Page 83 of The Heart of Everything

“Well, I think we’re all set for the kiss,” Thomas announced.

Camille and Raymond turned toward their children. They both seemed so happy that Thomas couldn’t help but smile. But Manon was watching only her pianist.

The two silhouettes began to fade slowly. Just before disappearing, Raymond asked Camille to excuse him for a moment so he could share a final word with his son.

He walked over to Thomas and whispered in his ear, “There is one thing I never said enough. It’s the heart of everything, though, and the obvious answer to your question. I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out. Masculine bravado can go to hell, because heaven is the place where you say, I love you, son. That’s what it means to be a father, and I will always be yours. For all eternity.”

Epilogue

Three planes and one day later, Thomas made his way onto the stage at Warsaw’s opera house, then sat down at his bench.

That night, he was playing Rachmaninoff again, but this time the Concerto No. 2 took him far beyond the Russian steppe, to the other side of the world, to Baker Beach in California.

When he began the second movement, he missed a note, scandalizing the conductor.

Thomas hadn’t been able to resist the urge to scan the room.

Manon was sitting in the third row.