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later that would so often freak me out.
    “Come on, kid, let’s go talk. Somehow, I knew you’d zero in on this one.”
    “It’s fantastic, Andy,” I said, standing. “I can’t believe how much more it can do.” Movement caught the corner of my eye, a flash of red and black, a customer leaving, as were others. I hesitated, then shrugged and followed Andy.
    “Come on in here,” he said when we reached his office, indicating I take a seat. “I talked to the insurance company while you were messing around out there.”
    “You did? Why’d they call here?”
    “Wanted to check up on your payment history, how much was owed, how much the keyboard was worth, etc.” He winked. “You can come pick up your new keyboards whenever you’re ready.”
    I sat back, aghast. “What?”
    “I want you to have them now.”
    “I -- I hardly know what to say, Andy. Why?”
    “Because, well, I’ve known you a long time, Brandon. You’re good, very good. Someday I have a feeling that I’ll be saying, ‘Yeah, Brandon Ashwood always bought his keyboards from Harrison’s Music.’” He beamed at me. “I believe in you.” Okay, so I had a real freak-out moment then. For the second time in one day, two people I trusted and cared about had told me they believed in me. What could I do but believe them? Andy sat across from me, his mirth barely hidden at my shock, and I knew protesting would be fruitless. “Um, thanks, Andy. I’ll try not to disappoint you.”
    “You would never disappoint me, Brandon. You’ll succeed despite yourself.” He was right about that.

    A Red-Tainted Silence
    37

    I got up to leave, still a little dazed. As we walked to the front door, I paused. “Wait, Andy, the reason I came in here in the first place was to ask you if you’d ever seen this guy I’m trying to find. He auditioned for us, and his resume ... it got lost. His name is Nicholas Kilmain, and he’s a little shorter than me, has black hair and blue eyes, really nice pale skin -
    -” I blushed, but Andy didn’t seem to notice my slip.
    He slapped himself on the forehead. “I’ve seen your flyers, but I forgot about them. I’m sorry, Brandon. He was just here.”
    “What?” I grabbed Andy’s arm in my excitement. “When? Where?” I looked around, frantic.
    “Easy, Brandon. He was watching and listening to you play.” Hope crashed around me. “What did he do? Just leave?” Was that who I’d seen from the corner of my eye?
    Of course it was. He’d left. He’d heard me play and just left. My chest crushed in on me, and I sat down with a hard thump on a piano bench.
    “He comes in here a lot before going over to The Book Shed. You’ll find him there.” I looked up. “Where’s that?” I said, unable to disguise my eagerness.
    Andy peered at me. I could see the questions dancing in his eyes. But he didn’t ask them. At least, not then. “A few blocks east. Reads his poetry there on Wednesdays.”
    “Is it Wednesday?” I asked.
    Andy laughed. “Yes, Brandon, it’s Wednesday. Lost time as well as pounds while you were sick?”
    I nodded, barely hearing him. Poetry. If you can’t sing your lyrics, then why not speak them?
    “It’s almost seven. That’s when he starts. He’s a real hit, believe it or not, so it’s likely to be crowded.”
    “I’m not surprised.” I stood and took Andy’s proffered hand, then checked my watch. I really had lost track of time. It was almost seven now. “Thanks, Andy. I appreciate it. I appreciate everything. Can I use your phone?”

    38 Carolyn Gray

Chapter Four
    After calling my mom and letting her know I’d be late to supper and might have found Nicholas, I headed for The Book Shed. I parked my car a little down the street and followed some university students inside. It was packed, but I found a table toward the back, much to my relief.
    I ordered a Coke and waited for the reading to begin, a hum of anticipation running through me. I could hardly sit still and began to