Tony’s pacing around the piano, holding Katherine. I only know it’s the girl because she’s in a pink onesie. The other baby, who’s in blue, is aimlessly waving his fists in a cradle that’s rocking itself.
Katherine is drooling on Tony’s shirt, making the shoulder area visibly wet. He doesn’t seem to care, though, from the way he is keeping her close, his hand protective.
“What’s he doing here?” Tony asks. His tone conveys puzzlement, like I must have bribed his wife or something.
“He wants to master one of Chopin’s waltzes,” she says mockingly.
Tony looks at me. “So you should call a piano teacher…?”
“He wants to play it for Yuna.” Ivy clearly doesn’t believe that I’ll do it.
Okay, fine, she’s skeptical. Still, I need somebody on my side, so I tell Tony my reason. He raises his eyebrows and looks slightly impressed, although the expression vanishes the instant Ivy cuts her eyes at him.
“I think ‘Grande Valse brillante’ will do quite well,” Ivy says.
Tony shoots her a mildly reproachful look. “That’s mean.”
“Fine.” Ivy looks at her fingertips. “Opus 34 Number 1.”
“Also mean.”
“Is she giving me difficult ones?” I ask.
“Yes,” Tony says. “Very.”
“You know Chopin pretty well.” I have no idea what pieces Ivy’s referring to. Maybe I should memorize a list of Chopin’s works. That might go toward impressing Yuna as well.
“I play a little. When Ivy and I first met, we played Schubert’s Fantasie together,” Tony explains.
Holy shit. This man can perform Schubert with somebody who went to Curtis? I regard him with renewed respect.
Ivy’s mouth is set in a flat line as she looks at her husband. “Our would-be suitor might as well challenge himself.”
“He’ll never learn to play them before Yuna leaves for Korea.”
“When is she leaving?” I ask, trying to figure out the time frame.
“Why? So you can give up now?” Ivy asks.
Time for a little pushback. “I’m not that weak-willed. Ideally, I can convince her before she leaves Los Angeles, but if not, I’ll fly to Korea to play for her there.”
Ivy frowns and pulls back slightly.
“That’s the problem,” Tony says. “You’re never going to be able to play something like a Chopin opus perfectly with less than a decade of practice.”
“Okay, then let’s pick another piece. I’ll be damned if Yuna has more dates with the Hundred.”
“More dates?” Ivy’s eyes grow sharp. “What do you mean?”
“She had lunch with some dossier
guy yesterday.” I try to maintain a calm tone, but fail badly. I’m so mad at myself that she went on that date.
Ivy places a hand on her forehead. “Oh God. What are we going to do?” she says to nobody in particular as she turns in a circle like a stressed-out hamster.
Tony puts a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll support her and make sure she’s happy. That’s all we can do.”
Ivy looks at me, then back at her husband. Some unspoken communication passes between them. Hopefully, it’s something along the lines of “Let’s help Declan! Yuna shouldn’t have to marry a dossier!”