Page 140 of Crescendo

I laughed, practically bouncing on my heels. “For once, I’m planning on being normal. Me being here is dramatic enough.”

She stopped, raising an eyebrow. “Lydia Howard Fox, I hadn’t taken you to be nervous before a show.”

I fussed with my cufflinks. I loved getting fitted into a nice suit for a performance, but the cuffs on this shirt were so itchy. That was the only thing bothering me, and I wasn’t two inches from freaking out. “I’m just excited.”

She raised her eyebrows. I sighed.

“There’s a girl in the audience, is all.”

“What are you, fifteen?”

“And change, sure, we can call it that.”

She laughed. “I’m certain she’s been looking forward to seeing you here.”

“She doesn’t know I’ll be here.”

She threw her hands up. “I don’t know why I thought anything otherwise. Just… don’t screw it up, Lydia Howard Fox. I happened to enjoy your interpretation. I’d like an excuse to invite you back, and if you trip over your two left feet out there on the stage, you’ll ruin it for all of us.”

I let out a long breath. “Well, you’ve entrusted me with a lot. I know how much these musicians mean to you… I’ve long been a fan of yours, you know. I won’t let you down.”

She smiled wryly. “Enjoy the show, then. Just don’t have too much fun.”

Adam got to me once Cynthia left, chuckling as he shook his head.

“Even Cynthia Altman likes you. If you get her to invite you back and keep darkening my doorstep here at the RAH, I’ll be rather cross.”

“Well, I’ll take that as my invitation to do just that. I always liked annoying you.”

He put his hands up. “I don’t know what to do with you, Lydia. Break a leg, then.”

I waited at the wings, checking my text log with Ella, suppressing a smile at the sight.

The show’s about to start, how much later are you going to be?

I texted back.I promise I’ll be there for your piece, Ella. I keep my promises.

The message marked as read just before the crowd stirred outside, sound rolling from the stage. Cynthia addressed the crowd together with the director, and I sent one more follow-up message.

I’m almost there.

“As in the spring,” the director’s voice started, “we’re delighted to announce, in partnership with the local music program Crescendo, one highlighted piece from the student composers—an exceptional work from the new talent just hitting the scene. As part of the introduction to tonight’s show, please enjoyAcross the River,from London-based composer Ella Hendrickson…”

She trailed off to let polite applause fill the room, and my only regret was that I couldn’t see how red Ella’s face was right now. She picked up as the applause was starting to fall off.

“And in collaboration with another student at the program whose name might be familiar to some of you,” she said, a playful edge to her voice. “We’re delighted to have, as guest conductor for this piece, Lydia Howard Fox.”

The applause was anything but polite this time—big and raucous, which just highlighted how itshouldhave been like that for Ella, the monsters. Well—they’d see soon enough why they needed to start applauding Ella.

I walked out of the wings, stepping out and striding across the stage to the thunderous applause of the crowds filling the seats as I reached Cynthia and the director, giving both of themquick, polite hugs and cheek kisses, turning and bowing deeply to the crowd.

The damn lights. I couldn’t even see Ella anywhere in the dark sea that was the crowd.

But I could feel her there, that same magnetic pull that had my heart racing now, just as it had so many times since I first saw her in front of that clarinet, the one I was about to help bring to life.

I’d have to ask Clara later what kind of face Ella was pulling right now. Clara would have noticed.

Chapter 30

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