Page 38 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Your mother was so upset when you wanted to apply to ballet school. She came to talk to me about it,” said Diana.

“I never knew that.”

“She asked me not to say anything at the time. She was worried you were too young to be going away and that you’d regret focusing so much on one thing.”

“And what did you tell her?” asked Jessica.

“I told her that you were hugely talented and that it would be an enormous waste not to nurture that talent. I also told her that if it all went pear-shaped, you’d still be so young that you could easily turn to something else, but that I thought she ought to let you give it your all.”

“That’s good advice.”

“It’s advice that still stands now,” said Diana gently.

“You mean if my foot doesn’t heal properly?” Jessica asked.

“Yes,” Diana replied honestly.

“Thank you, Diana,” said Jessica. “It’s been really good to talk to you.”

“It’s been my pleasure. I’ll see you on Saturday at ten.”

“I’ll be there.”

* * *

Jessica left the dance studio feeling lighter than she had since before she’d had her accident. She wasn’t sure she’d even been fully aware of the weight she’d been carrying around with her, but it had felt so good to be able to talk to someone who properly understood how she felt.

She walked to the supermarket more determined than ever to do something nice for Nathan. He’d been so kind to her, and he’d been hiding his own hurt which he hadn’t felt able to talk about, even though he was always willing to listen to her going on about her problems. She wanted to try to help him like he’d tried to help her.

With her cooking really not being up to much, she picked up a jar of curry sauce and some chicken breasts. She grabbed a pot of microwavable basmati rice; she had a long history of burning rice and that gave her the best chance of not doing so tonight. She also got a bag of watercress and a tub of plain yoghurt and cucumber to make some raita. He’d want some poppadoms, she figured, so she got some of those and a jar of mango chutney. On the way to the till, she picked up a six-pack of Stella Artois on impulse.

She regretted her purchase of the beers within about a minute of leaving the supermarket. They were stupidly heavy in her rucksack. Still, it wasn’t far to get home and she’d probably have to wait for ages for a taxi to arrive. Plus, it was a nice day and it felt good to be out, even if she was stuck on crutches.

When she got back to Nathan’s house she still had almost two hours before he’d be home so she set to work making the place look nice. Despite her best efforts to be tidy, her stuff was still dotted around everywhere making the house look a mess. She picked it all up and put it in her room. She should really give that a good tidy-up as well, but that would have to wait for another day.

The sitting room was easy to dust because there was so little stuff in it, Nathan didn’t really have knick-knacks. Hoovering with a foot in plaster wasn’t at all easy, but the place definitely looked better once she’d finished. The back door had been open to air the downstairs, but Jessica took the dog beds outside and gave them a bash to remove the worst of the hair. Monty and Dennis eyed her very suspiciously while she did this.

Next, she prepared the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher and wiping down all the countertops and the table. She laid the table ready for their dinner. She hesitated when she went to add candles — would they come across as too romantic? But she wanted to make the table special for him.

She stepped back and surveyed her work: it looked good. It was as neat and tidy as when she’d first arrived. She really must do better about keeping her stuff in her room.

All the moving around had made her foot ache more, so she grabbed a book and went to sit out in the garden in the sun with the dogs until Nathan got back from work.

* * *

“What’s happened here? Have we been robbed?” said Nathan with mock horror as he came in the front door.

“I tidied up!” declared Jessica, proudly. “Doesn’t it look great? Your space is once again free from all my stuff!”

“That was really nice of you,” Nathan gave Jessica a hug. “But I like your stuff around.”

“Really? But you’re so tidy. I thought it must be driving you crazy.”

“It makes the house feel more like a home,” said Nathan with a shrug.

“Well, I shall endeavour to mess it all up again very soon.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

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