By Kate

The plaintive sounds from the trumpet woke me from my troubled sleep. It was so hot, and there was no breeze. I had tossed and turned for hours trying to get comfortable enough to sleep. I wasn't asleep for long before he started playing, but I was like a moth to a bright flame. I stepped through the window onto the fire escape and looked at the window where I knew I would see him playing. It was always the same. The beautiful melody floated on the air. I sat down with my back against the building and listened to him play.

The first night he woke me up, I remember that, for a few minutes, I was angry with him for waking me. But my anger evaporated as the beautiful song he played began to take hold of me. It was so soulful; it sounded so sad. I hadn't actually seen him play that night, but a few nights later I spotted him silhouetted against the soft light in his apartment across the alley. I couldn't see his face in the shadows, but as I watched him play, I imagined a dark handsome face. But the face was always as sad as the song he played over and over.

Some nights his sadness seemed so real that tears would come to my eyes. This night he made some variations to the song, as he often did, slightly different echoes of the same melody. Whatever he was feeling seemed to course through the instrument. I sighed as he finished his song, and I sat, staring out into the night and feeling his music. He never played for very long. I always felt an ache, a longing for him to go on forever every time he stopped playing. The song haunted me; the tune never left my head.

I went back to bed and thought about him and his sad song. I finally drifted back to sleep. As always, I woke up humming the song after his night serenade. I longed to see him, to know who he was. I always was a little sad after his performances because he never played two days in a row. I knew that I would not hear him tonight. But the day would pass and I would be able to hope he would play again the next day.

A few days later, I got on the bus to go home after work. The bus was crowded as usual, and there was no seat available. I grabbed the rail as the bus moved forward. Then I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I turned to see a pair of somber brown eyes over a pleasant smile.

"Excuse me, senorita, please take my seat."

His thick accent was a little hard to understand, but what a charming smile he had. After standing all day at work, I was grateful for his polite generosity. As I tried to sit down, the bus suddenly swerved and skidded to a stop. I was thrown against him, and I felt his arm around my waist as he tried to keep me from falling. As we all regained our balance, I thought his arm stayed around my waist a little longer than was necessary, but I didn't struggle away as I thought of those soft brown eyes. I turned to look at him as he let go of me.

"You are not hurt, senorita?" he asked. "I didn't hurt you?"

"No, I am fine, thank you. You kept me from a nasty fall, I think." I replied. The bus driver checked to make sure everyone was ok. Luckily, no one was hurt, and I sat down as the bus moved forward. I kicked something on the floor as I sat, and realized it was a small case, perhaps for a musical instrument. It had to have been the handsome man's case. The elderly lady next to me didn't look as if she could lift the case. I glanced up at him. He was looking at me and he smiled.

"Is this your case?" I asked.

"Yes. It's my trumpet. I was supposed to practice some with our band this evening, but it got cancelled. It's not in your way, is it?"

"No," I mumbled, as a chill went through me. A trumpet. It couldn't possibly be the man I heard so often. If it was he, the image I had created in my mind didn't do him justice. I smiled at him, hoping my face didn't show the nervous excitement I felt. He smiled back, then looked away.

I hoped against all reason that it was my man of the night music. I told myself that no man that handsome, that talented, could possibly be single. If he got off at my stop, I would ask him if he was the man I had heard. And I would tell him how much I loved his song. We didn't speak again, as it was too noisy on the bus. Two stops away from mine, he asked me if I would hand him his trumpet. As I handed him the case, I hoped again that it was my night soloist. But I felt sure he would get off at one of the earlier stops.

When we got to my stop, he had already started moving toward the exit. I was right behind him. My heart was pounding in my chest. It had to be him. As he exited, he glanced over his shoulder… and turned. He offered his hand to me as I stepped off the bus.

"You live nearby?" he asked.

"Yes. Across the alley. You are going to think I am crazy, but I have to ask. I have heard someone playing the trumpet at night. I…is it you I hear?"

He dropped his eyes, then looked up again. "Yes. Probably. I have disturbed you?"

"Oh, no. No! What you play is lovely. I, I am disappointed when you don't play. That song. The one you play is so beautiful."

His intense brown eyes stared into mine. I stared back, but I couldn't read what he was thinking. I finally dropped my eyes. He didn't say anything for a few more seconds.

"Thank you. When I play that song, I never think that others can hear me. I just play it. It is a special song to me. But I am happy that you like it."

"It is so… filled with emotion," I stammered. "I stop what I am doing when I hear you play it, just to listen. Um, my name is Kate. Kate Wilson." I extended my hand to him.

He took my hand, and lifted it to his lips. "My name is Nestor Castillo…a pretty girl like you probably wouldn't be free on a Friday night. But our band, we play this weekend at a small club. If you are free, would you come hear us play? And stay to dance?"

"Nestor. You have a band? I would love to hear you play. And I am free Friday. Yes, I would like that very much."

His smile was radiant. He told me about the club, and said he would leave my name at the door as his guest. He seemed so excited. I agreed to meet him, then we parted. I went to my apartment and sank onto the couch. I could still feel the heat where his lips touched my hand. I don't know how long I sat, but I finally moved when I realized it was growing dark. I ate something, then changed into my nightgown.

Only a few moments later, I heard the first haunting strains of the song. I moved to the window, then onto the fire escape. He was there, by the window, playing the song that so haunted me. Tonight it seemed a little less melancholy, but no, that was only my wishful thinking. Somehow, I knew he was playing it for me. I stood listening, as I always did, feeling every note, as if it was causing my heart to beat.

When he finished the song, I opened my eyes and looked at his window. He was still there. He was looking in my direction, and he raised his hand to his forehead, and bowed slightly. Then he disappeared. I slipped back through the window, and went to bed. It took several hours to fall asleep, but I finally did.

I moved in a daze the next day. I couldn't stop thinking of that sweet smile, those dark eyes, and I wondered what sadness made him play that song so much. And I was thrilled that I would see him again, and hear his band. Just the thought of his hands touching me during a dance made my heart race.

I rushed home to dress for the club. Nestor had told me what time his band would play, and I didn't want to miss a minute. I was nervous about going alone, but I decided I could take a taxi. After an hour of indecision I slipped into the dark blue strapless dress. It really was the prettiest dress I had, but I just didn't know if it was nice enough. Time made the final choice, and I hurried downstairs to catch the taxi.

I arrived, and told the man at the door my name. I was quickly escorted to a small table close to the stage. I watched as a new band took the stage, moving things around to suit them. A few moments later, they began to play. The rhythmic music was wonderful! The dashing bandleader got the crowd dancing. They played a couple of exciting songs that got everyone moving. I kept looking for Nestor, but I couldn't see him. But this was his band, the Mambo Kings. I was disappointed, and wondered where he was. The band finished a wild dance number.

As the crowd sat down, the leader announced they would play a new song, written by his brother, Nestor. The band began playing again. It was Nestor's night song. The bandleader began to sing it, and I realized as I listened that these were the words that Nestor's trumpet sang when he played it. I closed my eyes and could hear the words as they sounded from the trumpet when I stood on the fire escape. "Beautiful Maria of my soul…"

When the trumpet began to play, I opened my eyes to see Nestor, spotlighted on the stage. The solo I had heard him play so many times was as hauntingly beautiful as ever. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine I was on the fire escape. But I wanted to see him, to watch him play. He sang in harmony with his brother a couple of times during the song, and played the trumpet solos I had heard so many times.

I leaped to my feet when the song was finished, and clapped. I was joined by most of the other patrons in the club, but Nestor saw me. He looked at me and made the same little gesture he had made last night from his window. The Mambo Kings played several more songs, with Nestor's trumpet solos showcased. If anyone could listen to that music and not dance, they had to be incapable of moving. My feet tapped the floor, my fingers danced on the table and my whole body moved even as I sat listening.

They finished their set, and exited the stage to the enthusiastic applause of the audience. Nestor appeared at my table a few moments later, and pulled me to my feet.

He asked, "What did you think, Kate? Did you like us?"

Before I could answer, his brother appeared behind him, and asked, "Nestor, aren't you going to introduce me to your pretty lady?"

"Yes, of course. Kate, this is my brother, Cesar."

Cesar's commanding presence distracted me from Nestor, as he asked me questions, and teased his brother. I smiled and laughed with them, but after a few moments I wanted Cesar to leave. I wanted Nestor to myself, but I knew they were both excited about the audience's reception to Nestor's ballad. They were both glowing, so filled with energy and happiness. I tried to be patient.

The next band began playing, and Nestor touched my arm. "Would you like to dance?"

I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor. We danced to a very fast, high-spirited song; I didn't even know what dance it was, but he led me through it. His eyes and smile alone kept me moving. When the song was over, he caught me in his arms, and pulled me close to him.

"I am so glad you are here," he whispered in my ear.

He held me close until the next song began to play. It was a slower ballad, and he began to move with the music. He continued to hold me close to him as we gently swayed around the dance floor. Feeling his body pressed close to mine made me forget everything. His arms around me seemed to block out every other sense. The music I heard was his. His heartbeat, the sound his shirt made as it rubbed against his jacket. That was the music I could hear. We danced through a couple of more songs, then he led me back to the table. His sweet, gentle smile made my heart skip.

But I had to ask, "Nestor, who is Maria?"

His face clouded and his eyes dropped away from mine. He didn't speak for a moment, then looked back at me and said, "she is…was my love. But she married someone else, and…"

"But you still love her…"

"No! She pushed me away. No, I don't love her anymore."

"Nestor…" I suddenly felt so sad. "Nestor, I need to go home now."

"Kate. I am sorry, I have upset you. Please, don't go."

"Nestor. I have to go. I will call a taxi…"

"No! Please, at least let me walk you home."

I sighed and agreed. We left the club, and walked toward our apartments. He had his arm around me as we walked. It was a beautiful, peaceful night. I wanted to feel his arm around me forever. As we walked, we talked about trivial subjects; the weather, movie stars, anything that meant nothing. A block away from our corner, he stopped me and pulled me into the shadow of an awning.

"Kate," he whispered, "I want to kiss you." He pressed me against the building wall, and lips lowered towards mine.

"Nestor," I said, as I turned from his kiss. "Nestor, please tell me about Maria."

"She is nothing. She married another man. I don't think about her anymore."

"Nestor, you…that isn't true. Nestor, you haven't forgotten her." I paused, then said, "When I hear you play at night, I feel what you play. The song is so sad, so beautiful, that it sometimes makes me cry. Tonight, I heard the lyrics to your song, but, as I heard your brother sing, I knew that I had heard the words before. Except I just didn't understand them. They were in the language of your trumpet. Not a spoken language, a language of sense."

He didn't say anything, but pulled me to him and held me tightly in his arms. I could feel his body tremble. He held me for a moment, then loosened his arms.

"Kate…I…you see me too well. I can't…

"You cannot forget her, can you? I don't know what happened with you and Maria, but I can see you haven't let go, Nestor…Nestor."

I could see the glint of his eyes in the dim light. He was looking at me, and his hand reached up to brush against my face. He touched my lips with his finger.

"Kate, I don't know what happened. I thought she was gonna marry me, then the next thing I know, she is married to someone else. Then Cesar started talking about New York, and now here I am. I loved her, I love her still, but I cannot have her. I will never see her again. I have to move on. That is what Cesar keeps telling me."

"Nestor…"

His lips stopped my next words. The warm moistness of his mouth on mine made me forget what I intended to say. His tongue slipped over my lips, teasing me. His arms drew me closer and his lips and tongue pushed against mine. His kisses sent a thrill through me. I didn't want him to stop, ever. But, of course, he did.

"Kate, thank you so much for coming out with me tonight. I have seen you so many nights standing in the dark on your fire escape listening to me play. I wondered who you were. I have wanted to meet you. When you told me you had heard me, I wanted it to be you, my audience of one. And when I saw you out there last night, I knew I had finally met you. Kate, I played the song for you tonight."

"Thank you," I whispered, then I was lost again in his kiss.

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