Sandrine walked around the mess of the piano.

“Well, we will leave it just as it is.  We can point one of the lights on it and make it what it is.”

Marina came around to stand next to Sandrine.  “I see.  The tree is growing from the rubble.”

Sandrine nodded and the rest of us joined her from where she was standing.  Sure enough.  As much of the piano was now in pieces, the lid was mainly in tact, and the willow tree painted on it was virtually untouched.  The lid was at a slight angle, and it really did look like the willow tree was coming out of the ground.

I smiled faintly and put my hands in my pockets.  “Very cool.”

Bette immediately jumped back into Art Director mode, and had Marni and Rich double-check the rigging of all the other instruments, reassuring her that nothing else would be falling from the sky.  Everyone was assigned various tasks and in the next few hours, more work was done than what felt like the whole day had accomplished.  Lights were re-focused, sound systems were levelled and EQed out, video screens were flashing images. 

Everyone parted ways to grab food and change for the opening night.  As Bette and Tina were heading back to the house first to change and regroup after Tina’s “brush with death” as we were jokingly calling it, I decided to join Alice and Dana for Thai and then head back to their house, giving them some time on their own.  I arrived back at the house to find the driveway empty, Bette and Tina obviously having headed to dinner before the opening party.  Not sure what to wear to an art gallery opening, and still not owning more than could fit in a few small bags and my truck, I threw on a nice button down shirt, a nice pair of pants, and a black blazer I found in a thrift shop on one of the shopping trips Alice dragged me on a few weeks back. 

By the time I arrived at the CAC, it was getting dark and the coloured glow of the lights inside the building were shining through the windows of the building.  I couldn’t believe the place.  In the dark, the lighting and video gave a whole new look to the space.  I joined the rest of the smokers out front for a quick ciggie before heading inside.  The hum of voices of the people in through out the museum blended in with the music playing through the system.  Near the back of the foyer next to the first hallway of photographs I spotted Bette and Tina, laughing and talking with some patrons.  I grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter and headed towards them.  Bette saw me approaching and excused herself from the conversation, meeting me halfway.  We clicked glasses as Bette wrapped an arm around me.