Page 72 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Neither can I,” admitted Sarah. “I expect I’ll pay for it at the next WI meeting.”

“Thank you,” Jessica said, as her mum opened the front door to her parents’ home and they went inside. “For standing up for me, I mean.”

Sarah shrugged. “I know you don’t really need anyone to stand up for you, but I couldn’t help it.”

“Are you really proud of me?” Jessica asked quietly.

Sarah put down the shopping and turned to face her daughter. “Of course we’re proud of you. How can you doubt that?”

“I know you’ve got all those programmes and photos from my performances, but you never seem very... excited when I try to tell you about my work. It sort of feels like you think it’s a waste of time.”

“Oh my goodness, no! But I guess it’s hard for me to understand how you feel about dancing. It’s so... all-consuming for you.”

Jessica nodded. “It is.”

“When you were six, your dad was worried you’d wear yourself out with all the dancing you were doing. I told him you’d be bored with it soon, that it was just a phase. I guess I was wrong.”

“I love ballet, Mum, and I’m not ready to give it up yet. But I also love you guys so much. And I have missed you all. I didn’t realise how much I missed you until I stopped dancing for long enough to take a proper look at my life. It’s been brilliant spending time with you, just little things like going for a coffee together, or popping in to see Dad at work.”

“I’ve really enjoyed it too,” said Sarah, giving her daughter a hug.

“I promise I’ll be back to visit again more often than I have been. I was thinking that maybe I could sublet my apartment during the off-season and stay with you. Perhaps I could work for Diana. I’d be able to help Andrew and Molly with the kids.”

“That would be wonderful,” Sarah said looking delighted. “Let’s not talk about you going just yet, though — we’ve still got you for a little while longer. Your dad and I think what you do is amazing, but we do miss our daughter a lot and it’s been so lovely having you here. And I know we’re not the only people who think so... ”

* * *

The day when Jessica’s cast could officially come off, 15 September, finally arrived. She’d called the hospital a month ago to arrange it, and had managed to make an appointment for that morning; she didn’t want to spend a moment more with her foot in plaster than she needed to. She had been warned, though, that if the X-ray showed the bone wasn’t healed, she’d need to keep the cast on for longer.

Her mum and dad were both at work. Her dad had offered to take the morning off to come with her, but Jessica had said she’d be fine taking the bus and had promised she’d get a taxi home if her foot was sore. The person she really wanted with her was Nathan, but he would also be at work for the day, though he was coming round to her parents’ house for what would hopefully be a celebratory supper that evening.

Jessica was getting ready to go. She was so nervous about how her foot would be that her hands shook as she put her earrings in. The doorbell went.

Monty jumped up and began barking, running to the front door, and she followed him, holding onto his collar as she opened the door and found Nathan on the step.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I took the day off,” he said simply. “I wanted to come with you to the hospital. Another one of the doctors is covering my appointments.”

“Can you do that?”

“Even doctors get days off,” said Nathan. “I booked it as holiday when you first made the appointment. I didn’t tell you before because I knew you’d insist you’d be fine by yourself.”

“I probably would have,” Jessica confessed. “But I’m really glad you’re coming.”

“I hoped you would be,” said Nathan, kissing her. “Are you almost ready to go?”

“Yep.”

“Nervous?”

“Definitely,” said Jessica with a little smile.

* * *

Jessica was sent to have her foot X-rayed once they’d arrived at the hospital. Everything seemed to take for ever and she struggled not to show her frustration. She was grateful to Nathan for his calming presence as he chatted to her, got her a coffee, and rested his hand on her knee when her leg bounced up and down as her nerves got the better of her. She waited anxiously for the doctor to check the X-ray and give her the verdict.

Finally, her name was called.

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