The Piano Teacher Read Free Page B

for any disagreement. “Run along now, Locket. The adults are having a conversation.”
    There was a large velvet divan in the living room, and several chairs, upholstered in red silk, along with two matching black lacquered tables. Claire sat down in an armchair that was far more slippery than it looked. She sank too deeply into it, then had to move forward in an ungainly manner until she was perched precariously on the edge. She steadied herself with her arms.
    “How are you finding Hong Kong? ” Mr. Chen said. Melody had gone into the kitchen to ask the amah to bring them drinks.
    “Quite well,” she said. “It’s certainly different, but it’s an adventure.” She smiled at him. He was a well-groomed man, in his well-pressed suit and red and black silk tie. Above him, there was an oil of a Chinese man dressed in Chinese robes and a black skullcap. “What an interesting painting,” she remarked.
    He looked up.
    “Oh, that,” he said. “That’s Melody’s grandfather, who had a large dye factory in Shanghai. He was quite famous.”
    “Dyes? ” she said. “How fascinating.”
    “Yes, and her father started the First Bank of Shanghai, and did very well indeed.” He smiled. “Melody comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her family was all educated in the West—England and America.”
    Mrs. Chen came back into the room. She had taken off her jacket to reveal a pearly blouse underneath.
    “Claire,” she said. “What will you have? ”
    “Just soda water for me, please,” she said.
    “And I’ll have a sherry,” Mr. Chen said.
    “I know! ” Mrs. Chen said. She left again.
    “And your husband,” he said. “He’s at a bank? ”
    “He’s at the Department of Water Services,” she said. “Working on the new reservoir.” She paused. “He’s heading it up.”
    “Oh, very good,” Mr. Chen said carelessly. “Water’s certainly important. And the English do a fair job making sure it’s in the taps when we need it.” He sat back and crossed one leg over the other. “I miss England,” he said suddenly.
    “Oh, did you spend time there? ” Claire inquired politely.
    “I was at Balliol,” he said, flapping his tie, now obviously a college tie, at her. Claire felt as if he had been waiting to tell her this fact. “And Melody went to Wellesley, so we’re a product of two different systems. I defend England, and Melody just loves the United States.”
    “Indeed,” Claire murmured. Mrs. Chen came back into the room and sat down next to her husband. The amah came in next and offered Claire a napkin. It had blue cornflowers on it.
    “These are lovely,” she said, inspecting the embroidered linen.
    “They’re from Ireland! ” Mrs. Chen said. “I just got them! ”
    “I just bought some lovely Chinese tablecloths at the China Emporium,” Claire said. “Beautiful lace cutwork.”
    “You can’t compare them with the Irish ones, though,” Mrs. Chen said. “Very crude.”
    Mr. Chen viewed his wife with amusement.
    “Women!” he said to Claire. Another amah brought in a tray of drinks.
    Claire sipped at her drink and felt the gassy bubbles in her mouth. Victor Chen looked at her expectantly.
    “The Communists are a great threat,” she said. This is what she had heard again and again at gatherings.
    Mr. Chen laughed.
    “Of course! And what will you and Melody do about them? ”
    “Shut up, darling. Don’t tease,” said his wife. She took a sip of her drink. Victor watched her.
    “What’s that you’re drinking, love? ”
    “A little cocktail,” she said. “I’ve had a long day.” She sounded defensive.
    There was a pause.
    “Locket is a good student,” Claire said, “ but she needs to practice more.”
    “It’s not her fault,” Mrs. Chen said breezily. “I’m not here to oversee her practice enough.”
    Mr. Chen laughed. “Oh, she’ll be fine,” he said. “I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”
    Claire nodded. Parents were all the same. When she had