. What had he given her son? She raised her eyes back to Elliot in time to see him reach into the box and pull out its contents. Her eyes widened in awe as she beheld the simple flute. It was intact. The fall from the counter didn't appear to have damaged it any. Thank goodness.
She'd never seen anything quite like it. It was extraordinary looking, very old. She stole a quick look at her husband. From the expression on his face, she gathered he was as impressed by the instrument as she was.
Elizabeth then looked at the detective. He had straightened from his leisurely stance against the counter and was intently watching Elliot's face for a reaction. She could almost feel the tension that held his body rigid as he awaited, hoped for, her son's approval. The concern she'd noticed on his face earlier as he'd watched Elliot open her and Jacob's gift made some sense to her now. They had both chosen to give Elliot an instrument. Hers was a very modern contraption with special buttons and abilities. His was a very simple, uncomplicated treasure from the past. Did he regret choosing the same type of gift she had? She knew the last thing Nick wanted was to disappoint her son. And as she looked at Knight's worried expression, her heart went out to him as she realized that that was just what he was afraid he had done. For herself, she much preferred the flute. But would her young child appreciate the wonderful antique?
Stepping closer to Elliot, Beth took a better look at the delicate pipe, a shiver of delight moving through her at the sight. It was exquisite. The piece had a primitive allure that was almost mesmerizing. The carvings that adorned it were simple, yet provided evidence of a very skilled hand. Their simplicity was in itself beautiful and added to the wonderful charm of the creation. Archeology was not one of her strong suits, but she could tell the instrument was very old. How old she couldn't be sure. But the long faded colors on the carving, along with the worn appearance of the wood, told her it had seen a great many years. As she examined the flute, she wondered about its origin. Who crafted it? What part of the world did it come from? It was a wonderfully fascinating piece. She had several questions which she hoped Nick would be able to answer.
She watched as Elliot sat quietly staring down at the present. His expression gave little away as his mother tried to gauge what he thought about the gift. He turned it around and around as he examined the figures portrayed on the piece of wood. After a few seconds, the movement stopped, and small fingers slowly slid up and down the pipe as they became familiar with the feel of the delicate carvings. He looked up and smiled at Nick as he put the flute to his lips and blew.
Well, that's a good sign. Beth mused as she listened to the sound of the flute.
The smooth, clear tone was not as high as she had expected. The fairly narrow diameter of the flute gave the impression it would produce a high, almost whistling sound. The nearly neutral pitch was a pleasant surprise and very soothing.
The sound of the flute grabbed the wavering attention of the other children at the table as three heads popped up and turned to see where the sound was coming from. Beth smiled as Zachary's fingers left the keyboard, and he sat seemingly entranced by the sound of the ancient instrument. She laughed to herself as 'The Pied Piper of Hamlin' quickly crossed her mind. As for the other two boys, Danny wasn't distracted for long and took the opportunity to confiscate the keyboard, while Tim, after smiling at the pleasant tone, silently turned his energy back to the cars.
Elliot continued to blow on the flute as he moved his fingers over the holes creating an awkward selection of notes. When he lowered it from his mouth, his smile returned. "Way cool. This is really neat, Nick." He held up the instrument. "Thanks. It makes a really cool sound. I like the pictures on it, too."
"Good." Nick almost sighed the word as Beth watched the tension leave his body and face. It looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders when he heard her son's sincere praise of his gift. Had he really been that worried that Elliot wouldn't like it? The detective finally permitted himself a smile as he continued. "I'm very glad you like it."
"Pretty neat." Zachary piped up, his eyes fixated on the flute as he continued, "Hey, Elliot. Can I see it?"
"Sure. Here." Elizabeth noted her son's second or two of hesitation, as if he were reluctant to relinquish his gift so quickly, before he passed the flute to Zachary. He hadn't wanted to give it up so soon, but he'd chosen not to be selfish and his mother glowed with pride at his decision.
"Wow." Zachary fingered the wood as he examined it in much the same way Elliot had just done. "It's cool lookin'. It looks really old."
"It is. It's been in my family for many years." Nick volunteered.
Great. This was what Beth wanted to hear.
"Did your Dad make it?" Elliot asked.
"No." Nick stopped and seemed to consider something before continuing. "It's much older than that."
Before Detective Knight could say another word, the doorbell rang.
Drat. Elizabeth silently cursed the interruption. She held up a silencing hand as she addressed Nick. "Hold that thought. I don't want to miss anything." Looking at her watch, she turned to Elliot's friends. "Okay, guys. That's probably your parents. Let's grab your coats." She looked at her son. "Come on and say good-bye to your guests, Elliot."
Fifteen minutes later, after exchanged thank yous and pleasantries between both parents and children, the house was minus its three young visitors. The other occupants remained in the foyer, the adults smiling down at Elliot as he again, a little more seriously this time, experimented with the pipe. He hadn't put it down since unwrapping it. And as his mother watched the concentration on his face, she realized she really didn't mind that he seemed to have forgotten all of his other presents, including the one she and Jacob had given him. In fact, she was very gratified that her son appreciated the unusual, enchanting antique. Besides, she knew in the end none of the presents would be ignored, not even the clothes.
Beth stole a peek at her watch. It was almost 8:30. Nick would have to be leaving very soon. But she didn't want him to get away without telling them more about the flute. As Elliot finished his 'song', she was about to ask the detective to continue telling them about its history when Jacob voiced his curiosity first. He pointed to the gift as he addressed their son. "Can I take a look at it for a minute, Sport?" Elliot handed his father the flute. Jacob took a second or two to look closely at it before questioning Detective Knight. "This is a truly charming piece, Nick. How long has it been in your family?"
Beth listened with great interest as Nick told them of his ancestor's bravery and the history surrounding the creation of the ancient instrument. Her husband and son seemed just as entertained by the tale, if not a fraction more so. The wide-eyed 'wow' that escaped Elliot as Nick relayed the rescue of young Michael had conveyed how intrigued he was by what he was hearing.
Three hundred years. It's almost 300 years old. Incredible.
Elizabeth found the realization a little hard to grasp. It wasn't that she didn't believe what Nick told them. She did, of course. But having something as old as the flute, not to mention priceless, given to her young child was a bit of a surprise. She was touched beyond measure that Nick had given the heirloom to Elliot, but she couldn't help but wonder why. The flute impressed her as something the detective would want to remain in his family. A gift he would one day bestow on a child of his own. She knew Nick loved her son very much, but why not keep the antique in the Knight family? After all, it was only a matter of time before he had children to pass it on to, wasn't it?
Elliot had regained possession of the flute. He was well on his way to picking out 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,' and it tickled his mother pink. She glanced at Nick who was also grinning his pride. When Elliot finished the hesitant, uneven tune, the detective praised his efforts. "That's pretty good, little man."
"Thanks." Elliot beamed in response to the compliment. "It's fun. It's neat to be able to figure out songs."
An understanding contentment seemed to enter Nick's eyes as he nodded. "Yeah. It is, isn't it? Playing makes you feel good deep inside. Satisfied. Accomplished. Happy."
"Happy. Yeah." Elliot repeated Nick's last word as he agreed with his friend. "Mrs. Johnson says the same thing."
"Your teacher likes music, too?" Nick asked.
"Oh, yeah. She's teachin' us how to read notes. We've got these flutaphones at school we play on. I can't wait to show her this." Elliot indicated his birthday present.
As Elizabeth listened to the exchange, she thought about Detective Knight's description of how playing music made him feel. The words on the birthday card came to mind, their significance suddenly becoming very clear. On two different occasions, both being one of the very rare instances when the family visited Nick's loft, Beth had persuaded him to treat them to a sample of his piano skill. She'd been extremely impressed by the passion with which he played. The way he had poured his heart into the creation of every note had been nothing short of inspiring. She had watched in amazement as he'd closed his eyes and appeared to lose himself in the music as his fingers gracefully danced over the keys. His audience all but forgotten as he immersed himself in the joy and tranquility the piano afforded him. He'd given himself up completely to the experience and seemed to draw a kind of...strength from it. As though it provided him a sort of spiritual nourishment. And the intensity with which he played had given the impression it was a nourishment for which he was starved. When he had finished, the obvious satisfaction and pleasure on his face had made her envious. His ability allowed him a type of peace she could only speculate about. 'A gift to nurture the soul.' That was what music, and the ability to play, meant to Nick--an inner fulfillment and happiness. It was food for the soul. And he hoped her son would someday be able to partake of the bounty.
Nick's sigh of resignation interrupted Beth's deliberation. He moved to Elliot, who stood next to her at the bottom of the stairs, and planted a quick kiss on the top of his small friend's head. "Well, folks. It's been great fun, but I've got to get to work. Captain Reese 'll have my head if I'm late again this week."
Disappointment was shared by all, but Elliot voiced his. "Oh, Nick. Can't you stay a little longer?"
"Sorry, little man, but I can't." The detective looked down into the pleading, freckled face with a smile of apology. Elliot's frustrated reaction to Nick's denial was evidenced by the pout that clouded his features.
"It's getting close to bed time anyway, young man." Beth informed her son as she tried to take some of the pressure off Nick. "You need to put your loot away and get a bath."
"Oh, Mom," was the dejected response.
"I know. I know." Elizabeth nodded as she sarcastically added, "Cruel and unusual punishment. But I think you'll live."
Nick affectionately mussed Elliot's hair. "Happy birthday, Elliot."
Brown eyes looked up at the blond man as a smile crossed Elliot's mouth. He was rewarded by being lifted into the detective's arms. As they hugged, Elizabeth heard Nick whisper into her son's ear. "Sweet dreams. Love ya."
"Love you, too." Her child kissed a pale cheek before being deposited back on the floor.
Jacob walked over and handed their guest his coat. "Thanks for coming, Nick. It meant a lot." He looked meaningfully at Elliot and smiled.
"It was my pleasure." Knight slipped into the black garment. "Like I said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world." He grinned at the birthday boy and then looked at Elizabeth. "Thanks, Beth."
The gratitude in Nick's happy eyes warmed her heart. "You're always more than welcome."
Glancing back down at her son, the detective winked before walking to the door. Just as he put his hand on the knob, Jacob snapped his fingers in a realization. "Hey, wait a minute." Nick stopped and turned to face Elliot's father, a questioning expression on his face. "I almost forgot to ask." Jacob started to explain. "Elliot and I are going to a performance of 'Peter and the Wolf' at the university this Saturday evening, and we were wondering if you'd like to come. Beth won't be able to make it. She promised a friend over a month ago that she'd attend her baby shower. How about it?"
Elizabeth quietly envied her husband and son as she waited to hear Nick's answer. She wanted to accompany them, but she had promised Nancy. And anyway, she really didn't want to miss her friend's party.
She watched Nick study the floor while he considered the invitation. "Well, I do have the night off." Raising his head, he looked back at Jacob. "What time?"
"It starts at seven. I thought we'd leave around 6:30 or so. How does that sound?" Jacob asked.
Beth smiled her satisfaction as the detective agreed. "Great. Sure, I'd like to go."
"Cool." Elliot voiced his pleasure.
Giving his friend an affectionate pat on the back, Jacob smiled. "Terrific. You want to meet here around 6:30?"
"Sounds good." Nick looked from Jacob to Elliot. "See ya then." He flashed Elizabeth a departing smile and headed out of the house.
Beth stood behind her son and beside her husband in the doorway of their home as Elliot waved the flute in a gesture of good-bye to the departing detective. The evening had been a success, but she was relieved it was over. A house full of six-year-olds could do serious damage to one's state of mind.
As she watched Nick get into his car, she thought again about the gesture he'd made with his gift, and couldn't help but wonder at his fervor and generosity. Recalling the anxiety that had seemed to all but paralyze him until he'd heard her son's approval, Beth questioned his motivation still further. It was as if he'd been desperate for Elliot to have and cherish the flute, as if it represented much, much more than a simple birthday gift. Well, it was more than a simple birthday gift, but the significance appeared to go even deeper than the obvious. Beth got the impression that Nick felt giving the flute to her son was the only way the instrument would be passed on. When he'd told them the history of the instrument, he had confided the maker's wish for the pipe. Nick's concern over giving the gift had been so great that it appeared as if he'd thought this was his last chance to see the legacy of the flute continue. Didn't he believe he would have children of his own someday? Surely with Natalie there would be the opportunity?
A sudden sadness gripped Elizabeth. Maybe Nick couldn't have children. What a terrible tragedy if it were true. She sensed how much he wanted a family. But more than that, she'd seen, through his treatment of Elliot, what a wonderful father he would make. The idea that it might not be possible drew a great sympathy from Beth for her friend.
Looking down at the blond head of her son, Beth again blessed the day he'd come into the world. She couldn't imagine life without him.
Nick waved at the family standing in the doorway as he got into his car. Pulling out of the driveway, he pointed the Caddy toward the precinct. If the traffic was cooperative, he would make it with a few minutes to spare.
A satisfied smile played across the vampire's mouth. He felt gratified. Granted, the contentment was mixed with a lot of relief and a little embarrassment, but overall he felt good. Very good. His young friend had liked his gift. The peace that the knowledge instilled in Nick was like a soothing balm on his troubled mind.
Even after Nat's words of encouragement, the doubts about giving the flute to Elliot had continued to hound him. And upon seeing what Beth and Jacob had gotten their son, the uncertainty had grown even stronger and had mingled with more than a little embarrassment. He should have thought that Elizabeth would have gotten Elliot something to do with music. She was so excited about his interest. It was only natural she'd want to encourage it. When Nick had seen the keyboard, he'd regretted his choice of gift immediately. Choosing the same type of present as Elliot's parents had made him feel uncomfortable. Seeing Elliot's enthusiasm for the modern instrument had made his heart sink. Not because he'd wanted the boy to dislike the keyboard. On the contrary, he was glad Elliot had appreciated his parent's gift. But Elliot's excitement over the keyboard had made Nick fear his reaction to the primitive flute even more. When his gift had come up missing for that very brief time, Nick had silently wished it would stay missing. But of course it hadn't. And to his tremendous relief and delight, Elliot had liked the offering. Apparently very much. It looked as if Nick's wish for the flute's future had a good chance of coming true. Only time would tell, but he held an encouraged hope in his heart. An unfamiliar optimism settled over his mind as he pulled the Caddy up in front of the precinct building.
End Chapter 8