The Composed Heart
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Donna Berlyn
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18
The Discovery
He entered with a quiet authority. He was well dressed, impeccably groomed, and possessed an obvious charm—the kind that broke hearts and messed with heads.
He wasn’t greeted as one might expect. In fact, he wasn’t noticed at all.
Marina was in the storeroom, and Amelia was lost in her melody, playing away, oblivious to everything around her.
The broken doorbell had failed to warn them of his presence, but he didn’t mind. He stood, listening intently to the enchanting composition performed by the equally enchanting young lady.
Her motions were effortless, possessed. Electricity seemed to surge through her fingers with every strike of the keys.
Amelia finished her piece and gently rested her fingers on the keys, caressing each one with the kind of tenderness one might offer a lover.
There were plenty of pianos to choose from—a store full, in fact—but Amelia liked playing this one the most. She had a connection with the beautiful baby grand she affectionately called Ebony.
“If that’s your sales pitch, I’m sold, young lady.” His voice was heavy but refined.
Amelia looked up from the piano. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in,” she said.
She stood up to greet him, and he made his way to her.
“Don’t worry about it; that was absolutely endearing. Whose piece was that? I don’t believe I’ve heard it before,” he asked.
“Mine,” she replied.
“Truly sensational.” On hearing her play, he had considered her a brilliant pianist, but now he realized she was so much more.
He extended his hand. “August Ellery, but Augie is fine.” He read the name embroidered on the breast of her blazer. “Amelia—that’s a lovely name.”
“Thank you.”
“This is a beautiful little grand, and you certainly have a gift for bringing it alive,” he observed, making his way around the piano and seating himself next to where Amelia stood. He gestured for her to join him.
Obliging, she sat down, but her eyes remained fixed on Ebony. “She’s more than that. Each time I play her, it’s as though a conversation of pure poetry takes place between us. She’s a real soulmate, this one.”
August was becoming more intrigued by the young lady. She, on the other hand, was growing more nervous at the prospect of losing her beloved acoustic friend.
He began to play a Bach piece, hoping she would join in. She did.
Amelia was blissfully unaware that she was undergoing an audition—such was his guile. But with her talent evident from the moment he walked in, he knew he couldn’t let her slip through his fingers.
He was adept at scouting for talent, but this was the fastest he had ever been so sure of such a unique gift.
They were still playing together when Marina entered the room and joined them at the piano. She introduced herself.
August introduced himself to her, but he needn’t have bothered.
Marina knew exactly who he was. “It’s an honor,” she confessed. “I’m sure Amelia has already inquired, but is there anything we can assist you with today?”
“Yes, I want to buy this piano.”
Amelia stopped playing and looked up at Marina. Marina caught her glance but couldn’t bring herself to meet her eyes.
Amelia was a lovely girl, with just enough edginess to make her interesting. Her natural musical talent was unparalleled, and that, along with her beauty and enigmatic charm, had become a real draw for the store.
Marina loved her like a daughter, and as a kindness, she had made every attempt to keep Ebony in the store for as long as possible. But a sale was a sale, and a sale to August Ellery was not something one passed on.
“Of course, Mr. Ellery,” Marina obliged.
Amelia lowered her head.
“Are you sure this is the one you want?” Marina asked gently, making a last-ditch effort to support Amelia’s cause.
He looked at Amelia, then at the baby grand, and back at Marina. “I couldn’t think of a better one,” he replied.
“Why don’t we go over to my desk, and we can sort out the particulars?” Marina suggested, leading August away from the piano.
He glanced back in Amelia’s direction. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
Marina wasn’t sure if he was referring to the piano or her young assistant, but the answer was the same either way.
“She’s amazing,” she agreed, feeling a little guilty.
Amelia didn’t blame her. If anything, she blamed him. Why did he need this one? Who did he think he was?
She began to play. If this was the last time she and Ebony would get to play together, she wasn’t going to let the fact that he now owned the piano stop her from enjoying it one more time.
August was happy to let her do so. He was glad to hear her play again. He listened with delight as he filled out the paperwork, impressed by every note she played.
“You are more than welcome to play it at my institute any time you want. In fact, I’d love it if you would,” he said.
“Your institute?”
“Yes, my music institute.”
Amelia felt relieved. Maybe she wouldn’t have to lose Ebony after all. If it meant playing her somewhere else, she’d do it. “Where is this institute?”
“New York,” Marina chimed in before August had a chance to respond. Marina was well versed in the great “August Ellery.” She once had her own musical aspirations.
Amelia’s growing excitement quickly plummeted to disappointment. She understood that he might not have realized the extent of her love for that piano, but it still seemed cruel of him to make such an absurd suggestion.
“It’s a little far away for me,” she replied politely, trying hard to conceal her annoyance at his lack of empathy.
“Right, well that’s settled,” he stated, signing the last of the international shipping forms. He turned to Amelia. “Not if you’re a student there,” he continued.
She couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Did he enjoy tormenting innocent young women? What was his problem? He obviously knew she wasn’t a student there!
“Now how do I get you over there?” he asked, with seemingly earnest intent.
“I beg your pardon?”
“To join the institute. I want you to attend my school.”
Amelia had always learned that if something was too good to be true, then it was more than likely not true. He couldn’t be serious. “I go to school already, thank you.”
“Not one like mine, young lady.”
“It’s true,” Marina concurred. “One of the top five music institutes in the world! Just attending gives you ninety percent more chance of obtaining coveted positions within the music industry.”
She sounded like she was reading from the school’s brochure. “With your talent, it could take you anywhere you dream of, Amelia,” Marina urged.
He had Marina on his side from the moment she realized who he was, but Amelia was not convinced.
“Are you serious? I could really be a student at your school?”
A music institute in New York? She hadn’t really considered the prospect before. She loved playing. She was brilliant at it without even trying, but she never let her thoughts soar beyond the simplicity she found comfort in right where she was.
He smiled, amused by her skepticism. “I’m always serious about music. You’ve got a gift, kid.”
“You’ve only known me for twenty minutes.”
“That’s all I need.” He was confident. Cocky, almost.
“Wouldn’t I have to audition?”
“You’ve already passed your audition. You’re in if you want to be.”
The prospect of this being real was becoming a little exciting, but then the reality of the practicalities set in. She had little money saved; she didn’t even own a passport.
Though Amelia knew this was a great opportunity, she knew she couldn’t afford to get to New York or pay for anything once she got there.
“I have to fly out tomorrow, but my assistant will be in touch. If your answer is yes, she’ll organize everything.”
“Organize everything?”
“Yes, she’ll book the flights and transfers to the school. Your accommodation will be arranged before you arrive too… And,” he added, as if reading her thoughts, “all expenses will be paid.”
“All expenses paid?” She needed confirmation.
“Of course. Full scholarship.”
She had no words.
“Once in a lifetime, kid. Once in a lifetime. Well, I must be going. I thank you both for your time, and I hope to see you some time soon, Amelia.”
The pair watched him leave before looking at each other, a little bewildered.
“What just happened there?” Marina asked rhetorically.
“You sold Ebony, that’s what happened.”
“Forget Ebony. Were you not there for the rest of the conversation? You’ve made it, girl!”
“C’mon, I can’t take it seriously. These things don’t really happen to people. Some guy walks into the shop and just offers me a free trip to New York and a scholarship worth thousands! It’s a bit strange, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps a little,” Marina agreed.
“But it did just happen, Amelia, and if it were anyone else but you—or August Ellery, for that matter—I’d be very skeptical. Since when does strange bother you anyway?” she quipped. “It’s good-strange, Amelia. The best! It’s destiny.”
Amelia shrugged. She didn’t believe in destiny. She had no use for such things in her life.
“How do we even know if this guy’s legitimate? He’s a little too smooth, don’t you think? I could get over there and be sold off as a sex slave.”
Marina laughed.
“All I’m saying is, how do we know this guy is who he says he is?”
“You really don’t know who August Ellery is?” Marina sighed. “He’s smooth, all right! He’s only one of the directors on the board of one of the most renowned and exclusive music institutes in the universe!”
“Wow.”
Amelia smiled bemusedly at Marina’s passionate overstatement. Marina was usually quite reserved. Amelia had never seen her so animated before.
Marina showed her his professional online profile, with a seemingly endless list of credentials as supporting evidence of his authenticity. Amelia nodded in acceptance.
It was him, all right, and his résumé was impressive, to say the least.
“So, he’s legitimate, but how—”
Marina interjected, frustrated by Amelia’s irresolution. “Look, if August Ellery invites you to his institute, you’ve been offered the holy grail of music careers. You’ve made it past the golden—no, platinum—gates! Mozart would struggle to get into that place! Anyone who wants any high-caliber musical career makes it their business to know him!”
“Look, I know you’re trying to convince me here, but you’re only scaring me.”
And Amelia was scared. It was a lot for her to suddenly have to process. She wasn’t good at dealing with life-altering decisions.
Marina turned away, seemingly defeated, but decided to continue in her efforts.
“Your talent is beyond comparison, and don’t get me wrong, you need to embrace that, but your gift isolates you too. How can someone so gifted be content to sit around a piano shop all day and receive mediocre tutelage from people with barely a quarter of your talent? You’re worth more. Don’t you ever want more?”
Before now, Amelia hadn’t really wanted more. She had never allowed herself to consider what more could mean.
But Marina’s speech was becoming quite convincing to her now. Maybe she did want more?
“This could be a chance to meet people that live in your world, or the closest they can get to it. This will never happen again, Amelia. I promise you that. It never happened to me.”
Marina said no more about it. She proceeded to sort out some paperwork on the desk.
It was almost closing time, so Amelia helped to lock up. For the first time since she met her, Amelia realized that maybe Marina wasn’t content at all. She was just a woman with a dream that never became a reality.
Amelia spent all night thinking about the events of that day. Marina’s words played over in her head. The more she thought about it, the more plausible it became, but she didn’t want to allow herself to be too convinced.
Just thinking about it made her tired.
In an attempt to get some sleep, she tried to tell herself that if the assistant called the next day, then, and only then, would she believe it all to be real.
She would let tomorrow bring what it would and then decide how she felt about it.
