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Pa wanted to help choose the music for the ceremony so he invited us one night to Clarence

House, for dinner and…a concert.

He brought out his wireless and we began sampling music, wonderful music, all kinds of

music. He wholly endorsed our desire to have an orchestra rather than an organist, and he played

an assortment of orchestras to get us in the mood.

After a time, we segued into classical, and he talked about his love of Beethoven.

Meg spoke about her own deep feeling for Chopin.

She’d always loved Chopin, she said, but in Canada she grew dependent on him, because

Chopin was the only thing that could soothe Guy and Bogart.

She played them Chopin day and night.

Pa smiled sympathetically.

As one piece ended, he’d quickly reload his wireless, begin humming or tapping his foot to the

next. He was airy, witty, charming, and I kept shaking my head in amazement. I knew Pa loved

music, but I never knew he loved it this much.

Meg evoked so much in him, qualities I’d rarely seen. In her presence Pa became boyish. I saw

it, saw the bond between them growing stronger, and I felt strengthened in my own bond with

him. So many people were treating her shabbily, it filled my heart to see my father treating her like

the princess she was about to—maybe born to—become.