When the applause finally faded. Elara stood up from the piano bench. She smoothed the front of her dress with both hands, trying to look calm even though her fingers felt a bit shaky. Before she could step off the small stage, Mrs Vale's voice came across the garden—soft and warm. "Come. Sit closer."
Elara paused. Just for a second. Then she nodded and walked toward the circle of chairs where the important guests were sitting.
She saw Ziva right away. Ziva was now sitting alone at a small three-person table, still inside the main circle but not right in the center. Elara felt a tiny wave of relief. She went straight there and sat down next to her.
Ziva looked at her sideways. "You handled that well," she whispered.
Elara opened her mouth to say thanks, but people around them started talking louder.
"She sings really well," one woman said.
Another person squinted a little. "True. But she looks familiar somehow."
