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kindest person he’d ever known and they’d fallen for each other as sophomores. Why she liked him, he couldn’t guess. He was moody, sulky, and rebellious… The school’s bad boy... But all that dissipated when his father died. Bryce caught his breath again.
    This was the second time today that he found himself unwillingly thinking of Carson City. Silky sentiments swirled around him like snowflakes. Trying hard not to be overwhelmed, he concentrated on the performance that began as the lights dimmed and the curtain went up.
    Soon, smooth dulcet tones were flowing over him as the four instruments began to play so harmoniously – Violin, viola, cello and piano. The music of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann softly swam in his mind washing out everything else. He had forgotten how peaceful that music could make him feel.
    All the music was wonderful, but when Beth played a solo movement called ‘Joy’ by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bryce thought he was in Heaven. The piece was incredibly moving and he was close enough to the stage to see the joy on Beth’s face as she played it. Her face was simply lit up and he envied her thrill at doing what she loved. He became happy… happy to be here… happy to be listening to this inspiring music… happy … As she played the last few notes, he closed his eyes and felt the earth shift under his feet.
    Intermission came and they went for glasses of wine, while talking to a few more people they knew. But that music just kept coming back at him. Bryce would zone out for a minute while certain repetitive strains of ‘Joy’ strolled through his consciousness. Sylvia looked at him strangely. When they were walking back to their seats after intermission, she asked him.
    “Where are you?”
    “Right here…”
    “No, you’re not. You keep spacing out. I can see it in your eyes.”
    He shrugged it off. “This beautiful music just keeps reverberating in my brain.”
    She smiled. “Good…Maybe you’re getting a musical ear at last.”
    “…Maybe.”
     
    After the performance, Bryce knew he had to go backstage to say hello to Beth. He wasn’t sure how happy she would be to see him, but he needed to chance it.
    “Sylvia, I know one of the musicians in the Quartet and I want to go backstage. Do you want to come with me?”
    She paused. “Which one do you know?”
    “…The pianist.” One of two women on stage...
    “Yes, I’ll come.”
    They walked to the backstage area and someone showed them to the dressing room. The musicians were relaxing, talking and discussing where to go for dinner. Sylvia stayed at the door with an uncertain look on her face, while Bryce walked into the room. Beth was chatting with the violinist when she glanced up and saw him come in.
    Beth blinked once, then twice in utter astonishment. Her mouth dropped open until she thought to close it a few seconds later. When she gracefully stood to greet him, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
    She looks beautiful in that elegant black evening gown, he thought.
    He looks handsome in that expensive designer suit, she thought.
    “Beth? Is that really you?” Bryce walked up to her and reached out a hand.
    She laughed. “Yes, Bryce… My God, how are you?” She reached out to him. He shook her soft hand with both hands and hung on a minute longer than decorum allowed.
    They smiled at each other.
    “The performance was outstanding…” he gushed.
    “…Did you really like it?” She blushed a light pink.
    “Very much. I enjoyed your solo piece especially.”
    Her eyes widened. “The Bach movement, ‘Joy’? You enjoyed that?”
    “Yes, it was so beautiful and you’ve become as good a pianist as you always wanted to be…”
    “Thank you. That piece is my favorite…”
    They smiled at each other again. In the doorway, Sylvia cleared her throat. Bryce looked shyly at Sylvia and then back at Beth.
    “Oh… This is my girlfriend, Sylvia Morgan.”
    “How do you do?” smiled