After the recital

As they made their way out of the Piano Gallery, Everett discussed how he thought he other two singers could have floated their duet better, and Robert could have focused his trills more and Teressa didn't quite have a handle on Wagner yet, and that she really kind of held Chrissy back on the Flower Duet. It impressed her parents that he knew so much about classical music because, after all, "he is a rock musician."

"So. What's on the schedule now?" Chrissy said, hoping to include Everett in her plans with her parents. "What are you going to do for the rest of the night?" She asked everyone and on one in particular.

"Why don't you two go out." Boy, her mom was quick. She told, rather than asked them. Because everyone knows the word "why" starts a question, but she wasn't asking. She was very strongly, and kindly suggesting it.

Chrissy smiled at her mom and looked up at Everett to see him smile. "As long as you don't think I'm imposing on your family time," he said--even with a slight smirk.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all." Ian said, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. "The night is young."

"Sure, but first, I need to get these flower into some water," said Kathryn, with a wink to her husband. "This was a very thoughtful gesture, Everett. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I should go home fast too," said Chrissy, raising the flowers in her arms.

"Yeah, you ought to get those into some water," Said Everett, as he gingerly reached up and touched her elbow. He felt a warm bolt of energy flow through his arm from his fingertips. Her parents smiled as they looked at each other. They hadn't seen anyone, even Brad, be so thoughtful of their daughter before.

"Yeah," she sighed, full of energy. "You're right." She leaned over to him and asked, "You didn't drive, did you? I think my parents want to get rid of me for now." they all laughed a little, partly because she wanted to leave them, and partly because it was true. What was she thinking that they wouldn't like him? He was being more than a perfect gentleman.

Chrissy gave her parents both hugs and turned away as Everett said,  "yes, I drove," he watched her parents walk away, and led Chrissy to his car.

"Good night you two," they both called out.

"It was nice meeting you," called out Kathryn as her husband helped her into their SUV.

They arrived at Chrissy's apartment and she let them inside. "I don't know if I have anything big enough for all of these," she said as she walked into her kitchen. Everett followed her and suddenly, she felt nervous again. IT was a different kind of nervous though. More like tension between a man a woman who liked each other. What was the next step supposed to be? She nearly forgot, having spent the last three or four years with Brad. It's a good thing we have the same values, she said to herself. Her roommates weren't home yet, no doubt they were out with HIllman. Chrissy smiled to herself while she looked for something big enough for her flowers. She imagined Angela and Hillman on a real date. She thought they looked cute together tonight, and hoped they might get together. Maybe.
Everett leaned against the counter as Chrissy found a big water pitcher. "This is the biggest one," she said. "She took a few minutes to process the stem on all the flowers and get them into some water. As she stood arranging them, she said, "you know, I think you really impressed my parents." She stopped fussing with the blooms to look at him and smiled softly. "No one has ever met up with me an my parents and wooed my mom before. Ever. And I think I can tell that my dad really likes you too.

"Well," Everett started as he began to fuss with the blooms on the counter, "I meant every word. And to have such an amazing daughter, they'd have to be extraordinary. I see now that they are."

They stood in the kitchen in silence, Everett in his dark washed jeans and button up shirt and suit jacket, no tie, and Chrissy still in her fancy dress and kitten heals. They both paused, looking into each others eyes when Chrissy said, slowly, after a long comfortable silence of sorts, "I'm going to go change," and left the kitchen.

Everett whispered after her, "yeah, you should."

As soon as her back was turned, she closed her eyes tightly and took a deep yoga breath, opened her eyes and didn't exhale until she made it safely into her bedroom. "That was intense," she said quietly to herself as she put her dress back on a hanger and into the garment bag. She picked out a long-sleeved striped t-shirt and some complementing skinny jeans and ballet flats to change into. When she came out of her bedroom thinking all kinds of things about the recital, especially the things Everett had said about her friends, she realized he really was someone she could talk shop with. And other things. It was a nice feeling. In all the years she had known him, Brad had only ever feigned interest in her music, but Everett had said he saw Natalie Dessay sing The Magic Flute. He even said he went willingly. Not under duress, as Brad would have done.

When she came out into the living room, she saw Everett waiting on the armchair for her. Taking into account the feelings she had in the kitchen, not ten minutes ago, she smiled as she said, "Okay, I'm ready," as she went to the door and waited for him to follow. At that moment, when Everett got out of the chair and crossed over to her at the door, her phone rang and she saw, "It's Brad," she said, squishing her lips up, looking at the screen and her mood deflated.

"Answer it," smiled Everett, as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "See what he wants." Like he had to even suggest it. The way Chrissy looked at the recital, like a princess, and the flowers he brought her, even though he hadn't really ever met him Everett knew Brad was trying to win her back. "It's not like giving a girl flowers constitutes restitution." Immediately, Everett felt he needed some chastisement. He genuinely felt himself in like with Chrissy. It was really different from the other girls who chased him back home.

With a polite tone, Chrissy answered, "hello Brad!" she sounded happy at least. because she was. "What's up?"

"I was just wondering what you're doing tonight," he said.

Chrissy couldn't believe her ears, and furrowed her brow. "Well, Brad, I'm kind of busy right now." She looked up at Everett, who could only imagine what Brad was saying on the other side.

"Oh." he said, voice sinking. "Yeah." She could almost see him sink. "Right. You're probably entertaining dinner with your parents. You sang really well today, Chrissy." His last remark sounded oddly like a question to Chrissy.

"Thank you for coming, Brad. And thank you for the flowers. They are very pretty."

"You're welcome." He paused and Chrissy felt there was nothing to say. It was a pause very unlike the one she felt in the kitchen just moments ago with Everett. Uncomfortable, to say the least.

"Uh, Brad?" She started, "I have--"

"I-was-wondering-if-you'd-like-to-go-to-dinner-with-me-sometime-soon." He said as fast as he could. It had always been a joke that he had to count 1-2-3, then blurt out what he'd say, because if he didn't he'd never say those most important things on his mind.

Chrissy had no doubt that this was one of those times. "Um. What?" She questioned moving closer to the door to put her hand on the doorknob.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out again?" He sounded like a lost little boy. To Chrissy, obviously trying to let her down easy hadn't really worked out for him.

"I can't, Brad. I'm going to be really busy here soon, you know, with finals and, stuff"she said as she looked up at Everett as they smiled at each other.

"Oh, I understand." She could hear the moment his heart broke in two.

She hated to do it, but Chrissy had to continue to break his heart because he didn't understand what he had done several months ago, related to the words he just spoke to her. "No, I don't think you do understand."

"Huh?"

"Let me put it this way, Bradley Wayne Johansen."Chrissy used the same tone she used when she walked away from him and the brownies. Quiet, yet calm and kind. "You led me on in hopes to let me down gently. That didn't work out, and now, after I've finished picking up the pieces, quite a while ago, you want to start over."

"Oh," was all he could say.

Chrissy wasn't mad. Annoyed, maybe a little bit, but not mad. She was calm the whole time. "Look, Brad, you'll make some woman incredibly happy, but it's just not going to be me. Okay?" She didn't want to leave him in shreds, but there really was nothing else. "Will you be okay?" She said finally.

"I see." he paused. "Are we still friends?"

"I don't see why not. I can still be your friend. but that's all, Brad. Just friends."

"Oh...So...I can't take you to dinner?"

"No. But thank you for the invitation. And thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful." After they said goodbye, and Chrissy hung up the phone,she summarized for Everett what just happened as they made way to his car.

"It sounds like he wants you back"

"Yeah. I hope he got it this time, though."

"This time?" he said as he started his car and pulled into the street.

"I think he's going through some kind of 'buyers remorse'  since he decided he wasn't interested. But I'm really okay with things."

"Buyers Remorse?" He repeated.

"Oh, um."Quickly, Chrissy thought of how to explain this crazy American phrase to her German friend. "It's when you buy something, or do something, that you end up regretting afterward." She felt satisfied with her answer when he nodded in understanding. "I just feel badly that he's torturing himself." Chrissy looked out the window and watched the ever-familiar scenery pass her by.

They turned into the Provo Shops at the Riverwoods and grabbed a table at the Chinese restaurant, Shoots. It only took an hour from start to finish of their meal, during which Everett learned that Chrissy knew who he was immediately, and that she had been some sort of way, far away fan-girl, separated by two continents and an ocean. So that meant, to both of their relief, she wasn't crazy like the rest of them. Chrissy found out that Everett's family no longer lived in Garmisch-Partenkirche Germany, and moved to Zurich. His father and mother both sought work and the best jobs for them both, were in Switzerland. It was a strained relationship he had with his parents since he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. They didn't understand, but would accept him, intrepidly, and never have really agreed on much lately. And that he hasn't been singing with his band, Hawkeye, for just a little more than a year. They didn't break up, they're just on a break, so he decided to take his break and live where there were more people who lived and thought the way he has learned how to think. He even confessed, "This being a student thing is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be, but the girls here are not as bad as the fan-girls in Europe."

This comment made Chrissy smile. "You know, if they really knew who you are and what you do for a living, you'd never get any sleep."

"I know," he answered. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For keeping my sanity to yourself." They smiled at each other. Chrissy laughed a little bit and Everett reached over the table to hold her hand just as the check was brought out to them.

After settling the bill, they walked over to the pavilion where they saw Connie singing.

"She wants me to duet with her." Chrissy said into Everett's ear.

"Are you going to?" He looked down at her, smiling.

"I don't know. I think, all of a sudden, my voice is really tired." She unreliably sounded sarcastic. "What?" She quizzically sounded.

"You just look like you're aching to sing more and I know you want to." He was goading her, she knew it.

Chrissy squinted her eyes and scrunched up her lips and said, "You, sir! Are incorrigible."

They locked eyes for just moments as Everett reached down to her hands with his and laced his fingers with hers. He bent low enough that she could hear him whisper, "you know you want to. do it." Then gave her a gentle push in the direction of the gazebo.

It all happened so fast. Connie saw her, stopped the set in the middle. "Ladies and Gentlemen," she said. You're in for a treat." She looked around and then straight at Chrissy. "Chrissy MacDallan is a truly wonderful person and a great singer. So, if'n' you don't mind, I'd like to get her up here to sing some stuff with me. Right now." By now, she was reaching out to her. She got Chrissy on stage with her and they started some music from Wicked, then Notre Dame de Paris. The audience loved it. Connie would be found any Friday or Saturday singing at the Riverwoods and this Saturday was no different. Except she got to sing duets with one of her best students ever.

After the second song they sang, Chrissy spoke into her microphone, "Thanks Riverwoods, but I just sang some hefty arias and I need to rest my voice. Thanks again for letting me play here tonight." The crowd cheered as she hugged Connie. "Thanks, Connie, for everything."

"The pleasure is mine. You're a wonderful person and a great singer."

Chrissy left the stage and found Everett again. "She lied." He said, as he put his arm around her shoulders and she put her arm around his waist.

"What are you talking about?" She looked up at the man next to her, confused.

"You're not a great singer." He offered no further explanation and they kept walking.

Chrissy slowed down, "you really are incorrigible. What ARE you talking about?" She demanded. "I work hard. and I practice. and I----"

"You're not great. You are. . .unbelievably marvelous!" Everett stopped and turned towards Chrissy with a devilish grin on his face.

"Oh, you---. You're good." She said in response, smiling and shaking her index finger at him. The music they were hearing was getting into them both. Chrissy grabbed Everett's hands, "we're dancing. Now." And they did. And they had fun.

She didn't know if it was the excitement of the crowd or the feel of Everett's hand in hers, but the zing or the zap, or whatever it was when they touched, really surprised her. She liked it and after the initial shock, she
found herself teaching Everett a little American Swing dance. She taught him the pretzel and the crossover, and some really fancy foot work he had a hard time pronouncing the names of. He picked up on it really quickly and seemed to enjoy it, quite a bit.

After a few songs, Chrissy made a very, very important decision and turned to Everett with a nearly wild look in her eyes.. "I want ice cream. Do you want some too?"

"Yeah," he said, panting. "That dancing is hard stuff. Fun, but hard."

They made their way to the Provo Beach Resort, a tiny, indoor amusement park. If one could call it that. They got a banana split, a double and grabbed a table near the carousel. Chrissy got all mischievous and challenged him to a duel of speed. Everett tried to protest, but Chrissy made certain to taunt him just enough to give in. She learned to have a cup of room-temperature water nearby when she ate ice cream. All the time.

When she gave the signal, they ate as fast as they could, with Chrissy leading by two spoons. She could tell right away that Everett was going to struggle. Chrissy was half way into her second scoop when Everett was pounding on his forehead, yelling non-words at the ice cream.

Chrissy rolled her eyes back and closed them while she leaned her head back, like it would snap. "This," she said, pointing to the banana split with her spoon, "is soooo good." She looked at him quizzically and asked, "Do you know how long it's been since I've had any dairy, Everett?"

 After a few minutes, when it was all gone and they were just sitting, Everett answered, calculating his words carefully, "Since you just finished a major aria, and I know you take vocal health pretty seriously, I can only assume it's been about two days."

"Well played." Chrissy praised him  for his thought. "But, no"

"No?"

"I haven't had dairy for three days," she exclaimed. "This," she looked at her spoonful of dreamy dairy reward, "has been well earned." Everett raised his spoon as if they were toasting and then they finished up and went back outside to sit on a bench and enjoy the atmosphere. Chrissy asked for a synopsis of the rock-climbing trip she had missed earlier in the day and realized she probably could have gone after all. And he also learned all about her twin brother, Jake, who is on a mission in Japan at the moment, and that Chrissy was planning a trip to Munich in January to visit a friend she had from when she was there for study abroad. Then they snapped some pictures of them together on their phones.

"How different is this," Chrissy finally asked?  "You. Here. In Utah. Away from all your fan-girls? And by the way, for the record, I haven't spilled the beans."

"Spilled the beans? That's funny. What does it mean?" He really sounded like he wanted to find out.

"It means, your secret is safe with me." Chrissy said, as she looked into his lovely blue eyes. This was the first time she really notice how blue they really are. Some sort of tropical blue. She could go swimming in them.

"Thank you. You know?" He started. "It's...it's nice." He put his arm around her back. "Those fan-girls can be crazy."

"How does your family feel about it?"

"My family?" He asked. Chrissy nodded. Everett took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "My family and I have been short with each other for a few years now." He said. "Ever since I was baptized, they just didn't understand."

"I'm sorry." Chrissy said, as she lowered her head.

"It's okay. Really," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "We've not been un-polite to each other, just not close."

Chrissy nodded as if she understood. "When was the last time you saw them?"

"Just a day or two before I came here," he responded. "They gave me a rather warm send-off and then told me they were accepting the missionaries."

Chrissy could feel the happiness in his voice and tried to match it with hers, "That's so great!" She sat up a little taller.

"Yes, it is. Now I know if they don't accept it, they will at least understand where I stand."