Page 65 of Requiem

I slap his hand playfully and am about to say something when the blaring sound of a foghorn filters into the bright, white kitchen from outside.

“Boat!” David yells proudly from the highchair.

“Yes, baby, very good!” I praise him and then turn to Matthew. “Can’t we do anything about that? The new foghorns on the ferry are so loud!”

“It’s already on the agenda for the next civic meeting. At the very least, we should be able to get a curfew, so there won’t be anymore of those midnight wakeup calls. I don’t think it’ll be an issue, honestly. The ferry company likes to be a good neighbor.’”

“I’d settle for having them be a quiet neighbor right now,” I grumble.

“Okay, so let’s square away the plan for the rest of the week,” he says, pulling his phone out of his pocket to consult his calendar. I reach for mine and realize it’s still missing, thanks to the redheaded imp sitting next to me. “Lunch with Trudy for you,” Matthew is reciting as he scrolls from date to date. “A date with Maggie for David. I’ve got a rehearsal for the Montauk Music Festival gig I’m doing, so I won’t be home till dinner. And then …?”

“And then we have a down day on Wednesday before we head back to the city Thursday. I gave Nat those two days off. And then Friday …”

“And then Friday is Mommy’s big night!” Matthew says excitedly, scooping up David from the highchair and spinning him around the kitchen.

“Matthew! Put him down before he throws up on you!” I warn him, already envisioning the gooey, orange mess.

“Mommy’s a worry wart!” Matthew informs David and delivers him back to his seat.

“More!” he demands, pounding his chubby fists on the tray. “More!”

“Finish your dinner first,” Matthew tells him. It seems to do the trick and peace is restored in the kitchen – at least for the moment. “As I was saying …your big night! Is everything ready?”

I roll my eyes and groan. “It’s a nightmare. I spoke with Lester Morgan this afternoon. The guest list is up to a hundred and fifty!”

Matthew waves away my alarm with a dismissive hand.

“Oh, come on now. You’ve played for audiences ten times that size!” he reminds me.

“Yeah, well, this feels different. God, it’s all about me, this time.”

“Julia! It’s supposed to be all about you. This is your first commercial release – it’s a very, very big deal!”

“I know,” I whine, “but all those people …they’ll be wanting me to sign their CD’s and they’ll want to talk with me and …well, you know playing for an audience is one thing. Interacting is another.”

He seems to consider this. “Yeah, I can see that. But still, it isn’t as if you’ll be alone. I’ll be there, Dr. Sam, Maggie, Brett …You’ll be among friends. Just go and play. The rest will take care of itself.”

“You think?”

I can hear the skepticism in my voice, and so can he. He stands up, faces me and reaches down, taking my face in both of his soft, warm hands.

“I know. If I had even an iota of doubt, I wouldn’t let you do it. I swear, Julia.”

I smile up at him and his amber eyes fill me with the confidence I’m lacking.

“You know I love you, right?” I murmur and watch as his smile makes his eyes crinkle.

“I do,” he says, leaning down and giving me a soft kiss on the mouth. “Now, where’s the rest of that macaroni and cheese?”