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“We want you to know everything’s under control, see? Mr.Rushford brought in all the hors d’oeuvres and showed us how to carry them and the student band is setting up in the corner and ... and everything’s going to be just great.”

She didn’t usually touch students but she grasped each one by the arm. “Thank you. Thank you so, so much.”

“We’re going to make this work,” Leo said.

“Wearemaking it work,” Teddy Lawrence said, carrying a tray of cake balls. He gave Sam a side hug and lightly smacked Cal’s wrist for sneaking one. “Hey, no eating the cake balls, you hear? I swear, these kids don’t realize they’re handling artwork.” He shot Cal a look.

“Just two, okay?” Cal said. “They were delicious. I couldn’t help it.”

“Teddy,” Sam said. “Thank you.” She looked around the lobby, which was built to look like a grand palatial entrance, with soaring ceilings and ornate walls decorated with intricate plaster designs painted blue, clay-colored, green, and yellow. Her students had draped lengths of silver tulle over the bannister of the grand staircase, hung shimmering cardboard stars on the walls, and had even hung them around the necks of some of the fancy marble statues.

The finishing touch was a giant hanging mobile of stars and planets suspended from the ceiling. “How did you—”

“Mr.Wolensky did it,” Cal said.

“Wow. It’s fabulous.” She waved to more of her students, who were serving the hors d’oeuvres from Brad’s restaurant, and a large crowd was milling about enjoying the grand lobby and having a great time.

“We sold every ticket,” Effie said proudly. “All thirty-five hundred seats are filled.”

“Impressive,” Sam said. Of course, they were still short the last two million bucks to get the matching state funds. She could only pray that some wealthy donors would come forward tonight to make up the difference. But if not, she would find some way to get that money—write grants, politick, send letters, go door-to-door. They’d come this far, and she was not going to let her town down. Everyone she knew was here, helping out. Giving her their all. Her wonderful students, family, and friends. No matter how broken her heart was, she would smile until her jaw was numb and give them her all.

“Have you been to the restroom yet?” Effie asked.

“No, wh—oh. You saw your portrait. How’s it look?”

“Well, you didn’t make me look younger but I must say, it’s quite lovely. I’ve been standing by it telling everyone how talented my granddaughter is. I’m very proud of you, Samantha.”

Sam hugged her grandmother. “I learned from the best.”

Jess cruised by. “Are you all right?” she asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “I am. How can I not be when everyone’s been so wonderful?”

“I’m sorry about Lukas.” Jess gave her a squeeze.

“Me too.”

“Maybe you two can still work it out.”

Sam shrugged. “He left. But thanks.”

Evan, who was wearing—my gosh—a tux, joined them. His hair was cut and tamed. Jess smoothed it and his lapels. “Did you see the planetary mobile suspended from the ceiling?” she asked proudly. “Evan and his students made that.”

“It’s to scale,” he said, looking very pleased.

Sam smiled. “It’s incredible. How did you suspend it? I mean, this ceiling’s higher than the cathedral’s.”

“The magic of physics,” he said proudly.

“Magical,” Jess said, looking starry-eyed. “Completely magical.”

“Would you ladies like some wine?” Evan asked.

“We’d love some,” Jess said. As soon as he was out of earshot, she grabbed Sam by the elbow. “We’re dating,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to upset you, but I’m so excited. He’s nice, Sam. I really, really like him. And to think I never would have given him a second look. Thank goodness he gave me a second chance.”

“I love Evan ... But Jess, tell me you’re not taking up French poetry or studying physics or something like that.”

“Nope. But I did take him shopping to get a few things at the Gap. And he’s a runner like me, and you would not believe the bod he was hiding under those ugly clothes. He just needed a little style help to bring out the sexy.”