“Ready,” he said, appearing behind her in the bathroom. “I’m so, so proud of you. Have I mentioned that?”

“Maybe once or twice,” Emily said to him smiling, “but I never get tired of hearing it.”

68

When Emily got to the green room, Ari and Jack were there, sitting with Priya and Neel, their VIP passes letting them in early. Ezra’s parents were on their way.

“I’m so happy for you, Em!” Ari said, when Emily sat down next to her. “I spoke to Dad before. He said to tell you to break a leg. I promised I’d send him a video.”

Emily felt her eyes moisten with tears. “Thanks for doing that,” she said. She hoped maybe next time she played, he’d come. Maybe before that she’d go out to see him and they could talk, the way she had with Ezra. Maybe their relationship could be repaired, changed, strengthened. In the meantime she had her sister, she had her husband, she had her friends, who loved her. That was more than enough.

Emily took a breath and tried to focus on the moment, to get herself in the right headspace to go on stage. This was it. She was reclaiming herself, taking back a part of her that she’d given up, hopefully starting a brand-new career—one she knew she was meant to pursue. She’d treated music like an addiction, avoided places that would trigger her desire to play, to be on stage. But now she realized that what she’d thought was bad for her was actually something that nourished her soul. Like being addicted to water or air.

Tony walked into the green room—he had a VIP pass from Rob but had told Emily he’d visit her, too. “No crown?” he asked Emily, touching his own bald scalp.

She shook her head, feeling her waves brush her shoulders. “I grew up,” she said. “Thought it was time for my hair to acknowledge that.”

Tony laughed. “I guess we all did, huh?” he asked.

“Places in five,” a man with a headset said, opening the door.

“Thank you, five,” Emily responded.

Ezra’s parents slipped in the door, and they, along with Ari, Priya, and Ezra, all gave Emily a hug.

“Go knock ’em dead,” Ari whispered. Jack flipped on the big-screen TV in the green room so they could all watch her from there.