Lewi's Legacy (25 page)

As he drove home, he realised that he should have asked more about dear Susan. Then he remembered how he and his mother had caused her so much pain. He thought that perhaps that stone would be better left unturned.

After his year of sponsorship had elapsed, Lewis the violinist had achieved his dream of fame and fortune. His father had followed his progress closely, and kept all of his reviews. Louis had decided that at his son’s last concert, to be held at the Wigmore Hall in London, he would invite Edmund and Victor, with his new wife to the concert. The week before the final concert, he had spoken to his son’s manager and told him that he intended to meet Lewis after the performance. As he entered the hall, there was a large poster showing Lewis holding his instrument. Stuck across the poster was a sign ‘Sold Out’. He could not have been prouder.

They had acquired four front row seats. They sat in the following order; Louis, Edmund, Victor’s heavily pregnant wife and finally Victor. Victor’s wife was stunning, and she leaned over to Edmund and asked if he remembered her. He gazed into her dark eyes and looked at the beautiful features and remembered straight away.

‘Aren’t you that Russian girl that I met when you were at the art show in the New Forest?’ He asked, ‘and weren’t you looking for Victor then? It certainly looks like you’ve found him now.’ Edmund smiled at her and for once she smiled back.

Victor leaned forward to tell Louis that Lydiya was the daughter of Mikhail, but Louis was in a world of his own at that moment, so Victor just leaned back on his seat and waited for the performance.

‘What happened to your father Lydiya?’ Edmund asked, and Louis heard that question and pricked up his ears for the answer.

‘My father and mother were taken to Moscow last year and they were charged with embezzlement by the Minister of Justice. They gave him a choice, thirty years in prison, or accept a minor official post in Vladivostok, which of course he took. They seem happy enough.’ Lydiya answered openly. Louis said nothing, but on reflection he was glad that those Russians that they had met at Middle Temple did the right thing by him. He and Victor had got their lives back and that was the best solution.

They all attended the reception after Lewis’s performance and there were so many dignitaries there, that they held back to meet the celebrity, until there was enough room. The four of them were finally in his presence, and Edmund took the lead by introducing himself, Lydiya and Victor to Lewis, leaving Louis standing back for the moment. The three of them had a few moments of complimentary chat and then excused themselves.

Louis nodded to Edmund and then stepped forward to shake his hand. ‘Hello, my name is Louis Owen.’ He spoke a little loudly and a few people turned round, but it was just nerves. Lewis just stood there stunned with his mouth open. Louis was just about to say something.

‘Lewis, Lewis! I’m so sorry; I meant to introduce you to your sponsor for last year’s tour.’ His manager’s face was red with embarrassment.

Lewis ignored the man and grabbed his visitor with both arms in a bear hug. ‘Dad, is it you?’

All Louis could do was nod with his head, and kept nodding it. ‘Yes my darling boy, it is!’ Father and son just kept on hugging each other.

The End