by Len Webster
It had been eighteen days.
Eighteen.
Eighteen days since they were last together in her apartment.
Eighteen days since he had really kissed her.
Max turned off the engine and pulled the key out. He had parked outside a supermarket on the way to her surprise.
“Max?” Josie said.
He glanced over to see her staring at the shop. “We have to pick up some food.”
Then she faced him and asked, “Where are we going?”
Max reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Didn’t schedule enough time to tell you. Come on. We’ve got like an hour and a half left before we have to get you back home to finish your assignment.”
“Fine.” She sighed and pulled back. Josie pulled on the car door handle and got out.
Max took a deep breath in hopes his erratic heart would calm, but it was to no avail. It only drove that organ in his chest to beat faster. Max got out of his Porsche and walked around it until he stood next to Josie who waited by the passenger side. Countless pairs of eyes were on them, and he heard someone whisper, “Are they famous?” He grasped Josie’s hand and led her inside the store.
“What kind of food do we have to get?” she asked as he led her farther into the store to the aisle he was looking for.
“The only kind we can bring with us.”
When they had reached the confectionary aisle, she laughed as they walked down it.
“So lollies and chocolates?”
“Yep,” he said as he dropped her hand and pointed at the shelves of junk food. “You can only bring your favourite confectionary with us.”
“That’s easy!” she announced and then pointed to his right. “That pink bag over there.”
Max reached up and removed the bag from the hook. Then he took in the picture of the cartoon man with the moustache. “These marshmallows are you favourite?”
She took the bag from him and nodded. “They’re filled with this strawberry jelly. They’re amazing.”
Her eyes twinkled, and he loved the sight of her excitement.
“All right, I believe you. Come on. Checkouts are this way.” Max took the bag of marshmallows from her and made his way to the registers, Josie following.
He reached the self-serve machine and scanned Josie’s marshmallows through. He placed the bag on the scale and pressed on the screen to pay.
“Oh, hang on, I’ve got it,” she said as she opened her black clutch.
Max ignored her and pulled his wallet from his pocket. He flipped it open, pulled out his card, and tapped it across the eftpos machine.
“Wait, no—”
Max returned his card to its slot and his wallet to his pocket. Then he grabbed the receipt and picked up the marshmallows. He handed them to Josie with a smile. “I sacrificed fighting with you about paying for your favourite lollies so that I can tell you how beautiful you are. We don’t have time, Josephine.”
The annoyance faded from her face. “Fine.”
Max cupped the nape of her neck and brought her lips to his in a chaste kiss as he gazed down at her. “You’re so beautiful, Josephine.”
I love you, he thought.
But he wouldn’t say I love you in a supermarket.
Not when she had given him much sweeter declarations.
Josephine Faulkner deserved the best out of life, and Max was working his way towards giving her everything.
“Thank you,” Max said, handing his keys to the man who had held the sign with his last name on it. Even he had to admit that Dominic Gomez had outdone himself. All Max had done was call in a favour from his client, but he was impressed.
“You’re welcome, Mr Sheridan,” the Arts Centre employee said, eyes gleaming with joy knowing that he would soon be driving and parking a Porsche.
“The Arts Centre Melbourne?” Josie questioned as she tilted her head back and took in the spire inspired by the Eiffel Tower and a ballerina’s tutu.
He was a little disappointed that they weren’t here later at night when the building was lit up and a stunning sight. But unfortunately, this was the only time he could get his favour done.
“Yep.”
Max held the marshmallows by his right side and took her hand with his left. She glanced down at their hands and smiled. When her eyes lifted to meet his, that smile of hers deepened.
What he had said in the supermarket was true.
She was beautiful.
“And what are we doing here at the Arts Centre?”
“The Australian Ballet,” he announced as he led her towards the front entry.
Josie hurried her footsteps to meet his. “We’re seeing the ballet?”
“We’re seeing their dress rehearsal for a new show,” he clarified.
When they were at the front doors, Max saw his client waiting for them with a bouquet of red roses in his hands. Max led Josie to him, and Dominic Gomez smiled. He was one of the world’s most talented male dancers. And at twenty-eight, Dominic had danced for the world’s greatest ballet companies.
“Ah, you must be Miss Faulkner,” Dominic said. Max saw the desire fill his green eyes. He appreciated what he saw, and Josie in that goddamn white dress of hers was a beautiful goddess.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed next to him. She pulled her hand away from his, and he turned to see her hands covered her mouth. Her blue eyes were wide in shock and disbelief. “You’re … you’re …”
Dominic smiled and glanced over at Max. “I think she knows who I am.”
Josie removed her hands from her mouth and said, “Of course, I know who you are. I saw your performance with the Paris Opera Ballet on TV last year. I read an article online that you had left the company.”
“Wow,” Dominic said, sounding surprised. “I had no idea Mr Sheridan knew a beautiful woman so interested in ballet.”
She blushed. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“Don’t be so modest. You’re beautiful, Miss Faulkner. I’ve been Mr Sheridan’s client for a few years now, and he has never once asked me for a favour. I’ve offered to give him tickets to my shows numerous times, but he’s always declined. So his call was definitely a surprise.”
“Dominic, I told you; it’s Max.”
“And I told you it was a sign of my respect for you, Mr Sheridan.” Dominic stepped forward and handed Josie the bouquet of roses. “These are for you, Miss Faulkner.”
“For me?”
He nodded. “Of course. Mr Sheridan insisted that I be the one to give you his flowers.”
Josie gazed down at the roses and then turned to face him. The tenderness in her eyes was a sight of their own. So beautiful and bright. “These are from you?”
Max beamed at her. “That okay?”
“Incredibly okay.”
He hated that he didn’t pencil in enough time to really kiss her.
Then the doors opening and a woman stepping out caught his and Josie’s attention, breaking the connection their eyes made. “Dominic, they’re ready,” she announced.
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Susanne. You both ready to go inside?”
Josie nodded enthusiastically.
Max grinned, knowing she was about to experience something unique and tailored just for her. She followed Dominic inside, and Max quickened his pace to walk next to her.
“Wow,” Josie breathed as they made it down the hall. She had stopped for a second to take in the pictures on the walls.
“Have you ever been here before?” Max asked.
She shook her head as they continued to follow Dominic. “No. I’ve always wanted to, but I couldn’t. I don’t know. It sounds stupid, but I couldn’t get myself to commit to seeing a show here.”
“Have you ever seen the ballet performed live?”
They walked downstairs, and he noticed Josie bite her lip. Finally, when they reached the bottom level, she said, “I went to the Royal Palace Theatre with my father when I was eight and saw a performance. It was beautiful
. It was one of the last things we did together before he left us and went to Germany.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Josie shook her head with a smile. “Don’t be, Max.”
“Just in through here,” Dominic said. He held the door open, and Josie stepped away from him to enter the theatre with Max right behind her.
When they stepped inside, he heard Josie’s sharp inhale.
“Welcome to the State Theatre,” Dominic said. “Follow me to your seats.”
And they did.
They went down the stairs until they were close to the stage. They reached the fifth row when Dominic stepped aside and pointed at the row.
“Your seats are reserved.”
Max glanced over at the row to find two reserved signs on the seats in the middle.
Josie slid into the row first, and Max stood there a moment to face Dominic.
“Thanks for this, Dominic.” Max held out his hand, and the ballet dancer grasped it and shook it firmly.
“You got me out of my contract with the Paris Opera Ballet so I could come home early when my father was sick. I’m the one who’s thankful, Mr Sheridan. Because of you, he was able to see me dance before he passed away.” Dominic smiled and then ended their handshake. “She’s beautiful, Mr Sheridan. I hope you both enjoy the performance.”
“And …?”
“It’s all ready to go,” Dominic assured with a grin. “We tweaked and used an old routine to make it work.”
Max sighed in relief. “I appreciate it.”
“I can see that. Go sit with her. It’ll start in a few minutes.”
Max nodded, turned, and made his way down the row to find Josie already sitting in her seat, staring up at the high ceilings.
“This is so incredible. There are like five levels!”
The wonder in her eyes and the amazement in her voice had him sitting down in his seat and setting the bag of marshmallows next to him. Then he reached out and grasped her hand and squeezed.
“It’s about to start.”
Josie lowered her chin, and that tenderness in her eyes from before didn’t disappear. It had stayed and magnified as her blue eyes shimmered before him. “Max.”
“Yeah?”
“This is the most incredible, thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
He shifted in his seat, and with his free hand, he cupped the side of her face with his palm. “The show hasn’t even started.”
“I know. But even if this was it. Just us sitting in the theatre where so many of the world’s best ballet companies have performed would have been more than enough.”
Max leant in close and whispered, “That wouldn’t have been enough. Even after we watch this show, it’s not enough.”
Her free hand wrapped around his wrist and in a low voice, she said, “You’re absolutely more than enough for me.”
A pang of guilt erupted in him.
He wasn’t.
Not just yet.
But he would be.
I wish I was more than enough for you.
It had almost slipped from her lips.
Her insecurity over her worthiness of Maxwell Sheridan made an appearance. He had gone to so much effort to plan a two-hour activity together. And it was beautiful and thoughtful and everything that made her love him more.
Suddenly, she felt her clutch vibrate in her lap. Josie pulled away from Max’s touch, picked up her clutch, and opened it. She took out her phone to see a new message from Stella.
Stella: Why aren’t you home? Have you been abducted? I see no ransom on my door. I thought we were going to have ice cream sandwiches for dinner after you finished your assignment. *plotting your demise*
Josie laughed and showed Max the screen.
He read the message and chuckled. “You should reply to her before the show starts, or she might think you really did get abducted.”
She giggled. “You’re right.”
Josie: Max took me to a dress rehearsal for the Australian Ballet.
Stella: THE. Australian. Ballet?
Josie: Yes.
Stella: Do you realise who Max is?
Josie: Huh?
Stella: In the world of Gilmore, he’s a …
Josie: This is NOT the time!
Stella: LUKE.
Stella: He IS Luke.
Josie: Shhh! I’ll see you at home.
Stella: Nah. I’ve already walked out of the apartment. I’ve just packed my things, and I’m gonna spend the weekend with West. Which means you get some peace to finish that assignment. Also, pics that you’re with Max or it didn’t happen.
Groaning, she glanced over to see Max staring out at the stage.
“Max …”
He craned his neck and smiled at her. “Everything okay?”
“Stella wants a proof picture.”
“Really?”
“Yep,” she said with a laugh.
But it wasn’t just for Stella. Josie wanted one for them. They didn’t have any pictures together, and she wanted to remember this moment. She wanted proof of the most wonderful thing anyone had ever done for her.
“All right,” Max said as he shifted closer to her.
Josie opened her camera and held it in front of them. They smiled, and she pressed the button to capture the image. Then she craned her neck slightly and looked at him. The soft smile on her lips mirrored his as his eyes found hers. Then she heard the sound of her camera’s shutter, realising Max had reached out and pressed the button on her screen.
“Don’t send this one to her,” he whispered as he kissed her.
The sounds of her phone’s camera taking their photo echoed in the empty theatre. Josie pulled the phone away from him and concentrated on the feel of his lips. Her phone ended up on her lap as she cupped his face and deepened the kiss. He made her so needy and desperate.
He made her want to tell him she loved him without fear of consequences.
Maxwell Sheridan made her defenceless when it came to him.
He dragged his lips over hers slowly until their kiss ended with the soft flutter of his lips to hers.
She smiled against his mouth when he asked, “How did I ever live without you?”
Josie pulled back and wiped his bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. “I believe you managed to suffice.”
“Barely,” he said between his heavy breaths. Then he rested his forehead on hers.
The loud sounds of a drum roll filled the theatre, and Josie broke away from him to watch the curtains part. Mystified at the black stage in front of her, Josie sat in her chair and held her breath, waiting to see just what happened. She had heard the new Australian Ballet performance was an original production and not the classics that would be performed on opening night at the Arts Centre next week.
That drum roll she heard faded into the strum of a guitar.
It was soft.
And suddenly, the darkness slowly faded into light, and in the middle of the stage was a ballerina in a white and silver romantic tutu. Her arms wrapped around her as the guitar played the soft song. The ballerina turned her head, and Josie followed to see Dominic Gomez on stage. He was to the right of the stage with his back to her. Then Dominic made a soft, perfect turn, and he found the ballerina. His palm settled on his chest as he gazed at her.
His face softened, and his arms reached out to her.
The ballerina untangled her arms and curtsied in a low bend. She was poised and graceful. It was beautiful to see her body move. Then she extended her foot behind her as if to tell Dominic it was time.
Their love could begin.
The violins began, and Dominic and the ballerina moved in sync. Their positioning was phenomenal as they transitioned to each move so fluidly that it was breathless.
And when they met it was magical.
Dominic set his hand on her hip and held her close to his body as if it weren’t close enough.
His other hand settled on her hip, and then he lifted her so fl
awlessly that Josie gasped in awe.
The violins continued to play as they danced before her.
“What is that song?” she wondered out loud.
Max grasped her left hand and whispered, “A violin version of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love.’”
“Really?” Josie couldn’t take her eyes off the dancers as they leapt together in a series of perfect jetés.
“The show is called A Testament to Love. It’s all about love songs and the power they have.”
It was love song after love song.
It transitioned from Dominic and his female love interest to several dancers coming on stage trying to tear them apart until finally, at the final song, they found each other in the middle of the stage and his arms wrapped around her. It was beautiful. The lights dimmed, and Josie jumped out of her seat and applauded, not caring that her phone fell out of her lap and onto the floor. Her vision blurred as she noticed she had begun to cry. She reached up and quickly wiped the tears away before they could fall down her cheeks.
She had been incredibly moved by the show.
It was so beautiful and perfect.
The beauty and freedom.
The connection and grace.
The turns and artistry.
It was everything she remembered about ballet.
For years, she had resented the art.
But right now, she respected it.
Then something appeared on stage. It was a hologram of a scripture on the stage wall. Josie glanced up to see that it was projected from above.
She watched the curves disappear, and then suddenly they spelt out.
For Josephine.
She gasped at the sight and just as she was about to turn and throw her arms around him, the message disappeared, and the dancers returned to the stage. They stood in front of her and Max and held their arms out to them. Then the strumming of a guitar returned, and they began to dance freely and beautifully to the music that played.
And she recognised that tune.
