Page 31 of Kneeling for Them
“Take us to the university, please.”
Ella gives me a puzzled look, but I just smile and swing her legs over my lap so she’s sitting sideways and leaning against Sebastian—who is finally, finally pulled into the moment with us.I slip off Ella’s shoes and rub her socked feet.She sighs in contentment as I try to ease away her troubles.I know a foot rub won’t solve everything, but it’s got to help, at least a tiny bit.
We arrive at San Esteban School of the Arts.The campus is all green grass and palm trees.It looks so bright and cheerful, I feel like I’ve stepped into a college brochure advertising the place.
I start leading Ella and Sebastian toward the music building.I know the way from attending the occasional concert or ballet.Sebastian glances over Ella’s head of brown curls to catch my gaze.Piano?he mouths.
I nod.
After another minute of walking, Ella slows down.“We’re going to Kanno Hall, aren’t we?”
“Yeah,” I say, “you know it?”
“Yep.I used to go to school here,” she says, looking down.
Bash meets my eyes and shrugs.He didn’t know, either.There’s a lot we don’t know about our baby girl, and it’s starting to bother me.I want to fix this, learn everything I can about her.
“When was this?”I ask, curious.
“A couple of years ago.I started attending part-time after high school.”
Why is she waiting tables and cleaning hotel rooms and offices and apartment buildings if she has a music degree?
“I never graduated,” she continues.“My dad got sick, so I quit to help take care of him.”
Now it’s making more sense, the work she has taken on.I doubt she’d accept my money if I handed it to her with no strings attached, but hopefully what I’m about to do will be okay, in her mind, to accept.
We’ve reached Kanno Hall, which is a modern, concrete brick building with expansive windows on the lower level.A patio extends across the front, and students sit on benches and directly on the ground in groups and alone, some tuning instruments, some intent on their phones.
Rather than totally surprise her, I say, “Because I’m a regular donor to the music program here, I’m allowed to use a room in the building during facility hours.I asked if my permission might be extended to you, Ella, and the director approved my request early this morning.”
Her face lights up, but her eyes fill with tears.“I couldn’t,” she says.“It’s too much—”
“It’s a perk that I haven’t been taking advantage of,” I say.“Seems a shame for it to go to waste, don’t you think?”
Sebastian nods in encouragement.“Ella, please say you’ll take Kingston up on the offer.Otherwise, he might try to learn an instrument, and I have insider knowledge that this would be a complete disaster.”
“Shut up,” I say, laughing.“The violin is a very complicated instrument.I’ve been told I should try the tuba instead.”
“Oh no, we can’t have that,” Ella says with a laugh.“I guess I could give this a try…sure.”
“Great,” I say.“Let’s go in.”
Sebastian
Ella looks as if she’s afraid someone’s going to jump out from a practice room and tell her she doesn’t belong.It breaks my heart to see her looking unsure, when the girl should feel like she’s in her fucking element.She’s a talented singer, and I can imagine she’s just as good at playing the piano.I can’t wait to see her at work.
“This is the practice room reserved for university donors,” Kingston says, stopping at a door with the wordReservedstamped across it.He uses a key card to unlock it.“If it’s in use, obviously, you’ll have to wait.But my impression is that donors hardly ever stop by.”
The door swings open to reveal a tidy room with a small, upright piano, a window, and one chair in addition to the piano bench.
Kingston looks at his phone and frowns.“I can’t stay, unfortunately.I’ll send Garth to take you to Bartleby’s after you’re done here, Ella—how does that sound?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Ella whispers, her eyes on the piano.
Kingston chuckles, and so do I.Our baby girl is completely enamored with this room.
“I know I don’t have to,” Kingston says, “but I’m going to anyway.Let me take care of you, okay little one?”
