Page 21 of Wisteria Winds
As they returned to wedding planning, Morty felt a sense of connection with Cecilia Wright, something he had never expected. Through her polished exterior was a woman trying to bridge the gap with her daughter. And if their little island wedding could help heal that relationship—well, then that would be the most beautiful decoration of all.
CHAPTER 6
The community center hummed with activity as the residents gathered for a talent showcase. Clara stood at the entrance, hesitating, suddenly very uncertain about attending. She had told Danielle that she would come, and now that she was here, surrounded by the cheerful chatter of people who all knew each other, she felt like an outsider.
“Oh, Clara, you made it,” Janice said, appearing at her side, her pink hair bobbing as she bounced excitedly. “We saved you a seat up front. Ted’s doing a cello solo tonight. He’s nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
Without even waiting for a response, Janice linked arms with Clara and pulled her through to the row of chairs near the small stage. Frank and Emmy Lou were already sitting there and waved as they spotted her.
“Well, we didn’t expect to see you here,” Frank said. “I’m glad you came out.”
Clara smiled. “Danielle suggested that I attend, maybe to get an idea of the musical talent on the island for wedding planning,” she added very quickly.
Emmy Lou nodded. “Planning, schmanning. You know you’re a part of our island now, honey. That means you show up for things whether you want to or not.”
Before Clara could say anything, the lights dimmed, and Morty ran onto the stage wearing a sparkly purple bow tie.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Wisteria Talent Showcase,” he said, holding his arms up like a ringmaster. “We have a delightful lineup tonight, starting with our very own Ted, performing Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1.”
The audience clapped as Ted took to the stage, looking pale and clutching his cello like it was a shield. He sat in a chair, took a deep breath, and began to play.
Clara was surprised. His technique was perfect. She could hear the small moments where nerves made his fingers slip or his bowing falter. The Bach Suite had been one of her husband’s favorite pieces to conduct, and hearing it now brought both pain and pleasure.
When Ted finished, Clara applauded along with the crowd. He looked so relieved as he hurried off the stage and was soon replaced by a woman in her seventies who did a very limber tap dance routine.
The showcase continued, and Clara was struck by the different talents on display, from Dorothy reciting a dramatic monologue from one of her films to Gladys performing card tricks with her little dog as her assistant. The performances lacked technical perfection in most cases, but they made up for that with enthusiasm.
During a short intermission, Clara was surrounded by residents who were excited to meet her.
“So you’re the conductor, right? What are you going to perform for us?” a man asked, who sported quite impressive mutton chops.
Clara felt panicked all of a sudden. “I’m not, actually. I haven’t conducted since…”
“Oh, give her a chance to settle in,” Janice chided. “She did play beautifully with our little group the other day.”
“You should play something tonight,” Emmy Lou suggested, smiling brightly. “We have a pretty decent piano up there.”
“Oh no, no, no, no. I couldn’t possibly,” Clara said, holding up her hands, but her fingers tingled with the memory of playing her own piano the other day.
“Of course she can’t. She’s not prepared,” Ted said protectively. “Maybe next month’s showcase.”
Clara felt a rush of gratitude, but also a twinge of disappointment. Part of her, maybe a part she thought was long gone, actually wanted to play, to share the music that had been flowing through her fingers before.
She didn’t even get a chance to reconsider before Morty was back on stage announcing the second half of the program. Clara sat back in her seat and listened as a quartet performed a slightly off-key rendition of “Blue Moon.”
As the final performer finished - a retired English professor who juggled while reciting Shakespeare - Morty returned to make closing announcements.
“What a spectacular display of Wisteria talent. Before we close tonight, I received word that we have a surprise addition to our program. Our newest resident, the acclaimed conductor Clara Whitman, has graciously agreed to favor us with a piano performance.”
Clara froze in shock. Everybody turned and looked at her. She hadn’t agreed to any such thing. She glared at Janice, who grinned unrepentantly.
“I may have sent Morty a text,” she said, whispering as low as she could. “Just go up there. One piece. Just play one piece. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
Clara was just about to refuse when she saw Danielle and Bennett walking into the back of the room. Danielle gave her an encouraging wave. Something inside Clara shifted.
These people had welcomed her, included her, and given her a space to grieve, but they were trying to encourage her to rejoin the living. Maybe it was time for her to take another step forward.
With a deep breath, she stood and slowly walked to the stage as people applauded enthusiastically. She sat at the piano and adjusted the bench, then took a moment to collect herself.
