Page 86 of Solo

“Ah, well, she got in as a freshman pianist but it didn’t work out. You know who she is?”

Danny nods. “I guessed, yeah. Why didn’t she audition for me this year?”

Russell looks uncomfortable all of a sudden. “Well, it’s not really my place—”

“He doesn’t want to embarrass me by telling you that I didn’t have the money for the application fee,” comes Katherine’s voice from behind us. All eyes swing to her. But she doesn’t look embarrassed at all. In fact, she looks radiantly happy.

“He offered to lend it to me, but I wouldn’t accept. I decided I’d come and conduct for you later this year after I’ve graduated from here and had some time to squirrel away a little cash. I was hoping to try for early admission,” she explains.

“And you would be Kate,” Danny says, taking one of her hands in both of his. “What a pleasure to meet you. Your conducting is”—he pauses, seeming to search for the right word—“a revelation.”

She blushes from below her neckline all the way up to her forehead.

“Uh, well, thank you,” she murmurs, suddenly bashful “It was quite an honor—and a surprise—to conduct for you.”

“Miss Brenner,” I say, turning on my coolest tone, “Dr. Gillies and I went to school together. He was visiting the area and asked to sit in on a rehearsal. I think you’ve made quite an impression on him.”

Katherine looks at me and back at Danny before putting an arm on Russell’s shoulder.

“I didn’t realize you and Dr. Markham knew one another, but you should know that Russell has mentioned you many, many times.”

Russ looks pleased to be back in the loop again.

“Well, Kate, I was very impressed by what I saw this evening. Both in your handling of a difficult situation and in your conducting. You can be sure I won’t be forgetting your name once I get back home to New York and back to work at the conservatory. Now, if you’ll excuse us, my old roommate here owes me a dinner before I head back down the mountain.”

“I wish you’d just stay at my house,” I mutter.

“Sorry, Drew. My mother’s pancakes wait for no man. If I’m not there in the morning, I forfeit my stack. Russ, please give me a call when you’re headed up to New York again, okay?”

“I will,” Russell assures him with a smile. “It was good to see you, Danny. Drew,” he acknowledges me with a curt nod. “Come, Kate. Let’s go back to my office so I can give you some notes.”

Katherine gives me a quick glance back over her shoulder as she follows him out of the concert hall, leaving me alone with my friend.

“Oh, Drew,” Danny groans softly, shaking his head. “You are so fucked, man.”

“I know, I told you. I just can’t stay away from her. And my God, the way she conducts…”

Danny’s shaking his head. “Not her, man. Him. Russell.”

“Oh, he’s just being a dick, as usual. He’s like that all the time since Casey.”

“Christ, Drew, get your head out of your ass! Russell was almost your father-in-law. You know him better than that. Dude, he knows you better than that.”

My heart skips a beat. He’s right. I can feel the horror etched on my face. It’s reflected in the piteous way my old friend is looking at me.

“Drew, man, you do not have the luxury of thinking Russell Atherton is stupid. Or blind. He knows about you and Katherine Brenner. It’s just a matter of time before he realizes that he knows.”

And just like that, I hear the ticking of the time bomb as it starts its countdown toward inevitable destruction.

…

Wednesday April 26th 9:22 p.m.

K: OMGOMGOMG! That was SO amazing! I can’t believe you invited Danny Gillies to come and see me conduct! You sneaky bastard, you! I hope you boys are having some fun tonight. Please thank him again for me. I have to go back to Russell’s office now so we can go over the video he took of me conducting and give me some notes before the next rehearsal. MY rehearsal! SQUEE!!!!! In less than a month I’m going to conduct in front of my biggest audience ever! You’d better be planning on coming, Dr. D! May 10th—the Wed before orals. Xoxo K.

Chapter Forty

Kate