Chapter 2 - The Longest HourSitting in the third row of the grand auditorium felt like being strapped to an electric chair.
Around us, parents whispered excitedly, adjusting camera lenses and holding bouquets of roses wrapped in cellophane. On stage, children of varying ages stumbled through Bach and Beethoven, earning polite, enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Two rows ahead of us sat Richard and Helen.
From where I sat, all I could see was the back of my father’s silver-haired head. He was leaning over, whispering something to Helen, who chuckled softly and patted his arm. The casual ease of his posture made my stomach churn. How could a monster sit so comfortably in public light? How many other children had he targeted behind closed doors while playing the benevolent elder?
"He looks so proud," Meredith whispered, leaning over to nudge my shoulder. She smiled warmly, her eyes glowing with maternal pride. "Look at your dad, Harrison. He told me earlier he has a very special surprise gift for Chloe after the performance. Isn't he the sweetest grandfather?"
I had to bite the inside of my cheek hard enough to draw blood to keep from screaming.
Special surprise. The words tasted like arsenic.
"Yeah," I forced out, my jaw locked so tight my teeth ached. "Real sweet."
"Are you okay, honey? You look pale," Meredith asked, her brow furrowing with sudden concern. "Is it work stress again?"
"I'm fine. Just... thinking about things," I lied, keeping my eyes locked on the stage where the instructor announced the next student.
"Chloe Vance," the announcer called out over the PA system.
A polite ripple of applause swept through the hall. Out walked my little girl, looking breathtaking in her blue velvet dress. She stepped up to the grand piano, adjusted the bench, and looked out into the audience. Her eyes immediately locked onto mine in the third row.
I gave her a slow, deliberate nod and a reassuring smile, letting her know I was right here, watching over her, and that I believed every single word she told me.
She took a deep, trembling breath, placed her small hands on the ivory keys, and began to play. It wasn't a complex piece—just a simple sonatina—but she played it with a fierce, burning precision that commanded the room. As the final notes faded into the hushed auditorium, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
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Meredith was weeping tears of joy, clapping wildly. A few rows up, Richard stood up, whistling loudly and clapping with theatrical enthusiasm.
As Chloe took her bow, her eyes met mine one last time. There was no fear in them anymore. Only resolve.
