Chapter 20 - THE PIANO RECITAL
One year after Lily first touched the Caldwell piano, she performed her first recital.
She was four now.
Very serious.
Very nervous.
Wearing a pale blue dress she had chosen herself.
The recital took place in the east parlor.
Not because Ethan wanted something extravagant.
Because Lily refused every other location.
“My piano.”
That was what she called it now.
No one corrected her.
The room that had once represented silence became the warmest room in the estate.
Children’s sheet music sat beside priceless art.
A tiny stool rested near the bench.
Button permanently occupied one corner.
The glossy surface held fingerprints more often than polish.
Ethan loved every one of them.
Only thirty people attended.
Staff.
Friends.
Rosa’s professors.
Thomas.
A few parents from Lily’s preschool.
No press.
No investors.
No society photographers.
Ethan sat in the front row.
Rosa beside him.
Lily climbed onto the bench.
Her feet did not reach the floor.
She looked toward Ethan.
He smiled.
“You’ve got this.”
Lily took a breath.
Then she played.
The song was imperfect.
One note came too early.
Another too late.
Halfway through, she stopped completely.
Rosa’s heart tightened.
Lily looked at the keys.
Then at Ethan.
“I forgot.”
Ethan stood.
“You want help?”
Lily nodded.
He walked to the piano.
Sat beside her.
Placed his hands on the keys.
Together, they started again.
This time, Lily finished.
Everyone applauded.
Lily jumped down.
She ran directly into Rosa’s arms.
“I did it!”
“You did.”
Then she ran to Ethan.
He lifted her.
“I messed up.”
“No.”
“You paused.”
“That’s different.”
Lily frowned.
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
Rosa smiled.
She knew he was lying.
After everyone left, the three remained in the parlor.
Sunset filled the room.
Lily fell asleep on the sofa.
Rosa covered her with a blanket.
Ethan stood beside the piano.
“Rosa.”
She turned.
He looked unusually nervous.
That alone made her suspicious.
“What?”
“I’ve been carrying something for ten months.”
Her eyes widened.
“Ethan.”
“I know.”
“Don’t panic.”
“That sentence causes panic.”
He reached into his jacket.
The velvet box appeared.
Rosa closed her eyes.
“Oh my God.”
“I’m not asking yet.”
She opened one eye.
“What?”
“I wanted you to see it.”
“That is somehow worse.”
He laughed.
Then opened the box.
The ring was beautiful.
Elegant.
Simple by billionaire standards.
Which meant it probably cost more than Rosa’s old apartment building.
She immediately frowned.
“How much did that cost?”
Ethan closed the box.
“Not relevant.”
“Extremely relevant.”
“Rosa.”
She smiled.
“What?”
“I’m not asking you tonight.”
“Good.”
“I want you to know I will.”
Her smile faded.
Ethan continued.
“Not because Lily wants us together.”
“Not because we lost four years.”
“Not because guilt makes me want to repair something.”
“I’m going to ask because I love the woman you are now.”
“And because I want every ordinary day I can get with you.”
Rosa’s eyes filled.
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“You planned the ring but not the proposal?”
“I’m learning restraint.”
“Slowly.”
“Painfully.”
She kissed him.
Behind them, Lily woke.
She sat up.
“Did Daddy ask?”
Rosa turned.
“Were you pretending to sleep?”
Lily grinned.
Ethan laughed.
Rosa pointed toward the stairs.
“Bed.”
“But—”
“Bed.”
Lily ran upstairs laughing.
Ethan watched her go.
Then Rosa looked at the piano.
“Your mother would have loved her.”
Ethan’s expression softened.
“Yes.”
“She would.”
Rosa touched one white key.
A note filled the room.
A year earlier, that piano had exposed every secret inside the Caldwell family.
May you like
Now it sounded like home.
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