People will pay to see what the next generation has to offer.
I’ll guest conduct if the urge strikes and the finances need a boost.
I’ll have plenty of help in the form of the teachers I’ve hired and my brother-in-law. I’m going to offer Monte a full-time job.
He’ll be the man behind the scenes, taking care of everything from scheduling classes to fixing the broken railing on the stairs in the theatre.
It will keep him here, in New York, where he belongs.
The door at the end of the corridor opens allowing a sliver of daylight to slice through the darkness.
“Alexander?” Isla Foster calls out. “Am I at the right place?”
“I’m here.” I turn and flick on the light switch, flooding the space with light.
She walks in with a smile. “I tried the door on the street, but it was locked up tight.”
I didn’t expect her this early. I know she has two daughters who need to be dropped off at pre-school. I suspected she’d show up closer to nine a.m., than eight.
“You’re here early,” I point out as she nears me.
“You’re dirty.” She laughs pointing at my dust-covered jeans and black T-shirt. “We have a lot of work to do to get this place into working order.”
“You’re in?”
I talked to her about this last week, asking her to keep it between the two of us. I need teachers and I went to her with that request in hand, asking if she knew anyone who would want to take a couple of afternoons out of their life to teach kids to play an instrument.
I plan to clean up the theatre in time for Phoebe’s birthday so Alvin will be the second to take the stage when he plays for his mom in front of a crowd of his friends and family.
I’ll be the first when I bring Olivia here later this week so I can play the piano for her and show her what my future looks like.
I’m staying in Manhattan to build a school, a junior symphony and a life with the woman I love.
“Of course I’m in.” She brushes her hand over my shoulder. “I need to be in. Someone has to keep this place in order when you’re jetting off to London.”
What the fuck?
I laugh. “London? Why the hell would I go to London?”
Her blue eyes widen like saucers. “Oh shit.”
“Oh shit?” I repeat back with a smirk. “Did you miss your morning cup of coffee, Isla? I’m as confused as you seem to be.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not confused. You don’t know, do you?”
My arms cross my chest. “I don’t know what?”
“Olivia didn’t tell you?”
My stomach recoils at the thought of Olivia keeping something from me; something to do with London, a city thousands of miles away from here. “Tell me, Isla.”
“It’s not my good news to share.”
I stare at her.
“Fine,” she says quietly. “She got the job, Alexander. Gabriel offered her the job in London this morning.”
Joy covers her expression. She’s obviously thrilled that Olivia took a job in London.