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“Vanessa Hello” The tears spilled out She was unaccountably moved by her friend’s elcome She’d had no idea what to expect on her first day back at work—she had feared whispering and averted eyes This was a huge relief

“Sweetie Come and sit down” Vanessa hustled Lydia into the cloakroom and sat with her on the bench until her friend’s exhausted sobs died away “I’lad to see you back I was really worried you’d had a breakdown or so”

“I kind of did,” said Lydia, wiping her eyes “I kind of still am”

“But you have friends, and you have your h I promise you”

“The music’s been awfully quiet lately”

“Then it’s tiet into the thick of it Throw yourself into it Talent like yours shouldn’t be wasted”

Lydia bestowed a watery smile on Vanessa “I’anini”

The thought hovered in the air between them That’s more Milan’s style

Vanessa dismissed it with a shudder

“You’re wonderful and you should know it Co for us”

In the rehearsal roo upup instruenuine smiles and words of welcome Lydia perceived an immediate difference in the atmosphere Back before the disastrous central European tour, the orchestra had been a nervous beast—het up and highly strung Now there was an air of playtione? Was it really?

Her uneasiness wouldn’t quite fall away, despite the best efforts of her colleagues Nobody retful allusions to Evgeny’s fate and polite enquiries about his funeral