Entangled Hearts

by Anastasia Sweet

  Next to him, Aviana tucks her feet under her as she leans her head on his shoulder, admiring the photos right alongside him. She shifts her glass to one hand and takes his in the other, and he knows she’s letting him know she’s thinking about the same things.

  *

  The second thing that happens is that he takes his pair to the Professional International Ballroom for their second year at the higher level, and they place fifth. Weldon’s thrilled beyond measure, and a little bit stunned.

  They’d been aiming for seventh, based on the balance of their assignments from the season, and were mentally prepared for a result slightly higher or lower than that. In the end, two of the pairs that could (and perhaps should) have finished ahead of them delivered routines with flawed steps that worked against them, and Justine and Karim also danced two career-best performances that easily brought the crowd to their feet.

  Justine and Karim have spent the entire season training to the edge of their limits, so much so that at times Weldon worried about needing to hold them back a little, had been working on them with Mervin to get them to find balance in their training every week. They’d taken his advice to a certain extent, but seemed to have translated it into an even more focused process, honing in on the communication between the two of them and addressing any problems right on the spot in order to move on.

  Even more thrilling is that he’s able to share the ‘win’ with Aviana, who was able to travel with him thanks to her spring break week matching up with the week of Professional International Ballroom. She’s excited to be there to support him, and he knows she’s learned and absorbed so much about this world of his in the last year and a half. He loves her even more for it, being able to see her face in the stands next to Justine’s parents and Karim’s mother.

  His pairs remind him, quite often, of how he and Ciana were in some of their most intense years of competitive ballroom dancing - they have the same drive, the same unbreakable team-mate mentality. But where he and Ciana had had to learn very early how to shake off doubts and criticism from their peers, Justine and Karim seem to already have figured that out years ago. In his relatively short time coaching them he can already tell they dance like a force to be reckoned with - because they know they are.

  Weldon, Aviana, Mervin and Estabella take them and their families to dinner to celebrate, and it’s a happy affair all around.

  Not long after dinner he calls Ciana, and tells her about how flawless the dance was, how much this could open up for them next year at Dance Sport if their training goes well. She listens to him attentively and laughs at the eagerness in his voice, knows she can hear the number of plans and questions turning through his head right now. She reassures him she’ll make time to meet with him and his pairs once her semester finishes for the summer, if they need another sounding board for choreography plans for next year.

  That night he sleeps soundly with Aviana next to him, suddenly seeing the next few years of his career expanding out in front of him, filled with plans for the future.

  *

  The third thing happens at the end of March, not long after Weldon and Aviana return from Stockholm.

  It takes Aviana a lot longer than she’d thought to shake the jet lag from an extended amount of travel across multiple time zones. It’s nothing either of them are very worried until more than a week has gone by and she still seems sluggish and tired most of the day. Then after she wakes up feeling sick to her stomach several mornings in a row, it finally occurs to both of them that this isn’t jet lag at all.

  That Saturday morning Weldon heads to the drugstore and returns with three pregnancy tests.

  Not long after that they’re waiting together in her apartment bathroom, perched nervously on the edge of the tub.

  “So, scale of one to ten, how nervous are you?” Aviana asks while they wait. Just about two minutes have passed so far, and he’s gripping one of her hands in both of his, trying to keep from fidgeting.

  “I’d say about a twelve?” he breathes out, only partly joking.

  She coughs out an almost-laugh. “I think I’m a fourteen.”

  When they’d looked over the new house just a few weeks ago - God was that only a few weeks ago? he thinks to himself, incredulous - he’d had no expectation their future hopes might become reality so quickly. They haven’t even seen the test results yet but already he’s imagining not just moving vans but new furniture and a host of new preparations. Cribs, toys, baby-proofing the kitchen... Everything runs through his head at once.

  He feels Aviana squeeze his hand back before she stands up. It should be about time now to check the tests - she’d done all three of them at once, wanting no room for doubt.

  He stands up with her. She takes a deep breath, hesitating only briefly before picking up the first one and looking down at the results screen.

  “Oh!” she exclaims, bringing one hand over her mouth. She immediately bursts into tears.

  Weldon’s there right next to her then, looking at the test in her hand and reading the unmistakable ‘plus’ sign gleaming back at them in dark, dark blue pigment.

  “Oh wow, Avia,” he says, wrapping his arms around her and letting the emotion wash over him. “This is so amazing, oh my God,” he says breathlessly, squeezing her tightly. He can feel her nodding against his shoulder and then pulls back, needing to see her face. “This is good, right? I mean...isn’t it?” He searches her face, trying to make sure she feels the same as he does.

  She’s nodding back again, immediately. “Yes, oh my God,” she wipes at her face with her free hand, her tears eventually giving way to a broad smile. “I can’t believe it. I’m nervous and so happy and I can’t believe it.”

  He takes the test from her hand, holding it to look at it again, as if he could possibly have mistaken the results before. Then it occurs to him there’s still the two other tests. He flips them both over immediately, and sees two more ‘yes’ results staring back at them. Next to him Aviana bursts out laughing, almost uncontrollably.

  He starts laughing, then, too, incredulous.

  “I guess we haven’t done anything else slowly,” she says after a moment, her voice sounding wobbly but happy. “Why would this be any different, right?”

  Weldon looks back at her, smiling gently as a sudden calmness settles over him. He leans in and kisses her, so, so softly. He can taste the saltiness still lingering on her cheeks and mouth, as his lips meet hers.

  Aviana releases him from the kiss and brings her arms around his waist, wrapping herself around him as her head tucks beneath his chin. He brings his arms around her shoulders and holds her so tightly, like he’s never letting go.

  *

  By the time Ciana’s close to coming up for air at the end of her semester it’s the middle of April, and she’s nearly forgotten what the rest of the world looks like outside of school work, social media planning, and seeing Landon when she can. She’s grateful she managed to get Joslyn’s baby shower off the ground in March, because now her sister’s baby is due in only a couple of weeks and the idea of putting together a celebration so quickly now would be almost the last straw.

  Tonight finds her and Molly at Ciana’s place, reviewing their group project submission one final time, painstakingly double-checking numbers, market analyses, research summaries, and everything else they’ve managed to put together. There’s actually three of them in the group - herself, Molly and Tara, but Tara had all but checked out on it the last few days and so Ciana and Molly had just buckled down and gotten it done.

  “Any plans for the summer?” Ciana asks. “I mean, as short as it is. I guess we’ll be back for the next round soon enough in July.”

  Molly nods in understanding. “Not much yet, although my mother has been on me to come with her on her next trip back to see my grandmother. I didn’t go in December and now the guilt trip is going to be huge if I pass twice in a row.”

  “It’s Beijing, right?” Ciana asks. She remembers Molly telling her
about where her mother had grown up, a while back. Mostly their conversations tend to revolve around coursework, boyfriends or girlfriends, and the current best place to find coffee in close proximity to campus.

  “Yes. Well, just outside it, really. But it’s just so huge and sprawled now, it’s sort of all one big crazy urban blob.”

  Ciana sighs thoughtfully. “Sounds amazing. Part of me’s still hoping to go next year, if I can make it work with the schedule for our final projects.”

  “Yes, you have to go,” Molly immediately affirms. “And I’ll come with you, and you can get me in and introduce me to all the prettiest guys. Or girls. You know I’m extremely open either way.”

  Ciana laughs. “I know. I’ll see what I can do. I may not be as up on who’s single and who’s not these days, but give me some time and I’ll find out.”

  “That’s really all I ask of my friends. If it helps, I was very much into fencing back in the day.”

  “Admittedly that doesn’t help me very much with finding a dancer for you, but I’ll take that into consideration.”

  “Thank you, you are a true friend. And true group work partner, I’m never inviting Tara to anything else ever again. So are we good?” Molly asks then, looking back at the open laptop in front of her. “I think if I try to proofread this anymore I’m going to start hating myself.”

  “I think we’re good. Let’s call it a night. I’ll give it one last pass tomorrow and then send it in.”

  “Amazing. Thank you, I think I’m going to spend the weekend sleeping as many hours as possible.”

  “I hear you. I’m due to meet Weldon for practice tomorrow morning and I’ve missed so many lately I just can’t skip this one. But then I’ll proof-read and submit for us. And then all the sleeping.”

  They pack up their laptops and papers, very ready to call it a day. She hugs Molly goodnight and promises to follow up tomorrow.

  Not long after that she gets into her pajamas, tells herself she’ll can wait until tomorrow to catch up on all the notifications waiting on her phone, and then falls into bed. She’s asleep within a few minutes of hitting the pillow.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Practice goes well the next morning, despite Ciana having been all but missing in action the last month or so. They’re just toying around a bit with a few familiar steps, seeing what lifts they can still handle. Sometimes Weldon uses their practice times to try out some ideas he’s thinking through for his own pairs, and she likes the feeling of being involved in his work that way - this practice has been a little like that. He’s somewhere in the middle now between the post-Professional International Ballroom euphoria and the summer transition time, thinking through what to work on next.

  Still, she can tell his mind isn’t with her, all the way. “Married life treating you well, Weldon?” she teases him, as they step off the dance floor.

  “Is it that obvious?” He grins. “Yes, things are good.”

  “It sure seems like it. I’m glad things are good, must be nice to be almost settled in to the new place.”

  “Oh, the house is spectacular. You’ll have to come by once we’re all the way moved in, we should be able to have it mostly set up in a few weeks. Thank God for movers.”

  “You can count on it. We’ll do a proper housewarming.” Ciana pauses and takes a swig from her water bottle, falling into step next to him as they walk towards the exit. It’s off to campus for her, prep for the day’s schedule of coaching tasks for him.

  “Coffee on Friday?” Weldon confirms. She’s trying to re-start more of the social habits she’d dropped as her studies had picked up over the winter, and their Friday morning coffee meet ups had sadly been one of those casualties.

  “Of course. Bright and early as usual,” she says ruefully.

  “Hey, seven in the morning still beats training wake-up calls. I’m still not sure how we managed all that.”

  She chuckles. “It was only a couple of years ago but still feels like a different lifetime already.”

  “You’re telling me,” he breathes out. He fidgets briefly with the gold band on his finger, before pulling out his phone to glance at a few new texts.

  Ciana nudges him with her elbow as they near the locker rooms. “Hey. You’ll tell me if there’s anything else up, right?” she probes, a slight inkling about his mood starting to form in her mind.

  He smiles bashfully and tucks his phone back in his bag. “You know I will, sweetheart.” He kisses her cheek and squeezes her hand, and they part ways.

  *

  It’s on a Saturday in early May when Weldon and Aviana invite her and Aviana’s aunt Prince over for brunch, saying they want to give them a tour of the new house before their official housewarming party happens. That morning Ciana pulls up in their driveway just moments before Prince does, and the two greet each other on the front walk.

  “Good to see you, Ciana,” Prince says, embracing her briefly. Ciana likes Prince, and enjoyed the chance to get to know her a little better at Weldon and Aviana’s wedding reception. She likes her sense of humor and her practicality. If she had to guess she’d place her about a decade or so older than herself and Weldon.

  “Likewise. So, what do you make of this pre-housewarming housewarming invitation?”

  “Well, I have the feeling it’s a little more than that,” she says knowingly.

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” Ciana offers.

  “We will indeed,” Prince winks.

  Weldon and Aviana greet them together and they gather in the kitchen, beginning the informal tour with their meal. Weldon offers them coffee. Ciana notes that Aviana sticks with her cup of tea, and she and Prince exchange smiles.

  Once Weldon’s served the food they all sit together and start in on their meal, making light conversation. Ciana asks Aviana how her classes and after-school pairs are doing, which turns out to be just great with the exception of a little student drama over the annual seventh grade spring trip. Prince asks Weldon about his pairs’ plans for next year, and he launches into a report on what they’re hoping to accomplish for their Dance Sport debut, though he’s knows both Aviana and Ciana have heard many of these details already.

  By the time he finishes talking about the program ideas he’s toying around with - hopefully with Ciana’s help later in the summer, he and Aviana’s hands have joined together between them, under the table. He looks back at his wife as if asking a silent question and she smiles back at him.

  “So, we actually had something to tell you guys about today, which is why we asked you over,” Aviana says.

  “Well, that and I finally got to try out the new pancake griddle from the wedding gifts,” Weldon adds with a wink.

  “Oh, well no worries there,” Prince says with grin, taking another bite from her plate for emphasis. “If you need more taste testers you just let me know. And I like chocolate chips and blueberries, in case that’s helpful information.”

  “We will for sure have you over anytime, Aunt Prince, you can count on it,” Aviana assures her.

  “So anyway,” Weldon continues. “We have some news, and, well…” he pauses, before he and Aviana announce at the same time- “We’re pregnant!”

  Ciana could tell it was coming, but hearing it confirmed out loud is still a joyful thing. Both Aviana and Weldon have the biggest smiles on their faces. Ciana and Prince move as one, each standing ready with a hug.

  “Oh, congratulations!” Ciana hugs Aviana tightly, truly glad for them. “I know you both want this so much,” she says. When she reaches to embrace Weldon it’s with an accusing look on her face. “I knew you were distracted about something lately. Even Dance Sport strategizing wouldn’t compare to this, for you,” she tells him.

  “You’re pretty right about that. Just don’t tell my pairs, okay? I’ve worked hard to make them think I’m completely devoted to them.”

  It’s then that Aviana jumps in again. “That’s not everything, though, believe it or not, we have more.” She
grips Weldon’s hand in hers once more and they stand facing Ciana and Prince. “We’d like to ask both of you to be godparents - godmothers, I guess. You’re both so important to us…” she stops for a moment and swallows, on the verge of choking up.

  Ciana’s hit then with an overwhelming wave of love and empathy, for both of them. She doesn’t need to be reminded how important this moment is for Weldon, certainly. She feels suddenly humbled, grateful that they both feel so strongly about how much she belongs here as part of their growing little family unit.

  “You’re both so important to us, and we want you to always be a part of our family, and for our babies to know you’re part of our family too, right from when they’re born-”

  “Wait...babies?” Prince interrupts just then. “Did you say babies, plural?”

  Aviana just laughs, then, happy tears spilling over her cheeks. “Yes, plural. More than one.”

  “We’re having twins,” Weldon confirms. “That part we just found out this week,” he glances pointedly at Ciana, as if in triumph over having known something she hadn’t guessed yet.

  “Oh my gosh,” Ciana exclaims. “Twins?” She reaches for both of them, then, pulling them into a group hug that Prince swiftly joins in on.

  “My due date is technically mid-November, but they say with twins it could easily be a month or more before that, so we’ll see,” Aviana says as they separate a moment later.

  “Hopefully that means I’ll have at least a month to adjust to no sleep before competitions really ramp up,” Weldon adds.

  Prince pipes up, holding onto Aviana by the shoulders. “You tell me what I can do to help, okay? Any time, just ask.”

  “I will, Auntie, I promise.”

  “Me too,” Ciana says. “I know I’ve been a little absent lately but I promise I can find some time to help paint a room or throw you a shower. I’m getting good at those, lately,” she says, thinking about Joslyn and how she must be a week overdue by now.