by Londyn Skye
“Open it and see,” James smiled in return.
Lily slid the bow off, opened the lid, and froze when she saw what was inside. “Isabel will kill me if I ruin this make-up,” she whispered, closing her eyes to hold in her tears. She then dabbed at the corner of her eyes with the handkerchief James handed her. Once she cleared her eyes, she could more easily see the details of Piers LeRoux’s beautiful framed artwork. Just as James had always wanted, he had Piers paint an 11x14 color version of him and Lily dancing together in the Manhattan art gallery ballroom.
“You like it?” James whispered.
“I love it,” Lily whispered back, dabbing away a tear before it landed on the glass of the decorative frame.
“This was the moment we were celebratin’ the chance to sail to the Old World for this show. And now, afta’ all these years…”
“We finally made it,” Lily finished. “Thank you for this. I can’t think of a more perfect gift to commemorate this occasion.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Lily set the picture upright on the vanity and stared at it. James wrapped his arms around her from behind. His hands tenderly caressed her belly as he kissed her on the cheek. “Did you tell your motha’ she’s gonna be a grandma yet?”
Lily nestled into his embrace. “No. We’re still the only ones with this precious little secret,” she said, caressing her belly too. “I figured I betta’ wait ’til afta’ the show to tell everyone … especially my motha’. One thing at a time for her. She’s so ova’whelmed with excitement, she’s been cryin’ tears ‘a joy on and off all day. I’m afraid her poor heart’s literally gonna burst with happiness if I tell ’er now.”
James laughed lightly. “Your motha’s showin’ outwardly how I’m feelin’ inwardly. My heart’s certainly on the verge of burstin’ with happiness for you too,” he caressed Lily’s belly. “And joy that my beautiful wife’s gonna make me a fatha’ again.” He paused briefly. “And a little nervousness too, if I’m bein’ honest.”
“Hey.” Lily turned toward him. “Let go of nerves and shift your focus to joy. I have the utmost confidence that little Jameson junior will make it into the world safe and sound,” she smiled.
James furrowed his eyebrows and pretended to look confused. “Don’t you mean Daffy?”
Lily erupted in laughter. “Oh lord! Here we go again,” she said through a fit of giggles.
James smiled at the joyful sound. “Here we go again, indeed … anotha’ grand adventure togetha’. And it all officially starts tonight. I’m so nervous and excited to see you perform again,” he confessed. “I feel like I’m damn near about to jump outta my skin. Glad to see you don’t seem the least bit nervous or scared.”
“There was a time in my life when I thought I might not eva’ see you again. Afta’ bein’ tortured by such a thought for years, it gave me real perspective on what’s truly deservin’ of nerves and fear. You holdin’ me in your arms again and performin’ in the Old World was all I eva’ dreamt about while we were apart. Now, here I am about to step out onto a brand-new stage in London, not far from a palace…” She touched James on the face. “With my very best friend here by my side to witness it all,” she smiled. “My most prayed for dreams have come true. So, this moment is certainly not deservin’ of fear or nerves … only pure elation.”
James exhaled, trying to settle a sudden swell of emotions. “Do you know what I love most about you, Lily?” he asked, taking her by the hand.
“What’s that?” she smiled.
“Everything.” He gently caressed her cheek. “Absolutely everything,” he emphasized, his voice slightly cracking.
Lily melted at his touch, feeling an instant surge of butterflies.
“Your way with words, your strength, your confidence, your bravery, and your ability to instantly make me feel at peace. I love it all,” James continued. “It all reminds me of why I have every bit ‘a faith that you’ll be stellar on that stage tonight … just like you always are.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have the strength to do any ‘a this without you. You’ve always been the fuel that fires my bravery. From the bottom of my heart, I wanna thank you for all you’ve endured to get me here and for always believin’ in me.”
James rested his forehead against hers. “It’s been my greatest pleasure, Miss Lily,” he whispered.
“Places everyone! Five minutes until showtime!” they heard William announce from the hallway. They both turned toward the door when they then heard William enter the dressing room. “May I steal her from you for, oh … two hours or so?” William joked.
James kissed Lily on the forehead. “Well, looks like I’ll be leavin’ you in good hands.”
“The best!” Lily exclaimed, slipping her arm into the crook of William’s elbow.
“I betta’ hobble on back to my seat,” James joked, lifting the cane he still used for special occasions, so as not to misstep and fall. “Bring the house down tonight, Misses Adams.”
“I have every intention,” she replied with conviction.
James smiled proudly at her and kissed her lightly on the lips before departing.
Lily watched him as he walked away, paying keen attention to his slight lingering limp. “James!”
He turned around to find Lily gazing proudly at him with a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
“I love absolutely everything about you too,” she said, appreciation for his grand sacrifices affecting the depth of emotion in her voice.
James inhaled, feeling warmed by her expression. He then nodded and smiled back before proceeding to his coveted center balcony seat.
William patted Lily on the arm and exhaled. “Well, here we go again, m’dear. Are you ready to resume yet another grand adventure together?”
“Born ready,” Lily replied confidently.
“You’ll get no argument from me about that,” he smiled, as he began escorting her down the hallway toward her custom grand piano.
Just one year before taking her final steps toward the stage, Lily had reunited with many of the original dancers and members of the student orchestra. With his daughter always in tow, Austin was among the group. Considering his injury, he was under William’s wing, hoping that one day William would pass the baton to him to become the show’s new music conductor. In much the same way that Anna Mae had become like a mother figure to Lily, Maya had now taken on that role with Isabel. A mother daughter bond grew between the pair as they began working nonstop to design and create costumes for the dancers. As promised, all of Lily’s brothers came to Ohio to help James, Harrison, and the twins with lighting, stage design, building props, and any other detail that Lily asked of them. William’s mansion was overflowing with love, laughter, and determination while everyone worked in concert to bring Lily’s show to life. All the while, Lily was once again side by side with her mentor, developing the powerful music that would soon stir the emotion of her new whimsical shadowed story ideas.
Month after month of grueling rehearsals on the amphitheater and tireless dedication from her family and friends had all led to this moment. William escorted Lily to her grand piano bench. He then took his place as well behind the podium. Lily peered between the curtain and felt her elation rise to unparalleled levels when her eyes swept across the Royal Albert Hall and saw that there was not a single seat unfilled, in the most elaborate theater in the world. What nearly brought on her tears, though, was the sight of Wyatt with his arm around her mother, and James holding her hand as she patted her tears with the handkerchief he had given her. Lily lost sight of them, though, when complete darkness suddenly fell on the theater, bringing the murmur of the crowd to an instant hush. Lily felt an immediate calm as her innate confident stage presence emerged. When the curtains slowly opened, she immediately harnessed control of the crowd’s attention and emotion. She let the silence and darkness linger to build their anticipation and suspense.
On Friday, June 15, 1866 at precisely 7:01 pm, after battling back
from near death, tremendous loss, oppression, and abuse, Lily Adams exhaled, closed her eyes, thanked God, and struck the keys to her custom made grand piano, marking the official return of The Dream Symphony. After a six-year hiatus, the brilliant signature show lighting illuminated the translucent sheath that was hanging from the raptors of a majestic stage, just a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace. A rush of joy flooded Lily’s body as her ensemble, once again, took to the stage, casting their shadows out to their first-ever international crowd. Eyes of Londoner’s lit up as they watched shadowed dancers pirouetting in perfect unison around actors, who began reenacting the royal knighting ceremony of a particular prince. Lily’s fingers moved as gracefully as every ballerina, as she projected the deep tones of her grand piano into the auditory systems of her entranced audience. The visuals and the unique symphonic sounds traveled through the crowd’s eyes and ears, transmitting a wave of emotions through their bodies that instantly penetrated their hearts. The intensity of the show kept their eyes unblinking as they watched the shadowed prince slowly kneel in an honorable fashion, his body moving in sync with the royal undertones of the symphonic melody. The swan-like dancers suddenly paused around him and the music softened as a sword was ceremoniously touched to each of his shoulders. The newly knighted prince then slowly rose to his feet to the sound of the crescendoing symphony, sending another sentimental wave of emotion through the crowd that impacted Queen Victoria with great force. She was instantly brought to tears by an opening scene that paid homage to the noble man the theater had been named in honor of.
After a sensational opening dedication, over five thousand London hearts were now beating just as rhythmically as Lily’s beautiful music. Emphatic applause carried on so long that it blended with the transition into the next song, one in which the Dream Symphony’s most infamous character returned. Massive balls of flames suddenly erupted on either side of the stage as a shadowed fire-breathing dragon appeared in nightmarish fashion. With an audible gasp, all patrons physically reacted, their bodies jumping in response to never-before-seen special effects. Wielding his sword to the beat of Lily and her brilliantly remastered melodies, the shadowed version of Prince Albert then began attempting to slay the dragon on behalf of the princess he loved. The fierce battle that ensued, between blade and flame, gripped Londoners and had their emotions just as tightly intertwined with the enthralling scene as Lily’s intense music was with the movement of the shadows. Their captive hearts nearly stopped, along with the dragon’s, after the prince threw his sword, end over end, and pierced its chest in perfect timing to an intense symphonic climax. The music suddenly transitioned just as dramatically as the dragon slowly collapsing, his body faltering as roaring flames slowly fizzled into steam. When the beast’s body hit the ground, Prince Albert, Knight of the Garter, removed his sword from the dragon’s chest and raised it in victory. He then freed his princess, took her by the hand, and honorably escorted her through the grand entrance of the most hallowed palace on the lands of the Old World. As the prince and princess entered their kingdom, the light and music slowly faded away to the resounding commendation of an enraptured London crowd.
When the light returned, the vibrant music and shadows of the Dream Symphony carried on to feature new fictional fantasy tales, some funny, some adventurous, some filled with new bewildering combinations of magic and captivating special effects. No matter what story was told, every spellbinding moment suspended the audience in wide-eyed wonderment. As Lily’s music interchanged between power and finesse, she undoubtedly took the minds and bodies of her first international crowd on an exhilarating journey, from joy to sympathy, butterflies to chills, heart-pounding to heart-stopping, and from tears to laughter.
In the midst of that very laughter, the entire theater suddenly went dark. The laughter ceased just as abruptly as darkness had fallen. With absolutely no sound or light, the audience lingered in confusion, unaware that every second of suspense was harnessed under Lily’s complete control. When she felt the moment was right, she suddenly struck the highest key on her grand piano. In sync with the single keystroke, the brilliant light illuminated the translucent sheath, revealing the shadow of a large wooden box. Again, there was complete silence. After several more suspenseful seconds, Lily struck the same key and darkness fell again. Silence. Lily struck the key once more and, this time, illuminated the shadows of a man and woman, standing atop the wooden box, frozen as two lovers dancing. Again, Lily let silence persist to allow the audience’s eyes to appreciate the beauty of the dancer’s statuesque embrace. Slow and intentionally choppy, Lily then began playing her next few notes. The clunky music slowly turned on the movements of the man and woman. When the notes began to pick up speed, Maya suddenly sat up taller in her seat. The familiar melody reverberated through her ears, shot straight to her chest, and began melting her heart. Her eyes instantly flooded with tears as she watched the two ballet dancers, slowly spinning around and around, waltzing stiffly on their massive shadowed music box. The speed and elegance of their movements matched Lily’s musical pace as she began playing “The Goddess of Spring.” The very Goddess the beautiful ballad had been written for now had tears cascading down her cheeks as she watched on from her center balcony seat.
As Lily seamlessly transitioned her mother’s song into smooth elegance, the two shadowed figurines came to life and stepped down from their music box. Lily began the song as a solo, but piece by piece the grand sounds of the orchestra slowly blended in to accompany her, as graceful ballet dancers began telling the unique love story of a simple man, one who had very little but doted on a special woman with handmade gifts. The passion of the shadowed man and woman was expressed in the emotional choreography as they glided, hopped, and pirouetted across the stage in perfect unison. The intensity of their love built, much like the crescendoing symphony driving their movements. At the climax of the melody, the music paused, and so too did the dancers, both locked in a loving gaze. When the music began again, the shadowed man placed his hand over his heart and got down on bended knee in front of the woman. He kissed her hand, stood again, and briefly lifted his lover in the air to the soft sounds of the symphony. As their dance resumed and the song slowly ended, the orchestra faded out one piece at a time, until Lily was once again left alone playing her father’s original piece. With only her grand piano tickling the emotions of the audience, the two figurines ended their dance with a matrimonial kiss, as the light slowly faded away.
In the midst of heartfelt applause, a new song began to play as the shadow of a little boy suddenly skipped onto the stage from the wings. Trailing right behind him were five more little boys, each smaller than the next, all skipping in sync to yet another one of Levi’s very sentimental songs. One by one, each little boy then hopped into the arms of the male figurine, who proudly tossed them into the air. The shadowed female figurine then poetically danced onto the stage again, twirling over to her husband with a baby cradled in her arms. With the six boys surrounding them, they all froze to take a picture of a family that was now complete. After a black puff of smoke from a camera’s flash, the light on the stage faded away. It faded back in seconds later, and beautiful shadows began depicting the evolution of a humble man, who discarded his musical aspirations and dedicated his life to raising his family. Tender moments were displayed of him reading to his children, laughing with them at dinner, teaching his sons to fish … and teaching his only daughter the piano. The little girl sat first as just a toddler on her father’s lap. As the light faded in and out, lapsing time, the young girl grew along with her father’s love and pride. A multitude of pulsating shadowed hearts were displayed in the background as the father stood by proudly watching his adolescent daughter play piano on her own. For a final time, the light faded out and lit up again in harmony with a key change in the melody. As the song transitioned, so, too, did the shadowed scene. William and Lily now sat behind the translucent sheath, portraying the loving father and his adult daughter, seated sid
e by side as they played “A Beautiful Miracle.”
With the God-given musical gift that Levi had passed on to Lily, she had worked tirelessly to compose the orchestra harmonies to blend with her father’s most treasured piano melodies. The story of the life and love that Levi had yearned for, once trapped in the pages of his very sentimental journals, had come to life in the last half hour of the Dream Symphony, all backed by his very own remastered music. And Lily had far more in store for every future show. She had sat Wyatt down and asked his permission before proceeding with her new idea. He took hold of Lily’s hands and gazed at her with eyes full of tears. His answer was immediate and sincere: “I’m convinced there could neva’ be a more magnanimous way to express the depths of your forgiveness and to carry on our fatha’s legacy than sharin’ with the world the sort ‘a life he dreamed of havin’ with all of us … especially with his one true love.”
The memory of Wyatt’s words were churning the emotions in Lily’s chest as the translucent curtain rose on a majestic stage in London, revealing her and William as they played the final notes of a song inspired by her birth. When the song ended, Lily gracefully rose to her feet and curtsied to the sound of roaring applause. After closing the first-ever show at the Royal Albert Hall, William proudly escorted Lily to the forefront of the stage and let her have the spotlight alone in front of a sea of his British countrymen. Their reaction made it clear that they, too, concurred with the beauty of the life her father dreamed of. Absent color or class, the love story of her mother and father was being received in the way that it should have been in reality, with warmth, tears of joy, and one hell of an epic standing ovation. Lily’s eyes slowly swept over the 5,272 applauding emotional patrons … including a queen. Their long drawn out show of appreciation reverberated through to Lily’s soul. Her eyes then drifted to the coveted center balcony. Her dearest friends, nieces, nephews, sister-in-laws, and all six of her brothers were gazing down at her. She paused on the faces of her brothers; not a single one of them bothered to hide the prideful tears in their eyes as they applauded the life and love of their father … and for their sister. Standing huddled between them all was the man Lily loved beyond measure; James was holding onto the hand of her inconsolable mother. As Lily gazed at every face in that balcony, she was deeply impacted by the magnitude of the moment when it suddenly dawned on her that the ripple effect of Levi’s love and his music had brought peace and unity to his entire family. Lily tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she envisioned her father smiling down from the heavens with Mrs. Adams by his side and little Rose in his arms. She was certain he had joyous tears in his eyes after witnessing his dreams come true. Tears of pure elation then careened down the sides of Lily’s face, feeling as though such a miraculous feat had just defined the true meaning of The Ultimate Grand Finale.
