Chapter 9 - The Music Returns
One month later.
The morning sun poured brightly through the tall arched windows of the grand music room on the second floor.
The room had been completely renovated. On a velvet-lined display stand near the window sat the restored rosewood acoustic guitar—its broken body expertly repaired by a master luthier in Rio de Janeiro, its steel strings shining like gold in the sunlight.
Sitting on a soft carpet in the center of the room were all six girls, surrounding Luía.
Luía was holding a brand-new nylon-string classical guitar, holding a soft chord as she taught Laura and Julia how to finger the notes for a simple song.
Beatriz and Bianca were tapping small wooden tambourines in time with the rhythm. Sofía was sitting on a plush cushion, singing along in a sweet, clear voice.
And sitting on the piano bench nearby, holding three-year-old Isabela on my lap, was me.
I wasn't wearing a suit. I wore a comfortable sweater and jeans. My laptop was locked away in my study, and my afternoon schedule had been cleared for the entire summer.
"Ready, everyone?" Luía asked, looking around the circle with her radiant, warm smile. "From the top. One, two, three..."
The music filled the room.
It wasn't a sad song. It was a bright, joyous melody—a traditional Brazilian lullaby that filled every corner of the high ceilings, echoing down the halls, floating past the portrait of Claris in the foyer, and pouring out through the open windows into the sunlit gardens outside.
Augusto stood in the doorway, holding a tray of fresh orange juice, a soft, rare smile on his face as he watched the scene.
I looked at Luía as she played, her fingers moving effortlessly across the frets, her dark curls tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes shining with happiness.
May you like
She looked up, her dark eyes meeting mine across the music room.
A subtle, beautiful understanding passed between us—a quiet promise that the dark storm was over, and that whatever challenges the future held, we would face them together.
