The Violinist

Spencer played to his audience, ignoring them in favor of the music. The crowd was absolutely silent, silent in respect for the young violinist that was standing on stage playing his heart out. Finally, Spencer ran the bow over the strings one last time and the song ended. There were several beats of silence and then the stadium was field with clapping and cheering. Spencer blushed modestly and then bowed to his audience.

"That was well done son," Diana complimented Spencer ruffling his hair affectionately, once Spencer had come backstage.

"Thank you mom," Spencer said smiling kissing her cheek in affection.

"Your father will be pleased," Diana added. "He should be here soon."

Spencer had started playing as a young boy, when Diana had given him a beginner's violin, since he had shown talent in that area. Spencer had blossomed teaching himself to play by the time he was six. His father William Reid had complained about the noise more than once and had left before Spencer had truly mastered his beginner's violin. Finally, it was decided he needed a professional, someone to bring out the genius that Diana knew was inside her son. He had already taught himself to play very well, and could be a brilliant violinist once he was old enough if he got the proper instruction and she was going to make sure he did.

The problem was though, that Diana's job at the university didn't pay enough a hire a really good one, as they could charge a small fortune for lessons.

It was only a year or so later that Diana had met David Rossi. He was with the traveling orchestra and they were playing the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was one of the largest concert venues in the world. Diana had taken her son to see a concert, since he loved music and even managed to score a meeting with David Rossi. She had been offered a tour backstage and Spencer of course, had found it all endlessly fascinating.

She and Dave had fallen in love within a few months and had married when Spencer was eight.

Dave had appreciated Spencer's talent, unlike the man he had shared DNA with and made sure that he hired the best tutors, so that his adopted son would reach his full potential. This was only after they had moved back to New York where Dave lived. Spencer was actually glad to get out of Las Vegas and for more than one reason. Spencer had his first concert, when he was 12 and he was well received. Now he was 28 and he had been playing it bigger and bigger venues. He had refused to return to Las Vegas though, as he refused to go back to his hometown that had caused him so much pain, where the memories were bound to be sharper. His father leaving his family when Spencer had been so young had made Spencer believe that it was his fault, but Diana had gently explained that it wasn't his fault at all that his father just didn't appreciate his family. Some people did not appreciate what they had Diana had explained to her then seven-year-old son. It didn't have anything to do with his practicing on the beginner's violin that she had bought him.

"I'm glad you could be here mom," Spencer said as he hugged his mother tightly.

"I'll always be here when you play in New York, Spencer," Diana told that her son as she kissed his forehead. "I know that Dave and I can't always be there when you play in other cities."

"It's okay, mom, I know you're with me in spirit," Spencer said. "I know you're with me in my heart even if you can't be present."

"That's very grown-up of you, son," Diana said.

"I'm nearly 30 mom I have to be grown-up by now," Spencer told her smiling.

"You are," Diana acknowledged. "You were certainly always more grown up at six or seven years old than most others that age."

"That was partly my personality, partly William Reid's leaving," Spencer said. Spencer had refused to call William Reid his father ever since the man had left. Diana couldn't really blame her son for that considering how his father had treated him. Dave was a much better example to her oldest son and encouraged him to practice. Dave had hired tutors without complaining about the money, so that Spencer could become even better. Her son had learned so much on his own, but then he had always been intelligent and had immense talent. She had known that he needed some professional help, as that was the only way for him to become a great violinist. Her meeting David Rossi had been a very fortunate occurrence. They had fallen in love, but then, Dave was everything that her first husband was not. He was warm, kind, compassionate, understanding and appreciated talent when he saw it, something that her former husband did not. It was obvious to Dave that Spencer had a great talent that could be homed until he became one of the greatest violinist of his time, something Diana doubted would've happened if she had stayed with Will. Will hadn't appreciated the noise that Spencer made when he was first learning to play, he hadn't seen that Spencer had real talent. He had refused to hire tutors thinking that it was just a passing interest for his son so figured why waste the money. He had yelled at Diana for buying Spencer that beginner's violin in the first place. Diana had no doubt that Will was regretting his attitude now, as Spencer was quite famous and also quite wealthy. If only Will had seen his son for who he truly was then perhaps her son's relationship with him would have been more than nonexistent. Because of what Will had done Spencer had refused numerous offers to play in Las Vegas. He had played in various venues in Nevada, just not in his old hometown.

He had explained awhile back that going back to Las Vegas would bring up too many bad memories, because unfortunately her son's memory was eidetic. Basically, he could never forget what his father had done no matter how young he had been when it happened. Having such a memory was both a great and terrible gift.

It didn't matter that she was very happy with Dave. The fact that Dave had supported her son from another marriage, from the first moment they had met put him in her good books right away. Dave had recognized in her son the drive to succeed and become a great concert violinist, something Will had never done or even recognized.

Now, for all intents and purposes, Dave was Spencer's father in every way that mattered, other than DNA. Thanks to her marriage to Dave, Spencer had four siblings, two girls and two boys. This was a gift that Diana had never expected, as Will had refused to have another after Spencer had turned three. Diana had wanted at least a couple of more, to give Spencer some siblings and unfortunately, Spencer's father hadn't cooperated.

Still, things had worked out, and it had been clear from the beginning that Dave adored his children including Spencer, even though they were basically grown up now. There were still two children at home but the others were in college, and Spencer of course, had moved out into his own apartment long since.

"I know he really did a number on you," Diana sighed.

"It doesn't matter anymore mom," Spencer told Diana. "William Reid dug his own grave let him lie in it."

There was absolutely no sympathy in her son's voice and again Diana couldn't blame him. Will had really messed himself up when he had ignored his son or complained about him.

"Dave is my father as far as I'm concerned," Spencer added. "He did everything a father is supposed to do and it didn't matter to him that I was not his natural born son. He made sure I got tutors, so I became even better than when I was at seven and eight, as there is only so much you can learn on your own."

"I thought you were quite good and that age, son," Diana told him smiling.

"I was more than decent considering I had taught myself how to play," Spencer smiled slightly, as he remembered. "I got a lot better once dad took an interest in me."

This was true, Diana knew.

"You know I used to play a lot of wrong notes sometimes when William Reid was around, just to annoy him," Spencer admitted.

"I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised," Diana said. "He wasn't very nice to you, even before I got you that beginner's violin. I suppose it was your way to get revenge for his treatment. I doubt very much that Will ever realized that he was rather dense when it came to his son."

"He hasn't mattered in over 20 years mom, so let's just forget about him. I wouldn't have four siblings if you hadn't met Dave, so I will always be grateful for that reason that you did meet him. The fact, that he's the kind of man I wish William Reid had been is also a consideration. I always wanted a sibling you know that and the fact that I got more then one was really special."

"I understand son," Diana said simply. "I'll never regret my marriage to him, because it gave me you, but I'm also glad that it broke up when it did and that I met Dave not long afterwards."

Spencer nodded at this, glad that Dave was his father, something he would always be grateful for, for as long as he lived.

Dave came striding backstage just then and both wife and son greeted him.

"It's time to go home," Dave told his wife as he kissed her cheek.

It had been a lucky day for him when he had met the then Diana Reid. He had gained a son right away and had had four more children that shared his blood after he and Diana were married.

"Want to come over for a few minutes to our place?" Dave asked Spencer.

"That's okay, dad," Spencer said smiling. "I think you and mom deserve some time alone."
"You're always welcome to come over for a nightcap or for any other reason," Dave told Spencer.

"I know just not tonight. I have plans."

"A girlfriend?" Diana asked her son with interest.
Spencer blushed answering his mother's question without him having to say a word.

"It's about time you started dating again," Dave said.

Spencer hadn't dated in over a year, at least as far as either parent knew. On the other hand, he travelled a great deal and had a demanding concert schedule, so that was partly why. Any orchestra would take him he was that good and that popular, but he wasn't interested in settling in one place.

"I'm not going to date just anybody like some men do," Spencer said. "Some men will go out with a woman just because she's beautiful and has tits, that's not me."

This was true both Diana and Dave had to acknowledge. Their son was very selective in who he dated.

"So who is she?" Diana asked her son has asked that we have then walked out of the concert hall together.

"Just someone I like a lot," Spencer said. "We'll see where it goes."

"I suppose that we can't meet her," Diana said and Spencer shook his head.

"Not yet, as it is to new. There's no guarantees that our very new relationship will get to the stage where I introduce you," Spencer said.

"So how long have you been seeing her son?" Dave asked.

"Just a few weeks," Spencer answered. "With my demanding schedule that's really not very often."

"You could take a job here with the orchestra," Dave said. "They'd take you in a heartbeat."

"Maybe someday," Spencer said. "Perhaps if I ever get married and have children I might do that, as I'd want to be around for my kids."

"That's what I did," Dave said putting an arm around his son's shoulders. "I stopped traveling so much once your mother and I had kids. I wanted to be home with them as much as possible, as I'd never imagine that I'd find a woman I could love, have a family. Traveling is all well and good for a few years, but it does get tiring."

"I hope it works out for you son," Diana told Spencer kissing his cheek affectionately. "I would like grandchildren, but don't rush on my account. I made the wrong choice in my first husband and the only good thing that came out of such a disaster was you. Try not to make the same mistake I did."

"It's probably one of the reasons he's so selective in who he dates," Dave said. "His experiences in childhood would not allow him to be anything else. Spencer learns from past experiences and his memory doesn't help. Of course, it might also be partly his personality."

"That's a good point," Diana admitted. "I wish you could forget your father's treatment of you."

"So do I, but that's just not possible mom and you know it. On the other hand, it means I probably won't make the same mistake that you did, but we'll see. I'll see you sometime soon," Spencer said, as he bid his parents goodbye.

"Hopefully, this relationship will work out," Dave told Diana, as the two of them got in their car.

"I hope so," Diana said, as she buckled her seatbelt on the passenger side. "We both know that Spencer is a much better judge of character then I was at his age. I never would've married William Reid if I had seen through his charming façade, but on the other hand, I'll always be grateful, because it gave me Spencer."

Dave was nodding at this, because he could understand his wife's feelings very well. Diana adored her oldest son, how intelligent, kind and compassionate he was. She appreciated his brilliance and not just with the violin, but with other instruments as well, even if his son preferred the violin over every other. He was also brilliant when it came to academics and was very well read. He had gone to Juilliard right here in New York, and had done very well there. His instructors had been impressed and had told him in confidence that his son would go far when it came to his music.

Diana had told him, back when they had first met, that Spencer had inherited her grandfather's talent in music, a talent that unfortunately she didn't possess. She had passed on his great-grandfather's violin when Spencer had had his first concert at 12. Her son being a careful and meticulous young man took excellent care of it. It was nice to see her grandfather's legacy live on, in her son.

This was something that Dave appreciated and could understand quite well. So many parents didn't appreciate their children's innate talents. So many parents didn't pay attention to their children didn't hire tutors for what they were good at or send them to a special school, so their talent could be nurtured. They could be good at music like Spencer, or have a talent for math or science or be good with their hands in building things or even be a genius at mechanics.

Spencer was nothing like the man that he shared DNA with and Dave knew Diana was grateful for that. Dave was also well aware that he had also had an influence on Spencer, even if they weren't blood related. Dave had been happy to adopt Spencer, as his oldest son, even before his first child had come along, which had been a girl. Dave adored both his daughters, and Diana was happy to get at least one little girl to love.

Dave knew that his wife had wanted another with her first husband but that her ex-husband had refused to have anymore. He had a son to carry on the family name and that was more than enough for him. He hadn't considered his wife's feelings on the matter, as what William Reid wanted was set in stone as far as the other man was concerned and he hadn't cared about what his wife wanted.

It just went to show you that William Reid was a selfish man, as money hadn't exactly been a concern. If they hadn't been able to afford it when it came to having another child Dave could've understood the former husband's decision, but between his job as a lawyer and Diana's as a professor at a well known university in Vegas they had plenty to have another two or three if they had wanted.

It was just as well that that relationship hadn't lasted, Dave thought, because if it had he never would've been able to marry her or had his children, so it was just as well that William Reid was such a bastard.

~~~Spencer and Emily~~~