Three hours after his departure, she remained on the padded bench. Her fingers giving life to a melody etched onto her soul.
“Chaisley, my goodness.” Her silver-haired grandmother—her favorite person other than her mother and father—entered the music room. “You’ve been in here for hours tinkering away.” Grandmother’s accent was thicker than her father’s, and Chaisley loved to listen to the cadence of her words. Like music itself.
Chaisley tore her eyes from the piano. “It’s so beautiful, Grandmother. I couldn’t help myself.”
Grandmother pulled a tapestry-covered wing-backed chair up next to the bench and sat. “Did you know that Steinway pianos were founded by a man from my mother’s home country? They’ve made the best pianos in the world since the 1850s. When your father wanted to surprise you with one, I heartily agreed that it was the only piano we should buy.” She ran her hand over the sleek gold lettering, just like Chaisley had done. “It is indeed beautiful, child. As is your music. I could hardly believe my ears.”
“It’s like it’s all trapped inside me, just waiting to burst forth and get out.”
“You’ve always been an old soul, Chaisley. Your words, your mannerisms. You’ve just turned ten years old today, and yet you talk like someone twice your age.” Grandmother winked at her. “Maybe that’s why we get along so well, my dear. My blond-haired, blue-eyed little cherub.”
Grandmother’s wrinkled hand reached out and touched Chaisley’scheek.Old soul. She’d overheard the grown-ups whispering that about her before. Was that why she didn’t have any friends her own age?
Mother and Father walked into the room and that was when she noticed that the shadows of the tall windows had grown across the floor.
Mother walked over and pulled Chaisley into her arms. “Are you happy, dear?”
“Oh, yes. Thank you so very much.” Happy didn’t even begin to describe everything that danced within her.
Father winked, the glimmer in his eyes just like his mother’s. “Maybe this will give you something to do other than burying your nose in your books.”
Mother patted her hand. “There’s nothing wrong with reading books, darling. Your father is teasing. Now, let’s get you ready. We’ve planned a party for you at your favorite restaurant this evening.”
Food and a party sounded like fun, but ... Oh, how she wanted to stay at her precious piano. With a longing glance at it over her shoulder, she pasted on a smile. The piano would be there after the party.
Grandmother cleared her throat and stood. Chaisley saw tender understanding in her eyes. “Come on, little one. I’ll help you get dolled up for your ten-year celebration.”
Chaisley pressed hercheekagainst the back window of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost limousine.Silver Ghost. From the day her father showed her the new automobile, Chaisley loved to repeat the name. She could imagine it came from a fairy tale. A melody line immediately formed in her mind. As the music swelled and grew into a symphony of story, she closed her eyes and allowed it to play. The sonata of the Silver Ghost finished with a flourish,and she drew in her breath. She was ... what? Content. Yes, that was it. Not only did the music inside her have a way to come to life now, but she’d begun to understand the structure of it. It made sense. Logical and yet beautifully mysterious. She could hardly wait for tomorrow’s lesson with Monsieur Beaufort. A little chill raced up her arms and she replayed her new composition in her head.
“Perhaps we should ask Gerard to drop us off a few blocks away so we could take a stroll together. It’s such a lovely evening.”
Mum’s words caused Chaisley to open her eyes and blink away the music. “Oh, could we? By the fountain? I could make a wish on my birthday!” She bounced on her seat as she faced her parents in the back of the long car.
Her dad chuckled. “Of course. Change seats with me, Chais.” They did so, and he tapped on the glass behind him and spoke to Gerard.
If only Grandmother could have come with them! But she’d had a sudden bad headache, and as much as she wanted to come, she couldn’t.
Grandmother’s disappointed tears had made Chaisley want to cry herself. A party just wouldn’t be the same without the one grandparent she’d ever known, who’d lived with them since she was a baby.
She sighed and looked at the sparkly lights outside and the people dressed in their finery. She loved watching out the window as they drove to the city in their motor car. But tonight, her mind drifted back to the shiny Steinway Grand sitting in the new music room. The lavish wing of the home built forher. And her music. A laugh bubbled up inside her and escaped once again. What a joyous day.
But as the world slid by the car’s window, Father’s words from earlier drifted back into her mind. Did she really read too many books? Didn’t every child read books? Just because she enjoyedreading and the music that played in her mind—that didn’t make her odd, did it?
The car hit a bump in the road, and Chaisley’s forehead banged into the window. She rubbed at the smarting spot.
“You’d better lean back, Chais.” Father grinned and shook his head at her.
She rubbed one last time. Every time they drove to the city, the same thing happened. She’d hit her head on the glass while peering out the window, Father would suggest she lean back, and she would obey and gaze out the window some more. But it seemed her forehead always inched back to where she could enjoy the cool feel of the glass against her skin.
Mum moved to the seat next to her father and took his hand. The special smiles they shared together always made Chaisley feel warm and protected.
A terrible screaming punctured her happy bubble and filled the car. Air-raid sirens!
All the air in Chaisley’s lungs whooshed out as she screamed. She closed her eyes tight—wait... what was that sound?
The roar of airplane engines.
Her eyes popped open and she saw Father’s eyes were wide. “Turn the car around! Now!”
