No Shelter Left novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Bridge

Jude Ransom had signed Kaitlyn Larkin when she was twenty, and he had told his board it was the easiest decision of his career.

At nine the next morning he sat across from her in Studio A, with the piano between them and a pot of coffee going cold.

Kaitlyn wore a cream sweater with the sleeves pulled down over her hands.

"I just think the showcase should feel personal," she said. "Maybe we do it acoustic. Maybe Aisling and I do the new song together."

"Aisling said she doesn't want to sing it with you."

"She's upset. She'll come around."

He watched her stir her coffee.

Last night he had watched the clip of the lobby fifteen times.

He kept going back to the moment Kaitlyn's hands left the keys.

"Humor me," he said. "Play the bridge of Paper Boat."

Kaitlyn laughed. "Now?"

"Now. Nothing fancy. Just the bridge."

"Jude, I told you, I get nervous on it."

"We're in a closed room, with the door shut. You've played it a hundred times on tour."

He had heard her sing it a hundred times, with a backing track and a band.

He could not remember hearing her play it once.

Kaitlyn set down her spoon.

She sat at the piano and played the first verse in simple chords. Then the chorus.

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