The January Wish (30 page)

Sylvia’s fingers touched the smooth white keys, and she pressed lightly, tentatively, getting a feel for it. Then, as though she’d turned on a switch it all came rushing back, and a flood of emotion poured from her heart to her hands. Her fingers danced across the keys in a foxtrot of high and low notes; quick steps from one key to the next, rhythmic and fluid, yet each tap definite and strong. It was as though they had a mind of their own.

She swayed forwards and backwards, putting her whole body into it. A smile found its way to her lips as she lost herself in the music. Or more so,
found
herself in the music, remembering who she was. It had been over eighteen years since she’d played, but it was as though she’d never stopped. All that skill, stored away, waiting to be used again, had resurfaced.

Surprisingly, Sylvia didn’t feel guilty like she thought she would. Somehow, the thought of playing again after giving up her child had seemed selfish. She’d failed to accept the responsibility presented to her back then, and denying Grace her real mother made her think it only right to deny herself of something too. Concentrating on her studies after Grace was born made it easier somewhat, and soon playing piano was as distant to Sylvia as the memory of her daughter’s eyes.

But now, she’d feel guilty if she
didn’t
play. How could she encourage Grace to play piano if she wasn’t prepared to make use of her own talent? Apart from being a good doctor, this was her gift. This was her passion. And it was time to share it.

When it came time for Grace’s scheduled performance at the end of the concert that night, Sylvia walked out from behind the curtain onto the stage, her heels on the wooden stage floor piercing the silence. She went up to the microphone at the front corner of the stage, and adjusted its height. ‘Good evening everyone. There’s been a slight change to this evening’s program. Unfortunately our pianist had to cancel at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances, so… I’ll be performing instead.’ Taking a deep breath, she glanced around the auditorium, knowing her secret was about to be revealed. One of them anyway. ‘I hope you’ll enjoy my composition, which I’ve called
The January Wish
.’

Despite her nerves quivering when she sat at the piano, Sylvia soon found her groove as she began playing. The slow rhythm of the song was calming, and although she was too focused to see the audience, she could feel their eyes on her. It felt good. Real good.

Finally, her music was out of her mind and spreading throughout the auditorium. It was a huge release. The emotion from everything that had happened; the day she gave Grace up, the day she wished to meet her again and be given a second chance, their reunion and relationship over the past few months, and now her hope that they’d be able to reconnect, found its way into her composition.

When the last note faded to silence, Sylvia left her hands hovering over the keys momentarily, energy still pulsating through them. Then she placed them on her lap and looked sideways at the audience to see everyone on their feet, clapping. Her heart rose with them, and a wide smile grew on her lips.

She stood and gave a subtle bow of her head. Just as she was about to walk off the stage, a figure came into view in the middle aisle of the auditorium, light bouncing off her red curls as she neared the stage.

Her breath caught in her throat, Sylvia stared as Grace walked up the steps to the stage, wearing the dress they’d bought that day they went shopping together, and smiling her infectious smile.

‘I’m so sorry I ran off. Am I too late?’ Grace gestured towards the piano, the audience silent as they watched with intrigue on their faces.

‘It’s never too late to do what you need to do.’ Sylvia placed a hand on Grace’s cheek, warmth spreading through her fingertips, before walking up to the microphone.

‘Thank you all, for your kind applause, I’m so glad you enjoyed the performance. And now, it looks like our star pianist
will
be playing after all.’ Sylvia turned towards Grace and smiled, watching as her eyes sparkled and her soul glowed, overwhelmed by a sense of maternal love. Then Sylvia revealed her other secret to the audience. ‘I’d like to introduce the amazingly talented Grace Forrester, my daughter.’

Sylvia stood behind the curtain as her daughter commanded the stage, bringing the room to life with an upbeat composition resembling a garden full of bright, colourful butterflies. Grace had transformed from a regular teenage girl into an accomplished and mature woman and performer, and Sylvia’s heart overflowed with pride.

The energy in the room soared as the audience rose to their feet again. Grace humbly accepted their applause, her hand over her heart as she mouthed ‘thank you’ in all directions.

William gave Sylvia a happy little squeeze of her shoulders from behind, before giving a ‘thumbs-up’ signal with his hands as he walked past, up to the microphone to conclude the concert.

Grace scurried over to Sylvia backstage. ‘I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have left like that, it was selfish of me, and—‘

‘It doesn’t matter, you were upset,’ Sylvia interjected, placing her hands on Grace’s arms. ‘I’m sorry you overheard some of my conversation with Nancy Dillinger, I just wish you’d heard all of what I’d said. I was talking about how people always call teenage pregnancies a mistake, and I said, “But it wasn’t a mistake to have her…it would have been a mistake
not
to have her”.’

Grace’s head dropped. ‘It looks like I made a fuss over nothing, didn’t I? I should have let you explain, instead of rushing off in that taxi, only to ask the driver to turn around when we were almost at the airport! He wasn’t happy, and I lost a bit of money, but I don’t care. When I’d had time to think, I realised I must have misunderstood something, you seemed so genuinely shocked that I was angry. And apart from that, I knew I couldn’t let Mr Randleman and the children’s oncology department down, I mean—I used to
be
one of those kids. How could I not support them now that I’m okay?’

‘It’s all water under the bridge now. You’re here, I’m here, that’s all that matters.’ Nancy’s words of wisdom hung in Sylvia’s mind. Nancy wouldn’t get a second chance with her daughter Rose, but Sylvia would, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

‘What else did you say to Nancy, something about “turning back time”?’ Grace asked.

‘Oh yes. I said, “Sometimes I think if I could turn back time, just maybe, I’d take my baby home with me.”‘

Grace sniffed, and wiped at the corner of her eyes.

‘And before all of that, I told her how glad I was that you’d come back into my life, how I’d wished more than anything to meet you again, to be a part of your life. And most importantly how proud I am of what you’ve accomplished, and how you’ve handled the difficulties in your life with such, well…grace!’ Sylvia wiped a tear from Grace’s face with her thumb, and kissed her forehead.

‘Now I can see where I got my talent from. You were amazing!’ Grace’s chin quivered. ‘I love you,’ she said as she fell into Sylvia’s body and held on tightly, as Sylvia wrapped her arms around her.

Their first embrace all those years ago was brief, and surreal. Over before it had really happened. Now here Sylvia stood, eighteen years later, holding her baby properly for the first time. But this time she wasn’t going to let her go.

* * *

She’d done it. She’d finally performed in public. Grace was buzzing, on a high, made higher by the fact that the misunderstanding between her and Sylvia had been sorted out. So the perfect boyfriend had not turned out to be so perfect after all, but there were more important things in life than guys. Now that she’d had a taste for performing, she wanted to keep doing it. And to think that Sylvia had been hiding her own talent all this time! It felt special to Grace to know that she could attribute something to a parent. While other kids she’d known at school had their father’s eyes, or mother’s smile, she didn’t know who she took after. It’d been like she was an alien, and landed here on Earth by herself, with no family background. Now, she felt like she belonged. She knew where she got her red curls from, she knew where she got her chin dimple from, and she was extremely grateful to have been given the gift of musical ability.

As she and Sylvia walked through the backstage door into the foyer, they were bombarded by people coming at them from all angles, saying how much they enjoyed their performances. Then a woman with short grey hair came up to Sylvia. ‘Sylvia, it was so good to hear you play again!’ The woman hugged Sylvia, then turned to Grace. ‘And you were absolutely brilliant.’ She stared at Grace in a look of amazement, and held out her hand. ‘I’m Lillian Greene, Sylvia’s mother.’

Her grandmother. Her
real
grandmother. Grace took her soft hand and shook it gently. ‘It’s so nice to meet you.’

‘And I’m Robert Greene,’ said a tall man with a grey beard and moustache, holding out his hand too.

Her grandfather. She shook his hand, and smiled. The moment was surreal, and Grace felt she was in a dream. But this was real.

‘Rob, great to see you back in town! You have a very talented daughter and granddaughter there,’ a man said as he came up and shook her grandfather’s hand.

‘Indeed I do,’ Robert replied, looking proud.

‘Well, I’ll leave you all to it and catch up with you later. Nice seeing you, you too Lillian,’ the man said.

Lillian nodded happily at the man, then turned to Sylvia. ‘If the weather’s anything like today, why don’t we all meet in Miracle Park for a picnic lunch tomorrow?’

Sylvia glanced at Grace and raised her eyebrows. Grace nodded. ‘Sounds nice!’

‘Lovely, say about twelve?’ Lillian asked.

Everyone agreed, and Sylvia excused herself as a couple of people approached her. Grace recognised one of them as the lady from the clinic. Then she saw Lauren in the crowd trying to get Grace’s attention, and Grace waved.

‘There are probably a lot of people wanting to congratulate you. You go and talk to them, Grace, and we’ll get a chance to talk tomorrow,’ Lillian said.

‘Thanks so much for coming tonight, it’s really great to meet you,’ Grace said, shaking Lillian and Robert’s hands once more, and walking over to Lauren.

‘Good stuff girlfriend, that was awesome!’ Lauren high fived her. ‘I am so jealous of your talent, I can’t even play
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
on the piano!’

‘Thanks, but I’m jealous of you, your reverse turning kicks are the best in the class!’

Lauren shushed her. ‘Stop it, tonight’s about you.’

Grace sidled up closer to Lauren. ‘You knew, didn’t you, about Jonah going overseas?’

Lauren nodded and bowed her head. ‘I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you, tried to get
him
to tell you, but he made me promise to keep it secret. Said he planned on telling you after the concert, and didn’t want to upset you after you’d been sick and all.’

So that’s what that exchange between Lauren and Jonah had been about. She was trying to get him to tell her the truth. ‘He still should have told me, it really hurt, knowing he’d kept it from me,’ Grace said.

‘Maybe you should tell him that,’ Lauren said, pointing to the doorway that led outside.

Jonah stood leaning against the doorframe, his hair covering one side of his face, and he signalled for her to come over. Grace didn’t want to argue, she just wanted to enjoy this night, but somehow she found herself walking towards him.

‘You didn’t tell me there was a song named after you,’ he said.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, confused.

‘
Amazing Grace
.’ Jonah smiled.

There he goes again,
Grace thought.
Putting on the charm
. She turned her head away from him. ‘You really hurt me, you know. I don’t know why you didn’t just tell me.’

‘I was going to, not long after we met, but then things started getting serious, and it got harder and harder to tell you. I didn’t want to risk losing you. I thought you’d break up with me if you knew I wasn’t going to be around much longer.’

‘But you should have left that up to me to decide. Who’s to say I wouldn’t have stayed with you—to make the most of the time we had?’ Grace said, finally looking him in the eyes.

‘Yes, I should have. I’m so sorry Grace. We were having so much fun together, and I didn’t want anything to muck it up. Then you went to hospital and I found out about the cancer, and there was no way I wanted to tell you then, so I thought after the concert would be best. Guess things didn’t quite work out as planned,’ he said, bowing his head. ‘If I’d known you were going to come into my life I don’t know if I would have even booked the trip. I even thought of cancelling, but I’d already paid a deposit, and I’ve spent years saving money.’

‘I wouldn’t want you to cancel your trip, it’ll be an amazing experience.’ Grace smiled, the hurt from before dissolving away as she realised he’d only kept it secret from her because he really liked her. Maybe even loved her.

‘I know. It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime.’ Jonah held onto her shoulders. ‘And I want to share it with you.’ His eyes looked straight into hers. ‘Will you come with me, Grace?’

The next day, Robert Greene and Grace were tossing bread crumbs towards a growing army of birds, all lined up in readiness to charge forward at the flying crumbs, when Sylvia noticed a tear falling gently down her mother’s cheek.

‘Mum?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Lillian replied, wiping the tear away quickly as though she’d walked into a spider’s web. ‘I don’t know what’s come over me. It’s just…she’s beautiful, Sylvia.’

‘She sure is,’ Sylvia replied, glancing towards Grace, now competing for the birds’ attention with a child nearby, who was enthusiastically throwing large chunks of bread. The sun had carried over its warm reign from yesterday into today, and as tomorrow’s forecast was for cold winds and rain, many people were in Miracle Park enjoying the favourable weather.

‘I’m so glad you finally took up piano again, Sylvia. It’s been far too long.’

Sylvia nodded, her fingers still tingling from the euphoria of performing last night. ‘I know. If it wasn’t for Grace, I wouldn’t have.’