Nocturne(13)

We were going to meet my mom there for dinner and drinks. I hated the backstage scene after a show and always felt kind of crowded out anyway, so I always waited until an hour, or so, after a show to meet up with her. That way she was focused, and I could have her to myself for a little while. In the meantime, my two favorite men and I would sip drinks at the bar. A half hour later, my dad got a text from my mom that she was on her way over, when Nathan elbowed me and nodded to the far end of the bar.

“Look who it is.”

Leaning forward so I could see what he was looking at, I instinctively rolled my eyes. Gregory … Mr. Fitzgerald … whatever, was sitting at the bar having drinks with a woman I think I’d seen once or twice at the financial aid office on campus. She was turned toward him, resting her chin on her hand, staring at him like he was a prize. He, however, seemed to be having trouble figuring out where to look. His eyes darted between the bottom of his glass and the woman’s more-than-approving gaze.

“How about that, he has a social life.” Shrugging, I turned back to my conversation with my dad, but found myself watching the gruff recluse from the corner of my eye. Annoyed at the twinge of jealousy I felt toward the pleasant looking woman with hair and eyes almost the same color as mine, I hastily finished my drink and ordered another.





Gregory


“Another drink, Sir?” The bartender at the Hyatt Regency placed his hand on the bar in front of my drink.

“Please.” I nodded. “Another gin and tonic.” As he walked away to mix my drink, I turned to Karin. “That show was excellent, wasn’t it?” I asked. I knew it was.

Thankfully, Karin smiled. “It was spectacular. I haven’t been to the opera in ages, thank you for inviting me.” She gently placed her hand on my forearm.

I cleared my throat, thankful when the bartender returned with my drink. “I wouldn’t have missed this one for the world. Vita Carulli’s performance was exquisite. We’re lucky to have caught a show of hers, I understand she’s going to be retiring soon.”

While I typically favor instrumental-only performances, it is difficult to deny the pull of the opera. The way a person can use their voice and body as an instrument is something to be respected. I found it surprising that Vita was considering retirement. I’m certain years of singing is taxing on the voice, and all the traveling wears a person down. But, I couldn’t imagine what she would do after that. What does one do when they stop doing their life’s passion? The question made no sense in my brain. I didn’t follow her career well enough to know anything about her personal life. I don’t have time for those kinds of details. What I did know was there wasn’t anyone currently in the circuit who could sing like her.

“So why did you decide to take on teaching Madeline’s class?” Karin interrupted my thoughts.

I waved my hand dismissively. “She and James and I went through the conservatory together. She’s always been very kind to me, and she asked me to take over. I agreed.”

Honestly, it annoyed me when Madeline asked me if I would take over her upper-level theory class. Foundations are important, don’t get me wrong. They’re everything. But, early on I found myself getting extremely frustrated with the students who lacked the self-discipline to do the necessary work. I was much better off helping talented students reach the next level, rather than helping them get off the ground in the first place.

“How’s it going so far?”

“It’s going well, I suppose. I have a few students who seem to want to challenge every word that comes out of my mouth. I’m not really sure what it is they think they’re challenging. Notes are notes, scales are scales. What is there to discuss?”

I sipped the cool gin, letting it calm my insides. It’s not that I was nervous or uncomfortable around Karin, she was a lovely woman. It was, however, sometimes a struggle to think of anything other than my music. James was right, I needed a break sometimes. If Karin was really interested in me, she deserved better than the cold shoulder I was unintentionally offering her.

“What about you?” I asked, hoping to turn the attention off of me for a few minutes. “How’s work going?”

Karin beamed. “The endowment has actually stabilized really well. You know, given the state of arts in public schools nowadays, the alumnae are even more willing to give to the school so we can help run programs at public schools in the area.”

Her brown eyes lit up as she talked and, I’ll admit, I was impressed. I hadn’t given much thought to her job, but when I had, I assumed she was less involved with actual music than that. I was appreciative of her knowledge of the state of affairs in the arts world. In the middle of Karin telling me about a new fundraising initiative, a high-pitched giggle drew my eyes to the far side of the bar. Throwing her head back, in full laughter, was Savannah Marshall.

Her normally wild hair was twisted up elegantly away from her neck, held by a sparkling clip. She was wearing what appeared to be an expensive green silk dress that highlighted her long and lean frame. I wondered what sort of occasion garnered this kind of high fashion attire. She was stunning. She was with her boyfriend, Nathan, who never seemed to take his hands off of her, and another older man I didn’t recognize.

Karin wrapped her fingers around my forearm. “What are you looking at?” She tilted her head, trying to find my line of vision.