O hai!

Hope you are having a great week!

Ready for the part 32 excerpt? Yes?

Alright, here we go…

Milly didn’t know where to click. She frantically scanned the laptop screen while the ringing continued. Then, at last, she spotted the green ‘accept’ button.

Hannah’s face popped up and filled the screen. Milly couldn’t help but beam at her.

“Hey you,” she said.

A gazillion butterflies started fluttering in her belly all at once.

Hannah was smiling sweetly.

“Hi…”

They just stared at each other for a few seconds.

Hannah shifted in her seat. It looked like she was sitting on a couch.

“Sorry for calling you so late,” she said.

Milly adjusted the angle of her screen.

“I’ve never done this video chatting before. Sorry it took me so long to get it working.”

Hannah scratched her cheek.

“I know it’s a bit of a fuss. But I thought it would be better to talk to you like this.”

Milly’s hands rested on the edge of the chair. She squeezed it nervously.

“So you saw your mother?”

“Yes, I did. I just got back home from the restaurant.”

Milly’s mouth was dry. She glanced at her own image at the bottom of the screen. Would Hannah be able to see how nervous she was?

“So,” Hannah said, but then suddenly disappeared.

All Milly could see was something black brushing against the camera.

“Charles,” Hannah said in the background.

Milly tilted her head. “Charles?”

Hannah appeared again, holding a black and white cat.

“This is Charles,” Hannah said while she petted the cat’s head.

Milly smiled brightly and leaned closer to get a better look.

“He’s so cute!” she said.

Hannah nodded proudly. “He’s perfect.”

Milly reached for the screen as if she could pet Charles.

“I’d love to meet him some time,” she said.

Hannah scratched Charles’ white chin affectionally.

“I bet he’ll fall in love with you at first sight. Just like…”

She quickly closed her mouth.

Milly felt goosebumps rise all over her body. Had Hannah really almost said…Milly couldn’t even finish the sentence in her thoughts. She cleared her throat nervously.

Hannah was looking perplexed too. Her blush was clearly visible, even on camera. She put Charles down next to her.

“Ok, ehm,” she said, “I asked my mother why you were selected for the grant.”

Milly nodded eagerly. The whole foundation topic suddenly felt like safe chit chat now.

“Ok…” she said softly.

Hannah leaned in and looked straight into the camera. Her eyes were serious.

“My mother chose you because she thinks you have exceptional talent and potential, Milly.”

Milly’s breath caught.

“She sat in the audience during several of your recitals and auditions for other programs. That’s why she didn’t ask you to audition for ours.”

Milly stared at the wall. “I don’t understand,” she said as she rubbed her temples.

Hannah picked up her laptop. Milly saw parts of her living room flash by before Hannah came back into focus, much closer now.

“Forget everything I said before. None of it was true,” Hannah said, her eyebrows gathered in a pained expression. “I should have asked my mother about it from the start. I’m so sorry.”

Milly nodded hesitantly. Finally, her mouth dry, she asked:

“Your mother saw me perform?”

The corners of Hannah’s mouth edged up.

“Yes, several times. She went out of her way to see you perform. She did go see other artists too, of course. But she grew fond of you, she told me.”

Milly’s lips parted in surprise.

“My mother will explain everything. She’s very eager to talk to you. She feels horrible you had to go through this.”

Milly was unable to move. She stared at the screen but didn’t actually see anything. Hannah’s words kept ringing in her ears.

“Are you OK?” Hannah asked.

Milly blinked.

“Yes,” she said slowly. “I’m just wondering….” She stopped, not sure if she should ask this.

“Wondering about what?”

“Fuck it,” Milly thought. “Why did your
mother want to see me perform?” she said.

Hannah grinned. “To hear you sing, of course!”

“No, I mean, why me? Why did she want to hear me specifically?”

“Oh!” Hannah’s eyes followed Charles around the room.

“An old friend told my mom about you,” she said.

Milly was ready to ask her next question, but Hannah was faster.

Snap! That was it. See you on Saturday 😉