Page 97 of The Way We Touch
“And plié and three fouettés then arabesque. Austin, you’ll come in quickly for the lift, then lower, turn, and down.” I move the slider on my phone to the number where we’ll start the music, then I press play. “Four, three, two, one…”
Mia lifts her arms, rising en pointe and begins the scene. It’s a short number from Giselle, and I hope they’ll be ready to perform it at the Christmas pageant, a little more than a month away.
We’ve worked on this choreography since we started staying after, and they’re really improving. Standing back, I watch as they glide across the stage. Austin lifts Mia with ease, and she comes down on her toes, doing three little hops before lifting her leg behind her.
His hand braces her thigh, and she goes up. Then she wobbles, then she turns and slides, falling down his chest.
We all let out a disappointed noise, and I tap the pause button on my phone.
“My bad!” Austin calls, holding up his hands. “I didn’t have the grip like you showed me.”
“It’s looking good, though!” I try to keep our spirits high. “Lifts are hard, but your posture and form are great.”
If they’re not ready for Christmas, we can do it at the spring showcase. It will also be great for an audition video.
We rehearse until Austin has to go to football practice, and Mia needs to rest.
“After a while, it really is good to break and do something else.” I give her a brief hug as Austin jogs out the door. “You’ve come a long way fast. I think you’re going to have your pick of schools in the fall.”
“Thank you, Miss Bradford.” She smiles as she removes her pointe shoes. “I don’t know how I’d have done this without your help.”
“You’re an excellent dancer.” I press my lips into a smile. “It’s very gratifying to help you achieve your dreams. It’s a little like I’m achieving mine.”
Her voice is quiet as she looks up at me. “Maybe I’m helping you, too?”
Nodding, I squeeze her arm. “I think you are.”
It’s Thursday, and I’ve got to get to the restaurant to prepare tonight’s Dare dish. I’ve picked out a recipe that calls for Trinidad Scorpion, which is between the Carolina Reaper and the ghost pepper on the Scoville scale. It’s a new one, and I’m interested to see how the regulars handle it.
When I work with Mia and Austin after school, I come back in my work clothes. Parking my bike at the house, I jog down to the large, sprawling white restaurant with the wrap-around porches my dad affectionately named after the saltwater turtles who always sit on a log down by the bay… and the pool players, not irresponsible drinking, he’d said.
For Thanksgiving, we’ve decorated the place with stalks of corn and orange and white twinkle lights. Craig made little pilgrim hats for the turtles, and Kimmie insisted on a huge, inflatable turkey for the playground. The restaurant will be closed for the holiday, and I’ll be far away in New York with Logan.
The thought of another four days like our last visit has me so excited, I skip through the back door into the kitchen. I’m happy with Mia’s progress, I’m happy about the crisp touch of fall in the air, I’m happy about my upcoming trip…
It all crashes down on my head when I enter the room.
Craig meets me at the door, eyes tight with worry. Allie’s face is pale like she’s seen a ghost, and my heart drops to my feet.
“What’s wrong?” My hand is on my throat. “Is it Thomas?”
“Not me,” the old man growls from where he’s standing beside the stove shaking his head.
He seems disgusted, and I don’t know what to make of that. It’s not a game night, but that doesn’t rule out my brothers. Or even…
My head gets light. “Did something happen to Logan?”
Allie rushes up to me, taking my hand. “Oh, honey. You’d better sit down.”
My eyes widen, and I almost scream. “If somebody doesn’t start talking?—”
I might throw up. Acid is in my throat.
I’m not a paranoid person, but life hasn’t exactly been kind to us, and my friends don’t look at me this way ever.
“TMI just published a story.” Craig walks over to where I’m barely holding it together, the iPad in his hand. “Written by Callum Cross.”
My face snaps up to his. “I knew I recognized that name!”