The Gift of Goodbye

by Kleven, M. Kay

  “How much time do you have?” I asked.

  “All night. Lay it on me.”

  Returning with the breadsticks, I grinned as I began to recount my day. “The minute I walked into the Piano Emporium this morning Mr. Cutler sent me off with Thomas, who I found out is his son, to tune a piano. We drove for miles and miles before stopping in front of a mansion on a hilltop. Are you bored yet?”

  “Not in the least. Maybe after you’ve become famous, I’ll be able to use this day in a front-page story about you.” Getting this devilish look in his eyes, he snapped a picture of me on his phone. “By the way, this salad and these breadsticks are delicious, considering I’m a cheeseburger kind of guy.”

  “Thanks,” I said, frowning at him for taking the photo. “But anyway, I watched Thomas tune the piano for a couple of hours. I learned so much. Then he actually asked me to play something on this fabulous grand piano so he could hear if all of the keys were in tune. It seemed impossible, but I sat down and played one of the songs I’d written during high school. I already knew the keys on a piano, but it was like magic playing one of my own songs out of the blue.”

  “You should see the look on your face, Anna Louise. When you talk about pianos and music you light up like the New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square.”

  “Funny you should mention Times Square. The Emporium is located only a couple of blocks away from the pedestrian walkway along Times Square. I’ve watched the ball drop for years on television, but never dreamed I’d be working nearby.”

  “I’m happy for you, Anna Louise. I can see you love your new job.”

  “I do, but the most amazing part of the day came when I signed up for my first piano lesson at The School of Musical Arts. What do you think my chances of becoming a concert pianist are, never having taken a lesson before now?”

  “Invite me to your first recital and I’ll tell you afterward.” Chase leaned back in his chair, sipping his iced tea, as he stared at me through those quizzical green eyes of his.

  “That could be a while. You may have moved out of the Blue Sky Apartments by then.”

  “I doubt it. I have a feeling you’re an exceptionally quick study. I’d say you’ll be ready for your first recital in three months or less.”

  “Wow! Are you psychic or what?”

  “Nope. Just see a determined young woman in front of me who has had a big dream rolling around in her head for a lot of years. Now’s your time, Anna Louise.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Unexpectedly, there came a loud knock on my door. “Wonder who that could be,” I uttered to Chase as more knocks rang out even louder. “You, the landlady, and her son are the only ones I know here.”

  “Do you want me to answer it?” Chase asked. “You’re turning pale. Are you okay?”

  “I’m okay. I’ll get it,” I replied, trying to be brave.

  I opened the door to a strange-looking man dressed in jeans, a black T-shirt with a gold emblem on it, and a dark-brown leather bomber jacket that had seen its better days. He had a cigarette hanging from his mouth and I caught a glimpse of a gun in his waist band. “Sorry, lady, but I left something of importance behind in this apartment. I just moved out before you moved in. I don’t want to get rough with you, but I need what I left behind.”

  All of a sudden, Chase appeared behind me, staring the guy down. “Sir. The sounds you’ll be hearing behind you in a couple of seconds will be the police coming up the steps, so if you still want to come in, feel free.”

  He turned around, glanced at the stairs, then pulled the gun out of his waist band and shoved Chase and me back into the apartment and slammed the door, locking it before the police could reach the third floor. “I’ll only be a second in the bedroom, then I’m out the window and down the fire escape. Done it before.”

  Someone banged on the door, shouting, “Police.”

  I quickly opened the door and pointed toward the bedroom. “He went in there, but I think he may have escaped out the window.”

  Quickly checking the bedroom, they could see the closet had been turned upside down and the window was open. One of the cops stopped with his notepad to talk to Chase and me as the others rushed out the door and down the steps. “We’ll chase him down. If it’s who we think it is, he left drugs behind. Which one of you lives here?”

  “I do, Officer,” I said, stepping forward. “My name is Anna Louise Armstrong and here’s my phone number.” I immediately jotted it down for him.

  “I’ll be back in touch, so stay put for the next couple of hours.” The officer put his notebook back in his pocket, then flew out the door and down the stairs.

  Before I could shut the door, the landlady appeared in the doorway. “What on earth is going on here!” she cried out.

  “Guess your last tenant thinks partying and drugs is a way of life according to the police officer who just left here,” I responded with a quiver in my voice. “He had a gun. I’ve never seen a gun up close like that before. It was scary.”

  “By nighttime I’m dead on my feet, so didn’t even hear them if they were partying all night. Sorry that happened to you two nice young people. I’m glad they’re gone if they were into illegal drugs.”

  “I sure hope the cops catch him with the drugs, if that’s what he took out of my closet. I’m still shaking, but will be okay now.” I glanced over at Chase who stood close by, listening to everything.

  “I gotta get back downstairs, but let me know if anything else happens, okay?”

  “Will do.” Just then my phone rang. “Wait a minute. I may have some news you’d like to hear, too.”

  “Hello. This is Anna Louise Armstrong.”

  “This is Officer Brinkley. We caught the guy. He’s a well-known drug dealer, so thanks to you and the gentleman he’ll be off the streets of New York for a long time.”

  “I’m so glad you caught him,” my voice choked out. “Thanks for letting me know.”

  The landlady waved and disappeared back down the stairs.

  Chase put his arms around me and held me close to him. “It sure was crazy there for a minute, but as soon as I heard him threaten you, I knew we needed the police.”

  “Thank you, Chase, from the bottom of my heart.” I leaned my head on his shoulder and relaxed for the first time since opening the door to a bad-looking dude who turned out to be a big-time drug dealer.

  Chase pulled me a little closer, then said, “You did everything right Anna Louise, but I learned tonight, too, that while we’re living here in the Blue Sky Apartments, neither one of us should answer our door unless we know who is on the other side of it.”

  “Except you, Chase. I already know your three knocks. But my door will always be locked from now on.”

  “Way to go, Anna Louise.” Chase lifted my chin and kissed me lightly on the brow before making his way out the door toward his apartment. “Lock your door. I’ll be listening for the click.” Chase turned and smiled at me, then waited until he knew I was safely locked inside my apartment.

  Chapter 3

  Playing the songs in my music books was hard at first because I had so much to learn, but I practiced and practiced and went to my lesson every Monday. Ms. Thompson was pleased with my progress and had begun to give me more advanced pieces to play. “You play by ear, my dear,” she said one afternoon. “After hearing a song just once or twice, you can play it and play it quite well.”

  All at once, I had the answer to why I’d been able to sit down and play first for Mr. Cutler and then for Thomas after he’d tuned that fine grand piano in the house on the hill. I had heard those songs over and over again in my head, so actually playing them for real had come easily to me.

  The following Monday, when I arrived for my lesson, Ms. Thompson announced that in two weeks I’d be playing in my first piano recital along with
several other students. It would be held at Steinway Hall, one of the finest concert halls in New York City.

  “Are you sure I’m ready for a recital?” I asked with a shocked look on my face.

  Ms. Thompson chuckled. “I’m sure or I’d never have listed your name on the program as one of those performing in the upcoming recital. You play beautifully. You’ve been given a tremendous gift, Anna Louise.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve never performed on stage in front of an audience before.”

  “You’ll do fine once you start to play. Everything else around you will disappear.”

  When the day of the recital arrived, I woke up to butterflies taking over my stomach. I had never been this nervous in my life. But knowing how important this day would be, I’d even gone out and bought myself a long, flowing, light-pink gown to wear for my performance. I was about to walk out the door when my phone rang.

  “Hello,” I said in a hurried voice.

  “Anna Louise. It’s your sister Charlotte. I’m calling to tell you I’m getting married. Frank and I are so happy. We’re going to have a country club wedding reception.”

  “Congratulations, Charlotte, but I have to go. I was on my way out the door.” My sister and Frank Sullivan had dated since she was a junior and he a senior in high school. Both were now attending the same college not far from home. All of Wisteria would be invited to this grand event.

  “You’ll come home and be in my wedding, won’t you?”

  “I will if I can, Charlotte. Email me the information and I’ll let you know.” I realized I didn’t know if I wanted to go back home yet.

  I heard Charlotte yell for Mom and before I knew it Mom was on the phone. “You will come home for your sister’s wedding. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Do you hear me?”

  “I hear you, Mom, but I have to go. Talk to you later.” I hung up, knowing the consequences would be harsh if I went back home now. I didn’t have time to think about that as I raced out the door of my apartment and hailed a cab to Steinway Hall.

  Ms. Thompson greeted me as I entered the concert hall. Pointing to my name on the program, she exclaimed, “You’re up next, Anna Louise. Are you okay? You’re shaking like a leaf.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Thompson, but I had an unpleasant phone call right before coming to the recital. I’m nervous, but I’m ready to play.”

  “The main thing is to relax and play your very best once you’re seated at the piano. You can do it, Anna Louise. By the way, you look like an angel in that dress.”

  Ms. Thompson gave me a hug and sent me out to play in my first piano recital. As I looked out at the audience and did my curtsy, I spotted Chase out there in the front row, but to my surprise, Mr. Cutler sat right next to him. I smiled wide at both of them, then sat down at the piano to play the same song I’d played for Thomas that first day while at the big house on the hill. It was my favorite song, and Ms. Thompson had approved it for my first official performance on stage.

  As the lights reflected off the shiny baby grand piano, I touched the keys and began to play. Hearing the sound of the song in my head, I played for the next few minutes without ever glancing away from the keys. Music filled the hall from corner to corner. As the final notes brought my piece to an end, the crowd began to clap. Then, when I stood to take a bow, the claps erupted into applause. I bowed several times before leaving the stage, waving to the crowd as I left. Happiness filled me for the first time in my life.

  After the concert, I noticed Mr. Cutler talking with Ms. Thompson as Chase made his way toward me. “You look gorgeous, Anna Louise. The song you played is the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard. Did you write that song? What’s the title of it?”

  Getting caught up in his praise, I replied, “I did write that song, but all I knew at the time was that I wanted to get out of Wisteria as soon as I graduated. I didn’t even think to give it a title, so you can have the honor, if you like.”

  “I’d like to.” He thought for a moment, then said, “I think ‘The Gift of Goodbye’ would be the perfect title for that amazing song performed by my brilliant friend, Anna Louise Armstrong.”

  “I love it, Chase. My farewell to Wisteria. Must be the journalist in you coming out again.”

  Chase gave me his wicked grin and put his arm out. “Can I take you for a soda or an ice cream to celebrate your first recital, Miss Anna Louise?”

  “That would be a very nice way to end the day. Thank you, Mr. Monroe.” I took one arm as he flagged a cab with the other, then we were off to share a treat, marking my first piano performance in public. Ever.

  ~ ~ ~

  Mara Holbrook, my best friend from high school, chatted away on the other end of the phone as I was trying to hurry out the door of the Emporium and into a cab for my first piano lesson since the recital. Mara attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago now. But, I can still see her bebopping along down Poppy Street with her medium-length, curly, brown hair blowing in the breeze that always seemed to be around her as she carried one of her delightful paintings under her arm. Being Mara, she was always a few steps ahead of me as we made our way downtown to the Shelby Art Gallery where her newest painting would be taken into consignment and hung on the wall for all of Wisteria to see. Back then I could sit for hours watching her paint a portrait, a landscape, or an abstract that said nothing to me, but everything to her. “Mara, I’m now sitting in front of The School of Musical Arts and need to pay the cab driver before going inside for my lesson. I’ll email you tonight about my sister’s wedding. Bye.”

  Inside, with Ms. Thompson waiting for me, I set my backpack down on a chair and took out my music books. Sliding on to the piano bench, I opened my books to today’s lesson.

  “Which song would you like me to play first?” I asked.

  “We’ll wait on that for right now,” she said, sitting down on the piano bench next to me. “I have something for you to commemorate your first recital. I hope you like it.” Ms. Thompson smiled and handed me a small, black velvet box.

  “Thank you, Ms. Thompson.” I opened the box to find this splendid brooch in the form of a copper-colored baby grand piano with my name and the date of the recital inscribed in a beautiful script on it. In-between, one glittering diamond sparkled up at me. Unfamiliar tears rolled down my cheeks. “This means everything to me, Ms. Thompson. I’ve never received a keepsake like this before.”

  “Anna Louise, I know in my heart this is just the first of many for you. If you continue to improve at the rate you are, you’ll be able to complete our program in the year that your scholarship is scheduled for.” She put her arm around me. “You are one of just a handful who have ever done that. Would you like to play something now?”

  I swished away the tears and turned to the first song of my assignment. Touching the keys and playing again brought it all back to me. I leaned in to make the music vibrate throughout the room. Ms. Thompson smiled when I glanced over at her. I had played these songs on Mr. Cutler’s piano and knew them by heart. I made a few mistakes, but mostly the piano hummed with the sound of the songs in my music books. When I finished, Ms. Thompson assigned another lesson, then handed me a sheet of music. My eyes popped when I saw the name of the concerto on the sheet music, “Beethoven’s No. 5, E-flat Major.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Thompson. I’ll spend as much time practicing this week as I can. See you next Monday.”

  “Congratulations on the recital. You had an outstanding performance. Just do the best you can with the sheet music this week and I’ll see you on Monday.”

  ~ ~ ~

  That night, I curled up on the least damaged of the sofa cushions with my laptop to email Mara about my sister’s wedding, asking her what I should do. She knew me better than anyone in the world and I trusted her advice. I sent it off, knowing it wouldn’t be long before I received a respo
nse. That was just the way my friend Mara Holbrook was.

  A couple minutes later, she replied:

  My family received an invitation to your sister’s wedding, but neither Blake nor I will be able to attend. Mom and Dad will be, though. They wouldn’t want to miss Wisteria’s grandest social affair of the year. It sounds like your mom is already angry at you for hanging up on her, so how much more angry could she be if you don’t go home for the wedding?

  I wrote back:

  I want to be there for my dad, but I just don’t know if I can face my mom and my sister yet. Charlotte with her long, blond hair and blue eyes is my mom’s pretty ballerina. Mom’s once-blond hair, which is now highlighted in shades of blond so that her friends can’t see the gray, has molded Charlotte into a younger version of herself. A mold I certainly don’t fit into.

  Mara answered:

  I assume your sister has a phone. Call her and explain to her that you won’t be coming home for her wedding, but you wish her all the best and would be sending her a very nice gift, which is what she’s interested in anyway if I remember Charlotte at all.

  I responded:

  I don’t know how I’d be able to try on the bridesmaid dress she and Mom would pick out for me without going home days before the wedding, and I’m not doing that. Sorry, a text just came in on my phone. I’ll call Charlotte like you said. Thanks, friend, for the advice. Hope all is well with you and that your studies are going well, too. Love ya.

  Studies going well. Love you, too, sailed back into my inbox.

  I found my phone on the kitchen counter and read the text from Chase.

  I’m covering an upcoming concert for the Times. Would you like to go? It’s Bruno Mars, a rock and hip-hop kind of guy.