Page 24 of All The Wrong Notes

“I’m not one to kiss and tell,” Elise joked in response, “but I’m happy to say how wrong I was about him. We’re still feeling things out, but I like him a lot. And, yes, he’s coming to the party. I said I’d meet him just outside. I think I see him standing there now.” She peered through the doors and gave a wave.

The three singers gathered their jackets and went to find Will, who was waiting where he said he would, and they wandered over to the hall together. Will offered his congratulations on an excellent performance, and repeated how pleased he was to have been able to attend this concert.

“I had my EA switch my meetings. New York can wait. This was important.”

Will was still stiffer in public than in the privacy of his or Elise’s home, but his smile was easier and his eyes crinkled at the edges, confessing to a happiness that he couldn’t suppress. Elise slung her tote bag over one shoulder and found his hand, and was delighted when, rather than pulling back, he gave it a squeeze and walked closer to her until they were shoulder to shoulder.

The hall was already a party when they walked in. It was all decorated for Christmas, and sparkling lights flickered at the window sills and on the tree in one corner. Someone had ordered pizza, and there were a few boxes from a bakery, full of cookies and squares on one table, with a selection of cans of pop and a hot water urn for coffee and tea next to it. It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was comfortable and unassuming, and a welcome celebration with people Elise loved, perfect to bring in the holiday season.

“Can I introduce you around?” Elise asked Will. If he hated being on display, she wouldn’t make him more uncomfortable.

“Uh… I can live with that. No last names. Just ‘Will’, if that’s okay.”

Totally reasonable. One mention of his family name and all the sycophants would come out to play.

“Your wish is my command!” Elise gave his hand a squeeze and pulled him towards the drinks table. Having something to do, even if that something was holding a cup of coffee, helped people feel less awkward. She put some decaf crystals in one paper cup, and then made another coffee for Will, who accepted it gratefully.

Randall and Taylor happened to be standing nearby, and they were the perfect people to begin with. Elise wanted to chat with Randall regardless, and it was a while since she had spoken to Taylor about his new book. He was one of the funniest people Elise knew, and she hoped he would help put Will at ease.

She made the introductions, and after the expected congratulations on the performance, they settled into a nice, if short, conversation. Randall was the popular man of the hour, and before long, the crowds gathered about him and Elise and Will drifted off, with promises to get in touch over the Christmas break.

“They’re nice,” Will said as he put a brownie on a plate. “Is Taylor always so outrageous? Everything he said was brilliant, but he seems to see the absurd in everything.”

Elise chuckled. “He is. He’s brilliant and hilarious, and one of the most genuine people you’ll meet. He plays the bagpipes, but they keep that part a secret.”

Somebody else approached the table, and Elise turned around to see Ashleigh, another alto, gazing intently at the box of treats. She was normally quiet and a bit withdrawn, but something seemed to have happened recently to give her delicate façade an almost haunted cast. Elise hoped nothing serious was wrong, but didn’t want to say anything. Instead, she introduced Will with a big smile, and the two shook hands.

They were both so quiet, Elise imagined they would stand next to each other for a full half hour without either speaking a word, although they might get along well once the ice was broken. Still, this wasn’t the place, and after a few minutes of general chatter, mostly on Elise’s part, she said goodbye to the quiet lawyer and dragged Will across the room once more.

“You really should meet Gordon,” she explained as they wove through the growing crowd. “You might have a bit in common. I see him over there in the corner.”

Gordon was always friendly and polite, and unshakingly sensible. He might also be a good person for Will to get to know, the sort who would enjoy sitting back with a cup of coffee or beer and watching a game or just shooting the breeze. Normally outgoing, right now he was alone, and seemed to be unhappy with someone. Elise followed his gaze to where one of the sopranos was chatting—or was it flirting?—with the new bass, Jean-François, while Phil, a tenor, was trying to get her attention. Now what was Gordon’s involvement in that?

The moment he saw them approaching, however, Gordon’s accustomed grin reappeared, and he greeted Elise with a kiss on the cheek, and then looked at Will. Elise made the introductions, and the men shook hands.

“Will… Hmmm… do I know you from somewhere?” Gordon asked. “You look familiar. What do you do?”

For a moment, the deer-in-the-headlights look slammed back onto Will’s face, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Elise interrupted.

“Will is in business. You might have seen him around some of your building sites. But I wanted you to meet each other because he’s also a fabulous pianist.” She turned to Will. “Gordon is our regular rehearsal pianist. He’s the glue that holds us together. He’s amazing.”

The ice that had threatened to encase Will melted away, and he visibly relaxed. “It’s good to meet you. It’s always nice to get to know other musicians.”

“Absolutely! What sort of music do you play? Do you do any performing, or play in ensembles?”

“He plays everything, but his jazz is amazing! We just did a short series of performances. Why don’t you tell him about them?” she asked Will.

It was a joy to see Will having a conversation about something he loved with an interested person, who knew nothing about him other than that he loved music. Will seemed at ease, despite the crowded room, so different from the man who’d held up the walls at Carlos’ housewarming a few months before.

The party was just getting started, with a planned gift exchange to take place in a few moments, but Elise was getting tired.

“I didn’t add my name to the exchange list this year. We can stay if you want, but I’m ready to head somewhere quieter. How does that sound?”

“Let me say goodbye to Carlos, and let’s go. Your friends are terrific, but I’m peopled-out for the night.”

They were just at the door, slipping arms into their jackets, when one more person came over to talk to Elise. Without thinking, she gave him a huge smile and said, “Kevin, let me introduce you to my friend Will—”

“—Pemberton.” Kevin’s usually happy face went red, and Will’s went white with an ice-cold glare.

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