“Sebastian, can I talk to you alone for a moment?” Cadence comes up to me after we’ve packed up our instruments for the day. It’s the first time she’s initiated any individual conversation with me and I can’t help but be a little surprised. My pause must have confused her and her face is closing up, as if she’s embarrassed to have bothered me.
“Oh, sorr-…” she starts and turns away.
On instinct I reach out and grab her gently around the wrist. She doesn’t shake me off. “No. Sorry, I was just daydreaming. Of course we can talk.” I lead her over to a quiet corner of the room, away from the guys chatting in the living area. “What can I help you with?”
She looks up at me, and for the first time in weeks, I’m staring down into her eyes again. Their oak brown depths are endless and in seconds I’m already getting lost in them.
“I have something for you,” she says and I notice her holding a flat brown paper bag.
“Oh. What is it?” I can’t guess what it might be, and I can’t think of any reason she’d be giving me something.
“It’s, ah, it’s actually, from me and the kids in the orchestra. Um, kinda like, ah, an early thank you.”
I’m shocked. I don’t know what she’s told them, but I’m surprised that she’s told them anything at all. I guess she has no doubt that I’ll follow through with my promise. I can’t believe the confidence she has in me if that’s the case.
“A thank you? For what?”
She doesn’t smile, but something flickers in her eyes that fills me with warmth. A look of deep appreciation. One I can’t imagine that I deserve.
“For giving us hope.”
“Cadence…” What is it about this woman that touches the very core of me?
“I haven’t promised them anything yet, I just told them, it’s possible that someone may be answering our prayers.”
I lean in, wanting her to hear every word, “You know I have no intention of ever breaking the deal we’ve made, right? You can count on that money.”
“I know.” And I hear it in her voice, she really does.
“Good.” I smile. “Now, are you actually going to give me my gift?”
She laughs and it’s like a fucking nightingale singing, and hands the small bag to me. “We’ve been practicing this over the last few days. The kids came in early to record it this morning. Sorry about the blurry video, we just did it on my iPhone.”
“What’s it of?” I open it and see a DVD. I’m burning with curiosity.
“You’ll see. Or hear. We hope you like it. I chose it specifically for you. I hope you’re not disappointed for believing in us.” And then, she leans in, and grazes my cheek with her lips. “You’re a really good guy, Sebastian.”
I’m frozen to the spot. I’m torn between wanting to run to my laptop and put the DVD in, and pulling her back for another kiss.
She makes the decision for me.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow! Great rehearsal today!” She calls across the room as she walks away from me, lingering at the door for a moment for one last look, and then closing the door behind her.
“Hey! What’s that?” Jez comes over to me, and takes the disc from my hands.
“Oi! Give it back. It’s private.”
“Oooh, private with our Cadey. We want to know!” Marius pipes up and jumps on the couch.
“Jez, give it the fuck back. It’s none of your business!”
“Come and get it, piss ant!”
I pretend to give up and just as he turns away, I run over, leaping over the couch, and wrestle him to the floor. He grunts and tries to knee me in the groin as I straddle over him. He throws the DVD over to Marius before I can grab it from him. I punch him in the shoulder and he grabs my hand and twists it.
“Ah fuck!!! Let go, dickhead!” I scream, which just makes him twist harder. I manage to get my other arm free and give him a right hook to the left cheek.
“Motherfucker!” He grunts in pain, loosening his grip for a moment given me a chance to grab his throat with my hand.
“WHAT DO YOU PICKLEDICKS THINK YOU ARE DOING?!” Dennis’ voice booms over us and we stop wrestling, still holding each other tight, but turn so we’re both on our backs looking up at his face, so red it looks like it might just pop off his neck in a cloud of steam.
“Erm. He started it!” Jez nods to me.
“Did fucking not.” I pout and tighten my grip around his neck and he pretends to choke.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me. Do you KNOW how much I pay in insurance for those girly hands of yours? And hire people to do everything from your laundry to your dishes to practically tying your shoeslaces, for fuck’s sake? It’s so you don’t hurt them doing anything more strenuous that jerking off. NOW FUCKING LET GO OF EACH OTHER!”
“Count to three and we’ll do it at the same time.” Jez tells him.
“Good lord, I should just let you kill yourselves and take the life insurance and go live on an island where I never have to listen to any string instruments ever again.” He moans and presses the ball of his hand against his temple.
“You better do it or else they’ll still be there in a week’s time. Remember that time Jez didn’t change his shirt for two weeks because no one laughed at the joke printed on it?” Brad reminds him.
“Oh, yeah! That was a good one! Hey, Dennis, knock knock.”
“I’ll knock knock your fucking heads together! Fucking hell. On three, OK, willywankers? One, two, three.”
“Ooooof!” We let go and push each other away, biting back smiles.
“Guys, shut up and look at this.” Marius waves to the laptop screen. He’s put in the DVD.
We go over to the couch just as the video focuses.