“I take no credit,” Ezra said. “And that wasn’t a performance, that was a creation. A work of art. A maestro painting a masterpiece as we watched. Or listened, as it were.”
I shot him a look.
He batted his eyes. “Too much?”
“Just a bit.”
“Not enough,” Ezra countered and shook his head, marveling. “I’ll give you a moment.”
Odin and Octavian gave me knowing smiles and moved off to talk with Ezra, leaving me alone with Mum and Father.
“Most impressive,” my father stated. “What is the name of that piece? I don’t recall ever hearing it.”
“He made it up on the spot,” Mum said. “Isn’t that what Professor Wolfe implied?”
“I did.”
My father’s eyes widened. “Extraordinary. It seems this is your calling.”
My mother kissed my cheek. “We’re so proud of you.”
“You are?”
“Of course, darling.”
A short silence fell, and I waited. Because I’d said everything I’d needed to say to them, and I’d just bled my heart and soul all over those keys. Expectation—myexpectation—hung heavy in the air, waiting, and they both knew it.
My father rocked back on his heels, lips pursed. Finally, he cleared his throat.
“When I emigrated to Britain, it was not easy, to put it mildly,” he said stiffly. “It was quite difficult for me. Where other men had to be good, I had to be great. Where other men had to be great, I had to be perfect. Greatness is a shield from struggle, or so I believed. I wantedto protect you and your brothers from the struggles I endured. But to armor you in greatness meant there could be no weakness. I did not intend to create hardship, only to spare you taking the road I had already walked.” He coughed. “Nevertheless, I’m quite proud of you, Orion, and will always be. No matter where your path takes you.”
I looked between my parents.
“Does this mean…?”
“It means that we’ll support you in whatever you want to do, darling,” Mum said, her eyes full. “We knew you were talented, but that was extraordinary.”
Another silence fell, in which I stared blankly. A blank slate before me, and instead of scared, it was the same as when I’d decided to scrap the Rachmaninoff and just play—both terrifying and exhilarating.
Then Ezra stepped forward. “I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was just eavesdropping.”
My mother laughed while my father looked mildly amused.
“I caught that last bit about support. On the subject of Orion’s future, I recorded his performance and will be sending it to the Juilliard music department this very night.”
My head whipped up. “I thought I missed that audition.”
“You did. But Juilliard was intrigued as to why I would not shut up about you, and so they have agreed to assess tonight as an audition, in absentia. I feel very strongly that they will offer Orion a place in their department this fall. An O-1 visa will be required to stay in the country, and I’d be honored to sponsor Orion on that front.”
Father and Mum exchange glances.
“Juilliard,” he said. “That is an esteemed institution, is it not?”
“For the arts, there are few higher.”
“Wonderful. We look forward to hearing what Juilliard has to say. Let us know how we can be of service. Now, apologies, son, but we have to get back. Our jet is waiting.”
“Already?”
