~ ~ ~
The next day at the airport, I spotted my father before he caught a glimpse of me, so I ran up behind him as he watched for his bags to come around—his computer bag over his shoulder—and hugged him tight. Even though he smiled up at me and hugged me back, I could tell we were both nervous. After he’d retrieved his bags, we made our way out of the airport and into a cab. “It’s good to see you, Dad. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too, even though Carnegie Hall is certainly out of my comfort zone.”
“I know how you feel. I’ll never forget my first day in New York. Yikes!”
“I missed you from that day forward, sweetheart,” he replied.
“I missed you, too, Dad.”
Soon things relaxed between us and the air in the cab grew lighter. Mara and Daniel greeted us at the apartment. Chase was scheduled to arrive soon. We’d all have dinner together. I was cooking because I knew what my dad liked to eat. I had a chicken roasting in the oven, flavored with his favorite seasonings, along with mashed potatoes and gravy, French-cut beans with bacon, warm rolls, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert—a good-ol’ down-home meal.
When Chase buzzed from the entry, I ran down and greeted him with a big hug and kiss, knowing that would probably be the only chance we’d get all night. “Good to see you, Mr. Reporter Man.”
“Great to see you, too, Miss Piano Girl.”
Chase and my father shook hands as we entered the apartment. “Welcome, Mr. Armstrong. Nice to see you again.”
“Nice to see you, Chase. Hope you’ll show me the newspaper while I’m here.”
“I’d be happy to. Maybe I could show you some of the landmarks around the city, including the Statue of Liberty, then make our final stop the New York Times.”
“I’d like that,” my dad replied. “This is my first trip to New York.”
“Come and get it,” I called out as I placed the basket of warm rolls on the table. “Dad, would you say grace, then carve the roasted chicken for us?”
“It would be my pleasure. Everything smells wonderful, Anna Louise.”
With prayers said and the carving done, we all dug in and enjoyed the food, as well as the comradery shared by everyone for the next couple of hours. Dad was the first to excuse himself and head to bed, but Chase, who’d brought a bottle of lime spritzer for those of us not yet twenty-one and himself, poured us each a glass over ice. “To Anna Louise and her premier performance at Carnegie Hall. It doesn’t get any better than that.” Chase clicked his glass, first with me, then with Mara and Daniel.
“To Anna Louise,” echoed Mara and Daniel.
~ ~ ~
Tonight was the night: Carnegie Hall. My dream of learning how to play the piano and to perform at Carnegie Hall was about to come true. I looked up toward the heavens. My red gown flowed and the rhinestones hanging around my neck and from my ears sparkled as I walked backstage to meet up with Mr. Anderson.
I knew Dad, Chase, Daniel, Mara, Ms. Thompson, and the Cutler family would all be sitting in the front row when the curtain rose on the orchestra in just a few minutes. The conductor had chosen the music for tonight’s concert. He and I had agreed on the solo number I’d play at the end of the program. Most of the songs had a Christmas flavor to them.
“Miss Armstrong. Are you ready for your big night?” Mr. Anderson whispered as he came up next to me backstage.
“Other than being a nervous wreck, I’m ready,” I whispered back.
“Let’s get the show on the road, then.”
With a wave of his arm, the lights went down in the hall and the curtain went up on the stage. The conductor raised his arms and the performance began. Playing with the orchestra felt like pure joy to me. Every note crossed my heart.
Then, as I played my solo piece, I leaned into the piano and with every ounce of love I had inside me, I sent the music out into Carnegie Hall. The audience was on their feet when I finally stopped playing. I could hear whistles and shouts throughout, but especially from the front row. The conductor had me take a bow, not once, not twice, but three times before the curtain came down on the orchestra. It was during the second bow I noticed Blake Holbrook sitting out in the audience with the same pretty woman I’d seen him kiss at the ball. Everything stopped for a second, but then, as I took my third bow, I couldn’t have been happier. The people I truly cared about were all sitting in the front row.
As I made my way to the front row, my dad and Chase both showered me with bright red and white bouquets of Christmas flowers.
Mara placed a banner over my head that said, ‘Miss Carnegie Hall.’ I laughed.
Ms. Thompson, who was standing next to my dad, gave me an amazing book about concert pianists past and present.
“Thank you. I can hardly wait to read it,” I said.
Then, Daniel and the rest of the Cutler family, along with Savannah, hugged and sang my praises, giving me a gift certificate to study for a semester at Julliard. I stared at the gift certificate in disbelief, then cried out, “Mr. Cutler, thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Everyone knew what I meant.
The whole group, children and all, met back at SoHo to share some holiday treats and beverages, toasting one another as well as Carnegie Hall.
“Today, Miss Anna Louise Armstrong played Carnegie Hall,” Chase shouted as he released a cascade of red, white, and green confetti into the air, falling on everyone around the apartment.
“Thank you all for making my dream come true. But, Chase, what a big mess you’ve made with the confetti. I’ll collect on the clean-up charges later.”
“I’ll gladly pay up anytime.” He smiled his wicked grin.
After everyone, except Chase, had said goodnight and Mara and Dad had gone off to bed, I snuggled up next to Chase on the sofa and quietly reflected on my life since coming to New York. Not everything had been easy, and even though my mother had never loved me, my dream of playing Carnegie Hall in memory of Samuel J. Cutler had come true tonight.
Chapter 22
“Step right up. Read all about it,” Chase shouted, as he stepped into my apartment, swinging a copy of today’s New York Times in my direction. “I’ll be sure to send a copy to your father in Wisteria. Do you think Ms. Thompson would like a copy? You can show Thomas this copy tomorrow if he hasn’t already seen it.”
“You’re crazy, but amazing, Mr. Reporter Man,” I exclaimed, waving my arms in the air. “Let me see what you’re so proud of.”
There on the front page of the New York Times was the photo Chase had taken of me after my first day of work at the Emporium. You could see the salad and breadsticks in the background. He’d also taken a picture of me curtsying at my first recital when I played “The Gift of Goodbye,” only I didn’t know that was the title when I played it. Then, as I unfolded the paper, there was a larger photo of me playing at Carnegie Hall. Chase had interviewed me a couple of nights ago and I knew he was going to write something, but had no idea the story would be on the front page of his paper. There at the bottom were the words: written by Chase E. Monroe. New York Times Reporter. I couldn’t have been prouder.
Setting the paper down, I walked over to Chase and hugged him. “I’m so glad I met you on my first day in New York. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you, Chase.”
“I love you, too, Anna. Let’s go take our picture together in front of the Blue Sky Apartments before someone tears the building down and puts up a new high-rise.”
“Let’s,” I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the apartment. “You called me Anna again.”
“Indeed I did.” Chase gave me his wicked grin.
~ ~ ~
I took my copy of the article with me the next morning to show Thomas, but he’d already read all about me and pointed to a man, all bundled up
, sitting outside the front door, waiting for the store to open.
“Who do you suppose that could be?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Thomas replied.
Just then Daniel and Mara came in the back door before heading to class.
“I left some sketches here the other day that I need for class today,” Mara said.
“Do either of you recognize the man sitting outside the front door all bundled up?” Thomas asked. When everyone shook their head, Thomas said, “Let’s open the door for him so he doesn’t freeze to death out there.”
Hearing the door unlock, the gentleman stood up and turned around. Thomas waved him inside. “It’s freezing outside. How can I help you on this cold winter morning?”
“I’m Oliver Simpson. I’m a musical director on Broadway and I’m very interested in talking to Ms. Anna Louise Armstrong. I was told I could find her here.”
“I’m Anna Louise Armstrong,” I said, stepping forward.
Mr. Simpson smiled at me. “You do look like the girl on yesterday’s front page of the New York Times. I would like to hire you to write the musical score for my next Broadway play here in New York. The script is being developed right this minute and the writers would like your input into the play.”
Thomas, Mara, and Daniel all stared over at me. “I think he’s talking about you, Anna Louise,” Daniel finally said.
Seeing Daniel, Mr. Simpson remarked, “Didn’t you star in the NYU play Streets? Fantastic performance, young man.”
“Thank you, Mr. Simpson,” Daniel replied.
“Why don’t you come by and audition for a part in the play I’m asking Ms. Armstrong to be part of?” He dug a couple of cards out of his pocket and handed one to Daniel.
“I’ll be there. Thanks.”
“Here’s my card, Ms. Armstrong. I hope you’re interested in becoming part of my next production and will set up an appointment with my assistant.”
“Thank you, Mr. Simpson. I’m very interested and will make an appointment with your assistant soon.”
“I look forward to working with both of you young people in the near future.” Mr. Simpson wrapped his scarf back around his neck and strolled out of the Emporium. Hearing a chorus of screams rise up behind him, Mr. Simpson turned around and smiled, waving through the window.
“You’ve done it again, Anna Louise, and this time you’ve taken Daniel with you,” Thomas called, hugging me, then Mara and Daniel.
I was stunned, but couldn’t wait to tell Chase what had happened—for both Daniel and me. To tell him that a Broadway musical director had seen his article on the front page of the New York Times and had come out in the freezing cold early this morning to ask if I’d write the musical score for his next Broadway play. How he’d seen Streets and recognized Daniel and told him to come in for an audition once the script for the play was written. What an amazing start to another day at the Emporium.
We soon found out Chase’s article didn’t end with Mr. Simpson. When the store opened at ten o’clock, people started streaming into the Emporium to look at and even buy several pianos sitting on the showroom floor. The phone started ringing to have Thomas come tune their pianos. Pretty soon his tuning schedule was out for almost a month. The whole day had turned out to be nothing short of astonishing because of one article in the New York Times. Near closing time, Thomas stared over at me and said, “What are we going to do, Anna Louise?”
“Do you think Lucas or Benjamin might want to follow in their father’s footsteps NOW? We’re going to need more help, especially when Daniel’s not able to come in.”
“I’ll talk it over with the family and see if maybe Lucas could come in after school and learn how to tune pianos with me. That would help me out a lot. Wonder if Pop can see the explosion that has happened at the Emporium since he hired you on the spot that day.”
“I think he always wanted the Emporium to become a family business and it seems like that is about to happen. My role is small, but I’m so grateful I can work here and write musical scores at the same time. I’ll be playing concerts with the Chamber Orchestra, but my heart will always be right here at the Emporium.” I slipped into my coat, wrapped my warm scarf around my neck. “It’s been a fabulous day, Thomas. See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here. Remember you and Chase are spending Christmas with the Cutlers this year—just like family.
As I rode home to SoHo, I called Chase to tell him how his article in the newspaper had changed everything at the Emporium that day. About Mr. Simpson sitting in the cold waiting to ask me to write the musical score for his next Broadway show. Giving Daniel his card to audition for a part on Broadway. About all of the pianos they had sold and about all of the tunings Thomas would be doing. The Emporium was going to need more help. Thomas was going to talk to his son, Lucas, to see if he would come in after school and learn how to tune pianos.
“Your article on me playing at Carnegie Hall in Mr. Cutler’s memory certainly woke up New York to the Piano Emporium only a couple of blocks away from Times Square. Thank you.”
Chase laughed. “I loved doing the article on you. Here’s this young girl who got on a bus from Wisteria, Kansas, and rode to Manhattan in New York determined to make her dream of learning to play the piano and to one day play at Carnegie Hall come true. She worked hard and her dream did come true, but along the way she also grew into a beautiful young woman.”
“Chase. You’re making me cry. I could say the same about you and how you’ve grown into this phenomenal reporter and journalist. I hope people see who wrote the article and will call on you to write about even bigger things.”
“Thank you, Anna. I’ll see you later tonight to go Christmas shopping.”
“Yes. We have lots of shopping to do if we’re going to spend Christmas with the Cutler family. I can’t wait to see Savannah and how she’s doing. You were right, Chase, this has been a good year.
“It has been. See you in a little while. Bye.”
~ ~ ~
Getting out of the cab in front of Thomas’s house became quite a feat with all of the packages Chase and I had brought along to put under the tree. Watching us struggle from the front window, Lucas and Benjamin hurried out to help us. “Thanks,” I said. “Guess all of this is a little more than Chase and I could handle. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Lucas said. “You can load up Benjamin and me and then we’ll take them into the house and put them under the tree.”
“That would be a great help. Thanks,” Chase said as he took some of the packages off the back seat of the cab and placed them into Lucas’s and Benjamin’s arms. “I think Anna Louise and I can bring in the rest of them.”
Lucas and Benjamin laughed as they looked over the top of the packages and headed into the house.
Thomas stood there with the door open so Chase and I could make our way into the house with the remaining packages. “Did you buy out New York City, Anna Louise?” Thomas teased.
“Just about. I don’t know about Chase, but I had the time of my life doing it.”
“Come on in,” Thomas said, taking the packages out of my hands and handing them to Lucas to put under the tree. He did the same for Chase, handing the packages to Benjamin.
The house looked and smelled like Christmas. Something wonderful was baking in the oven while Beth, Ashley, Savannah, and Mara scurried around the kitchen.
“Hi ladies,” I said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Anna Louise,” Savannah sang out. “I’ve missed you a lot.” She ran over and into my arms, giving me a hug.
“I’ve missed you, too. Here you are helping Beth and Ashley prepare this great Christmas meal.”
“We’ve had so much fun. Beth helped Ashley and me make lots of cookies that we took around to the neighbors. W
e even went caroling last night around the neighborhood. I could sing the songs because you played Christmas carols at the hospital last year and I remembered them.”
“That’s amazing, Savannah. You learn quickly and have a great memory.”
“Here’s an apron, Anna Louise,” Beth said. “I’ll have you arrange all of the cookies and candies on a couple of plates and cut the pies, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. Show me to the treats,” I replied.
The table was set and the food ready, so everyone took a seat and Thomas said grace, then he carved the turkey as Beth passed the rest of the dishes around the table, starting with Daniel. Mara was sitting next to him, then Lucas and Benjamin. On the other side of the table there was Chase, me, Savannah, and Ashley. Thomas sat at one end and Beth at the other.
The chatter began as we started to eat and didn’t stop even after we were finished. The children were anxious to open their presents. Mara and I helped Beth clean the dishes off the table while Ashley and Savannah went into the living room to shake packages and search for their names.
“Ho, ho, ho,” came this voice out of nowhere with a bag slung over his back. I quickly ran for my purse and pulled out my phone so I could get pictures of Ashley and Savannah as they saw Santa Claus come into the living room. “Merry Christmas, everyone,” he said in his deep voice. “Has everyone been good this year?”
Ashley and Savannah stared at Santa and said they’d been good. Santa looked in his bag and brought out gifts for each of the girls. Their eyes twinkled as they said thank you to Santa. “Anyone else been good this year?” Santa asked.
Mara looked at Daniel and Daniel looked at Mara.
“We’ve been pretty good, Santa,” Daniel said. “We’ve been going to school, Mara sold some of her paintings, I starred in a play at the college, and I’ve been asked to audition for a Broadway play. Is that good enough, Santa?”
The Gift of Goodbye Page 21