Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“Oh, I’ve got one all right,” I say with a grin, reaching for the doorknob. “Don’t you worry about that.”
I tug open the door to reveal Barry, looking as grim and dower as ever. I reach out to shake his hand, but he completely looks past it, and me, and turns his eyes to Lucy.
“Is this her?” he asks. His voice is somehow deeper and more growly than I remember. But then again, I haven’t seen him in years.
“Hi, Barry. How are you?” I ask, sort of joking, not expecting an answer. “Yes, this is Lucy. Lucy, this is Barry Smith, renowned piano teacher. He’s doing me a great favor by being here today–”
“Well, let’s get started and see what you’ve got.” Barry pushes past us and strides into the house with no hesitation. “Where’s the piano?”
“Downstairs, Barry,” I reply, taking the lead. I motion for Lucy to follow, which she does. God, I hope this isn’t driving her anxiety levels up.
I show Barry the way downstairs to the entertainment room with the piano, and he immediately takes his place beside it and motions to Lucy. “Well, have a seat, girl. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Lucy glances over at me quickly, an ounce of anxiety in her eyes, but I reply quickly with a smile of affirmation. You’ve got this.
Barry wastes no time getting Lucy playing. He starts with exercises that I don’t understand but I assume have something to do with musical theory. As far as I can tell, she holds her own too. Her hands and fingers move well, and Barry’s face shows no signs of dissatisfaction.
Then he breaks out the sheet music and starts having her play actual songs – simple at first, but progressively harder. It’s incredible. I actually can’t believe the feelings that hit me as I watch her play.
I knew she would be good, but just seeing her fingers actually dance across the keys…it’s like watching an amazing movie. My heart feels like a sun about to go supernova inside my chest. And Barry, who has a reputation for being incredibly harsh and speaking his mind at all times, has yet to say anything that might upset Lucy.
When it’s all over and Lucy takes her hands off the keys and sets them on her lap, Barry simply nods, and there is a long moment of silence. She turns and looks back at me, and I raise a finger. Give him a moment.
“Why did you give up piano, Lucy?” he finally asks.
I can see the surprise in her face. She was not expecting this from him. “Oh, I…I guess too many other things in my life got in the way. School, ya know?”
Barry nods. “Well, if I’m not mistaken, Jason here was implying that he had hoped you would get back into it. Pursue it. Make a career out of it. Is that right, Jason?”
“Very much so,” I reply.
Again, Barry nods. “Well, I would have to say that after watching you play this morning, I agree with Jason.” I have to stop myself from shouting at the top of my lungs. I see Lucy’s body go tense as well. “If you have the time, I would recommend that you pursue the piano. You have immense talent, Lucy. And have retained an incredible amount of your abilities given the length of time you have taken off from practice.”
Lucy looks like someone has cast a petrification spell on her, rendering her unable to speak. She turns to me, and I immediately go to her side.
“Thank you very much, Barry,” I say. “I think Lucy is a bit taken aback right now – overwhelmed maybe. But we both thank you for coming by the house today.”
“It was a pleasure,” he says, his face twisting into something resembling a smile but not quite getting there. Again, I reach out for a handshake, but he ignores it and pushes past me for the door leading to the stairs. I glance at Lucy and whisper to her that I’ll be right back before seeing Barry out.
When I come back, I find Lucy sitting in the living room, a stunned expression on her face. She looks up at me as I step through the door.
“Did that just really happen?”
I laugh. “See? I told you you were good.”
“But you’d never even seen me play, Jason!”
“I didn’t need to,” I laugh, going over to her. I wrap an arm around her and smile. “I just knew, baby. I just knew.”
Without warning, Lucy squeals and leaps on top of me, kissing me all over. “Can you believe it? Barry Smith thinks I should pursue being a professional pianist!?”
“Yes.” I smile. “Yes, I can believe it, baby.”
We kiss, and I slide my hand under her shirt to get a good feel of her sweet little baby bump. “Gosh, now I just have to tell my parents that I’m not going to Yale this year,” she says, nuzzling closer. “And that I’m pregnant.”