The students quieted down and sat back in their seats, though several of them kept grinning.
“But I heard the most extraordinary piano playing coming from this room. I had to know who it was.”
His eyes found Lily, still sitting at the piano bench, looking like she wanted to disappear.
“Was that you, young lady?” he asked gently.
Lily nodded, not trusting her voice to work.
Mr. Rodriguez smiled, but there was something serious in his eyes, too. He’d seen the whole classroom standing and applauding. He’d seen Mrs. Patterson’s face, guilty and angry at the same time. He’d been a principal long enough to recognize when something wasn’t quite right.
“That was absolutely beautiful,” he said to Lily. “I’d very much like to speak with you after class, if that’s all right. Perhaps in my office.”
He turned to Mrs. Patterson.
“With your permission, of course, Mrs. Patterson.”
It wasn’t really a request. Mrs. Patterson understood that. She nodded stiffly.
“Lily, you may return to your seat,” she said, her voice tight and controlled.