Page 10 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“Are you absolutely sure you don’t mind driving me to the hospital?”

“It’s fine. Dennis was partly to blame for you getting hurt in the first place,” Nathan said. He fiddled with the radio and settled on a station playing something Jessica recognised by Muse. “Is the music OK?” Nathan asked.

“Yes, thanks.”

Things seemed to feel more awkward between them now. Jessica felt stupid for what had happened to her, and bad for taking up Nathan’s evening. Most of all, she was terrified of what her injury meant for her career. She was trying to remain positive and hope for the best, but she knew it was impossible that she’d be able to dance when rehearsals began in just a couple of weeks. She’d danced on a sprain before, though. If it was just a sprain, maybe two weeks would allow time for it to heal enough for her to begin rehearsing gently... But there was no such thing as gentle rehearsal in a professional ballet company. True, they wouldn’t be going all out with their movement for the first weeks of rehearsal, but she’d still be expected to dance for many hours every day. A tear rolled down her cheek as her thoughts ran through her head, and she wiped it away, glancing quickly over at Nathan and hoping he hadn’t seen.

They pulled into the hospital car park. “A & E is just to the left,” Jessica pointed out. “If you could just drop me by the entrance, I’ll be fine from there.”

“I’m happy to help you in.”

“I can manage,” Jessica said, firmly.

“You can’t walk.”

“I’m sure someone will help me...” Jessica looked around as if an obliging medic might just stop beside the car.

Nathan pulled over in the drop-off zone and was by Jessica’s door before she had a chance to open it.

“I’m carrying you in at least,” he said.

Jessica had to admit there didn’t seem any other option. “Thank you,” she said into his warm neck as he scooped her up and carried her inside.

They were spotted by a porter who brought over a wheelchair.

“Thank you for everything. I’m sorry for being such a nuisance. You really can go now,” she said. The pain was getting worse if anything and she needed to be left alone.

“How will you get home?”

“I’ll call a taxi.”

Nathan shrugged. She felt bad, but told herself not to be silly. She’d thanked him for his help and he’d be grateful to get back to his evening. He was being kind, but she felt vulnerable and scared and didn’t want Nathan to see her like this any more than he had already. She was used to looking after herself — and she was good at it. She didn’t need his help, although she had to admit she would have been rather stuck without him up to this point. But she’d be fine by herself from here. Principal ballerina Jessica Stone could manage alone and didn’t need anyone’s pity.

Chapter Four

Jessica was lucky that it had been a slow night in the Accident and Emergency department so she’d been seen fairly quickly. She considered herself very unlucky however that an X-ray showed one of the middle bones in her foot was broken. The doctor had the foot put in plaster and told her she’d be out of action for at least three months. She was devastated. How could this have happened only two days after she’d been given the opportunity of a lifetime? Jessica was suddenly very, very glad that her mum and dad were both away and she had the house to herself for a week and a half. A week and a half in which she could wallow and work out what on earth she was going to do.

It was just after nine that evening when she was wheeled by a young nurse into the waiting room. “Is there anyone here to pick you up, love?” the nurse asked. “You’re welcome to use the wheelchair to get to their car if you like? Remember, it’s best that you try to keep your leg elevated as much as you can to help with swelling.”

“Thank you. I’ll call myself a taxi. I’m happy to wait outside.” Jessica was desperate to be out of the light and noise of the hospital.

“All right, if you’re sure. Let me at least wheel you out there.”

The nurse pushed Jessica through the automatic doors. She handed Jessica a pair of crutches and was about to help her out of the wheelchair when a figure came running over.

“I’ll take her from here,” said Nathan, stopping beside them.

The nurse threw Jessica a look which clearly conveyed that she approved of her rescuer, and handed the wheelchair containing Jessica over to Nathan.

“There was no need for you to stay.” Jessica knew she sounded rude and ungrateful, but she hadn’t asked Nathan to hang around. She didn’t need him to do some kind of knight in shining armour routine. She barely knew him, he didn’t owe her anything, and she didn’t want to feel beholden to him. And she couldn’t be around anyone right now.

“I know,” said Nathan, an edge to his tone. “I was worried about you managing to get home by yourself.”

“You think I couldn’t manage to catch a taxi by myself?”

“I wasn’t sure if a taxi driver would help you in and out of their car. They certainly wouldn’t help you into your house, and make sure you’ve got everything you need before they leave.”

He began pushing Jessica’s wheelchair across the car park.

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