A Beautiful Instrument

55: I AM DONE

The rest of the week feels like we are simply going through the motions. Although Ava was touched at the idea of a tribute, she only agrees to a brief moment of silence at Saturday's and Sunday's shows this weekend. A memorial service is planned for the following Monday.

Despite everything she must be going through, she insists on hosting Friendsgiving on Friday so we submit to her wishes and keep things as planned.

We are on the phone with the lawyer more often than I like, but Jeremy reminds me that this is helping to wrap up our case. Friedrich is stubbornly clinging to the notion that what he did was not assault, although he has agreed to most other terms. It unnerves me that he won't serve time for his crimes, but ultimately as long as he can't continue to offend, that's what matters most. The lawyer assures me that if he violates his probation he will be hit with the full penalty of his next crime.

It's Wednesday. We are just wrapping up practice. I'm sulking, still unable to play. My phone rings and I'm surprised to see that it's my mom. I answer. "Mom, hi. What's up?"

"Haven't heard from you in awhile, pumpkin. You forget about your dear ol' mom?" She asks coyly.

Fat chance of that. I trot out my usual excuse. "No, Mom. I've just been busy."

"Well, I was calling to see what you had planned for Thanksgiving. Francis, my fiancé, thought it would be nice to get together." She drops casually.

"You're engaged?!" I exclaim.

"Oh yeah. I thought I texted you a picture of the ring when it happened. We aren't marrying right away, but he wanted a ring on my finger so he could lock me down, in his words." She states, clearly amused.

"Hmmm. Okay. Well Mom, I have plans out with friends tomorrow." I confess.

"Where at? Maybe we could join you." She invites herself.

"No. You won't enjoy it and our reservation has been set for weeks now." I discourage her.

She ramps up the martyrdom. "Well that's real nice. Leaving your mom alone on Thanksgiving."

"Mom, I'll remind you we haven't spent very many holidays together in years past." I note dryly.

"Well, Francis suggested we give it a try. So here we are. Now, I doubt that you and your hotshot boyfriend can't get the restaurant to extend the reservation by two seats. What's the name of the fancy-pants place?" She persists.

"Mom, no." I say more forcefully.

Jeremy walks over, looking at me. His brow is furrowed. He mouths. "You okay?"

I shake my head as my mom starts in again. "Analeigh. Why are you being so difficult? I want to meet your boyfriend and introduce you to Francis. Be more like a family for once."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I curse.

"Leigh!" Jeremy scolds.

"What?" He gestures for me to mute the phone. I do. She babbles on, playing her own woe-is-me tune.

Jeremy talks quickly. "What is going on?"

"She's fishing for an invite to Thanksgiving. Oh, and she's engaged." I inform him.

"Be the bigger person here, Leigh. Plus, I want to meet her." I stare back at him. He doesn't know what he is asking. His lips curl into a smirk and he leans in and kisses my cheek, my jaw, my neck. "I'll be your buffer. I promise."

I huff. "Fine, but just remember that you asked for this. Don't blame me."

"You're so sexy when you're fired up." He muses. I tilt my head back and away from him, looking him straight in the eye.