“Maybe a little,” I teased, putting both arms around his neck causing us to dance cheek to cheek.
“I could dance with you all night, Miss Piano Girl.” Just then the music stopped and the band took a break.
I stood there laughing as he gathered up our glasses, handing the sparkling water to me.
“I’m hungry. Let’s find our way over to the food.” Chase took a drink of his champagne, then asked if I’d like to try a sip or two of champagne on New Year’s Eve. Afraid I might become my mother, I declined. “Does that mean you don’t think you’d like champagne?”
“No, Chase. I’m sorry, it means my mother is an alcoholic and I’m afraid of becoming like her. She treated me horribly when she was drunk and I never, ever want to hurt anyone like she did me. I hope you understand.”
“Believe me when I say I understand. For me, my father was the angry, abusive alcoholic. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but I have a slight limp in my right leg. One day, when I was about ten years old, I came home from school and my drunk father was standing in the doorway and wouldn’t let me in the house. As I tried to get around him, he tripped me and I fell backward on my leg, breaking it. Mom took me to the Emergency Room where they put my leg in a cast, but the break didn’t heal exactly right, so I’ve had a slight limp ever since.
“Oh, Chase, how horrible for you at such a young age.” Tears welled up in my eyes as images of what had happened between Chase and his father appeared before my eyes. “You’re such a caring and thoughtful person, it’s hard for me to believe you’ve been treated as badly as I have been.”
“I vowed that day I’d never let him keep me from living my life the way I wanted to. I don’t drink often and I don’t drink a lot, but I do let myself have one once in a while. Don’t let your mom keep you from living your own life. You’re a gifted pianist and the music you write is heartfelt, so don’t let what she did to you stop you from becoming all that you can be. You’re an amazing woman, Anna Louise.”
“Thank you, Chase,” I said, filled with emotion, as he lifted my face to his, kissing me softly. “You’re amazing, too, Chase Monroe. Because of my relationship with my mother and sister, I’ve never asked you this before, but do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“One older sister, Hannah, who is very pregnant at this moment. I also have a younger brother, Michael, who plays baseball and is a senior in high school, and a younger sister, Lily, who’s in her first year of high school and wants to become a cheerleader. How about you, Anna Louise?”
“I have and older sister, Charlotte, who’s a newlywed, and a younger brother, Grant, who is the athlete in the family. He’s great at football and basketball, but soccer is his favorite sport. I hope he receives a college scholarship to play soccer one day. By the way, do you have a middle name, Mr. Monroe?”
“Elliott. After the old man. Ironic, huh?”
“I like it. Chase Elliott Monroe. I can see it listed among the great Pulitzer Prize writers already.”
“I think we’d better go get something to eat before our heads swell up like balloons.”
We ate, drank, mingled, and danced for hours, then held each other close as the clock struck midnight, filling the room with confetti and balloons.
Chase kissed me and held me close. “Happy New Year, Anna Louise! I have a feeling it’s going to be a good one.”
“Me too. Happy New Year, Chase Elliott!”
The confetti rained down on us as I grabbed two balloons for good luck. Chase picked me up and twirled me around, then set me down and kissed me once again.
“Come on, pretty lady, let’s get out of here. Your place or mine?”
“I think SoHo is calling our names,” I exclaimed as Chase took my hand in his.
Chapter 10
The New Year brought with it another recital that would be performed at the Kaufman Concert Hall to a larger audience. I practiced for hours and hours after the Emporium closed each day, pounding away on the same piano Mr. Cutler had first given me permission to practice on when I started working for him. I had advanced beyond my wildest dreams in the six months since starting my lessons at The School of Musical Arts. Ms. Thompson had pushed me as hard as she could and I had written a number of songs she’d allowed me to incorporate into my program. But for this recital, I would be playing “Rachmaninoff’s No. 3, D Minor.”
I had invited Mara and Daniel to come listen to me play this time, but when I walked out on stage, there sat Blake Holbrook next to Mara. I took my seat at the piano and composed myself. Once I began to play, like Ms. Thompson had told me, everything else around me disappeared and all that mattered was the music. I loved Rachmaninoff’s piece, so I leaned into the piano and played my heart out. The room erupted when I finished and that’s when I caught Blake gazing at me with admiration in his eyes. I floated off the stage on cloud nine.
Mara, Daniel, and Blake appeared backstage. Mara hugged me. “Your playing almost brought me to tears, my friend. That was amazing!”
Then Blake stepped forward and actually hugged me as he said, “I couldn’t believe I was listening to little Anna Louise Armstrong playing at such a high level. You’re becoming an accomplished pianist. I would love to sit down and play with you sometime.”
“Oh,” I said, moved by Blake’s words, “but I have a long way to go. I’m only halfway through my program with Ms. Thompson.”
“We’re both still students. But that doesn’t mean we can’t play together.” Blake smiled at me with his brilliant blue eyes and winked at me.
“Do you really mean it?” I asked, feeling my face grow warm.
“He means it, Anna Louise,” Mara said in her most persuasive voice.
“I’ve got your phone number. I’ll be calling you.” Blake waved as he left, making his way out of the hall.
I screeched and hugged Mara. Blake Holbrook thought I was becoming an accomplished pianist.
“Grandpa Cutler would be so proud of you,” Daniel chimed in. “But let’s get out of here.”
Daniel’s words touched my heart. Tears started to fill my eyes, but I replied, “Yes, let’s get out of here.
~ ~ ~
I hadn’t seen Savannah since Christmas Day and was feeling guilty, so I bundled up and scurried out to the sweet shop in SoHo to buy her a treat, then hailed a cab for the Morgan Stanley Hospital to spend some time with her.
It was Sunday afternoon, so most of the children were off somewhere with their parents. Savannah was alone in her room, playing games on her tablet.
“Hi, there,” I said, pulling the bag of goodies out from behind my back. “Lollipop, anyone?”
Savannah gazed up and gave me a half-hearted smile. “Thank you,” she replied, taking the bag. “Anna Louise, my cast comes off tomorrow, and then it won’t be long before I’ll have to leave the hospital. I just know it.”
“Has anyone told you where you might be going once you leave the hospital?”
“No. And that’s why I’m starting to get scared.” Savannah finally looked inside of the bag and pulled out a cherry, banana, and blueberry swirled lollipop.
“How about if we go down to the children’s room and play together on that white baby grand piano the hospital has in there?”
“I don’t know how to play,” Savannah said, taking the candy out of her mouth.
“I’ll show you how. We can play ‘Chopsticks’ together. You can play with your right hand while I play with my left.”
She smiled and slipped off the edge of the bed, setting her bag of treats on the hospital stand. Grabbing her robe, she said, “Let’s go.”
“Just a minute, Savannah. I need to let your nurse know where we’re going.” I took her hand in mine.
As we strolled into the playroom, there was no one around, so Savannah and I sat down
at the piano and I showed her how to use the finger on her right hand to play “Chopsticks” while I used my left finger. She laughed and laughed as we tried to get it right, both of us playing when we should. After a few more tries, we sounded pretty good together. When I noticed Savannah getting tired, I stood and made a sweeping bow to her. She laughed as she stood up and slipped her hand into mine again and led me back to her room. Before I left, I said, “I’ll be back tomorrow to see if the doctor took your cast off. How would that be?”
“I’d like that. I think Beth and Ashley will be here tomorrow, too.” Savannah’s pretty blue eyes lit up. “Ashley wants to see what my arm looks like without the cast. She’s never seen me without it. You’re the only one who has.”
“I certainly have. Maybe the doctor would save your cast for you. It has everyone’s name on it: Ashley’s, Beth’s, mine, Mara’s, the other children, the nurses, and even your doctors.”
“Can they really do that? I’d love to have my cast to take with me when I leave the hospital.”
“Sure they can. I’ll mention it to your nurse.” I gave Savannah a big hug and as I was about to walk out the door, Savannah’s nurse walked in to check on her.
“Hi, Libby,” I said. “Savannah would like the doctor to save her cast so she can take it with her when she leaves the hospital. Is that possible?”
“I’ll make sure the doctor knows that Savannah wants to take her cast with her when she leaves.”
“Thank you,” I said as I waved goodbye to Savannah.
In the cab on the way home, my phone rang. Oh no, my mother. What could she possibly want now that Charlotte was married? “Hello, Mother. Happy New Year.”
“What do you mean Happy New Year?” She was slurring her words. “You didn’t come home for your sister’s wedding, or Christmas, or the New Year. Hope you’re happy with yourself.”
“I am happy, Mother, and I have no idea when I’ll be returning to Wisteria again. I’ve gotta go. The cab driver is waiting for me to pay him.”
“Cab driver, huh? Who do you think you are these days? Too good for your own family.”
“Did you want something?”
“I guess not. You seem to have gotten a little bit too big for your britches, missy. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Mom.”
Mara could tell the minute I walked into the apartment that something was wrong. “Why the sad face, Anna Louise?”
“My mom called me out of the blue while I was on my way home from visiting Savannah in the hospital. She was slurring her words and belittling me as usual.”
“I’m sorry, Anna Louise.”
“Thanks. Why is it that I always let her drag me down?”
“Because she’s your mother.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to Wisteria.”
~ ~ ~
Dear Dad,
Mom called today. She was slurring her words and belittling me as usual. Isn’t there anything you can do to help her? I miss you and Grant, but I’ll never be able to come back to Wisteria unless Mom stops drinking.
How are you and Grant doing these days? I know it has to be hard for both of you trying to take care of Mom. I wish she would get the help she needs. Email me when you can.
I love you,
Anna Louise
~ ~ ~
I was surprised when my dad wrote right back:
Dear Anna Louise,
I’m sorry your mother called and was mean to you again. She’s been grumbling about you for days now, but I never thought she’d call you. But then, when she’s been drinking, I never know what she’s going to say or do. She doesn’t think there is anything wrong with her, it’s the rest of us who has a problem. She’s sick, but won’t get help.
I’m glad you’re in New York and doing well. I want only the best for you. Stay there for now and keep in touch with me.
I love you,
Dad
~ ~ ~
Mara and I talked again later over a cup of chamomile tea. Somehow she always knows how to make me feel better about myself, so by the time we went to bed I was happy again. “Thank you, my friend,” I said. “You’re like a soothing balm to my battered soul.”
~ ~ ~
Monday turned out to be a cold, blustery, January day, so business inside the Emporium was slow. Thomas stepped out of his office and put his hand on my shoulder. “Anna Louise, today seems like a good day to record some of those songs you’ve written. We need some new music in the store to go with the new year.”
“Really?” I stammered.
“You play and I’ll record. How about it?” Thomas unlocked the door to a room I’d never been in before. I let out a scream when I stepped inside right behind Thomas. “A recording studio with a grand piano and a control room to record music. You weren’t kidding when you said you’d record my music one day.”
“Pop had this room put in when he bought the store and remodeled the inside, hoping one day he would have the chance to record someone playing this grand piano, the first one he ever bought: his pride and joy.” Both of us had to wipe away tears. “He had this room designed with the best acoustics money could buy. Then, just like Pop had taught me to tune a piano, he taught me how to record music. I hate to say it, but he even knew how to use a computer before I did.”
“What a smart man your father was. A visionary, too.”
“Pop was all of that and more. Have a seat, young lady, and I’ll go into the control room and get things ready to record.”
Thomas fired up the digital audio workstation and made sure the microphones were on and placed so he could pick up the best sound from the piano. He checked to be sure the monitoring equipment was plugged into the computer and put the headphones on to be sure they were working. It’d been a long time since he and his father had come into this room and tuned his pride and joy. “Sit down and play something, Anna Louise. I may need to tune the piano before we start recording.”
I sat down at the piano and began to play a medley of the songs I’d written so far. Mr. Cutler sure knew his pianos. This grand piano was indeed a beautiful musical instrument. Stopping for a moment, I called out to Thomas, “Did Mr. Cutler know how or do you know how to play the piano yourself?”
“I’m embarrassed to say that neither one of us ever took a lesson, but like you, I guess we had a good ear for musical sound. We both learned the keys on the piano, but never sat down and played a song from a book in our lives.”
“I often wondered about that, even asking Ms. Thompson one day if she knew. She said to ask you.”
“Well, I’m going to need to tune the piano before we start, so I’ll go grab my bag and get busy. It shouldn’t take me long.”
“I’ll watch the store while you tune the piano,” I said.
Before long, I heard Thomas shout, “Okay, I’m ready. All I need to do is uncover the security monitor in here so we can tell whenever anyone enters the store.”
“Mr. Cutler didn’t forget a thing, did he? A born businessman.”
Most of our day was spent in the recording studio, except when we bundled up and raced across the street for lunch, with me playing and Thomas recording a number of songs I’d written down, but could play for memory, too.
“Anna Louise,” Thomas exclaimed. “You just finished playing the song you played your first day at the Emporium. Remember the house on the hill and the grand piano I tuned that day. What’s the name of that song? It makes my heart beat faster every time you play it.” Thomas stopped recording and came out and sat down on the piano bench next to me.
“I will never forget that day, Thomas. It’s etched in my brain forever. I played the same song for my first recital, too. I hadn’t given it a title, so when Chase asked me that same question after the recital, I told him a
bout writing the song, hoping to leave Wisteria as soon as I graduated, then gave him the honor. He thought for a bit, then said, ‘The Gift of Goodbye.”
“Perfect title. Great name for an album. One CD coming right up.” Thomas grinned from ear to ear as he stepped back into the recording studio.
It wasn’t long before Thomas had produced a CD with the soft sound of an orchestra in the background as my piano music filled the store. I was stunned to hear my own songs played back to me for the first time. “The Gift of Goodbye” almost brought me to tears as I thought about Mr. Cutler and all that he’d done for me in life and now in death. Little did I know this album, produced by his son, would be my gift of goodbye to him too? I missed him so much.
“What do you think?” Thomas asked, popping out of his office where the sound of the music was coming from.
“I can’t thank you and Mr. Cutler enough for all you’ve done for me. My life before coming to New York was nothing like this.” Tears flowed down my cheeks.
“Oh, Anna Louise, I’m sorry to hear that. Your music is so beautiful, it’s hard to believe your life hasn’t been.”
“My mother was harsh and abusive, so I left my home in Wisteria and came to New York as soon as I graduated from high school. The day I came into the Emporium, I was searching for a job when your kind and caring father hired me right there on the spot.” Wiping away the tears, I continued. “My plan was to work until I had the money for piano lessons, but not only did Mr. Cutler hire me, he sent me to The School of Musical Arts to receive the lessons I’d only dreamed about though his scholarship honoring your mom. I wouldn’t even be taking lessons today if it weren’t for your father, say anything about me writing songs and you recording them.”
“Now that you’ve said all of that, I can hear some of the pain in your music, but mostly it’s warm and thoughtful like you are.”
“Thank you, Thomas. My hope is to become the accomplished pianist Mr. Cutler saw in me.”
The Gift of Goodbye Page 10