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Bea wasn’t ashamed of the tears anymore, and she wept silently as her daughter gave a stunning, final performance for her college career.When the last chord lifted into the hall, and Meredith finally removed her fingers from the keys, Bea leaped to her feet, her hands already banging together.
Meredith stood from the bench, her smile one of the biggest Bea had ever seen.She radiated joy from her very center, and everyone who saw her could feel it.
The concert ended, and Bea stood to follow Stewart, who led the way toward Meredith.She came out with the rest of the students, all of them dressed in their finest attire.
Meredith squealed and launched herself at Stewart, who laughed and caught her in his arms.“Brilliant,” he said.“Perfection.You didn’t miss the E in the sixty-first measure.”
Bea marveled at the level of detail he knew, and she supposed he’d been around quite a lot as Meredith had practiced this semester.
“Amazing,” Ted said, stepping in and taking Stewart’s place.He hugged his sister.“Totally worth the trip.”
Meredith only laughed and shook her head.“I know you came for the sheet cake.”
“I did not,” Ted said, his voice deeper than Curtis’s, just like his personality.If he were seeing someone, he’d call it dating.He didn’t keep in touch with Bea as regularly as her youngest son, but Bea had learned with Ted that no news meant things were fine.If she tried to call or text him and press for information, that was what she got.I’m good.Things are great.Going fine.
Curtis released Grace’s hand, and his girlfriend stayed at Bea’s side as Curtis told his sister how absolutely amazing her performance had been.Bea took Grace’s hand in hers and leaned closer to her.“You’re coming to Meredith’s afterward, aren’t you?”
“If I’m invited,” she said, and Bea gave her a grin as she nodded.
“You’re invited,” she said.
“Ma,” Curtis said, practically running back to the pair of them, though they stood only a few feet from Meredith.“What are you saying to her?”
Bea rolled her eyes.“My goodness, Curtis.Calm down.I invited her to Meredith’s for dinner and dessert.”She gave her son a cocked eyebrow.“She acted like she wasn’t sure she was welcome.”
Curtis opened his mouth, but nothing came out.He slid his gaze to Grace, who played perfectly into Bea’s hand and folded her arms as one hip cocked out.She too wore a marvelous dress in dark green that went really well with her dark hair.
“Of course you’re invited,” Curtis said, a slight wound to his voice.“Gracie, I thought that was implied.”
Bea left them to work it out, because she knew Grace wasn’t really upset.She took a turn holding her daughter and murmuring how utterly fantastic it was to listen to her play and watch her make such beauty.
“Thank you, Mama,” Meredith said, her voice wobbly.She pulled back, and shock moved through Bea when she saw her daughter actually crying.Meredith was always so even, and she rarely let her talent spark any emotion.“I mean it, Mom.I see what mothers do for their kids now.You’ve always done so much for me.All the lessons.”She shook her head and wiped at her eyes, smearing a tiny bit of the black makeup.
“Meredith,” Bea said.She didn’t want to tell her that when she was a mother, she’d understand.Meredith had expressed concern over her nurturing side—or the lack thereof—and Bea didn’t want to add any pressure to the burden she already carried.“It was no sacrifice at all.”
“Meredith.”
Bea stepped back, falling out of the way, as Norton arrived.He towed a blonde woman behind him, her hair long and flowing over her shoulders like she was suspended in water, and her hair moved with the currents of the sea.
She wore a lot of makeup, and very high heels, and a skirt that probably should’ve been four inches longer.
“Anne?”Bea asked, her brain finally catching up to her retinas.
The woman—Norton’s secretary—turned toward Bea.A smile plastered itself to her mouth, and she let go of Nort’s hand to take the few steps to Bea.“Bea,” she said as if the two had simply fallen out of touch and had just seen each other after a few years apart.“It’s great to see you.”
Anne hugged Bea, who stood there and let herself get smashed into the taller woman’s chest.“She played so well.Just beautiful.”She stepped back, and Bea would give her points for being able to speak.To move.To do anything but stare in disbelief.
Of course, she knew she was dating her boss, so what did Anne have to be surprised about?
She retreated while Bea continued to stare.She’d never felt more alone, standing in the awkward space between her sons, her daughter and her fiancé, and then Nort and his new girlfriend.
“Bea,” Nort said with a nod of his head.He wouldn’t make a scene, not here.Not that there was anything to make a scene about.They’d both fought for what they wanted in the divorce, and they’d both had some wins and some losses.
He looked good, as much as Bea hated to admit that, what with his dark brown suit and a crisp white shirt.No tie, but Nort only wore a tie to the office—or to woo really big customers.His hair had grayed over the past year, and he wore a beard Bea had never seen before.
It reminded her of Grant, and the thought of him—an echo at her side—allowed her to put a small smile on her face that didn’t feel like a grimace.She nodded to Nort, and said, “Hello, Nort.”
No one could really expect much more than that, and she returned her attention to Meredith.Stewart said, “Baby, Doctor Bradshaw just called you.”
“Okay.”She faced him and said, “Fix my face.”
“Your face is fine,” Stewart said with a smile.“Go on.”He cut a glance at Bea, who raised her eyebrows.“Go,” he said again.“We’re right behind you.”
Meredith squared her shoulders, nodded, and walked away.Stewart looked around at the rest of them, his smile growing by the moment.“Come on, son,” Nort snapped.“What’s going on?”
“Hey,” Bea said, taking a step forward.She unified herself with Stewart and put her hand in his.They looked at Nort together, and Bea narrowed her eyes at him.“Don’t talk to him like that.”She looked up at Stewart.“If we’re going to be right behind her, we better get going.”
Stewart’s face flushed, probably from the demeaning way Nort had spoken to him, and he squeezed her hand.“Yes,” he said.“You don’t want to miss this.”
“Miss what, Mama?”Curtis asked, but Bea couldn’t answer.She’d like to know what she couldn’t miss too.
