by Reina Torres
He wanted to say it was from the questionable Gyros truck he’d gone to for lunch, but he didn’t get to where he was in contracting by lying to himself.
It was just confusing.
And downright scary.
Since they’d lost Aimee to a virulent strain of the flu a few years before, he’d spent his time taking care of Juliet, dedicating his time and energy to her. That didn’t mean that he didn’t notice beautiful women.
He had eyes.
It was just that he hadn’t had a real interest in any of them.
Until today.
When he’d taken one look at Laura Chun and wondered how he hadn’t noticed her before.
“Dad,” Juliet was shaking his arm, trying to get his attention, but for some reason he couldn’t seem to pull his focus from the woman sitting across the table from him.
And he was sure Laura, rather, Miss Laura as Juliet called her, had noticed his loss of control.
The blush coloring her cheeks certainly said so.
“Dad!”
“Yes,” he swung his head around, “yes, Juliet?”
Rolling her eyes in another championship-worthy gesture, his darling daughter hammed it up at the table.
“Now that the waiter has our order, do you think you can stop staring at Miss Laura long enough for me to tell her the news?”
He latched onto the suggestion like a castaway at a life preserver. “Yes! Good idea.”
Juliet set her grown up purse on the table and opened up the magnetic clasp. Matthew recognized it as one of her mother’s favorites and felt a warm feeling in his chest. The two of them were constantly trying to keep the memory of her mother in their daily lives.
Taking out a folded letter, Juliet gazed down at the paper in her hands for a moment before she handed it to her very first dancing teacher and then watched Laura’s expression like a hawk.
So did Matthew. He knew what a big thing this was for his daughter. It would gut her if Miss Laura wasn’t as excited as she was.
Opening the letter, Laura’s eyes widened at the letterhead for a moment before she held the letter out toward the votive holder at the center of the table and squinted a little as her eyes moved back and forth over the paper, moving faster and faster and faster as her lips parted more and more until…
“Oh my! Party Scene!” Laura turned to Juliet and the two of them were suddenly sporting near identical ear-to-ear grins. “Congratulations, Juliet!”
Wrapping their arms around each other for a hug, Juliet was pulled from her seat and settled in Laura’s lap as they giggled and whispered together.
The candle at the center of the table paled in comparison to the two incandescent souls across the table from him.
Juliet beamed as Laura placed a kiss on her forehead.
“I knew it!” Laura brushed a stray hair back from Juliet’s face. “You’ve been working so hard, haven’t you?”
Juliet nodded, still grinning. “Dad put a mirror and barre in my room and I stretch every morning and ever night before bed and-”
“Whoa there,” Matthew laughed, “I think she gets the point.”
Juliet sighed happily and leaned her head on Laura’s shoulder. “I wanted you to be the first to know… besides me and Dad.”
Laura held Juliet gently in her lap, arms wrapped around the almost-teen as if she was a little girl. “You were always so serious about dance. You worked so hard even when you were one of my littles. I am so proud of you, Juliet. So very proud.”
Matthew’s chest tightened as he heard the tears threatening in Laura’s voice. Tentatively he lifted his gaze to her face and saw her eyes swimming with tears.
“You can count on me being in the audience for every show. So, as soon as they’ve done the blocking, you tell me where you’re dancing and I’ll pick my tickets so I can see it from every angle, okay?”
Laura looked down at Juliet, waiting for an answer, but Matthew saw his daughter bite into her bottom lip before turning to look at him.
He didn’t even have to move his head to see Laura’s expression. She was so close to Juliet, he could see them both clearly. He saw the confusion in her eyes, bordering on worry.
“Juliet,” he gently cautioned, “don’t you have something to ask Miss Laura?”
He watched Laura steel herself and he wanted to reach out and set a comforting hand on her shoulder. Looking down he realized that he’d even lifted his hand from his lap unconsciously. Shaking his head at his own silliness he set his hand back in his lap, taking hold of his napkin to give himself something to do.
“Miss Laura,” Juliet’s voice was a little higher than normal and she bit into the corner of her lower lip for a moment before she continued, “for the last few years, the Richardson Ballet has asked the parents of all the party girls to appear onstage. I was hoping that you might consider being my mom.”
Matthew bit the inside of his cheek. When they’d practiced how she would ask, she’d used the same wording over and over, but just now, she’d left out a few words, but he didn’t want to interrupt. Not when he could see how hopeful Juliet was.
They just had to wait for an answer.
Laura opened her mouth to answer and then closed it again, turning to look at him.
Again, those same butterflies from earlier woke up in his middle and started divebombing at his stomach.
When Laura spoke, he hoped that he managed to keep some kind of outward calm, because his insides were a mess.
“I guess you spoke to your father first, right?”
Juliet scooted off Laura’s lap and walked around to the other side of the round table to lean against him. “Of course! And dad is totally cool with it.”
If only his daughter knew how ‘uncool’ he was feeling. In fact, the longer Laura looked at him, the more he felt heat crawling up his neck.
Laura’s lips curved in a soft smile. “I promise that I won’t step on your toes.”
“Oh, but,” Juliet looked between the two of them, “Dad’s got huge feet, so you can’t guarantee that.”
He and Laura laughed a little.
“And I’m not necessarily the most graceful guy on my feet,” he added in, “I barely made it through the first dance at the wedding without crippling Aimee.”
Juliet’s smile dimmed just a bit and he wanted to kick himself, but when she looked up at him, he felt her hand reach down and squeeze his. “You and mommy looked so pretty in the video, like one of those cake toppers.”
Smiling through the sudden wash of tears, Matthew pulled her closer and brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Love you, baby.”
“I’m not a baby, Dad!” He could feel Juliet rolling her eyes. “But I love you too.”
Loosening his hold on his daughter, he turned back to look at Laura and saw the happy smile on her face.
“I may need some help from the best ballet teacher ‘ever.’” He mimicked his daughter’s tone from the thousands of times that Juliet had said those very words about Miss Laura. “I can promise to walk without tripping, but I’m told there’s an actual dance involved and the last thing I want to do is shame my daughter.”
Laura’s smile widened and she leaned on the edge of the table. The look in her eyes encouraged him to copy the movement. Juliet at his side did the same, making it look like the three of them were about to share a deep dark secret.
“I can teach anyone to dance if they are willing to listen and learn.”
Juliet turned slightly and looked at him. “It’s true, Dad. She taught Annabel to dance and Annabel’s mommy said she was born with two left feet.”
“Oh,” he had no idea what the appropriate response was so he didn’t make one. Turning back to Laura he nodded. “I can do both of those things and I’m motivated to keep my daughter from being teased. So, crack the whip. I’m ready.”
Juliet looked at Laura with true concern in her eyes. “You use a whip?”
Laura gave him a pointed look, but the smile on her lips made it all seem like a jok
e. “No whips, sweetie. Your father’s being silly.”
“Oohhhh,” Juliet grinned and skipped back to her seat, “Dad’s always silly.”
“Are you willing to put up with the two of us for the next month?” Matthew almost couldn’t believe that he had the courage to just put it out there, especially when he was almost afraid that she’d say yes.
He had no idea that he’d be attracted to Juliet’s old teacher, since that’s what he’d had in mind when she’d asked him, ‘old.’ When Juliet was in Laura’s class, Aimee had been the one to take her to and from class and he was ashamed to say he didn’t remember ever seeing her teacher until today.
But now that he knew that she was as beautiful as Juliet had said she was nice, he was in real danger of starting to feel something more, much more, than gratitude for Laura Chun.
He just had to keep things simple and completely platonic. He was doing this for his daughter, and that’s what he had to focus on.
There was nothing more important than the excited bounce of energy in his daughter’s step and the look of adoration in her eyes.
This whole thing was for Juliet.
If he could remember that, everything was going to be okay.
Chapter 3
When they arrived at the Richardson Ballet practice facility there was one moment of indecision for Matthew. He sat in the car looking down at his sweatpants and t-shirt and then looked at his daughter one last time. “Are you sure this is okay?”
Rolling her eyes, she shrugged on her coat. “Dad, come on! Miss Laura said it was fine. Come on. Get your coat on so we can get inside! I don’t want to be the last one to get there. Miss Laura always said that showing up on time is being late when you’re a dancer. You have to warm up before you dance.”
He nodded slowly. “Am I going to be hearing a lot more of ‘Miss Laura says’ before the end of this?”
Swinging open the door to their SUV, Juliet slid down to the ground before she swung around to give him a wide-eyed stare. “Yes… tons! So get used to it!”
Juliet closed the door and then skipped off a few steps before jumping up into the air. “Miss Laura!”
Yep. He was doomed.
Not only did the butterflies start up again but he was sure his heart was pounding in his chest.
Grumping at himself, he pushed open his door and got out of the car, grabbing the backpack with his new shoes and then his coat.
“Come on, Dad! We’re going in to warm up!”
Shaking his head, he shut the door and started after his daughter and her…
And really, what was her role? Pretend mom?
Stage mom? No, that had a different meaning.
Really, he wondered, what did it matter? She was just going to be there for the rehearsals and the performances.
At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
* * *
Passing through security, he gave his name to the guard in the reception area and was cleared to head into the rehearsal space.
It was immense!
The room looked like it could house several houses and a good-sized yard. There were mirrors on two sides of the room covering every inch of the pristine white paint from the ground up to about twelve feet in the air. The center of the room, bordered by about three feet of plain floor, was a dark rubbery surface that looked like it was duct-taped down.
He was more than willing to admit how clueless he was. With the exception of her recitals, he’d never really ventured into Juliet’s classrooms, but it must be ‘the norm’ because Juliet and Laura didn’t seem phased in the least.
* * *
When he reached their sides, Juliet had already shed her outerwear and was sliding on her pointe shoes. He set his things down beside his daughter’s bag and marveled at how she wrapped the satin ribbons around her ankles and tucked the ends of the bow into the inside where the ribbons were wrapped. “Thank goodness you don’t need me to do that for you. It’s like braids.”
She looked up at him, her cheek lightly touching her knee and he was struck by how much she looked like her mother.
“I’ve got it,” she told him, “but you need to change your shoes.”
He looked over at Laura who was laughing while hiding her face from him. “Go ahead and laugh. This is totally not my wheelhouse.”
Laura finished putting on her shoes, tucking the end of one strap under the back end of the buckle. She reached up and grabbed the ballet barre, bringing her to her feet.
“You look worried.” She told him with a smile in her eyes. “Don’t. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”
He nodded slowly. Not quite sure he should trust the hint of a glimmer in her eyes.
She put her hand over her heart. “I have my professional reputation to uphold.”
“Ah,” he laughed, “that is true. Believe me, you’re going to work for it with me.”
She lifted her hand from her chest and set it on his upper arm with a throaty laugh. “I always do.”
He swallowed something that felt suspiciously like his heart down into his chest at the simple gesture. He was still wearing a thick coat, but he swore he could feel her fingers trailing down his skin like electricity. “Laura, I was-”
“Laura Chun, is that you?”
He’d been saved from blurting something out that would have sounded like he was asking her out… Well, because he’d been about to.
Turning toward the sound, Laura’s face was full of joy.
“Adrienne!”
The woman crossing the floor was quite possibly the tallest woman that Matthew had ever seen. Her legs were definitely those of a dancer, but the entirety of her body from leg warmers to leggings to leotard and some kind of a wrap around her flame-red hair was just a shade darker than bright purple.
“Laura Chun, as I live and breathe! You better give me a hug!”
Laura stepped into the embrace and rose up on the toes of her shoes to reach the other woman’s shoulders. “Surprise!”
When Adrienne pulled back she looked down at Juliet. “Is this your old teacher?”
Juliet nodded like a bobble-head just after a big bump, her smile eager and wide. “Miss Laura is the best!”
“I was so proud that you selected her for the party scene.”
Adrienne waved off the compliment. “The girl is a true talent. And you, Laura, you gave her a great start. Her technique is spot on.”
Before Matthew realized what was going on, they were seemingly surrounded by everyone in the rehearsal space. They were all clamoring for an introduction to Laura and Laura made sure to introduce everyone to Juliet.
And his darling daughter looked like she was ready to burst with excitement.
By the time Adrienne called everyone to the front of the room, Juliet was riding a high but he saw the shift in her expression. She was ready to get down to work.
* * *
And work it was.
Things had started off simply. They listened to the music for the ballet and Adrienne talked through the story along with the music.
The families on their way to the party.
The servants readying the living room for their guests and a small private moment between Clara’s parents.
The arrivals of the guests.
And a funny moment with Clara’s Grandfather before the arrival of Drosselmeyer himself.
Matthew leaned in closer to Laura and whispered. “Has she ever considered just doing it by herself. She’s a natural.”
Laura nodded. “She does something like this with school groups. She tells the stories behind the ballets while a few dancers perform key moments of choreography. She was incredible when we did Scheherazade.”
“We?”
Laura’s face was suddenly bright red.
“Is that why everyone wanted to meet you?”
She shrugged but he saw her look away for a moment. When she lifted her gaze to meet his she nodded. “I was about a year away from becoming a principle with Ri
chardson when I was… injured. Adrienne was in the corps with me. Together we were lots of fun and trouble.”
He wanted to ask more, but the dramatic recitation was done, at least for what they were going to learn at that rehearsal and Matthew found himself dragged across the floor to the other side of the practice area.
Adrienne stood dead center and looked at the two groups on either side of the space. “Okay. This side,” she pointed at the other group, “is the Stage Left group. When you have directions for performers, WE are the important ones. So everything is from our vantage point. Stage left is performer’s left.”
She pointed toward their group and called him out. “Matthew?”
“Uh, Yes?”
“Do you want to guess what side of the stage you and your beautiful family are on?”
He looked down at Laura and Juliet, linked arm in arm, and gazing up at him with hopeful eyes.
“We’re the Stage Right group.”
“Yes!” Juliet jumped up in the air. “Point for dad!”
The group shared a laugh and Matthew felt some of the worry slip from his shoulders. He could do this.
Chapter 4
An hour later, he’d changed his mind again.
The entrances for the families had been easy… enough. They didn’t even really have to move to the beat of the music. They just had to start on the right count, walk to the center, pantomime something and then move on.
Easy-ish, considering that he had Laura giving him clues or whispered counts as they went along. And having her beside him had been all kinds of amazing.
But now they were in the house and they’d given their coats to the maids only to find out that Clara’s grandmother and grandfather had arrived.
As the two performers stepped through the marked ‘door,’ Matthew knew he was staring. Grandma was a sweetheart of a lady who reminded him of his own mother, including her age, but grandfather… maybe he was grandma’s second husband… or maybe fourth.
He wanted to call the guy Adonis because he reminded Matthew of a marble sculpture he’d seen. Even with the white T-shirt and black leggings, anyone could see the sleek muscles and taut flesh of the male dancer.
