Easily pleased, Micah enjoys a career in non-profit work and gets through his days one lame joke at a time. Then his friend Lou introduces him to her musical family and the Knights pull Micah into their world of resilience and sorrow. Soon, Micah understands that in the face of grief, optimism isn't always enough.<br><br>Lei was once revered for his tremendous talent. But one day the music died, and the scars under his leather bracelets are a reminder of what he lost. These days, he's nothing but a phantom. Shut away from the world, Lei tunes instruments in the Knights' music store.<br><br>Then charismatic Micah enters his life, charming his family and slowly coaxing his way into Lei's heart with steadfast devotion. With Micah at his side, it may yet be possible for Lei to reclaim the spotlight he'd thought permanently abandoned.

Music of the Knight

In the last month, Lei had begun opening up to me about his life. He’d talk about his career, his travels, and sometimes his cognitive behavioral therapy, the progress he was making with Doctor Valeria, but certain topics were still off-limits. His son was one of them. His future was another.


Because there was definitely an us. Anyone who saw Lei and I together could see it. But the nature of our relationship remained platonic. Maybe it should have bothered me, but it didn’t. To know that Lei enjoyed my company, that he needed my friendship, that he looked forward to our time together, was enough. Sometimes he’d press the palm of his hand on the small of my back as he passed me in the kitchen, or ruffle my hair when I made a stupid joke, and those spontaneous but ephemeral touches filled me with happiness.


Lei gently shut the piano’s hood. “I’m done here…Are you?” He walked up to my improvised desk by the windows. There was something almost feline in his walk.


Chapter 34