Chapter 17
Thomas and I just stood there and stared at one another the next morning, knowing Mara and Daniel were on their way to California. “Guess I’d better head toward the Shulman residence to tune their piano,” Thomas finally said. “Should be back in a couple of hours.”
I hugged him as he picked up his leather bag and opened the back door. After preparing the store for the day, I sat down in my little office to work on the last song of the musical score for Mr. Benson.
Hearing the front door open, I looked up, checked my pocket, and then made my way out to the showroom. The gentleman looked familiar. “Good morning. How can I help you?”
“Good morning. I’m Hans Anderson. I believe we met at your last recital at Alice Tully Hall,” he said. “Ms. Thompson told me where I might find you. I wanted to talk to you in person and not just on the phone.”
“Yes. I remember you from the recital. Please come in.”
“I like this place. The Piano Emporium,” Mr. Anderson said. We strolled toward the back of the store. Looking around, he said, “You’re surrounded by the most beautiful pianos on earth. What a luxury.”
“It is. I feel very fortunate to be working here. The Cutler family, who owns the store, have been extremely kind to me.”
Well, Miss Armstrong, I had a nice chat with Ms. Thompson and she couldn’t find enough adjectives to describe your talent. She called you a prodigy.”
“Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Ms. Thompson means the world to me.”
“You played Mozart flawlessly at the recital, and I was greatly impressed. Would you be able to play something more for me today?”
“Of course, but I must also watch for customers, so may need to stop in the middle of playing for you.”
“That’s fine. You decide what you’d like to play and I’ll listen.”
“I’d like to play a song that I wrote a few years back by the name of ‘The Gift of Goodbye.’” I thought of Chase. I missed him so much. Where was he?
I sat down on the bench of one of the baby grand pianos. Mr. Anderson stood nearby. I began to play and didn’t stop until I’d played the song clear through to the end.
“I’m speechless, Miss Armstrong. What a beautiful song, and you said you wrote it.”
“I did. I guess you could call it my signature piece.”
“I’d like to invite you to audition with the Chamber Orchestra of New York as its guest pianist,” Mr. Anderson said, appearing stern, as a small smile escaped from the corners of his mouth.
“I’d love to audition with the orchestra. When would you like me to be there?”
“The address for the orchestra is on the card I gave you. Would tomorrow be too soon for you?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be alone here at the store most of the time this week, so could we make it next week?” I hoped he wouldn’t walk out because I couldn’t audition this week, but I’d never leave Thomas shorthanded.
He pulled out what I assumed to be his calendar and watched as he flipped through a few pages. “Would next Wednesday at one p.m. work for you?”
“Yes, I’m sure that would be fine,” I replied, trying not to sound overly relieved. “I’ll call you if anything comes up.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” Mr. Anderson said. “You’ll be playing for the conductor of the orchestra when you come in, so something classical would be appropriate next Wednesday.”
“I look forward to playing for the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra. Thank you for coming in.” I shook his hand. “I can’t wait to tell Ms. Thompson about my audition with the orchestra.”
“Give her my regards when you speak to her,” Mr. Anderson said with a wide smile.
“Indeed I will, sir. Thank you.”
I quickly dialed Ms. Thompson’s number, telling her about Mr. Anderson and my audition with the Chamber Orchestra. “Would you please help me pick out a few pieces of classical music I could play for my audition?” I asked with a pleading tone in my voice.
“Sure. When is your audition?” she inquired.
“Next Wednesday at one o’clock. I’m so nervous.”
“Can you come by after you finish work today? I should be able to have a few pieces picked out for you to play by then.”
“I’ll be there. I don’t know how to thank you,” I said. “Oh, Mr. Anderson wanted me to relay his greetings to you. He seemed to have a twinkle in his eyes when he said it.”
“Like you, Hans has a good ear for music. That’s what I like about him. See you later this afternoon, then.”
“Yes. I’ll be there about five-thirty. Bye.”
~ ~ ~
When Thomas returned, I told him about Hans Anderson coming into the store and about my audition the following Wednesday afternoon, and that Ms. Thompson was going to help me pick out a few songs to play. He gave me his blessing, but he could tell I was nervous. “You’ll do fine, Anna Louise. Ms. Thompson is a skilled teacher and pianist. She’ll know exactly what music you need to play for the audition.”
“She is great, isn’t she?” I said. “She’s like a friend to me now. I don’t know what I’d do without her when it comes to my becoming a concert pianist.”
“Well, I’m off to tune another piano. Stay alert while I’m gone,” Thomas instructed me.
“I’ll be careful. See you later,” I replied.
Customers kept me busy the rest of the day. I didn’t even notice when Thomas came back and was sitting in his office. The clock said five o’clock. “I’ll be going now,” I said to Thomas as I retrieved my purse and headed out the front door, locking it behind me, to hail a cab.
Ms. Thompson helped me pick out a few songs I could play for the audition, then I practiced every evening after work until I’d memorized each and every one of them. Wednesday arrived before I knew it. As I climbed into the cab, I gave the driver the address listed on Mr. Anderson’s card, my hands were shaking so much I wasn’t sure I’d be able to play a note. Once inside the building, I saw a sign that said auditorium, so opened the doors and walked in. There stood Mr. Anderson next to another gentleman. Spotting me, Mr. Anderson immediately came to greet me, then escorted me over to where the conductor was standing and introduced us. The conductor bowed, asking me to have a seat at the piano and to play two of the pieces I held in my hand while he and Mr. Anderson listened from out in the audience.
“Your playing is magnificent,” the conductor called out as he and Mr. Anderson returned to the stage. “I would indeed like to feature you as our guest pianist in about a month or so. Mr. Anderson will be in touch with you regarding the date and the music you will be playing that evening. Hans will deliver the music to you himself.”
“Thank you. I look forward to playing with the orchestra. It will be my honor,” I said, nodding to both the conductor and Mr. Anderson.
“I’ll be dropping by the Emporium in the next day or two,” Mr. Anderson replied. “See you then.”
“Thank you,” I said again, then made my way out of the auditorium.
Mr. Anderson did indeed stop by the Emporium with the music I’d need to learn to play for my debut concert in a little over a month. But, before I could focus on the Chamber music, I needed to finish the score for the NYU production coming up this fall.
~ ~ ~
After spending every minute I could on the score, I was finally finished and was on my way to have Ms. Thompson critique the music for me. Tears filled my eyes when I saw her standing there holding the school door open for me. I ran to her and hugged her with all my might.
“My illustrious prodigy. That must be the score tucked under your arm there.”
“It is, Ms. Thompson. I’m anxious for you to hear it. Do you have time for all of this?”
“I’ll take the time. You’ll be the one playing, which is the hard part, and I’ll be listening with both ears, jotting down notes as you go along.” She stepped back from the door. “Come in, Anna Louise. You know the way to the piano room from here.”
Stepping into the music room, we rolled out the score across the front of the piano, fastening it on either end to hold the music in place. Then, as I sat down to play, Ms. Thompson pulled up her favorite chair right next to me, notebook in hand. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, “but I’d like you to refresh the theme of the script for me before starting to play.”
“Sure. Of course, Ms. Thompson,” I said. “It’s been a while since we first talked about the story behind the musical score.”
“Time does have a habit of flying by,” Ms. Thompson replied with a gentle smile.
“Well, the story begins with a brother and sister living on the streets of New York. The sister is younger and very pretty. Their parents are addicted to alcohol and drugs, leaving the children to fend for themselves. The brother protects his sister. As a couple, they become world champion ice skaters and make a good deal of money. Ironically, as they race across the street one day on their way to the ice rink, they are struck and killed by a drunk driver. The driver is their father and their mother is with him. The play is a complete tragedy, Ms. Thompson.”
“That is a sad story. I’ll be listening for the low point in the beginning when the brother and sister are living on the street, then the high point when they become champions, and again for the low point when they are killed by their own parents.”
“That would be very helpful. I hope you’ll be able to visualize what’s happening on stage as I play the music.”
“You play, Anna Louise, and I’ll listen and visualize.”
For the next two hours, I played each and every song I’d written for the musical score of Streets.
As I finished playing the finale of the score, both Ms. Thompson and I sat there for a few minutes just trying to catch our breath. Ms. Thompson spoke first. “You took me right into the lives of this brother and sister. My heart aches for both of them right now. Your work is outstanding, Anna Louise, but I do have a couple of suggestions if you’d like to hear them.”
“Of course. That’s why I wanted you to hear the music before I delivered the score to Mr. Benson at the college.”
Sitting down on the bench beside me, Ms. Thompson began to show me what she thought I could change on the score to make my music even better. I watched as she made the changes and when she was finished, I played those sections over again incorporating the changes.
“Yes. I like the changes you’ve made. The songs sound more dramatic the way you’ve written them. Thank you.”
“Glad to help, Anna Louise. I can’t wait to see Streets performed on stage at NYU.”
“I have some other news to tell you, too.”
“Good news, I hope.”
“Yes. Very good news. I’ll be playing my debut concert with the Chamber Orchestra in less than a month now.” I smiled over at Ms. Thompson.
“Congratulations! Will I be invited to your initial performance as a concert pianist?”
“I’d love to have you there. I’ll have Mara, my artistic roommate, design a special invitation I can send to you for my first appearance with the orchestra. I wouldn’t be having this debut if it weren’t for you.”
“I’ll be anxiously awaiting my invitation.”
“Thank you for everything. I think I’ve taken up enough of your time for one day.”
Ms. Thompson strolled along beside me toward the door, then she hugged me tight before letting me go. “Your star is shining bright, Anna Louise. See you at the concert.”
“See you soon. Bye.”
Back at the Emporium, I made sure all of the music was exactly as I wanted it to be. Tomorrow, on my way home from the Emporium I would drop the score off to Mr. Benson’s assistant, until then, I planned to spend a quiet evening at home probably watching a Netflix movie.
~ ~ ~
Mara and Daniel had returned from California all tanned and rested, with an unending number of tales to tell. I listened until I couldn’t listen anymore. Thomas and the rest of his family were busy planning their vacation right now.
As I opened the door, I caught a glimpse of Mara in the kitchen. “What’s for dinner?” I called out. “I’m starving.”
“Good evening to you, too,” Mara quipped back. “Chinese. I stopped by the Chinese Food Cart and picked us up a couple of dinners.”
I threw my purse and shoes into my bedroom and hurried back out to the kitchen. “It smells delicious, Mara.” I took my seat at the table. “Would you be willing to design a special invitation for me to send to Ms. Thompson for my upcoming debut with the Chamber Orchestra of New York?”
“Sure. You provide the information and I’ll design something for you.” Mara set a cup of tea next to my plate. “Are you interested in a fortune cookie?”
‘Not really. Things have been going amazingly well lately, except for Chase, so I don’t want to jinx myself.”
“Okay, I’ll have both of them, then.
“Okay, okay, I’ll have one.”
“You still haven’t heard from Chase since your last recital?”
“I haven’t. He’s probably found someone else by now.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it. But that reminds me, Blake is back in New York. Got a text from him today.”
“How did his concert tours go in Germany and Hungary?”
“Great,” he said. “He mentioned a grand ball that’s coming up in New York. Think you might be receiving a call from him.”
“Really?” I replied, thinking of Chase.
Blake called me a few days later, inviting me to the Maestro Ball at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel the end of July. That would give me a couple of weeks to buy a dress, but I didn’t know how to ballroom dance. “Mara, I don’t know how to ballroom dance. What am I going to do?”
“Daniel is a wonderful dancer. Maybe he would show you how.”
“Do you think he would? I could pay him for his time.”
“He’s coming by later. You can ask him then.”
When I asked him, Daniel said yes. We started practicing in the theater at NYU after everyone had gone home for the day. School was out for the summer, so there weren’t many people hanging around anyway. “Mr. Benson mentioned to me that you’ve completed the score for this fall’s production. He said it’s exactly what he was hoping for when he asked you to write the music for Streets. I’ll be playing Aiden in the play. Practice will begin the first of August, so we’re ready by the middle of October.”
“I’m so glad Mr. Benson liked the music,” I replied. “I haven’t heard from him since dropping the score off to his assistant.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be hearing from him,” Daniel assured me.
“Do you think there’s any hope for me as a dancer?” I asked as Daniel twirled me around the stage.
“You’re not bad for a beginner. After a few more sessions, I think you’ll be good to go. You should be able to follow Blake and any of the other gentlemen you dance with.”
“Thanks for coming to my rescue, Daniel. We didn’t dance like this back in my small town of Wisteria, Kansas.”
“Never hurts to know how to ballroom dance when you live in New York. I’ll have to teach Mara how to ballroom dance, too.”
“She’s so creative, I’m sure she’d catch on to these dances in a heartbeat.”
Daniel laughed. “She is one of the most creative people I’ve met, but does she ever wind down, even after a long day?”
“I’ve known her almost all of my life and I’m afraid the answer to that is a big, fat NO!”
We both laughed, watching Mara bounce down the aisle as our last practice dance of the night came to an end. “Hey, Mara,” I said. “Your timing is great tonight. We just finished.”
“How’s she doing, Daniel?”
“A few more times around the stage and she’ll have the basic steps down.”
“Let’s go find something cold to drink. My treat,” Mara said as she led the way off the stage. “Follow me to Daniel’s car.”
Daniel and I spent a few more nights practicing at the NYU theater, after which, he pronounced me ready to dance at the Maestro Ball.
Ready or not, the Ball was tonight. Mara had me all dressed up like a Victorian doll in ivory lace from head to toe. She had my dark hair up in curls with a few soft hairs curled around my face. Long filigree gold earrings hung from my ears. Even my shawl and purse appeared to be made of lace.
As I opened the door for Blake, we both stood and stared at one another for a minute. “I still can’t get over the fact you’re my sister’s best friend from high school. You look gorgeous, Anna Louise.”
“See what I told you?” Mara called out from behind me.
“That’s enough out of you,” I joked, turning back toward Blake.
“Sisters!”
“You’re looking very handsome yourself, Mr. Holbrook. Shall we go?”
“Good idea.” He put his arm out for me, then we were off for a night at the Ritz-Carlton.
The ballroom was more than I could’ve ever imagined. I’d never seen anything this grand in my life. Huge bouquets of white lilies and pink roses sat atop tall, hand-carved granite pedestals throughout the room. There was gold gilding all around the doors and ceiling. A mural of ballroom dancers graced one of the walls. There were tables laced with white clothes for dancers to sit at while they shared the news of the day. All kinds of food and beverages could be had along one of the other walls. The orchestra players were tuning their instruments for the beginning of a night of dancing. I held onto Blake’s arm as we entered and made our way around the room. I recognized the up-and-coming pianist from the Philharmonic Orchestra concert Blake and I had attended at the Lincoln Center and, of course, I recognized Mr. Anderson from the Chamber Orchestra of New York. “Good evening, Miss Armstrong. I’m looking forward to your debut with the orchestra.”
“Good evening, Mr. Anderson. I’ve been practicing every day in hopes of setting each of the pieces to memory before the day of the concert.”
“If you can do that, I would consider you to be very accomplished, like your escort, Mr. Holbrook.”
“Thank you. That’s high praise, indeed,” I replied.
“I’ll see more of you throughout the evening. Save a dance for me.”
“I’d like that, Mr. Anderson.” I smiled as Blake took my hand and led the way over to where the food and drinks were.
It wasn’t long before the music started and Blake put his hand out to dance. It seemed easier than I thought it would be. I tried my best to relax into his arms and listen to the music. “What do you think of the gala, so far?” Blake asked.
“It feels like a fairytale. I look around and can’t believe I’m here.”
“Once you become a concert pianist, these events will become quite familiar to you.” I noticed Blake glancing off in the direction of another woman. From what I could see, she was beautiful. “Would you mind if I said hello to an old friend?”
“Not at all,” I replied. “I’ll just wait for you at our table.”
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
As he approached the woman, he kissed her on each cheek. She stood, then put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. They appeared to be more than old friends. On my way to the table, I was tempted to fill a goblet with wine from one of the wine fountains and drink it straight down, but when visions of my mother appeared before my eyes, I quickly decided on a tall glass of sparkling water, which I carried to the table with me. It seemed like forever before Blake returned. Actually, I’d lost track of him for a while. I didn’t want to be here. Finally, when he did reappear, looking a little worse for wear, I said, “I’d like to go home now, if you don’t mind.”
“But the evening has only begun,” he remarked.
“I’ll catch a cab home. You stay for the rest of the party.”
“Let me at least walk you out to the cab.”
“Thank you, but I’ll find my way out.” All I wanted to do was get out of there. My beautiful balloon of an evening had burst and now all I wanted to do was cry. I missed Chase so much.
There were no lights on in the apartment when I opened the door and walked in. Mara and Daniel must have gone out for the evening. I curled up on the sofa and began to cry. Somehow, despite all of the good things that had happened in my life, the one person, who had been my best friend, wasn’t in my life anymore. My heart wanted to text Chase, but emotionally, I knew I’d only mess things up more if I did.
Suddenly lights came on all around me. “Anna Louise. What are you doing home already? And why are you sitting in the dark, crying?” Mara asked, glancing over her shoulder at Daniel.
“I didn’t enjoy the ball. Maybe I’m not cut out for the life of a great concert pianist,” I sobbed. “I like hanging out with the two of you, being at the Emporium, writing music, and I miss my friend, Chase.”
“Did you dance at least one dance, after spending all of that time learning how?” Daniel asked with a slight smile on his face.
“One. That’s all it took for me to know I was in the wrong place,” I said, wiping away the tears.
“Anna Louise. You play the piano better than anyone I know, even my brother, so I hope you don’t give up on your dream of becoming a concert pianist after one lousy Maestro Ball.” Mara came over and hugged me until the tears stopped.
“I doubt your brother and I will see one another after tonight. Hope you’re not too disappointed.”
“Not at all. He’s much more uppity than you are. I understand.”
“Good. That’s makes me feel better. I’ll head to my room so you two can have the sofa. See you in the morning. I love you both.”
“Love you, too,” they said in unison.