FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN — ÉTUDE NO. 9 IN F MINOR, OP. 10
Talk about a bomb drop.
Agatha?MyAunt Agatha? In love?
“When was this?” I ask.
“Many years ago. I wasn’t much older than you.” She tilts her head. “In fact, I was your age. Nineteen.”
Ryder rubs his thumb over the top of my hand as we wait patiently for Agatha to continue her story.
“We were in theater together,” she says.
“Wait,” Ryder interjects. “You did theater?”
She fixes him with a no-nonsense stare. “You didn’t think Adam’s acting talent came from nowhere?”
We exchange a glance, and I shrug. I’m already shocked at the start of this story. But should I be shocked? She always dresses in character. She has a flair for the dramatic. Her acting history fits right in with what I know of her.
“Eugene worked in the crew. He was in charge of the lighting.” Her eyes drift off to the corner of the room, lost in memory. “The night I played Ophelia inHamletwas when he told me he loved me. He brought roses to my room after the show and said he missed his lighting cues because he couldn’t take his eyes offof me.” She looks back at us with a smile. “And I told him that I forgot my line because he smiled at me on my way to the stage.”
My mind is still blown. Agatha in love? I can hardly imagine it.
“We had a whirlwind romance. For a few months, we were together constantly, whether in rehearsal or not. He quickly became my best friend.” She shakes her head. “But all good things must come to an end.”
“What happened?” I ask, my voice soft.
“My father,” she says, her expression hardening. “He came to one of my shows unannounced. I had no idea he’d be there, but how would I have known his reaction to our relationship?” She closes her eyes, gathering herself. “When he saw us together after the performance… I’ll never forget the look in his eyes.”
I suppress a shiver.
“He told me our duty to our family was to marry well. To choose someone who would carry the Stone legacy into tomorrow. And Eugene…well, Eugene came from nothing. A broken family, a poor home, and few ambitions beyond making it in show business.”
“So what happened?” I ask. I know how the story will end, even though I hope for something impossible.
“So…I broke things off. My father made me choose—our family, or Eugene. And I thought I was making the right choice.”
We sit in silence for a moment. I swallow hard. “Doyouthink you made the right choice?”
She looks at me, warmth entering her expression. “My dear Lily. If I hadn’t made that choice, I don’t know if I’d be here with you right now. Perhaps I’d never be part of your life.”
“But Eugene,” I say. “And you never… Not again…”
She shakes her head, a sad smile on her lips. “There was no one else for me.”
“What happened to Eugene?” Ryder asks.
Agatha’s eyebrows raise. “You’d never believe it. He made it all the way to Hollywood.”
“Do you keep in touch?” I ask.
“Oh, heavens no. But it’s fairly easy to find anyone you want on the Interweb.”
I snort a laugh, imagining Agatha google-stalking her former lover online.
Agatha places her hand on my knee. “But Lily, this is why I say that we must carefully plan our tactics with your family, especially Adam. He means well, just as my father did with me. But they err on the side of overprotective. They jump to conclusions.” She looks me straight in the eye. “I know you’ve grown. And I know what you two have is nothing like what happened with Tristan.” She pauses for a moment. “I trust your judgment.”
My eyes immediately well with tears. Her words sink into my chest, and I realize the full import of what she just said.
