Page 13 of Ms Perfectly Fine
“If you don’t hear from me, then you know we murdered each other,” Autumn joked half-heartedly. Elijah was the last thing she wanted to talk about. Besides, she wasn’t in any position to be judging relationships; the most intimate relationships she currently had were with her physiotherapist and the vibrating wand on her nightstand. Then again, both were exceptionally loyal, there when needed, and helped relieve her pain.
“Call me if you need help with the body!”
Garrett gave a half-hearted wave before placing a possessive hand around Nina’s waist, and then they were gone. Autumn finished packing up her sheet music and searched for her umbrella, but she had forgotten it in her haste to escape the house.
“I can drive you.” Heather, Sasaki’s assistant, appeared from the side of the stage, making Autumn jump.
“God! Where did you come from?” Autumn exclaimed, placing a hand on her chest. Heather was petite and quiet as a mouse. She rarely talked to anyone, always in Sasaki’s shadow. Autumn could count on one hand how many times they had talked since she had joined the team two years ago. Autumn put it down to her age and that she might just be shy.
“Didn’t mean to frighten you. I was helping Sasaki with billings,” Heather said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way,” Autumn said.
“It’s fine, I’m headed that way.” Heather followed Autumn’s gaze to the rain pounding on the glass roof.
It was at times like this that she wished she had a car. She knew how to drive but didn’t have a car because she lived so close, and walking helped her stretch out anyway. She only took the lifts from Nina because it was on her way in the mornings, and it meant they got to catch up before rehearsal.
“If it’s not too much out of your way…” Autumn shrugged, hating to be a nuisance.
“Not at all. I was heading out anyway. Are you ready?” Heather said, pulling at the end of her mousy brown ponytail.
“Yes, I’ll meet you outside,” Autumn said, turning off the stage light. When she turned around, Heather was already gone. The office light down the back of the theatre was still on, so she figured Sasaki hadn’t left yet. Autumn wondered how Heather knew where she lived, but she would have access to her personal file, so she probably knew where everyone lived.
As she left the theatre, Heather pulled up to the front curb, and Autumn hopped into the car out of the rain.
“Thank you for this. I would have been a drowned rat by the time I made it back,” she said, trying to make light conversation as they waited in traffic.
“What are friends for?” Heather replied, and Autumn smiled softly. She wouldn’t necessarily have considered them friends; they saw each other around the theatre, but she rarely attended any of the drinks or events following their showcases to socialise. “I heard you worrying about your solo piece,” Heather added, keeping her eyes on the road.
She was listening?Autumn wasn’t sure how to feel about her eavesdropping on her conversation with Sasaki, but she didn’t want to make the drive any more awkward.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve performed solo. Just nerves,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have thought you get nervous. You make the stage look like your home,” Heather said.
“It is my second home, but it doesn’t mean I don’t worry about my performance,” she said, trying not to sound defensive.
“You should trust Sasaki. He wouldn’t give you the solo if he didn’t think you could do it.” Heather’s words were supportive, but there was something in her tone which made Autumn uncomfortable.
“Do you play? Many of those who’ve worked with Sasaki before have gone on to become performers,” Autumn commented, trying to find some mutual ground and divert the attention away from herself.
Heather shook her head. “No, I haven’t a musical bone in my body. It was my sister who got the musical genes.”
Autumn wondered why she would choose to work for a conductor.
“I majored in events management. After college, I saw an ad for the PA position and since I grew up around music, I thought why not!” Heather beamed.
It was the first time Autumn had seen her excited. “Does your sister still play? Perhaps I know her.”
Heather shook her head. “No, not anymore. She wasn’t lucky to have made it like you.” She quickly corrected herself before Autumn could reply. “Not that you aren’t talented! You probably wouldn’t have noticed her. She wasn’t a prodigy like you.”
“I’m sure I would have; the city’s classical music world is quite a close-knit group. What was her name?” Autumn asked.
Heather turned on the radio. “Sorry, I love this song!”
Maybe she doesn’t like talking about her sister? Not all siblings are close,Autumn mused, though as an only child she could only guess. They spent the rest of the short journey listening to the radio. It was better than forcing conversation.Hopefully, Elijah will have done the smart thing and left.She clasped her hands on her lap as they turned into her street.
“It’s the white house in the middle,” she said.
