“I know what I want to write now,” she said to Peter. “What I’d like to do is to record a rough track on film to make sure I’ve got the cues right, then I’ll write some additional parts for cello, bass, and flute, and when I have the piano part perfectly recorded, we’ll dub in the other instruments.”

“That sounds perfect,” Peter said. “How did you get so good at this so young?”

“The same way you got good at filmmaking,” she said. “I studied, then practiced all the time and played with other musicians whenever I could.”

“That’s not exactly how I got to be a filmmaker,” Peter said. “I just went to the movies a lot, then made a movie. What are you going to do after graduation?”

“I’ve been accepted at Juilliard,” she said, “to study composition. I’m not really interested in a career as a concert artist; I want more freedom than that.” She reached into her handbag and handed Peter a disc. “Here’s a present for you.”

Peter looked at the label. “Rhapsody in Blue? It’s one of my favorites. So is Concerto in F. Can I put it on now?”

“No, it will just embarrass me,” Hattie said. “Listen to it when you’re alone.”

“All right.”

Stone knocked at the open door and came in. “Everything go well with the film?”

“Yes, Dad,” Peter said. “Hattie’s got what she needs now to write the whole score. And she gave me this.” He handed Stone the disc.

Stone read the label. “Carnegie Hall!” he said. “That’s very impressive.”

Hattie turned pink.

“She embarrasses easily,” Peter said. “She won’t even let me listen to it while’s she’s here.”

“I’ve heard it before,” Hattie said, getting to her feet. “And now I think I have to get home and walk the dog. I take him to Central Park about this time every day, and he’ll be expecting me.”

“I’ll walk you down and get you a cab,” Peter said.

The two went downstairs and got their coats.

Peter was back in ten minutes, and he came into the master suite.

“You want to listen to Hattie’s recording?”

“Sure,” Stone said. “Put it in the player over there.” He pointed. He tossed Peter the remote for the other side of the electric bed. “Get comfortable,” he said. Peter inserted the disc.

The music started, and Stone turned up the volume to concert level.

The two pieces finished, and they were both silent for a moment.

“That was breathtaking,” Stone said after a moment.

“It sure was.”

“Did you know she was that good before today?”

“I heard her improvise some stuff in a recital hall at school, but I’m astonished.”

“Is she going to pursue a concert career?”