“Agreed.” Melanie shifted. “What about the code you were working on for us to communicate with your grandmother and Dr. Grafton? I haven’t wanted to pester you about it, but I have this feeling—”
“Me too.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “No one else is around, correct?”
“No one.”
“I’ve finished it. I’ll teach you over the next few days and somehow get word to Grandmother. I don’t like the way it feels here. It’s not just oppression... I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t like it.” She shivered and wiped her hands on her gown. The long silk number was a deep shade of navy that brought out her eyes. At least, that’s what her seamstress told her. Right now, it seemed too thin to provide her warmth.
“Me neither.” Melanie’s trembling vibrated into Chaisley’s knees. “Why does it feel cold in here all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” She rubbed her arms. If only she could play the piano in the long silk gloves that matched the dress. Melanie always did a fabulous job describing every piece of clothing to her so that Chaisley could picture it in her mind. Over the years, colors lost their brilliance in her imagination, but she looked forward to heaven when she could see them all again in full glory.
“It’s time to get back out there. But first, you need to know that there is a newspaper man who wishes to speak with you afterward. I didn’t tell him that you don’t do interviews, I told him I would need to ask you first.” She scooted her chair away. “So do you want me to give our standard answer?”
She opened her mouth to say yes, but paused. Why did she feel hesitant? Quieting her heart and mind, Chaisley closed her eyes.Are You trying to get my attention, Lord?An interview was a daunting prospect. Uncertainty gnawed at her. Was it time to reveal her blindness to the world?
Where didthatthought come from?
Her mind turned to Mary Beth and other children like her. How encouraged would they be to hear she had a disability, but it didn’t stop her from dreaming. From living life.
Still, was that the right message to send when it was their physical struggles that made them targets of such venom?
Perhaps telling the world about her lack of sight was exactly what she needed to do to alert people that she was willing to use her fame to help them. Could she get that across? It certainly would bring more attention to her.
Another serious thing to consider. If she went public, it might gain the attention of the Nazis. Not the good kind. Wouldn’t that lead to all sorts of scrutiny and dangers for her and Melanie?
What is Your will, Lord?
“My peace I give unto you ... Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”The verses from John cut through her, the peace Jesus promised right on its heels.
God wasn’t ashamed of her blindness. Her family had never been ashamed of it. And she hadn’t either. Itwastime to tell the truth. This was not the time for her to cower in fear. “I’ll speak with him.”
“All right.” Melanie’s shock was obvious in her voice. “I should be used to you doing things outside the norm. You’re terrific at it.” She tugged at Chaisley’s hand. “Ready to head back out there and impress the audience some more? You still have several of your new creations to share.”
Chaisley laughed. “Yes, I’m ready.” She stood up and followed Melanie’s lead out the door. As soon as they climbed the stairs to the backstage area, the thick smell of the velvet curtains assaulted her senses, and she sneezed. “I think these curtains are due for a cleaning.”
A handkerchief was placed in her hand. “Here, use this.”
After blowing her nose and brushing stray tendrils of hair that tickled her face, she straightened her shoulders. “All right. Ready.”
Melanie guided her to the edge of the curtain and shifted her aim just a bit to the right. “Twenty-two steps to the left edge of the piano.”
Chaisley gave a brief nod and lifted her shoulders back. Stepping out from behind the curtains, the warmth from the lights hit her face and the audience erupted into applause. Lots of foot stomping and whistling accompanied it.
Reaching the edge of the piano, she gripped it for a moment and did her pretend scan of the auditorium by taking her head from the left to the right and even up to the ceiling. The whistles and applause rang in her ears, but the adoration didn’t overwhelm her like earlier.
The peace she’d felt in her dressing room still blanketed her. The first half of her performance had been for these people. But this half ... she swallowed the tears burning her throat.
This performance would be for the Lord alone.
She bowed and slid her right leg under her long evening gown to find the bench with her knee. She waved and nodded to the crowdas they continued to cheer. Then turned her body to the left and lowered herself to the leather bench.
As always, the crowd’s applause let her take her time getting settled. She skimmed her fingers over the keys without pressing any of them down.
The crowd hushed, and she counted to ten. Anticipation built in the auditorium.
Then she dove into the rest of her concert.
While she played, gratitude to the Lord flowed through her, infusing her performance with a rightness she hadn’t felt in ages.
