Chapter 13 - Team Bride in the City.
When I go back to the moment, I found out I was moving to New York, I was a bag of emotions. One of happiness, it’s the city of dreams, after all, the city doesn’t sleep, and the city where you can be whatever you want to be. The excitement of coming here with one thought is a constant buzz in my mind: you can do this, now is your time to shine.
Then the nerves hit. What if I fail, what if I can do it? Or as Hadley said, “How safe is this city? You don’t know anyone there.” Which wasn’t helpful the day before my flight.
Regardless of any doubt and worries I had, I waved my family off and boarded the plane. Then I sat in my seat, placed my NYC playlist on, and smiled … feeling brave, happy, and full knowing for the first time in my life I was heading in the right direction.
Over the last few months, I’ve doubted myself, wondering if getting on the plane was the right thing to do. But today, I know it wasn’t. Mr. D told me after my lesson yesterday that the event he was meant to be at, which I am now taking his place, in four days’ time has a small get together happening this afternoon for the women of the party. He asked me to go play for them.
So, I am strutting the sidewalks feeling a million bucks. He said Miss Carson was upset he couldn’t make it but trusted him in sending me to cover and that she wanted to meet me today and see how well I play. They have a private room booked for afternoon tea and cake at The Pierre Hotel.
Mr. Donovan could have asked anyone in the class to take his place, but he asked me. With that, I am going to show Miss Carson and him that I can do it. I won’t let anyone down, I can’t.
“This is good practice,” I tell myself as I enter the hotel’s lobby. It’s freaking breathtaking. Marbled flooring, huge archways breaking up the space in the halls. It’s French classical meets New York chic and fame.
I wonder who this Miss Carson is for me to be meeting her here. Definitely rich. Nerves swell as I worry my red floral dress and brown sandals aren’t appropriate or glamorous enough.
“Hello, ma’am, welcome, can I help you?” a middle-aged man with one hand behind his back and a fake, over-the-top smile plastered on his face says. He’s wearing a fitted white shirt with the hotel’s logo on the front and a silk black bow tie and black tailored trousers.
Shit, I don’t fit in.
Mr. D didn’t specify that I had to wear something flashy. Fuck! Maybe I have time to run home and change?
Nope!
“Margo?” a sweet voice says from behind me. Turning slowly on my heels, heat rises to my cheeks. The lady is stunning with slick bright-red hair, doe eyes, and freckles. A goddess. My gut screams this is who I am here to play for, and I’m ready to die that she’s seen me looking like a peasant.
Pull it together, Margo—you can do this.
“Mr. Theodore Donovan’s student, right?” she asks.
I shake my hands at my sides to release some tension in my body and fix my smile after remembering what my mother would say if I ever felt nervous before an exam or a play at school. “Your dreams can be achieved by the acts of confidence and belief; you can do this, Margo.”
Mum always had a way of getting through to me. If she was here, she would tell me that. I meet Miss Carson’s eyes and nod, then lift my hand to shake hers while chanting over and over in my head, Act confident so they believe it. Believe you can achieve your dreams.
“Hello, yes, I am Margo. Thank you for asking me to play for you today. I’m so sorry about my outfit.” I blush and look down at my dress while stretching the hem out. “I would have put something nicer on, but I’m new to the city, and well, I didn’t know.” I point to the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. “Urh …” A lady standing behind Miss Carson wearing a blue flowery dress and a sash that says mother of the bride on it chuckles while looking at me. I feel a tad better knowing she’s wearing a dress like mine.
Miss Carson laughs out loud and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Theo said you’re an amazing pianist. I don’t care what you wear. I just wanted to meet you, I’m Hallie.”
I puff out a sharp exhale and wave at the group of women in front of me. “Hi.” Hallie links her arm through mine and introduces the women to me. “That’s Aunt Maggie.” She points to the lady in the blue flowery dress and mother of the bride sash on.
“That’s Max, my maid of honor.”
Max says, “I love your accent.” I blush again and smile. Hallie carries on and lists out her other friends from her book club and aunt’s diner. There are quite a few, and I apologise in advance for possibly forgetting their names.
With Max leading us up the staircase and through some corridors to the private room she said she had booked for them; I gape at the French Renaissance architecture that displays floor to ceiling on every wall around us. It’s magnificent. “Wow,” I whisper breathlessly.
Hallie beams beside me as we walk still linked together. “I know, my husband-to-be took me away to Paris for our first vacation together. It was magical, and I wanted those vibes for my bachelorette party.” She smiles at Max, who’s slowed down to join us, while the others make a right farther down the hall ahead of us.
“I think I nailed it,” Max says with glee, winking and bumping shoulders with me.
“Definitely,” Hallie and I say simultaneously before we both shout, “Jinx!” which echoes off the walls around us. We all duck our heads and run to catch up with the others, giggling like little schoolgirls.
******
If Mr. D had told me I would be sitting down and eating with them, I probably would have been scared and uncomfortable. Maybe, even declined the offer, but now that I’m here, I feel like I am a part of their group. Even after being scolded by Hallie and Maggie for not sitting down at the tables and going to play the piano when we entered the room. They are all so welcoming and involve me in every conversation they have. It’s been a while since I’ve laughed this much around other females.
Though, Max and Hallie are whispering a lot while looking at me. Don’t be paranoid. You’re just new to this. Maybe it’s secret stuff they have planned, and maybe it’s not me they are looking at. I stand and point to the piano when Hallie meets my eyes. “Can I play for you? I know you trust Mr. D.” Maggie barks out a laugh, telling me she will call him that from now on, and I laugh before turning back to the bride-to-be.
“I know you trust him, but I’d feel better if you let me play and give me your honest thoughts. I don’t want to ruin your big day if you don’t like my pieces.” Not waiting for her answer, I move to sit on the nicest piano bench I’ve ever sat my arse on. The velvet cushion feels like memory foam underneath me, and I wonder if I could fit it in my bag before we leave. One day, Margo, you will have the piano of your dreams and a bench like this.
I didn’t ask Donovan what to play today, and I haven’t asked Hallie either. I ponder for a moment, internally kicking myself for not asking important, need-to-know questions. Nope, no time for this. I nod. “Let’s fucking do this,” I whisper.
Placing my hands gently on the keys, I play the first few notes of the piano version “Now We Are Free” by Patrik Pietschmann. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, everyone should know this piece. It’s an iconic piece of cinematic history from the film Gladiator. Gasps around the room indicate they know it too. Closing my eyes, I let go and immerse myself into the sounds. I smile from ear to ear, hoping that maybe if all else fails, I might gain some friends that I need in the city. I really do like Hallie and Max.