Pamela had joined them, unable to stomach more than half an hour of chitchat and eager to help. When Fleur had to go, muttering something about dancing, she took over as Jamie’s point woman.
Fleur disappeared for five minutes and then Rick saw her again next to the fire pit, tapping a jam jar with the back of a knife and calling for silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming and for your generosity this evening...” A murmur ran around the crowd. Clearly they were having a good time, and reckoned it was well worth the cost.
“Our artists and magicians are going to take a break now, but they’ll be back with you later. In the meantime, it’s my very great pleasure to introduce See the Beat.”
A hearty round of applause greeted the dancers as they ran from all four corners of the warehouse. Fleur and some of the other helpers cleared a space for them, and the heavy rhythm of rap music started to echo through the building. They used the bricked-in fire pit as their backdrop, street dancing to shouts and applause from the spectators.
Fleur was watching the dancers, and Rick walked across to her. She took his arm, and he felt the rhythm of the music swaying through her body.
This was her world. Taking the ordinary and making magic out of it. Channeling her own talent and that of others to make a night to remember, pulled together on a shoestring. Maple Island seemed a long way away at the moment, and even though she’d be returning with him in the morning, she’d be gone again soon. Seeing all of this, Rick wouldn’t have wanted anything else for her.
The dancers had retreated to one side of their arena, and the music changed. A Latin American beat, which they clapped along to, encouraging their audience to do the same. A man cartwheeled across the empty space and fell to his knees in front of Fleur.
It was such a shock that Rick let her go. The man took hold of her hand and led her into the center of the stage, and they started to dance, their steps based loosely on a salsa. The smile on her face, the way she moved...
It didn’t help that her partner was handsome. He wore a waistcoat with no shirt underneath, and his muscled arms looked strong around her waist. And he was engaging her in the kind of moves that were sure to put stress on her newly healed hip and knee. The sooner Rick could discreetly put an end to this, the better. He wondered whether a gentleman’s “Excuse me” might be in order.
“Steady on, buddy.” Alex’s voice sounded in his ear, and a firm hand clapped itself on his shoulder. Another, smaller hand slipped into the crook of his elbow. Rick looked and saw Maggie grinning up at him.
“She’s leading, Rick. Can’t you see?”
Rick looked again. Maggie was right. The dance moves looked as if they were spontaneous but they were carefully choreographed. And although it seemed that Fleur’s partner was the strong, almost aggressive leader in the dance, he was actually following her, and allowing her to use his body as a support when she needed it.
It was breathtaking. Fleur might not be able to do the exciting, acrobatic dance that the company specialized in anymore, but these two were faking it with panache.
“Yes. Sorry...”
Maggie shook her head. “If I saw Alex dancing like that with someone I’d tie him up and throw him into the river. That guy is...” She fanned her face, grinning at Alex, who seemed quite unconcerned. Everyone knew that Maggie only had eyes for Alex.
One of the dancers sprang up onto the blocks at the edge of the fire pit, holding two flaming torches aloft. “Everybody, dance!”
As he shouted the words, the other dancers made their way into the audience, picking partners and leading them into the dance arena. Alex grabbed Maggie’s hand quickly, probably heading off a man who seemed to be coming her way, and she melted into his arms, their bodies swaying together to the music.
Okay. Everything was okay. Fleur was in no danger of undoing all the hard work that had been put into her recovery. In his heart, Rick knew that she never would.
But he couldn’t watch. Slowly, irrevocably she was moving away from him. Back to the life she’d left behind. The one she’d thought was gone forever. She might not be able to dance again, but she’d proved tonight that she could organize and put on a spectacle.
Rick walked over to the deserted drinks table, and poured himself a generous measure of Scotch. As he took a mouthful, he felt someone close, and knew instinctively that it was Fleur.
“Hey, you.” She took the jam jar out of his hand and helped herself to a sip. “Sorry I didn’t warn you about that. Things have been moving a little faster than I thought...”
Rick took a breath, trying to disperse the heavy weight in his chest. “You looked wonderful out there.”
She smiled. “Liam’s the best. He compensated for me...”
All the same, this Liam character might have contrived to look a little less as if he was making love to Fleur on the dance floor. Rick dismissed the idea that he was just trying to find something about the guy that he didn’t like. Theater and dance were all about the illusion, and Liam was probably kind to his grandmother and led a youth group for underprivileged kids in his spare time.
“I’m so proud of you, Fleur. You have a real talent for this.” Looking at the positives seemed a good way to go. And he couldn’t bring himself to dismiss the flush of excitement from her cheeks.
“Are you going to dance with me?”
He felt more like drinking than dancing. Rick took the jam jar back, swallowing down a sip of Scotch.
“I’m... I’m not a very good dancer. You should choose a better partner.”
She pursed her lips. “Yeah. Liam’s got some great moves and he’s a handsome guy...”
Okay. No need to rub it in... Rick felt himself frown. Fleur stood on her toes, whispering into his ear.
“If Liam’s going to make a pass at anyone, it’ll be you. And dance is all about expressing yourself. You’re the one I want to express myself with.”
“Right.” Suddenly Liam didn’t seem as bad a guy after all. “Have I just made a fool of myself?”
“I like it that I made you a bit jealous.”
Rick put the jam jar down on the drinks table, curling his arm around her waist. Their bodies began to sway along with the music. “Toying with me, are you?”
Her gaze was serious for a moment. “No. I’d never do that... What’s that you said about not being a good dancer? I love your rhythm...”
Rick kissed her, and all that he’d thought he’d lost—all that he knew he would lose—suddenly retreated. The here and now was all that mattered, and Fleur was in his arms. A slow dance, in the shadows that bordered the warehouse. Just one, before she went back to chivvying people around and making sure that the evening went well.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
IT WAS ALMOST two in the morning. Alex had taken charge of the cash and checks, enlisting a couple of the security men to accompany him down to the night safe at the bank. Everyone had been thanked, and a fleet of taxis turned up to take both performers and guests home. Finally, Rick had Fleur all to himself.
Soft music drifted across the hotel lobby, and they followed the sound, finding that the night bar was still open for another half an hour. A pianist in the corner was playing relaxed night tunes, and the only thing possible was for Rick to take Fleur in his arms and dance.
“I’ve never seen that much cash before all in one place.” Fleur’s face was shining.
“And the checks won’t be totaled up until the morning. This is going to make quite a dent in the amount that Alex still has left to raise. You’ve made a difference tonight.”
“I didn’t do it alone. Everyone from the dance company contributed. The magicians, Jamie and Sara too... It was everyone.”
“You put it all together, Fleur. None of it would have happened without you.”
Fleur smiled, nestling a little closer to him, their bodie
s swaying to the slow tempo of the music. Rick might not be able to manage the complicated dance steps that he’d seen performed tonight, but Fleur had made it very clear that he was the only one she really wanted to dance with.
“I still feel a bit guilty about Jamie. We couldn’t touch the donations that were given tonight in return for his work, but I had a word with Alex and he offered him an ex gratia payment from clinic funds. Jamie wouldn’t take it, though. I can understand his point of view, but...” Fleur shrugged.
“I can understand it too. And I saw both Pamela and Alex giving his email address to quite a few people. Tonight was a big opportunity for him, and I hope he takes it.”
“I think he will. Sara will make sure of that.”
They lapsed into silence, content just to be together. It was so easy. It felt so right to be with Fleur, and any number of warnings in his head couldn’t keep him from wanting her.
“The bar’s closing soon. You want to take this dance upstairs?” Somewhere that Rick could take it to the only conclusion possible for tonight.
Fleur pulled him down for a kiss. “You lead...”
* * *
Fleur had left her phone switched off while she and Rick spent a lazy morning in bed. When she turned it back on again there was a list of messages and calls to return, and she decided to leave them until after lunch. Then an afternoon walk, around just a few of Boston’s art galleries, claimed her attention. And when they picked Ellie up, she was keen to tell Fleur all about her visit to the Aquarium with her grandparents. The first chance that Fleur had to return some of her messages and texts was in the car on the ferry ride back to the island.
When Rick stopped the car outside her parents’ house, Fleur asked him to come in for a while. Ellie started to tell Fleur’s father all about her visit to Boston, and Fleur led Rick into the kitchen, grateful for the opportunity of speaking to him alone.
“I had a call...”
“Yeah? It sounded like lots of calls.” He grinned.
“This one’s from the director of a theater in New York. He was in Boston with friends, and came along last night. They put on a lot of productions that involve dance and he’d like to talk to me about a job.”
His smile seemed to harden into a rigid counterfeit of itself. “Yeah? That’s great. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is what I wanted.” Fleur looked down at her phone. It felt as if it had betrayed her.
“Hey. What’s the matter?” His finger grazed her jaw.
“I...don’t know if I want to leave now. Maple Island’s starting to feel like home again, and... This is a time for me to take stock, isn’t it? To decide what I really want.”
If Rick asked her to stay, she would stay. She could give this up for him.
He sighed. “Look, Fleur, I won’t pretend that I’m not sorry to see you go. But you always wanted to go back to the theater. You have that chance now. You took what seemed like second best and made it into new possibilities for yourself, and now you have an offer of a new career. You have to go and make a success of it.”
“Like we said? At the clinic?” She’d thought that opinion might have changed now that he wasn’t her doctor anymore. That a lover would think differently.
“What I told you at the clinic wasn’t just part of a treatment plan. It was what I believed.” He reached over, tipping her face toward him. “I told you that when you left you’d run onto that ferry. Don’t let me down now.”
Suddenly, Fleur couldn’t see what Rick wanted anymore. It was as if he’d retreated, and the only way he’d left open to her was forward, away from him.
They’d gone into this relationship on the understanding that it wasn’t for keeps. It wasn’t just about geography, they had different goals in life. Rick and Ellie needed a home. And it was Rick who had helped Fleur to see that she still had things left to achieve. He wasn’t going to let her throw this chance away.
“I’ll call him back, then. Tomorrow...?”
“Yes. Do that.” Rick turned away from her, as if there was no more to be said on the matter. It was almost a relief when he walked out of the kitchen, going back to Ellie to tell her that it was time they went home.
As they stood in the porch, watching Rick and Ellie drive away, her father put his arm around her shoulders. “Okay, honey?”
“Yes.” She would make this work. Rick hadn’t spent all that time and effort teaching her how to do it for nothing. “I’ve got something to tell you and Mom when we get inside. It’s a really exciting opportunity...”
* * *
Rick knew that Fleur was slipping away from him, and he’d made up his mind to do nothing to stop it. After a weekend away from the island, Monday was a busy day, and when he got home from work he was taken up with hearing about Ellie’s day and then watching the film he’d promised her. Fleur didn’t call but, then, he hadn’t called her either.
The following day, his phone rang at lunchtime. Fleur had contacted the director of the New York theater and they’d set up a video conference. They’d talked at length and she was hopeful that it might lead to something. She was going to New York the next day to meet the board of governors and key personnel at the theater and was thinking of staying on for a few weeks to explore other opportunities. Rick congratulated her and she thanked him.
Fleur was leaving, he’d always known that. He couldn’t deny her this opportunity any more than he could deny himself the opportunity to give Ellie a home here on the island. But there was one more thing that he had to do. He had to say goodbye properly.
He finished work and went to see Ellie at the daycare center, telling her that he had to go and do something but he’d be back for her in an hour. He left her playing with one of the daycare assistants, and drove to Josh and Maura’s house. Maura answered the door, and told him that Fleur had taken a walk down to the harbor. She’d only been gone for five minutes, and if he hurried he’d catch her.
A cold wind was blowing in from the sea, and Rick was glad of his warm coat. Ahead, he could see a figure, and he ran to catch Fleur up, stumbling as he went, on the uneven path.
“Rick...” She heard him behind her, and turned. Maple Island was known for its sunsets, and this evening’s had been particularly spectacular. But now there were just a few streaks of red in the sky and dusk was closing in.
“Fleur. I came to say...” Looking into her face, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and tell her that he wouldn’t let her go. But he couldn’t do it to her. “I came to say goodbye.”
“I’m not leaving until tomorrow...”
The temptation to tell her that they could spend those hours together almost overwhelmed Rick. But they would only be one long goodbye. They both deserved better than that.
He took a deep breath. “Last weekend we did something important together. And we danced...” And made love. But it would break his heart to say it.
“Last weekend was great, Rick.”
“It was. So I’d like it if we could both remember that as the last time we spent together.” If Fleur took it into her head to disagree, he wouldn’t be able to resist her. He’d only just managed to get the words out, and it had taken every last bit of his resolve.
She thought for a minute, staring at the ground between them. When she tipped her face up toward his, Rick saw tears there. He silently begged her not to cry, because he couldn’t bear to walk away and leave her crying.
“You’re right. We couldn’t have hoped to end with anything better. It’s a good way to leave things between us.” She gestured at the path ahead of them. “I’m going up to the harbor...”
“I have to go back the other way. My car’s there...”
There was another silence. Her gaze searched his face, as if looking for some way to hold back the inevitable. But there was nothing more to say now, except goodbye.
“I want to thank you, Rick. You made me believe in myself again. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Fleur. You’ve helped me to make a home here on the island.”
“I want you and Ellie to be happy here.”
Happiness was one thing that he was determined that Ellie should have, but he couldn’t promise it for himself without Fleur in his life. Rick felt himself choke with emotion, and turned away from her, walking back along the path. If she called after him, he wasn’t sure that his legs would continue to carry him. But she didn’t.
* * *
He’d promised himself he wouldn’t watch her go, but Phoenix Flame had mentioned that Fleur was leaving on the evening ferry to catch the red-eye to New York. He and Ellie made the journey up the circular staircase to the room at the top of the lighthouse, and while Ellie used her telescope to look at the lights of Boston, Rick watched the harbor. He could make out Josh’s car, and a tiny figure in a red coat got out and boarded the ferry. Rick reached out, laying his hand on the window in front of him, bidding Fleur a silent goodbye.
* * *
Just getting through each day was all he could think about at first. But the island community seemed to be making a concerted effort to get through to him. Everyone knew that he and Fleur had been close, and when he visited Main Street on Saturday morning with Ellie, it took them twice as long to walk its length, because so many people stopped to talk. Fiona Brady firmly placed an extra helping in front of him when they went for lunch at the bakery, clearly believing that grilled cheese sandwiches had the power to mend a broken heart.
Even Salty contributed his two cents’ worth to the general air of concern. Rick signed his discharge papers, and found Salty in his room, his canvas sea-bag packed and ready to go.
Resisting Her English Doc Page 16
