So I do my best to fall asleep every night with the happy thought of reuniting with Ryder, but maybe it’s not the healthiest coping mechanism. Then I wake up the next morning, practice the piano, take classes on performance and music theory and master classes on technique, practice more, and go back to bed. Over and over again.
Back in the theater, my classmates each take their turns, and I try to pay attention to the feedback Mr. Billings gives them, but my mind is elsewhere.
“Excellent work today, everyone,” Mr. Billings says, standing and facing us. “See you all in two days.” He meets my eyes and tilts his head toward the aisle. “Lily, can I speak with you?”
Gulp. He’s probably going to say something about how I’m not keeping up with everyone else, how I’ve been too distracted to improve.
Fantastic.
Just what I need right now.
I gather up my books, keeping Galileo in my fist, and trudge over to him. “Hey, Mr. Billings. What’s up?”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d heard about the Windsor Conservatory Showcase,” he says. “It’s our fall performance opportunity for students who show exceptional promise.”
I shake my head and look down at my books. “No, I hadn’t heard about it.”
“I want you to participate.”
I jerk my head up at him. “Really? I thought you were going to tell me I needed to do better.”
He chuckles, but on seeing my expression, he sobers. “Not at all, Lily. Your natural talent is incredible, but you also work hard every day. The amount of improvement I’ve seen in the last six months is unmatched.”
I bite my lip. “I’m not sure my family will let me perform.”
“I was unsure, as well. But I contacted your father, who then sent me to your brother, Adam?”
I nod.
“And after checking with someone, he said he would allow it as long as we kept your involvement private. We won’t post your name on the announcements or social media pages. But you’ll get an opportunity to perform in front of classical agents and music executives. It will be an incredible boost for your future.”
What future?I want to ask. But here’s an opportunity to perform, and I haven’t had one of those in two years.
“So, what do you say?” Mr. Billings asks.
I nod. “I’ll do it.”
He smiles widely. “Fantastic. I’ll let the staff know. Do you know which piece you’d like to perform? I was thinking the ChopinBalladewould be excellent.”
I tilt my head from side to side. “How about Brahms’Intermezzo in A Major?” If I’m going to perform for the first time in public, I want to somehow feel like Ryder’s with me. There would be nothing like playing the piece he loved the most.
He raises a brow, considering. “I didn’t know you knew how to play that.”
My eyes well with tears, but I blink them away, hit with the memory of playing the piano on the stage of the Ever After Theater, and Ryder swearing that was his favorite piece of all. “It’s been a while.”
“All right. Let’s get you working on that in your private lessons and go from there.”
I nod. “Thank you, Mr. Billings. I look forward to it.”
“You deserve it, Lily.” He tips his head to the exit. “Now go get some rest.”
I wave goodbye but don’t go home. There is no rest anymore. Instead, I head to one of the practice rooms and start playing, ignoring the tears that run down my cheeks, wishing more than anything that Ryder could be at the performance.
CHAPTER 38
Ryder
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF — MOMENT MUSICAL NO. 4 IN E MINOR, OP. 16
