Chapter 31
Maya
The Tyrolean mountains are breathtaking. I can't get enough of the snow-covered peaks, the radiant blue sky, and the lush green of the forests and meadows. And then there's that scent. Of pine needles and moss.
Not for the first time since we arrived here yesterday, I take a deep breath of the clear, untainted air. My gaze sweeps over the gently sloping meadow in front of the stage, where hardly a spot is left unoccupied. Thousands of people must have marched up the mountain to hear Josh play. I can see in their faces that the music was worth every step for them.
And it truly was. Josh plays fantastic.
More than once, my eyes were moist, I applauded and cheered, and danced with Sophia. Whenever the melody became calmer, I focused on the mountain panorama. I watched large birds fly into the sunset and observed the changes in the cloud formations.
Now, the last notes of the music resound, and for a moment, there is silence. The audience applauds, and some even rise from their seats.
"Thank you very much," Josh says, moved, into the microphone. I look up at him and see so much joy on his face. There's a radiant glow in his eyes.
In the past few days, he barely noticed me. Moreover, he avoided any contact with me. When wehad dinner together, he was terribly tense. It was as if he was wearing a corset, and I didn't know what to think. Because I'm still torn. My mind and my heart are fighting each other. Nobody can win, and somehow, everyone loses.
But that's not important right now. What matters is how he plays. Being able to perform again must feel like a catharsis for him. Of course, the audience demands an encore. Sophia and I shout loudly for another piece. We only stop when Josh sits back at the piano and once again makes the strings resonate.
"Dance with me!" Sophia reaches for my hand.
I don't need to be asked twice. Playfully, we move to the rhythm of the music. Our pleated skirts sway back and forth. "Now a spin," I call out, twirling so fast around my own axis that I almost get dizzy. But that doesn't stop me from continuing. This moment is too beautiful, where it's so easy for me to shut out all my worries.
When Josh says goodbye to his audience a little later, they come rushing back. Sophia happily hops toward the stage, and I follow her with a heavy heart.
Because I still don't know how to deal with this man. I can hardly resist his allure, but his rejection over the past few days provides my mind with the evidence it has been seeking.
Suddenly, Sophia sprints off. She must have spotted Josh. "That was simply amazing, Daddy!" she shouts.
Not a second later, I catch sight of him. Beads of sweat glisten like tiny diamonds on his forehead, his eyes shine. He puts a piece of chewing gum in his mouth, then squats down to catch Sophia. As soon as she is in his arms, he lifts her and spins her around.
"You liked it?" he asks, beaming with joy.
Sophia's excited squeal is answer enough. Seeing the two of them like this puts a smile on my face.
"The last one was the best. And the one before the break was great too. Maya and I danced." Sophia's words flow out of her mouth like a waterfall. "I even invented a dance move. Do you want to see it?"
I observe how Josh gently places his daughter back on the ground and applauds her after she presents her new moves.
Josh is a great father. And a great man.
I approach the two of them, and I immediately have his attention. The radiance in his eyes is overwhelming. "How was I?" he asks even though he should already see the answer in my face.
"Simply perfect." Even if I wanted to, I couldn't keep my distance. Not when he looks at me the way he hasn't in far too long.
He takes a step toward me without touching me. But in his gaze, I can see that he would like to. "We are both making our dreams come true."
I nod although I immediately feel a tightness in my throat. I can't assess how my exam went last week. It's entirely possible that I didn't answer any of the questions correctly. I probably failed.
As if he senses my unease, Josh shakes his head. "We are both making our dreams come true," he repeats emphatically. "Because we never stop believing in ourselves."
It's as if his conviction is enough for both of us. I also want to hope. Because the idea that I have taken the first step toward my studies by passing the biology exam is simply too beautiful.
"That's right," I confirm, more for myself than for him.
Positive thoughts are the beginning of all good things, my father happily adds in my mind. While he speaks, I see so much pride in Josh's expression.
I hope I can live up to it. Because if not...
