The Music Box
It was just one week until Audra's nineteenth birthday, and he didn't know what to do. Didn't even know how to approach the subject with the little sister who had stolen his heart since the very first moment.
The truth, the sad truth was that he had never attended a party in his life, let alone a lavish one like the one that was being prepared.
The sad truth was… he couldn't dance.
Audra was in turmoil, and the whole household with her. She wanted everything to be perfect down to the last detail. Victoria, of course was the matching image of her daughter. They had been planning the party for months now. All of Stockton's most influential families would attend.
He could already see them in his mind's eye: the young women in their fancy gowns, the boys in their best suits, all of them moving graciously, whirling around like they didn't even touch the ground, all in perfect time with the music. The girls' hair waving, the boys' eyes glowing, all of them smiling, laughing, having fun.
And, he… he couldn't dance!
The last thing he wanted to do, was to let his little sister down.
Sitting on a couch in front of the fireplace, he was absently watching the smoldering fire, lost in his thoughts.
He jumped when the small hand touched his shoulder.
"Daydreaming, Heath?" Victoria asked in that light tone that she always used when she thought their children needed her help but didn't dare to ask.
He smiled at her as she sat beside him. "Would you like someone to talk to?" she added.
He thought for a while. He trusted this woman and, he had to start somewhere. "I suppose I'd better do that", he replied weakly, sighing.
"I'm all ears", she said with a little smile.
"I won't be here for Audra's birthday", he stated.
Victoria didn't reply just as yet. She was so surprised she couldn't talk.
"Oh, Heath, you can't be serious", she said after a while, the laugh in her voice turning into alarm at the sight of his head slowly shaking "no".
"Heath, you are well aware this is the first birthday party your sister Audra is giving since you arrived, and that you are her most important guest? She is so excited that this time you'll be there she's beside herself with joy at the mere thought. Now, I won't have you doing a thing like this to her, Heath".
Victoria's voice had risen in tone at each spoken word and just at the end of her speech she acknowledged Heath's contrite expression. Every word had been like a stab in Heath's heart, and he had progressively bent his head. He was sadly watching his feet, now.
"Oh, what happened? Please, tell me", Victoria said as she laid her hand on his knee.
After a while, he dared to watch her in the eyes, and found the courage to say the truth.
"The fact is… the fact is that I can't dance, Mother".
Victoria gave a little laugh, then realized he truly meant what he was saying. She took both his hands in hers and watched him intensely.
"Oh, Heath, you never had the occasion to learn, did you? Now, Heath, your sister loves you very much, just as much as we all do. She wants you at her side that day, and you can't miss her birthday party for any reason. If you can't dance, I'll teach you, just like I did for all my other sons. Nobody is born knowing everything ".
Heath blushed fiercely and said nothing. He was so embarrassed he wanted to sink in a hole in the floor and never come out again.
"Oh, Heath, I promise it's easy. You're a young, agile man, I've seen the way you mount that mare of yours so easily, in one smooth movement. I'll bet you're a natural. Now, let's see what we can…"
She stood and made a few steps in the room, found what she was looking for, under Heath's watchful eye. She laid a finely chiseled, little silver round box in the center of the small round table beside the couch. She caressed the top of the box with dreamy eyes. Then, holding it with a hand, she turned the little metal key that was on one side of it. Finally, she opened it. A slightly metallic, yet sweet melody spread out immediately, as the little ballerina inside the box begun to turn and turn on her tiptoes.
Satisfied, Victoria turned her head toward her newest son and smiled.
"Listen, Heath, that's a Waltz. Come on here, give me your hands", she said.
Once he reached her, she took his right hand and positioned it on the small of her own back, laying her left hand on his forearm, then put her right hand lightly in his left one.
Heath was standing there, unmoving.
She spoke confidently yet sweetly, trying to make him feel at ease. "Now listen, the key to waltzing does not lie in the precise placement of your feet, turn out of your toes, or anything like that. The essence of waltzing is keeping the beat. Can you hear the beat? The way you count is 1,2,3 – 1,2,3. Start with the left and I'll start with the right - in time to the music - step left, bring your right foot next to your left and then step in place with your left. Then, starting with your right, do the same thing reversed. You just let yourself go and follow me."
While she was speaking, they started dancing. She stopped for a moment. "Do not sway with the music: be erect, but not stiff", she corrected. Again: step-2-3, step-2-3. Relax, Heath, relax. Now, rotate. Step-2-3, step-2-3. Rotate. Yes, that's it, you've got it, Heath!".
Suddenly, the music was over. They heard the sound of someone turning the key again, and that was the very moment they realized they weren't alone anymore. Jarrod, Nick and Audra were there with them. Nick was turning the little key, Audra was arm in arm with Jarrod, her head leaning on his shoulder, her eyes glossy.
As the music started again, Nick put his fists on his hips. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go on!", he said abruptly. His eyes, though, were telling a whole different story. He turned his eyes toward his sister and oldest brother, and smiled. They smiled back at him.
Heath, whose skin, in the meantime, had turned to an impossible shade of red, looked back at the woman that was in front of him and smiled with gratitude. He nodded, and they started to dance again.
"The box, it is precious to you, isn't it?", he asked softly, just for her to hear.
"It is, Darling. Very precious. Your father, he… he gave it to me as a gift when he came back from Strawberry", she said.
Heath dropped his eyes.
"But he left me an infinitely more valuable gift from that trip to Strawberry, and I have it in my arms right now" she added.
