They talked for two hours. Marcus told Angela everything. He told her about Carnegie Hall, about the presidents, about the critics who called him a genius, about his mother and her final wish, about the accident and the dark years that followed.
Angela listened to it all. Her heart broke and mended a hundred times during that conversation. When they finally said goodbye, she promised to come visit him soon. She wanted to see him play in person. She wanted to introduce her own children to their grandfather's gift.
After hanging up, Marcus felt lighter than he had in years. The secret was out. The truth was free. For the first time in 40 years, he did not have to hide anymore.
But the world was not done with him yet. Over the next few days, the story kept growing. Old recordings of young Marcus were being found and shared. Music historians were writing articles about his career. Newspapers ran headlines about the greatest comeback in music history.
Then came the offers: record companies wanted to sign him, concert halls wanted him to perform, television shows wanted to interview him. The money they offered was enormous, more than he had ever seen in his life.
Marcus read through the emails and letters. He listened to the voicemails. He considered each offer carefully. But something did not feel right. This was not why he had played at the showroom. He had not done it for fame or money. He had done it because his heart had given him no choice.
One week after the showroom incident, a delivery truck arrived at his apartment building. Marcus watched from his window as workers unloaded a massive black case. His heart stopped when he realized what it was: the Steinway.
Richard Harrington had kept his word. The piano was being delivered to Marcus. $150,000 worth of musical perfection now belonged to a retired construction worker in the Bronx.
Marcus met the delivery men at his door. They looked confused. His apartment was tiny. How were they supposed to fit a concert grand piano inside?
"Just bring it in," Marcus said. "We will make it work."
They had to remove the legs and tilt the piano on its side just to get it through the doorway. It barely fit in his small living room. He had to move his couch, television, and coffee table just to make space.