Love in E Flat (22 page)

Agata watched the transformation in Dmitry, seemingly uplifted now as he played. It was curious, and she was truly happy for him as she watched. But she couldn’t help the feeling of loneliness that suddenly drifted through her.

Chapter 16

Lou had returned from her interview with the coach from St. Rita’s High School. She now rocked back in her chair, rereading her article. Once again, she felt a presence behind her. “Ron, I’ll send it to you when I’m finished.”

Ron laughed and sat behind Edie’s desk. “How’s the interview coming along with our Russian cellist?”

Lou grinned and put her hands behind her head. “It’s coming along fine.”

Ron stopped laughing and frowned deeply. “I don’t think I like the way you say that.”

“Why?” Lou asked, still grinning. The memory of Agata’s kisses still made her lips tingle.

“What have you done? You’re smiling like the proverbial cat that ate the canary.” Ron regarded her with a serious air. “She’s a famous celebrity, albeit mostly with the highbrows, but a celebrity nonetheless, and she’s Russian.”

“What are you saying?” Lou sat forward. “I’m not going to cause an international incident. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not,” Ron said, sounding just that. “Has something happened I should know about?”

“No,” Lou said, though she did not make eye contact with him. “Everything’s fine. I’m working on the article, and now that everything else is out of the way, I can really concentrate on it. It’ll be in our special Christmas edition.”

Ron raised an eyebrow. “We have a special edition?”

“We do now. It’ll be great. Aggie is an amazing woman. She…”

“Aggie?” Ron sounded incredulous.

Lou felt the heat in her neck, which she stretched while she laughed nervously. “It’s just a nickname. Don’t have a stroke.” She was not about to tell him of Agata’s term of endearment for her.

“I should have a stroke?” Ron sat forward. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”

“Nothing is going on. We’ve had a nice time, that’s all.” Lou picked up a pencil. “She’s a good woman. Not just an exceptional musical talent. There’s a lot of life and heartache.”

As they sat in silence, Lou felt Ron’s penetrating gaze. Lou spelled out Ticonderoga as she examined the number two pencil. Finally, she could take no more. She looked up. “What?”

“I don’t know,” Ron said in a fatherly voice, which was annoying. “You tell me.”

“I’m a grown woman, ya know.” Lou knew she sounded anything but grown. “And so is she.”

“And she’ll be going back to Russia in another week.”

“Connecticut.” Lou tossed the pencil on the desk. “She has dual citizenship. She’s got a house there.”

“So,” Ron said with a sigh. “You’re having an international fling with a—”

Lou’s head shot up. “This is not a fling.”

Once again, incredulity blanketed Ron’s face. “Do not tell me. You’re falling for this woman? Lou…” He stopped, shaking his head. “Lou…”

“You said that already.” Lou leaned back in a dejected heap.

“Have you—?”

“No,” Lou said quickly. “Wait. Are you asking if we, ya know?”

“I have no idea what I’m asking. Look, your personal life is none of my business. But the
Sentinel
is. And that’s all I’m saying. Just be careful. Personally and professionally.” He watched her for a moment. “So she’s gay?”

Lou laughed then. She couldn’t remember Ron sounding so incredulous and amazed at the same time. “If her kisses are any indication…”

“Wow,” Ron said. “What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’m going to finish the article on her.” Lou grinned and couldn’t help the lighthearted feeling that swept through her. “I’m gonna pursue that Russian cellist like I’ve never pursued anything in my life.”

Ron’s eyes grew wide. “You
are
falling for her.”

Lou continued to smile. “Yep, I do believe I am. Ain’t it great?”

Ron winced. “I hope so, Lou. I really do. Have…um…have you told her about…”

“Yes. I have.”

“Really? That’s very good. Isn’t it?”

“It is,” Lou said. “It was so natural to talk to her. She listened and cared. I’m really stuck on this woman. I think we have a chance for something here.”

“I hear a bit of reticence in your voice. Does she feel the same?”

Lou thought for a moment, remembering their conversations. “She has the same reservations you do. And she’s so independent and stubborn, but when she kissed me…I know she feels something for me.”

Ron shook his head and stood. “Well, I hope you’re right. It would be good for you. And she’d be pretty lucky to get you.”

Lou looked amazed at the statement; Ron cleared his throat. “Now get that article finished about St. Rita’s.”

“It’s already finished.” Lou smiled as she watched Ron walk back to his office. “I just sent it to editing.”

“Well, it’s about time.” Ron started back to his office. “And where the hell is Edie? And speaking of editing, I have them all over me. They’re waiting on her story. Doesn’t anybody work around here anymore?”

“Ron?” Lou called after him; he turned back and waited. “Thanks.”

“Oh, shut up and get to work. And you’re welcome,” he said and slammed his door.

Lou glanced at the clock. “Lunchtime.” She wondered how rehearsal was doing. She grinned and grabbed her coat, and waved her arms at Ron, who looked up. “I’m going to lunch,” she called out.

“What?” he yelled. Lou laughed at the sound of his muffled voice. “It’s only fricking eleven…”

Lou shook her head and pointed to her ear. “Can’t hear you.”

*******

Lou practically ran the few blocks to Orchestra Hall. Primarily because she couldn’t wait to see Agata. Also…it was fricking freezing. The gray day promised snow in the air, but Lou didn’t care. She grinned as she walked up to the entrance. It was Christmastime, and she was on the verge of falling in love. She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized what had just crossed her mind.

Backing up a step or two, she jammed her hands into her coat pockets and stared at the door of the landmark building. It occurred to her then just how historic this building was and all the famous musicians who had crossed this threshold. Madam Agata Karetnikov being one of them. Lou stepped farther back and looked up at the seven-story brick façade. Suddenly, she felt insignificant and small.

The same feeling of ineptitude swept through her, as it did when she was nineteen. After her debacle that night that brought her down to earth—back to reality. She wasn’t a sports hero; she wasn’t the best athlete; she was Louisa Preston, who allowed her ego to overload her ass, and caused a great deal of pain to many people.
  

“What the hell am I thinking?”

As she turned to leave, she heard the blare of a car horn. It was Nick. He pulled up to the curb and waved.

“Are you lost? Ya need a lift, lady?” he asked with a grin.

Lou quickly got in. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself. Where to?” he asked as he pulled into traffic.

“Anywhere,” Lou put her head back and let out a deep sigh.

“That narrows it down.” Nick looked in the rearview mirror. “What’s up? Did you just see Agata?”

“No. I was going to…”

“Oh. Well, she has a concert tonight. You probably didn’t want to bug her.”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Nick concentrated on his driving, and in a few minutes, they were on Lake Shore Drive heading north. Lou looked out the window at Lake Michigan and shivered. She noticed Lou pull into a parking lot at Navy Pier.

“C’mon, let’s get a hot dog,” he said. Not waiting for Lou to respond, he slipped out of the cab and opened her door.

“I’m not hungry.”

“How can you pass up a handsome guy buying you lunch?” Nick said, pulling her along.

Lou laughed grudgingly and walked in step next to him. There was a holiday shopping crowd, but it wasn’t as bad as it would be in a week or so. The city had decorated Navy Pier for the holidays; the sentimental feeling wafted through Lou as she took a deep breath of cold Chicago air.

They stopped at a vendor just inside the archway entrance to the pier. “What’ll it be?”

Nick looked at Lou, who shrugged. “We’ll have two, the works.”

“Get ’em now. This is my last week out here in the cold.”

Nick looked around and let out a nostalgic sigh. “I remember when this was just a long pier, and the Naval Armory stood over there.” Nick motioned with his head as he took a bite.

The old vendor nodded. “Yep. The navy anchored that submarine there for the longest time.” He smiled and handed Lou her hot dog.

At the sight of it, Lou’s stomached growled. She took a healthy bite, savoring the taste and aroma of the street treat. “Thanks, Nick,” she said, taking another bite.

“No problem. Let’s get inside.”

They walked inside, instantly feeling the warmth. Chicago had done wonders with Navy Pier over the years, adding the outside arcade with the Ferris wheel and the restaurants with their outdoor seating for the summer tourists. Lou finished her hot dog while taking in the festive decorations. The huge Christmas tree could rival the one that Marshall Field’s downtown store used to have.

All of this took her mind off Agata, but now, thinking of her, Lou shook her head and tossed the wrapper in the trash. She was acutely aware of Nick watching her. “Thanks again for the hot dog.”

“You’re welcome again. Now I need a pretzel.”

Lou laughed as she followed Nick to the next vendor. “Want one?”

“No, thanks.” She waited until Nick got the warm treat and doused it with mustard. “You’re not going to get heartburn?”

“Me?” Nick shook his head. “Nah. Not with the way my wife cooks. I love her to death, but the woman cannot boil water.” He took a bite and wiped his mouth with the napkin. “If she hasn’t killed me in all these years, I doubt a hot dog and pretzel will.”

“Don’t you need to work? You’re losing money tagging along with me.” Lou looked around the mall.

Nick stopped and leaned against a railing that separated them from the miniature railcars that scooted around Santa’s village. The kids screamed and laughed as they passed. “Sometimes money’s not the issue.”

Lou followed Nick and leaned against the railing, as well.

“So tell me what gives.”

“I don’t know,” Lou said. “Nothing gives. I’m …”

Nick waited for a moment while he ate his pretzel. “You’re stuck on the Russian,” he said between mouthfuls.

Lou watched the railcars going round and round, trying not to compare it to her life right now. “I was so content a few days ago.”

“How so?” Nick looked around. “Hold that thought. Want something to drink?”

Lou laughed. “Yeah. Hot chocolate.”

“Marshmallows?” Nick grinned as he walked away.

“Sure,” Lou said. “But not if they’re the big ones.”

“Gotcha,” Nick called out as he walked up to the vendor.
 

Lou waited and watched the kids sitting on Santa Claus’s lap and the mothers smiling and talking to one another. Probably checking their lists, Lou thought.