Page 58 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Yes, thanks,” said Jessica, blushing. “Where are the kids?” She needed to change the subject.

“Playing in the garden. I’ll call the girls in to get changed,” Molly said.

“I’ll do it,” offered Andrew, “if you get the coffee machine on.”

“Deal,” said Molly.

Jessica found it interesting to watch her brother and his wife together. She didn’t know Molly very well. She’d never had the opportunity to spend much time with her sister-in-law, but she and Andrew seemed to work well together. They were comfortable with one another and just seemed to fit.

Molly handed Jessica her coffee at the same time as Jessica’s nieces and nephew came crashing in from the garden, closely followed by their father. All three of the children were still in pyjamas and were distinctly mud-covered.

“Oh no! What have you guys been doing out there?” gasped Molly. “You girls need to leave for your class in a few minutes!”

“We were just playing . . .” explained Emily.

“Let’s get you upstairs and I’ll give you a hand getting clean and ready,” Molly said with a sigh. “Sorry, Jessica,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll have them sorted in just a few minutes.”

“No worries.” Jessica laughed as Molly shooed the children up the stairs. Her nieces definitely didn’t look like they would be in a ballet studio soon.

“The girls have really been looking forward to this class,” Andrew said. “They made Molly buy them leotards especially.”

“That’s good. I hope they enjoy it.”

“So do I. But I have to admit, I’m praying they don’t enjoy it too much.”

“You don’t want them to turn into ballet-crazed lunatics like their aunt?” Jessica guessed.

“Something like that . . .”

“I understand it can be a bit of a pain for the rest of the family.”

“Just a bit,” admitted Andrew.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I ever really considered how hard it must have been at times for you.”

“You were a kid.”

“Still . . .”

“I don’t blame you,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault you had this ridiculously amazing talent. And I had a great childhood. It’s just not what I’d want for my family.”

“I understand,” said Jessica. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that they both have two left feet.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

* * *

“Please say you haven’t got any plans for next Saturday night?” said Nathan when Jessica answered the phone to him the following morning.

“I don’t have any plans for next Saturday night,” she said. “Are we doing something fun?”

“I wanted to celebrate us being friends again, so I’ve got us tickets to see Swan Lake at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre.”

“That’s so lovely of you, but you don’t have to sit through ballet for me,” Jessica said immediately.

“I want to. I’ve never been to the ballet before, and it’s important to you. It’ll be a new life experience, which I get to do with someone who knows all about it and can fill me in on anything I don’t understand.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather do something else?”

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