Hidden. Barbara Taylor Bradford

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       Five

      Claire guided her sleek navy blue Audi into a parking space behind Green Earth Cleaners. As usual, hers was the only car in the small car park that was reserved for employees and delivery vans. It meant entering the dry-cleaners through the back door, and making her way through racks of plastic-wrapped garments, but she preferred that to the Saturday bustle of the car park at the front.

      ‘Mummy, are you still there?’ Deborah’s voice came through the car’s built-in telephone system.

      ‘Just parking. So tell me more about your performance for the college. Were you nervous?’

      ‘At first. But once I started to play, I just got lost in the music. I played the Rach, masterfully I might add, and then Mozart, a sonata, and finally I finished off with a little Bach.’

      Claire couldn’t help but laugh. ‘A little Bach? Only you would be so at home with that mighty music that you call it little. Are you happy there, my Deborah? Do you really love London?’

      ‘Soooo much. I miss you and Daddy, of course, but this is where I want to be for now. Is he back from Cairo yet?’

      ‘Tonight,’ Claire said, trying to keep the dread from her voice. ‘Has he called you?’

      ‘No call, but he sent me about ten over-the-top birthday presents. You know how he is.’

      Claire forced herself to sound casual. ‘Yes. Yes, I do know how he is. So I’ll call you next Saturday?’

      ‘Yep! Oh, and thanks for all your birthday goodies. The clothes are gorgeous, of course, but that book, the David Dubal, how did you get your hands on that?’

      ‘I can’t tell you all my secrets.’

      ‘I read the Horowitz piece three times – my favourite pianist. You always know what will really thrill me.’

      ‘That’s what we moms do.’

      ‘You do it better than most. Take care, Mums.’

      ‘I will, sweetheart. Don’t waste a moment of this wonderful time over there worrying about me.’

      ‘Same to you! I’m twenty-one now and completely an adult.’

      ‘Bye, Granny.’ Claire laughed. She was about to ring off, when her daughter stopped her.

      ‘Wait! Wait! I forgot to tell you. The most amazing thing happened at that concert I went to at the Albert Hall, on my birthday.’

      Claire had to smile. She loved her daughter’s passion for life. Everything was amazing to her.

      ‘Well, first of all, how I got the tickets. They just turned up in my mailbox, inside a birthday card. Two tickets to this concert that was completely sold out for ever!’

      ‘What a great gift. Who were they from?’

      ‘I don’t know. There was no name on the card. It was probably Dad though, don’t you think?’

      ‘I don’t know. Maybe. So what happened at the concert? Someone drop a cymbal?’

      ‘No. The conductor, this Maestro Connelly, introduced a new piece, a rhapsody he had written, and guess what it was called?’

      ‘I can’t guess. Tell me.’

      ‘Rhapsody for Claire. It said it right there in the programme.’

      ‘So I have my own theme song now. Like Gone With the Wind.’

      ‘It was a pretty awesome piece of music. Kind of sad, kind of romantic. And he played brilliantly. I’m going to learn it, and play it for you when you come visit in July.’