Page 66 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

“I could come round after you finish work?”

“I can’t wait.” Nathan gave her a final kiss goodbye. “Come on, Dennis, let’s get you home.”

* * *

Jessica’s first thoughts when she woke up the next morning were of Nathan. She smiled, knowing she’d be seeing him later. She could hardly wait, but it seemed so far away.

It was like she had a need to be with Nathan. A need she’d never felt before. The only thing she could compare it to, she realised, was her need to dance, but that thought terrified her because she knew all too well that she couldn’t have Nathan and her dance career. But there was no point in focusing on that, it wouldn’t change anything. She should enjoy the time they had together while it lasted.

Jessica showered and dressed before going downstairs to have her morning coffee and breakfast. She was getting quite good at planning and saving herself trips up and down the stairs. It really was a pain having the only bathroom upstairs.

At some point she’d need to return to getting up earlier, she knew, but at the moment she was enjoying not forcing herself out of bed at 5a.m. The extra rest was probably doing her body good anyway and helping it heal.

Her mum and dad had already gone to work in the estate agent’s for the day and had left her a note to say they’d taken Monty with them, which didn’t seem like the best of ideas. She made her breakfast while she debated what to do until she went to Nathan’s.

Her mum’s laptop was on the kitchen table and realising she had some time to kill, Jessica decided to make proper use of it. She messaged her mum to ask if she could use her computer. Sarah replied straight away that she could and so Jessica settled down in front of it with her yoghurt and fruit and began work.

* * *

Jessica was so engrossed in what she was doing that she completely lost track of time, looking up in surprise when she heard a key in the front door. It was already ten past one.

“Hello, love,” said Sarah, coming into the kitchen with Monty. “I’ve popped home to make some lunch for your dad and me and to drop this horror off. He chewed through one of the printer cables. Thankfully it was turned off. I told your dad it wasn’t a good idea to bring him in but I think he loves the idea of a dog snoring quietly away in a basket in the corner of the office.”

“Oh dear!”

“Yes. Anyway, I’ve ordered a replacement cable. Is it all right if I leave Monty with you? I’ve taken him for a walk.”

“Of course,” said Jessica. “I’ll be going out just after five though.”

“That’s fine, just leave him in the garden. I’ll be home not long after that. Where are you going?” Sarah asked.

“Just round to Nathan’s. I’d take Monty with me, but I can’t manage him with my crutches.”

“Nathan’s again, eh?” commented her mother.

“Yeah, there’s a video game we’re playing together.” It was the truth.

“A video game?”

“I know, it wouldn’t usually be my kind of thing, but it’s actually kind of fun.”

“Have a good time. What are you working on there? You’re looking very industrious.”

Jessica turned the laptop around to face her mother. “I’ve set up a blog and newsletter on Substack.”

“Centre Stage . . .” Sarah read out.

“Diana gave me the idea,” Jessica explained. “I’ve followed ballet blogs for years, and ran my own for a while, but I was just talking about my own career on it and I didn’t keep it up. Diana suggested I write about my recovery and ballet news as well. I thought I’d also make some videos of basic techniques to post on there once my foot’s healed.”

“That’s a brilliant idea — and I love the layout.”

“Thanks, I’m hoping that if it takes off, I might be paid to write articles for other blogs or magazines, or get sponsored to review products maybe... It’s something I can do while my foot heals, anyway.”

Sarah gave her daughter a hug. “Well done, darling. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Actually . . .” Jessica said.

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