Happy Valentine’s Day my super bertmantic fellow…ehm, romantics!

Hope you are spending the day spoiling your significant other OR spoiling yourself. Or both.

It’s also Wednesday, which means it’s excerpt time! Hopefully we’ll finally find out what Milly has decided…

Many greetings and a happy Valentine’s wiggle,

Sigrid

Milly got the app on her computer to work just in time. She smoothed down her hair one last time before clicking the ‘Accept’ button. She smiled while she waited for everything to connect, fully aware her own camera was already working.

“Hi there,” Richard said.

Milly waved back shyly. “Hey.”

She shifted in her seat. She had not expected the artistic director of the Boston Lyric Opera Company to request a video call today. She was nervous.

“Thank you for making the time on such short notice,” he said.

“Of course. No problem.”

“I hope you had a good trip back?”

“Yes, thank you. I got home a few hours ago.”

Richard squeezed his eyes, appearing to study her living room. Milly hoped he couldn’t see much. She was feeling somewhat embarrassed to be talking to this accomplished director while sitting on her old couch.

“Alright, let me get to the point then,” Richard said.

Milly moved to the edge of her seat.

“The whole panel was very impressed by you yesterday,” he said, smiling. He raised his arms. “That’s why we’d like to offer you the role of Sesto in our La Clemenza di Tito.”

Milly wanted to jump up and dance. But she couldn’t even do a happy wiggle. Richard was watching. So she smiled and bowed her head.

“That is great news. Thank you.”

“I’m sure you will need to consult with your agent. He wasn’t happy when I requested this call with you.”

Milly almost rolled her eyes. “I can imagine. I will call him later today.”

“Okay. Look, I wanted to have this call to discuss what it will take from you to sing this role.”

Milly frowned, slightly taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“It is a principal role. And a very demanding one.”

“I’m not sure I understand…,”Milly said hesitantly. Why offer her the role if they weren’t convinced she could handle it, she wondered.

Richard adjusted the angle of his screen. “You are relatively young *and* you’re a new name. Critics can be pretty relentless. Even get personal.”

Milly tried not to look indignant. “I am confident I can sing this,” she said.

Richard smiled. “I just wanted to make sure you are ready. There is no shame in waiting until you have truly found your voice,” he said and suddenly chuckled. “Pun not intended.”

Milly laughed uncomfortably.

“All jokes aside,” Richard continued. “Do you know who you want to be on and off the stage? Are you ready to own the spotlight?”

The tiny hairs on Milly’s arms stood up. The skin on the back of her neck tingled. Was this man a psychic or something? No one had ever asked her this. Let alone someone she only met once. And the timing was just uncanny!

She regained her composure quickly, though. “I am ready,” she stated. “I know exactly where I want to go with this character and I am ready.”

Richard nodded slowly.

“There’s one thing you should know, though,” Milly added. She sensed Richard wouldn’t appreciate it if she held something back in this call.

“Yes?”

Milly folded her hands in her lap. She made sure she was sitting perfectly upright. She wanted to say this with all the dignity she could muster.

“I’m not sure if this will happen, but the critics might find more than usual to write about. Because of my personal life.”

Richard frowned. “Go on.”

Milly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Have you heard about the man who was arrested in Texas? He attacked women on parking lots.”

Ugh, right? See you Saturday 😉