Chapter 2 #2
Frankie had been in and out, dealing with the hospital and making arrangements for the funeral, everything made more difficult by the fact that there was no will.
She hadn’t thought it would be so time-consuming, but the days had passed in a strangely warped way where she never knew what time it was or where she was supposed to be.
One day, she’d found herself in one of the practice rooms staring out the window until it was dark outside.
After that, she’d stayed away from the school.
The last thing she wanted was for a student or parent to spot her acting unprofessionally and spreading concern she wasn’t up to this task.
But today, the break was over. She’d called a staff meeting at eight like Estelle always did on Mondays, and after that, their full-time academic students would be expecting normalcy, so that’s what she intended to bring.
It’s a regular day, she thought in the shower.
It’s a regular day, she repeated, pulling a yogurt out of the fridge.
“It is a regular day,” she said out loud upon parking behind the old rectory that now housed the academic program.
She checked her hair in the mirror, wondering if she should have taken the time to blow-dry it, but before she could come to a decision Kayla knocked on her window.
“You’re here,” she said when Frankie got out.
“Of course I’m here,” Frankie said. “It’s Monday.”
“I wasn’t sure,” Kayla said. “Yesterday was a lot.”
Frankie hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“If you say so.” Kayla started walking next to Frankie toward the music building.
This part of the school was housed in an old wooden structure that had once served as the community church, but the only thing that gave away its former use nowadays was the circular stained-glass window above the peaked entry and a narrow bell tower.
Inside, the building had undergone a full renovation when Estelle bought it that added six small soundproof practice rooms, two offices, two bathrooms, a janitor’s closet, a staff area on the balcony that used to house an organ, and a ballet studio with eighteen-foot ceilings in the back where the chancel had once been.
It was Frankie’s second home, but when she stuck her key in the door to Estelle’s office, she had to use both hands to stop her fingers from trembling. This door shouldn’t be closed.
“I brought in the mail last week,” Kayla said, trailing behind her. “There’s a stack of cards from the kids too.” She pointed to a bundle tied together with a yellow string that matched the school’s exterior.
Frankie nodded but didn’t look at the cards.
Sure, supposedly these were from their students, but the memory of the anonymous one was still too fresh.
She didn’t need more surprises. Instead, she directed her attention to the bookshelves, the framed photos and interviews, the gold record of “My Only Child” in its honorary spot on the wall behind Mom’s chair, before she inhaled deeply and rounded the desk.
As soon as she sat down, the phone rang.
She and Kayla looked at each other, and her friend must have seen something in Frankie’s expression because she reached for the phone after the third ring.
Frankie stopped her at the very last second.
The phone on this desk was Frankie’s now, and she wouldn’t let Estelle down.
She picked up the receiver and cleared her throat. “Starview Conservatory. This is Frankie speaking.”
“Finally,” a woman said on the other end. “This is Lauren’s mom, Alicia Nolan. I left a couple messages last week. Did you get them?”
Frankie glanced at the receiver in her hand, noting with a drop in her stomach that the voicemail icon had the number seventeen next to it. “Hi. Yes, it’s been… a busy few days.”
“Yes.” Alicia was quiet for a beat. “I understand that, and I hope you don’t think me insensitive—I’m simply confirming that after-school classes will commence today?
Lauren has a solo at her cousin’s baptism coming up, and between you and me, she needs work.
Where are you at with hiring a replacement? ”
“Replacement?” Frankie frowned.
“You know…” Alicia let out a tense titter. “To take over Estelle’s students.”
A wave of nausea rolled through Frankie.
Was this what people meant when they said the world kept turning?
She’d heard it in countless song lyrics over the years, seen it on motivational posters, and even in memes, but the true cruelty of the notion had been hidden until now.
“You’re asking me if I’ve found a replacement for my mother? ”
“Okay… I’ve got this.” Kayla gently pried the receiver from Frankie’s hand.
“Alicia? Hi, this is Kayla Clark. Sorry—Frankie had to get on another call. I want to assure you we are addressing any changes that need to happen as fast as we can after our tragic loss and strive to have more information soon. Thank you so much for understanding, and have a lovely day.” She hung up, then sat down across from Frankie. “Damn. Sorry.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Frankie said. “Take the call, I mean. I had it under control.”
Kayla watched her at length. “No one is expecting you to, you know.”
That’s where she was wrong, Frankie thought. Everyone would expect exactly that. But there was no use arguing—especially not with someone who so easily wore her emotions on her sleeve. “Besides, she’s right,” Frankie said. “I do need to find a new voice instructor.”
In fact, there were probably a lot of things she needed to do that she wasn’t yet aware of.
But if she knew Estelle, there would be detailed instructions and lists somewhere for whatever software they used, the utility companies they contracted with, and the families that were enrolled. All she had to do was start looking.
“I can help,” Kayla said. “Put together an ad?”
“That would be great.” Frankie pulled out a drawer, riffled through it and closed it again.
Then the next. “In the meantime, maybe Stefano can cover Estelle’s students.
” He was their other vocal coach, hired part-time to work mainly with the male voice students.
“With the library showcase Thursday, no one will want to skip lessons.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather cancel the showcase this month? No one would hold it against you.”
Frankie looked up. “Cancel? Why would I do that. Everyone loves it.”
“I just thought…” Kayla’s voice trailed off. “You’re already dealing with a lot.”
Frankie cocked her head. She wasn’t used to this kind of involvement from anyone but Estelle, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
On the one hand, if Kayla doubted her abilities, Frankie would rather she keep it to herself, but on the other, there was something vaguely comforting about sitting here talking just the two of them like they had years ago.
So did she respond with dismissal or gratitude? What would Mom do?
“The community needs normalcy. That’s my priority,” Frankie said, adding, “I think we can pull it off together, don’t you?”
That’s right. Everyone likes to feel needed. Estelle nodded in Frankie’s periphery.
“Of course,” Kayla agreed. “I think I saw Stefano’s car in the lot. I can go talk to him about puzzling the two schedules together if you want. I’m sure he’ll be on board.”
Frankie gave her a smile. “Thanks. That would be helpful.”
Kayla left, and Frankie returned her attention to the desk.
The third drawer was locked, but the key was on Mom’s keychain, so she made quick work at getting it open.
A stack of envelopes sprang free as soon as she did, spilling onto the threadbare Persian rug beneath the desk.
She heard Kayla’s footsteps recede and the front door of the school close, leaving a pregnant silence behind as she bent down to pick up the wayward mail.
She straightened, gathering the cascading stationery into a haphazard pile, her gaze trained on the envelopes as she flipped through them. They were all official-looking, all unopened, and several of them had red alerts stamped across the front.
“Final notice?” she mumbled, reading it like a question. What was this?
Frankie tore open the envelope and read the letter within, a chill seeping through her limbs. It was a bill for their property insurance, which had been due in January. She opened another one marked “PAST DUE,” read it, then read it again. Internet service. Due two months ago.
All in all, there were five overdue bills and several unpaid others that Estelle for some reason had chosen to stow away instead of paying.
Frankie’s hands fell open on top of the desk.
Not once had Estelle mentioned financial troubles to her, and everyone on staff had received their paychecks like clockwork up until the day after Estelle’s death.
Was she to believe someone like her mom, who had always prided herself on facing challenges head on, had deliberately hidden something like this?
As if bills go away when you put them under lock and key.
Frankie stood and paced away from the desk.
Turned back to look at the stack of now-opened letters spread out on top of the leather table protector.
Not only was this out of character for Estelle, but it also meant another entry on Frankie’s long list of to-dos.
No, scratch that. Not just another entry, a new top priority.
If she didn’t pay these bills, the school could be in trouble.
So why hadn’t Mom taken care of it? Or asked for help. Or… or… said something.
First that card and now this…
What if the two are connected?
The thought struck as the sound of voices reached Frankie from the hallway outside, but she quickly dismissed it as irrational imaginings.
Back here in the real world, she had a morning meeting to get ready for, and besides, the only thing the petty note and the bills had in common was that their existence had surprised Frankie.
That meant nothing. That was a her issue.
She hurried to tuck the bills back into their drawer, vowing to get to the bottom of this conundrum as soon as she had a minute to herself.
The bank would be a good place to start.
There would be a natural explanation. A logic Frankie couldn’t yet see.
Estelle had always been so good at thinking multiple steps ahead, so she would have had a reason for her actions.
Once Frankie found it, all would be well. The opposite was unthinkable.