Page 10 of Unraveling Fate

The chairwoman did not smile as she shook Cadenza’s hand. She did raise an eyebrow. Pointedly. Because of course Ms. Allen had seen Cadenza’s reaction to whatever temper tantrum the earthsong had just thrown.

Of course she did.Cadenza struggled to keep her smile on. “Ms. Allen, Mr. Blanchet, it’s so good to meet you.”

“Mr. Richards spoke very enthusiastically about you.” Mr. Blanchet pursed his lips in a look Cadenza hoped was thoughtful rather than skeptical.

“My protégé has excellent taste. I’m sure you’ll find him correct. Why don’t I refresh your drinks while you get acquainted?” Vasilios reached across Cadenza to take the board members’ nearly empty glasses.

“Thank you, Mr. Pierce. Mint-basil limeade for myself, tonic Rickey for Tim here.” Ms. Allen eyed Cadenza’s mostly empty champagne glass on the ground as she spoke and Cadenza’s heart sank.

Non-alcoholic drinks. Both the board members were drinking non-alcoholic drinks. Which meant not only had they seen her fall over, they assumed it was because she was drunk.

“Ms. Cavalieri,” Ms. Allen began.

Cadenza’s stomach lurched as the earthsong dropped out from under her again, and the world spun. She locked her muscles into place, trying to stay upright. A breeze blew over her forearms. The song returned, flutes and starlight, and she breathed deep, feeling steadier.

Ms. Allen was staring at her, obviously waiting for a response.To a question I missed,Cadenza realized. “I’m so sorry. What was that?”

Ms. Allen waited before responding, just long enough to indicate her words weren’t her original question. “I was just saying how many auditions we’ve already had for the open position. You understand.”

Cadenza swallowed. “Of course.”

Ms. Allen and Mr. Blanchet strolled away, taking Cadenza’s new plan with them. She gritted her teeth. She wouldnotcry here in this place, with these people.

Someone placed a hand on her lower back and she started, turning. “Canon.” She’d almost forgotten he was there.

He frowned, staring after the board members. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.”

“It never is.”

“I can try talking to them again.”

“No. They made it pretty clear.” She shook her head.Another door closed because the earthsong decided to play games again.

Highway 99 slippedby out the window of the Mercedes, lights from housing developments streaking together in the dark. On their trips to Sacramento, Cadenza and her father had always taken the back roads, his favorite Highway 49 included, but Canon chose the straight shot of the valley highway.

Cadenza chewed at her lip, rehashing the disaster at the party. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. The music she heard from the world around her had always been a part of her life. Often an unruly part. Sometimes it threatened to overwhelm her, like she would simply become the earthsong. She had worked hard to be in control of the music, to be the director instead of the instrument. Only occasionally did she allow notes of the earthsong to join with her own voice. But she had never wished it gone.

The Ferrari hadn’t yielded its song without a struggle. And tonight, when the music just stopped? What if she’d pushed hercontrol of the music so much that she was losing her connection with it?

“Hey.” Cadenza turned in her seat to look at Canon. “I’m really sorry about this evening. I hope I didn’t mess anything up for you, like making the people with the money think you hang out with crazies or anything.” She tried to laugh.

“No, no,” he said. “You were great! Actually, Vasilios mentioned he thought you were lovely.”

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow in surprise.Too badhe’snot on the board.She wondered what Mr. Pearce had seen in her that Ms. Allen and Mr. Blanchet had not but then caught a glimpse of herself in the car’s side mirror. Hair still in place, despite the long evening, high cheekbones, Mediterranean coloring.

Lovely. Mr. Pearce had seen someone lovely. A lovelythingon Canon’s arm. She frowned. But then, it wasn’t as if she was going to make a habit of it. This evening had been a one-time deal. And lovely beat crazy. “Well, I’m glad I didn’t screw anything up for you.”

“Not at all. I am really sorry about the Sacramento people. They didn’t give you a decent chance.”

No they didn’t, thank you, earthsong.“At least I still have Italy.” She worked to get a smile on her face. Italy was better than Sacramento anyways. Who cared what the Sac Phil people thought?

“Italy?” Canon frowned.

Cadenza nodded. “My mother—she’s also a singer—she has a part for me in a festival in Venice. At this amazing theater too.” Real excitement lifted her cheeks this time, and her hands flew while she spoke. “Teatro la Fenice. That’s where I get my middle name, Fenice.”

“I see. So, if you have a part there, what are you doing here singing for Norroway?”

Cadenza dropped her hands in her lap, deflated. “Well, I have to save up the money for the trip, and living expenses, and…things.” She thought of the bribe her mother said she needed. She’d researched apartments that morning—in Mestre, outside of Venice proper, but less expensive—and the cheapest one she found would cost her $910 for the six weeks she’d be there. “But Drostan knows I’m going. I didn’t take this gig under any kind of false pretenses or anything.”