The Gift of Goodbye

by Kleven, M. Kay

  When I told Ms. Thompson about Mr. Benson and writing the musical score for a play at New York University, she hugged me and said, “You write the songs, then I’ll listen to you play them, if that would help.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Thompson. That would be very helpful.”

  “Do you have the script to the play?”

  “Yes. Would you like to read it?”

  “I would,” Ms. Thompson replied.

  “I’ll bring it with me next Monday.”

  “That would be good. Now let’s hear your lesson for today.”

  I relaxed and played each of the songs Ms. Thompson had assigned for this week’s lesson. I could tell by the faraway look on her face, Ms. Thompson was absorbed in the music and listening carefully as I played.

  “You play so beautifully, Anna Louise. I can hardly wait to listen to the songs you write for the musical score. I’m amazed at how you find time to do all that you do.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Thompson. I do like to stay busy. Maybe I’m more like my roommate Mara than I thought.”

  On my way home in the cab, my phone rang. I glanced at caller ID. Blake. “Hello,” I said.

  “Hi, Anna Louise. I’ve just returned from a trip to London. Played concerts there every night for a week. It was grand, but I’m back in New York now.”

  “Congratulations on playing London. To me your talent is admirable and your music outstanding. You certainly deserve all of the invitations you receive.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your kind words, but I called to see if you’d like to have dinner at my place this Friday evening. I’ll have my usual cook come in and prepare something for us, then I’d like to take you to Lincoln Center where the New York Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing. A new, up-and-coming pianist is the guest performer with the orchestra on Friday night. I’ve heard he’s excellent, so I’m curious to hear him.”

  “Oh. Blake. I’d be honored to attend the New York Philharmonic Orchestra with you on Friday night. What time would you like me to arrive for dinner?”

  “Let’s say six o’clock. That should give us time to eat and arrive at Lincoln Center by eight o’clock.”

  “I’m so excited, Blake. I can hardly wait for Friday night. Thank you.”

  “After hearing how well you play, thought maybe you’d enjoy listening to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.”

  “I know I will.

  “See you at six o’clock on Friday night, then,” Blake said.

  “I’ll be there.

  Suddenly, I realized the cab was sitting in front of my apartment. I needed to pay the fare and get out.

  When I walked in, Mara was busy preparing dinner. The smell of spaghetti and meat sauce filled the kitchen with a scent of tomato and basil. “Smells delicious in here. I’m starving.”

  “Hi. Drop your things and have a chair. The chef is ready to serve up her renowned spaghetti and meatball dinner. Grab the garlic toast, would you?”

  “Got it,” I said, pulling the toast out of the oven with a folded towel and quickly placing each piece in the red-and-white checkered-lined basket on the counter.

  After we had our plates filled with spaghetti smothered with meat sauce, I said, “Mara, you aren’t going to believe this. Blake called me on my way home to ask me to dinner at his place and then to go with him to Lincoln Center where the New York Philharmonic Orchestra is performing on Friday evening.” My voice quivered as I repeated it to her.

  “Wow, Anna Louise! That’s big for my brother. I thought he was in London.”

  “He was, but he’s back now. Sounded like he had a great trip.”

  “Blake loves to perform abroad. He’s been doing it more and more lately.”

  “Would you help me pick out a gown for Friday evening, then?”

  “I’d love to. When do we shop?”

  “How about when I’m finished at the Emporium tomorrow night?”

  “Sounds good to me. Daniel won’t be by until late tomorrow anyway.”

  “More studying,” I said, chuckling.

  “You do want me to go shopping with you, don’t you?” Mara flapped her ears at me.

  “Truce. I do. But let’s finish slurping up this scrumptious spaghetti and meat sauce before it gets cold. What’s for dessert?”

  “Swirled frozen chocolate and vanilla yogurt in a dish with blueberries on top.”

  “Yum. Yum.”

  Chapter 13

  Of course, I had to tell Thomas right away the next morning about the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the guest pianist playing on Friday night. He was excited for me. “I’ve heard them play, but that was years ago when my mother and father dragged me there kicking and screaming.” Thomas laughed as he replayed the events of that night to me. “Maybe I’ll have to see if I can get tickets for Beth and me to go on Friday night. You’ve probably noticed my appreciation of music has changed a little bit since I was dragged there by my mom and dad.”

  “Would tremendously be a better word for how much your appreciation of music has changed since then?” I said, laughing.

  “On that note, I think I’ll go tune a piano.” Thomas grabbed his bag and headed out the back door.

  About an hour later, the front door crashed open and in marched Ashley and Savannah, followed by Beth. “Hi,” they called out.

  “No school today?” I asked, surprised to see them.

  “Nope. It’s spring break this week,” Ashley and Savannah chimed.

  “Well, then, step right this way, ladies. I don’t believe Savannah has ever been to the Emporium before.” Ashley and Savannah giggled, sounding like Mara and I did sometimes.

  “Is Thomas here?” Beth asked.

  “Sorry, no, he’s out tuning a piano right now, but should be back soon.”

  “Let’s hang out here until Dad comes back,” Ashley said.

  “I’ll show the girls around, if you want to wait for Thomas to return,” I said to Beth.

  “Would you mind if I ran a quick errand?” she asked.

  “Not at all. There’s lots to see here. We can even play the piano if the girls get bored.”

  “I’ll be right back, then,” Beth said.

  I took the girls on a little trip through the store, showing them each and every piano in the showroom, like Mr. Cutler did the day he hired me.

  “Can we play on one of these pretty pianos?” Ashley asked.

  “Ever since your grandfather hired me, he has let me practice on that old upright piano over there.” I pointed to the one with the music books open on it. “You can both try that one out if you want to.”

  “Hurray!” they chorused together.

  As Ashley sat down on the piano bench, she said, “Dad told me this piano used to sit in Grandpa and Grandma Cutler’s home when he was a boy, so it must be an antique by now.”

  I laughed. “I don’t think this piano is quite that old, but I didn’t know that before.”

  “Would you show us how to play ‘Chopsticks’ together, Anna Louise?” Savannah chirped.

  “Sure,” I replied.

  So for the next half-hour or so I showed Ashley how to play “Chopsticks” with her left finger while Savannah played with her right finger again. It took a little while for them to get the hang of it, but once they did, I couldn’t stop them. They giggled and laughed until Thomas arrived.

  “What do we have here?” Thomas asked as he sauntered toward his office.

  “Two beautiful girls on spring break,” I replied.

  They giggled again.

  “Where’s Beth?” he asked, giving each of the girls a hug.

  “Out running an errand. She’ll be right back,” I said. The words were no more out of my mouth when Beth came in the front door with a
big smile on her face.

  “What are you and the girls up to today?” Thomas asked Beth.

  “Well, I took a quick trip to Grandpa Cutler’s church to check out the carnival that’s going on there today and it looks like a lot of fun, so I’m going to take Ashley and Savannah there for lunch and then they can try to win all kinds of prizes like stuffed animals and jewelry.”

  “Yay!” the girls shouted.

  “If you’d like to have lunch with your family, Thomas, I can watch the store for a little while. Maybe even sell a piano or two while you’re gone.” I gave each of the girls a hug as they headed for the front door.

  “Sounds like a plan, especially your selling a couple of pianos.” Thomas smiled at me, then escorted Beth and the girls out the door.

  “Come again soon,” I called after the girls. “Bye.”

  “Bye, Anna Louise. See you later,” Ashley and Savannah chimed.

  I actually did sell one grand piano to Nicholas and Victoria Spencer of the famed New York Spencer family while Thomas had lunch with Beth and the girls. I was nervous when they first introduced themselves to me because Chase had told me about an article he was writing on how the Spencers had built their business empire and wealth over the years, but surprisingly, they soon put me at ease. They were a very nice couple, probably in their sixties. I remembered Chase saying the Spencers owned numerous homes in New York and around the world, and that Nicholas had recently bought another old mansion for Victoria’s birthday. She loved to remodel and redecorate homes. Guess this old mansion was about to have a grand piano added to its décor.

  The day had turned out to be a very different day, but when I looked up and saw Mara come in the front door, I knew it was time to go shopping. “Hi, Mara, be right with you.”

  “Take your time. Hi, Thomas,” Mara said, sticking her head around the corner of his office.

  “Hi, Mara. How’s that son of mine? I think you see more of him than my wife and I do. Is he behaving himself?”

  I could see Mara’s cheeks starting to turn red, so I said, “We’ve had the talk, Thomas. I trust them both, but if they ever need a chaperone, I’m on it.”

  Thomas laughed. “I’m glad someone is watching Daniel for me. Thanks, Anna Louise.” He smiled at Mara and winked.

  “Let’s go shopping,” I said, waving to Thomas as we headed for the front door to hail a cab to SoHo.

  I think we shopped every last boutique in SoHo, then ended up back at the first one so I could purchase this long, flowing, strapless, black gown with iridescent sequins on the bodice. Mara’s eyes lit up when she looked at me in the gown for a second time. Without pause, she said, “This is the one. Blake will be blown away by his little sister’s best friend. All grown up.”

  “I love the flow of this gown. I’m going to buy it.”

  “Are you buying dinner, too?” Mara asked.

  “Right after we find some shoes and accessories to go with the gown.”

  After another hour of shopping, we plopped down in a booth at one of our favorite low-key restaurants to pig out on bacon cheeseburgers and fries. “If I keep eating like this, I’ll never fit into my dress on Friday night.”

  “You’ll just have to wear off the extra calories at work. You could always walk to and from the Emporium.”

  “Sure. What’s two or three miles one way?”

  “That’s the spirit. For now, let’s just sit back and enjoy our juicy burgers and fries.”

  Arriving at Blake’s apartment on Friday evening, I sensed that Blake had seen me enter the lobby of his building before my eyes landed on him. He stood there staring for the longest time before stepping forward to greet me. “You’re stunning, Anna Louise. Every time I see you, I can’t believe you’re really my little sister’s best friend from Wisteria, Kansas.” He smiled, putting his arm out for me.

  “Thank you,” I replied, taking his arm. “I can hardly wait to hear the great New York Philharmonic play tonight.”

  “Let’s go up to my apartment. I believe dinner will be ready any time now.”

  We quickly ate a delicious meal of glazed chicken and a shaved asparagus and carrot dish, along with a pear salad. Then Blake brought my evening wrap and we were on our way to Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. When the orchestra started to play, I gasped at the astonishing sound that filled the room. I glanced over at Blake as I sat frozen in my seat.

  “Listen for the pianist playing within the orchestra if you can,” he whispered to me.

  The closer I listened, the more I could hear him. “He’s amazing, isn’t he?” I quietly answered back.

  “I hope I’m invited to play with the orchestra one day,” Blake said.

  “I’m surprised you haven’t been asked already,” I replied. “You’re as accomplished as the gentleman playing tonight.”

  “Thanks, Anna Louise. His résumé must be much longer than mine to be invited to play as the guest pianist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.”

  “Your day will come, Blake. I just know it.”

  “How about your day, Anna Louise?”

  “Right now my dream is to play in a concert at Carnegie Hall in memory of Mr. Cutler. He made me believe in myself and now his son Thomas is doing the same thing for me. I’ve been very lucky since coming to New York.”

  “Let me know when you’re ready to play Carnegie Hall and I’ll put in a good word for you.” Blake put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him.

  “I won’t be finished with my program at The School for Musical Arts until June, but as soon as I’m finished, I’d love to play Carnegie Hall. I’m also writing the musical score for the fall theater production at New York University. Daniel will be performing in the play.”

  “You’re a busy lady. I’ll be doing more traveling soon, giving concerts in France and Italy. I also have my studies at Julliard to finish before the end of the year.”

  We both turned back to the orchestra on stage where, once again, I listened for the pianist, sensing Blake was too. Then, the conductor announced that the guest pianist would be the featured soloist during the final composition. Everyone clapped as the orchestra began the final concerto of the evening. As the pianist began to play, he filled the room with his brilliance on the piano. The music was so remarkable it took my breath away. I sat motionless until the orchestra had finished the piece. Then, when the musicians stood to take their bow, the room came alive with applause. And when the pianist stood, the applause became thunderous. I clapped and clapped until the noise died down. Blake ushered me out of the building and into a cab. He had the cabbie drive me home first.

  He walked me to the apartment entry. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. It turned out to be a lovely evening. I’d like to call you again.” He drew me close and kissed me.

  “Thank you, Blake. I’d like to see you again.” I kissed him on the cheek.

  He walked toward the cab, then turned back and gazed at me one more time before getting into the cab.

  ~ ~ ~

  I had to work on Saturday, but on Sunday morning I woke up Mara because I needed to talk to her. “Mara, I’m beginning to like your brother a lot. It seems so strange after all this time.”

  “Blake sent me a text after your night at Lincoln Center. I think he likes you a lot, too. But, he’s off traveling again, concerts in Paris and Milan. I don’t know when he’ll be back in New York.”

  “I think it’s better if I focus on my piano lessons and the musical score for Daniel’s play, then. Blake will be completely engrossed in his European concerts.”

  As Mara listened to me go on about my evening with Blake, she finally crawled out of bed and slowly found her way into the bathroom to clean up. Returning to the bedroom, she slipped into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved yellow T-shirt with hearts and Sno
opy on it. Grabbing her sneakers, she said, “As soon as school is out for the summer, Daniel and I are going on vacation for a week out to California to take in the sights and stop by a couple of movie studios. Daniel wants to see what it takes to act in a movie instead of on stage. He loves acting, Anna Louise.”

  “Does Thomas know Daniel is going to be gone for a week this summer?”

  “Thomas thinks Daniel and I both deserve a week off. Do you want to come with us?”

  “I’d love to, but who would be here to help Thomas?” I replied. “I think Thomas is the one who deserves a vacation. I’ll have to talk to him about that.”

  “Maybe we can all take turns this summer,” Mara quipped.

  “I’ll talk to Thomas on Monday when things quiet down for the day. I have my lesson with Ms. Thompson, too, so I’ll be late coming home. My lessons are becoming more and more challenging every week, Mara.”

  “One day you’ll play at Carnegie Hall for Mr. Cutler. I just know it. If he was anything like Thomas, I can understand your commitment to play in his honor.”

  “Thank you. Mr. Cutler opened up the world for me. I will be forever grateful to him.” I let out a trembling sigh, holding back tears pushing to the corners of my eyes.

  Noticing the tears, Mara said, “Let’s go for a walk and find a new place to eat lunch and do some shopping. What do you think?”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll be right with you. I dried my eyes, checked my face and hair, and then grabbed my favorite black cardigan wrap, slipping it on over my piano emblazoned white T-shirt as I followed Mara out the door.

  Spring in SoHo was totally different than spring in Wisteria. There were green lawns and bright flowers along the sidewalks in Kansas, but in New York, it was all tall buildings and cement. Mara was three steps ahead of me when she spotted a small restaurant and wanted to go inside. The name in the window flashed ‘Grumpy’s,’ which was exactly how I felt.

  “Great choice,” I said to Mara as she led the way to the nearest empty booth. I hoped the coffee would help raise my spirits, but no such luck. The chicken fettucine didn’t either. But give me a slice of chocolate cake with matching frosting and I was in heaven.