Music of the Knight

Chapter 6-2

An hour later, we’d moved upstairs to the living room so Kelly could get her rest downstairs. Louie was having a heated but friendly discussion with Lou on the use of technology in music, and Lorraine and Al were cuddling on the blue divan, chatting softly over coffees.

Lei had disappeared a few minutes ago, and I was thinking maybe it was time for me to leave.

In the last hour, I’d observed and listened closely, trying to understand the situation with Lei. But I couldn’t figure it out. All I knew was that he’d taken a long leave of absence and was slowly returning to work at the store. Had he been ill? He was very quiet, rarely saying a word, and when he did speak, he seemed a little under the effect of something. Was he struggling with addiction?

He and I hadn’t talked much, but whenever I’d say something funny, or more like something idiotic, a trace of a smile would appear on his otherwise serious face. He obviously enjoyed my sense of humor. And once in a while, I’d look up to find him staring at me with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He seemed interested in me, but too reserved to strike up a conversation.

I was about to get up and announce my departure, when Lei walked back into the room. I couldn’t help eyeing him over for the hundredth time in the last hour. He was dressed in those same blue jeans I’d first seen him in, but tonight he wore a dark red T-shirt that made his brown eyes pop. He had many leather bracelets around his wrists, a few silver rings, but I couldn’t see any tattoos. When he leaned over the coffee table right by me, he didn’t make eye contact. Only picked up his cup of tea and looked into it. “Empty,” he said, to himself.

Suddenly, I wanted to boil some water, crush tea leaves and fix him the best cup of tea he ever had. I desperately wanted to talk with him a little, before I left. “I think maybe there’s hot water in that boiler there,” I said.

“Thank you, but no, I’m good. I’m gonna get going, anyway.” He waved at his mother.

She immediately rose and walked to him. “You’re leaving already?”

Lei nodded and they exchanged a few soft words I didn’t catch. He went around the room, kissed his sister and shook his brother’s hand. When he’d reached his father, Al gazed up at him with such a sorrowful expression, it confused me. Then Louie stood and hugged Lei. I got out of my seat. “I’m gonna get going as well,” I said, spontaneously. I realized I wanted to leave with Lei.

After I’d thanked them profusely for the amazing night, and we’d hugged or shook hands, I finally stepped out. August was drawing to its end, but it was a beautiful warm summer night.

Lei was right behind me. We climbed down the porch stairs, and at the street, I saw his car, a black Jetta, was parked right behind mine. What could I say, if anything? Then it came to me. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

He’d opened his car door, but paused to look at me.

I took a few steps closer, so that we stood eye to eye. Well, more like eye to chin. He was at least six inches taller than me. “I just—well, okay, don’t take this the wrong way or anything—but I’m curious about your guys’ names. I mean, Lou, Louie and Lei. Is there, like, a story there?” I gave him my most charming smile.

And he actually smiled back. A real smile. Teeth and everything. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “My sister didn’t explain already?”

“No…”

“Oh.” Lei was serious again. “We’re named after composers.”

I didn’t know much about music, but it seemed I’d never heard of composers named Lei or Lou.

“They’re diminutives,” he said, in that subdued voice I was beginning to enjoy. “Louie’s short for Ludwig. For Ludwig Beethoven. My sister, well, they named her after Wolfgang Mozart, but shortened it to Wolfe, which quickly became Lou.”

Loup. That was Wolfe in French. Lorraine was part French. That explained it.

“And you?”

“I was named after Wagner.”

I searched his heartbreaking face. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Richard Wilhelm Wagner. You know him?”

“The, uh—hmm. Not sure.”

“Yeah, him.” Lei smiled a little. “It doesn’t matter. My name’s Wilhelm.” He held my eyes with his. “And they call me Lei.”

Wilhelm.

I drew in a short breath. “That’s cool,” I said, lamely. It wasn’t cool. It was fascinating.

He climbed in his car and gave me a kind and charming look. “Micah’s a nice name, by the way. It suits you well.” He shut his door before I could reply and I heard the engine rev.

I stood in the street, flushed and enraptured. Wilhelm Knight. Man, who was this guy?