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“Nothing.”
Mark frowned.
“I find it interesting you’re thinking about a woman you’ve never spoken to.”
Mark put his coffee on the table and sat back, leaning his head on the back of the couch. “I might admit she intrigued me. But I only saw her at the station. How the heck am I supposed to find her again?”
“Was she a tourist?”
“How should I know?”
“You’ve lived here long enough to be able to tell the tourist from the locals. Or semi-locals, in the case of politicians.”
Mark closed his eyes. “I don’t think so. She was wearing jeans and a big t-shirt.” He lifted his head. “She didn’t have that tourist air about her.”
“So most likely a local.” He tilted his head. “Why are you so interested in her?”
Mark stood and walked to the window. “I don’t know.”
“Are you sure?”
A barge floated along the canal across from his front door, filled with tourists snapping pictures at the historic buildings surrounding his place. “I saw the music in her eyes. She understood it.” He turned back around. “Does that make sense?”
“It does. It’s challenging to find people who truly understand and love music the way we do.”
The men were quiet for several minutes. It was Maestro who broke the silence.
“Maestro Novak called me last night.”
Mark groaned and flopped back onto the couch.
“He’s concerned about your influence on the rest of the musicians.”
“I’m the youngest one there and he’s concerned about me?”
“You are one of the most influential musicians of our time, Mark. Yes, you’re young, but you’ve done far more in your few years than most of the entire orchestra combined. What you do, the others will do.”
“I hate his musical choices.”
“When you are maestro, you can make those choices. The board chose him and you are under his leadership. You made that decision when you signed the contract.”
“I can’t believe you chose him to succeed you.”
“He has a charm with audiences and a way with music you will come to understand, if you let yourself.”
Mark huffed. “If only he used his charm with the musicians.”
“It’s not his job to charm you. It’s your job to listen to him and learn from him.” Maestro smiled. “I think it will be a chance for you to mature and grow.”
“Playing noise will mature me?”
Maestro chuckled. “Perhaps.” Maestro finished his coffee and stood. “I must go. I promised Malina I wouldn’t be gone long.” He walked to the door and Mark followed. “Give him a chance. He’s a talented musician and director. You can learn a lot from him, if you allow yourself to let go, just a little.”
The two men hugged and Maestro left. Mark poured himself another cup of coffee and returned to the breakfast bar. He thought about Maestro’s words as he took a bite of bread, hope in his heart for the first time that the season wouldn’t be as terrible as he’d been afraid it would be.
Fourteen
Emily smiledas she walked through the metro station carrying two shopping bags. She’d had a successful trip to her favorite thrift store, even finding a few novels she’d been wanting to read.
