Her grandmother touched her arm. “Emma, look how Andrea is smiling at those two. I’ve never seen her come out of her shell so fast before, have you?”
She turned and saw Andrea more animated than she’d seen her in a very long time. “Bane and Adam are good men.”
“I’m sure they are, sweetheart.” Her grandmother patted her hand.
The conductor and the students took the stage.
Emma waved at Autumn. Her daughter smiled back.
“Parents and friends, please take your seats.”
The audience quieted down.
“I would like to bring your attention to a change in our program.” The conductor motioned to Autumn to take center stage. “Andrea, would you be so kind as to join your sister?”
Andrea looked perplexed, but nodded. She left her seat and walked up next to Autumn.
The conductor continued, “We learned this week that this is the last year our fair city will have the very talented Autumn and Andrea as residents.”
Several in the audience voiced their disappointment.
“Did you tell?” Emma whispered to her grandmother.
“No, but you know there are no secrets in small towns, honey.”
That’s for sure.
“Autumn and Andrea are moving with their mother to Wilde, Nevada, at the end of the school year.” The conductor looked at her girls. “Would you give us the pleasure of a duet?”
The audience applauded.
Emma smiled. She was so proud of Autumn and Andrea.
Adam leaned over. “They must be really talented for this kind of response.”
“Just wait and see.”
Autumn turned to Andrea. “Okay?”
Andrea smiled and winked at Bane and Adam. “Yes. I would love to.”
“Did you see your daughter wink at us?” Adam was clearly thrilled.
Her girls spoke softly to each other.
Andrea went to the piano. “We will be performing ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.”
“That’s a very difficult piece,” Bane said.
Emma nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Autumn brought her violin up to her chin and held her bow just above the strings. Andrea played the introduction and Autumn joined in, both their hands flying over their instruments so very fast, but never missing a single note.
The audience members were as still as statues, engrossed in the music her daughters were performing.
When the piece came to a climactic end, everyone stood, clapping.
Bane and Adam were on their feet, cheering “bravo,” clearly surprised by Autumn and Andrea’s talent.