When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles)

by Simone Beaudelaire

  "I am."

  "Nice to meet you. I take it this is your intended."

  "Yes. This is Sean." The men shook hands. "And this is my best friend, Sheridan."

  "Well, I’m glad to be able to help you today. Do you have that paperwork?"

  They handed him the stack and he examined it carefully."

  "Looks good. So, did you two have any requests?"

  "To get it done? This has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait another minute." Erin told him seriously.

  "So, just a no frills legal wedding?"

  "Yes."

  "Forgive me, but something about you all says Catholic. Are you sure this is what you want? Would it really be so bad to wait for a church wedding?"

  "This is exactly what we want," Sean said firmly, "I’m sure my mother will drag us to the church later."

  "Ah. Well, all right then. Let’s get you two married."

  ***Chapter 17***

  Monday evening, after work, Sean sought out his parents at home. It was not unusual for him to eat dinner with them a couple of times a week, so they didn’t think anything of it. He, however, was rather nervous. He had no idea how they would take what he was about to tell them. Still, it had naturally been a wonderful weekend. He had never felt so content and satisfied in his life. His only regret was that, having slept five nights with Erin in his arms, last night he had been alone again. The knowledge that she would come to him at Christmas so they could spend the month-long break together helped some, but he still missed his wife. Wife. That sounded so good.

  Sean deliberately arrived a little early and met Ellen and Roger in the kitchen.

  "Hi, Dad. Hi, Mom, how are you?"

  "I’m well, dear," Ellen said, "how are you? Did you have a nice visit with your sister? How is she doing?"

  "Danny is doing so much better, I can’t even believe it. She’s practically back to her old self. I’ve never been so happy to be teased in my life. As for me, well, I’m great. I have something I need to talk to you about though. Would you please take a seat?"

  Roger sat, but Ellen, sensing something was up with her son, gave him a long look.

  "Sean, what on earth are you wearing? That looks like a wedding ring!"

  He pulled out a chair for his mother and gently slid it up to the table.

  "Mom, Dad, the reason this looks like a wedding ring is that… it’s a wedding ring."

  Roger nodded, as though this didn’t surprise him in the least. Ellen, however, was aghast.

  "Why exactly are you wearing a wedding ring?"

  "There’s no exotic and mysterious reason for it. The reason I’m wearing a wedding ring is that, well, I’m married."

  "Married!? When did you get married?"

  Sean considered for a moment. "Wednesday."

  Ellen’s eyebrows came together.

  "But you were down visiting your sister on Wednesday."

  "Yes."

  "So, whom did you marry?"

  "Ellen, isn’t it obvious?" Roger asked his wife, "He’s married Erin James."

  "Erin? Sheridan’s Erin? Is that right, son?"

  "Yes, although I think it’s safe to say she’s more mine than Danny’s now."

  "Why?"

  "It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing…or rather the timing was, but Erin and I have been together for four years and we just didn’t want to wait anymore."

  "I beg your pardon? You’ve been together four months?"

  "No, Mom. Four years. Erin has been my girlfriend since her senior year of high school."

  Ellen gave her son a very hard look. Then she turned to her husband.

  "Did you know about this?"

  "I suspected. Since we work together, we talk a lot. I was aware that he was seeing someone, even though he didn’t ever really say who. But he asked a couple of pointed questions about age differences that got me thinking, and since Erin was pretty much a constant part of our lives, she seemed a likely candidate." Roger turned to his son.

  "She’s a lovely girl. Congratulations."

  "Thank you, Dad."

  "But, son, why didn’t you ever say anything?" Ellen wanted to know.

  "Well, we got together at homecoming. I don’t have to remind you what a dark time that was. With poor Danny and everything that happened to her, we didn’t want to add to the upset by flaunting our rather controversial relationship. Honestly, even though Erin was young at the time, her nature is so mature that it was like dating someone my own age. It has never been an issue between us." There was an edge to Sean’s voice

  "Don’t be defensive, son," Roger admonished. "It’s years past."

  "I know, but at the time, would you have approved of us being together?"

  "Probably not."

  "And that’s another reason we didn’t say anything. Erin absolutely needed me in order to get through that year. I couldn’t risk her losing my support. She was on the brink most of the time already."

  "Why is that?"

  "Well apart from the fact that she appointed herself Danny’s champion and shield, and took as many of her problems on herself as she could, her own parents were going through a divorce right then. It was a hard year for both of them."

  "Well, all right. But what about after? There was no need to keep it a secret so long."

  "You’re right. Well, for one thing we decided to take it easy for a while, so she could concentrate on college. Remember, Dad, you told me not to let her give up her dreams for me?" He and Erin had discussed how they wanted to describe their ill-advised separation, and that was the best description they could come up with, since neither of their feelings had wavered for a moment. He continued. "Maybe we also just got into the habit of keeping our relationship private. I regret that because it kind of made Erin think I wasn’t proud to be her boyfriend, which I absolutely was. That’s why I’m telling you now. I love my wife. I’m so thankful to have her. Oh, and there’s something else."

  "What?"

  "She’s coming up for Christmas, naturally. I know you two haven’t seen her in a while. The thing is, Erin has never had a loving family. You know what her parents are like. I absolutely intend for the Murphy family to embrace her with open arms and make her one of us. She deserves it after all she’s done for us and I won’t accept anything less."

  "Of course, Sean." Roger told his son, "She’s your wife. She already is one of us. Besides, Erin has been a member of this family for years."

  "I think so too."

  "Well," Ellen said a little stiffly, "There really isn’t anything to be said to that, is there? It’s done. But I have a couple of questions that need to be cleared up first."

  "I’ll answer any question you ask, Mom. Be sure you really want the answers."

  "Oh, I do." Ellen’s eyes were very narrow. "Just before the girls left for college, Erin took off to spend the night with her boyfriend. She was very blunt with me about what she was doing. Was that you then?"

  "What’s worse, Mom? To think she was sleeping with me, or with someone else while she was dating me? Yes, of course it was me."

  "And she also told me that wasn’t the first time. That she gave her virginity to her boyfriend a long time ago."

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "Just so we could be as close as possible. Erin and I knew we would only ever love each other. She’s never been with anyone else. Since I got together with her, I haven’t either. I don’t think that’s so bad. But are you sure you need this information? How does it benefit you to know?"

  "I’m trying to understand exactly what kind of girl you’re bringing into the family."

  "Ellen," Roger said sharply, "Don’t say anything more. I know you’re upset by the surprise of this. But we already know what kind of person Erin is. She’s the best, most loving, most selfless person any of us has ever known. She gave unselfishly to our family for years, almost to the point of damaging herself. If what she wants in exchange is a place at our table, it’s a small enough thing to a
sk."

  "I didn’t think the cost of that help would be our firstborn son."

  "Don’t be melodramatic Mother. She’s hardly going to take me away from you. You know she has no family. If you could get past being upset, you would see that Erin will make you a very fine daughter. You’re going to need one. Sheridan’s never coming back. She’s going to graduate school, and she wants to stay at the university and teach. So if you want to continue having a daughter in your life, it’s going to have to be Erin. I suggest you make peace with it. She wants to be part of the family, so the only person who can take me away from this is you, if you refuse to accept my wife."

  "I can see that. Let me process this for a while. I’m sure once the shock wears off, it will be fine."

  Sean hoped that was true.

  ******

  About the time Sean was having his white-knuckled conversation with his parents, Erin was arriving at the music department’s recital hall for the rehearsal for the senior woodwind group. She was a few minutes early. She hadn’t even opened her oboe case since Tuesday, and she felt a little rusty after so many days. She crossed the wooden floor of the stage and plunked herself down in one of the uncomfortable orange plastic chairs, setting her music on the stand, and began putting the pieces of her instrument together. She glanced over the rows of folding plywood seats anchored to the floor. Each one had a little half desk that could be stowed inside the armrest when not in use. How many classes she had attended in this space? It was as familiar to her as her dorm room. Just as she was fitting her double reed into the top of the oboe, a couple of her friends came in. This woodwind group, calling itself The Young Bohemians, was really close-knit, and Erin was quite sure that no matter where everyone ended up, they would always stay in touch.

  Tory and Justin were a couple, and always together, so it was no surprise that they arrived hand in hand. Erin deliberately blew hard into her oboe and greeted them with a raucous quack. This was a game these young musicians played. All of them were far too accomplished for their instruments to make such ugly noises unless it was on purpose, but all were young enough to remember when this had not been the case.

  "Hi, Erin," Tory greeted her with a one-sided hug around the shoulders.

  "Hey, guys. How’s it going? Did you have a good break?"

  "Oh yes," the black-haired girl said, waggling her eyebrows, "I took Justin to meet my parents."

  "How nerve wracking. Justin, did you survive intact? I don’t think it will help your clarinet playing to have pieces missing from your hide."

  "It was fine." Justin was a quiet man with a nose almost too large for his thin face and dark hair that stood out in all directions. He rarely said a word. He let his clarinet do most of the communicating for him.

  Tory giggled, "Yeah, except when they almost caught us in bed together."

  "Really?" Erin laughed. "Then I’m double glad you’re still alive."

  Justin blushed and sat down to put his instrument together. He gave the embarrassing situation the raspberry through his clarinet, making it squeal horrendously, just as Ilona, Marisol, and Marcus came in.

  "My God, Justin," Marcus said, his aristocratic features wrinkling in disgust at the horrible noise, "if that’s all the better you can play that thing, we’ll have to move you to percussion."

  He lugged his bassoon case over to a chair and opened it up.

  "What about you, Erin?" Tory asked, "What did you do? Did you go anywhere?"

  "I had a wonderful Thanksgiving," Erin said simply, and it was true. There was nothing better than a honeymoon, after all, but the two of them had decided to get out of bed and take Sheridan out for Thanksgiving dinner at a local cafeteria restaurant. They had been the youngest people there by several decades, but it had been fun nonetheless.

  "I’ll say you had a wonderful time, Erin," Marisol said, tossing her dyed red hair. "Just what the hell is that on your neck? Don’t tell me it’s from a curling iron. I know a hickey when I see one."

  Erin put her hand to her throat. "Oh God, did he leave a mark?" Her pale face flushed scarlet.

  "My, my, my, Erin, what DID you do over Thanksgiving?" Ilona drawled. "Did you finally lose your virginity?"

  "Uh, no."

  "Liar."

  "Seriously. There was nothing to lose. Can we drop it please?"

  "Nothing to lose?" Tory asked, surprised. "You’ve never dated that I’m aware of."

  Erin took a deep breath. "Actually, you’ve never known me when I was a virgin. I’ve had a boyfriend all along, since high school. I had a great weekend, but well, like I said, we’ve been together for years. It was not even close to being the first time."

  Everyone stared at her.

  "Um, if that’s the case, why didn’t you ever say anything?" Ilona asked.

  "Well, we kind of decided to take it easy while I was away at college, so I would have time to study, you know? But he came up for a visit, and it was…just too much. We were both about ready to burst. So we decided to just…get married."

  She held up her left hand, displaying the pretty ring.

  There was a moment of stunned silence and then all the girls began to scream, squeal, and make noises no one would have expected a group of serious musicians to make. They descended on Erin, hugging her.

  After a moment, Tory said, "You know, my roommate said she saw you on Tuesday, in the courtyard outside the English building, making out with some hot guy. I told her she was crazy. Was that true?"

  "Yes."

  "So that’s your husband? What’s his name?"

  "Sean. He’s actually my roommate’s older brother. We’ve known each other forever."

  "How nice. Sean what?"

  "Murphy."

  "Hmmm Erin Murphy," Marisol tried it out. Erin had never heard her name transformed this way, and it sounded so great she almost went to pieces and cried right there.

  At that moment, the director came in.

  "Hey, what’s this? Why aren’t your instruments put together? What’s going on?"

  "Sorry, Dr. Johnson. It’s just…we’ve had some amazing news and we lost track of time," Ilona said.

  "What news?"

  "Erin just got married!"

  Dr. Johnson put his bushy salt and pepper eyebrows together. It was not a promising look.

  "Erin, please come with me right now. The rest of you, I want those instruments assembled and warmed up in the next five minutes."

  Erin set her oboe on the music stand and followed Dr. Johnson into his little office, her heart pounding.

  "Is something wrong, sir?"

  "Well, not wrong exactly, but I was wondering what this would mean for you professionally. I’ve been talking to recruiters from symphonies all over about you. They want to hear you play. There’s one in particular in Omaha that I thought would be a good place for you to start."

  "Sir, I’ve never asked for any of that. It has always been my intention, after I finished my degree, to go home."

  "Why? You’re good enough to play anywhere." Perplexed, he raked his fingers through his nimbus of silver hair.

  "Thank you. But there are more important things than professional accolades."

  "Like what?"

  "Like being loved." It was a very personal thing to admit to a professor, but Dr. Johnson had been her mentor from the beginning and she owed him the truth.

  "I see. Well, what are you planning to do then?"

  "Play in the symphony, and probably teach some lessons. My hometown doesn’t really have a double reed teacher. I could fill in that spot. Help other kids achieve, you know?"

  "Hmmm. I think that’s a pretty small ambition for someone of your talents."

  Erin had heard far too much of this argument already and lost her cool a little.

  "Why does everyone take it upon themselves to belittle my dreams? I’m just as capable as anyone else of deciding what I want to do with my life, and it is my life, damn it."

  "Sorry, you’re right. I don’t mean to
put you down, Erin. You have every right to make your own choices. It’s just kind of surprising. Usually people who are very talented have big professional ambitions."

  "Well, I don’t. The most ambitious unlikely thing I’ve ever wanted was to be part of a family. Nothing has ever come close to that in my heart."

  It was, perhaps, saying too much, and Erin colored a little. Dr. Johnson saw right through the angry words to the heart of a young woman who had never really been loved as a child and saw herself as unworthy of it, and understood exactly what she was telling him. It was heartbreaking to think that such an accomplished, sweet, and loyal person had no idea how lovable she was.

  He gave her a gentle hug, and sent her back to the recital hall to warm up her oboe.

  Later that night, Erin stretched out in her bed. Last night, she had been so tired from nearly a week of not enough sleep that she had dropped off right away. Not so tonight. Her little dorm bed felt very cold without Sean in it, and she missed him.

  She didn’t want to disturb Sheridan, in the bed across the room, but she couldn’t help sniffling a little. It would be a month before her husband would be able to hold her again, and that really bothered her.

  "Erin, are you okay?"

  "I’m fine." Her tone conveyed the opposite.

  Sheridan was out of the bed in an instant, kneeling beside her friend and giving her a warm hug. Erin’s control cracked a little more, but she tried hard to hang on.

  "Poor Erin. This must be really difficult."

  "You have no idea."

  "Well, call him, sweetie."

  "I can’t do that. How silly."

  "It isn’t. It’s fine. I’m sure he would love to hear your voice. He misses you too you know."

  "I don’t want to bother him."

  "Erin, why do you put yourself down this way? It’s not wrong or a bother for you to call your husband and talk to him. No one would say that’s a bad thing. Here. Take the phone. Do it."

  Erin took the phone and looked at it. She really didn’t want to be annoying, but the thought of hearing Sean’s voice was so appealing. Torn, she looked at her friend.

  "I promise he’ll be glad. Just dial the number, Erin. You’ll feel so much better if you talk to him."