Page 12 of Say It Again

“But you’ve got to be thinking of your future, no? And what you wish to do with it?”

If by thinking of his future she meant worried until he ground his teeth about how he was going to afford his humble lifestyle once he had to start paying back his student loans, then yes. He’d thought about it. What he’d learned in his bachelor of arts in dance had been invaluable, but what he’d spent to learn it didn’t come without loss.

The whole endeavor had cost him in more ways than one, putting him in debt and driving a deeper wedge between him and his dad. His dad, who insisted he “get a real hobby” when he’d started dancing competitively, then “get a real degree” when he’d pursued dance in college. At least Robert Greene was consistent as the current mantra was: “For the love of God, get a real job.”

He plunked into a chair and exhaled. “I’m glad you asked, because, yes, I have been thinking a lot about my student loans, and what if I sell a kidney? People live perfectly healthy lives with one kidney—”

“Let me stop you right there. I have something better than organ trafficking. I have a proposition.” From her desk drawer, she produced an envelope. “I want you to take this, and I want you to go out to your car when you’re ready to leave and read it there.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a number. I’ve recently received an offer to buy the studio, the space, everything. And if I’m going to sell my company, I would rather it be to you.”

His jaw fell to the floor with a clang that shook the building. Or maybe that was Olivia’s class doing a well-timed V-jump. “Wait. Why did it just sound like you said you’re selling the studio?”

“Because I am selling the studio.”

“No! No, no, no. What? You can’t do that—”

“I’m done, Daniel. My husband got offered his dream job in Oregon. After all these years, I’d like to support him the way he’s supported me.”

“Okay, but what about this place? All your hard work. You can’t just leave it behind. Where are you going to dance? You can’t not dance.”

“Sweetness. Even if I wasn’t ready to pass the torch, my body is. These old feet can’t do what they once could. Who I’d like to see carry that torch is you.”

He blinked, eyes wide. “Madeline. This is…. I’m flattered, but I’m not ready to own a business. I don’t know anything about running a business.”

“Don’t you see?” She leaned in a little closer. “You run it already. I’ve never had someone care so deeply about the students, about their personal lives and if they’re progressing. I’ve never had someone pay such attention to the scheduling or the variation of classes. You even care about the bathrooms.”

“The bathrooms?”

“Yes, you roll the washcloths and arrange them all pretty in that basket so the students can feel like they’re in a spa.”

He chuckled and dropped his head. “I thought it was a nice touch.”

“It was. You are the person we call when the computer stops working, or a student has questions about their membership. You are the heart of this place, and I’d rather see it under your care than watch the building get turned into another financial office.”

“This is bananas.”

“No, it’s not. The studio is solvent and growing. You will make back what you spent in no time. The only caveat, of course….” She sighed while her tone sobered. “I would need to know by the end of July.”

“The end of this July? That’s in two hours.”

“It’s in two months.” She grinned, accustomed to his dramatics. “I will help you secure a loan. You can do this.”

He smoothed his thumb across the envelope. “So, this is the price you’re asking?”

“That is your price. I wouldn’t offer it to anyone else. It’s fair. I promise.”

He shook his head as his eyes started to sting. Not that it took much to make him cry. It was sometimes torturous navigating the world with oversized tear ducts. He was about to walk out of here looking like he’d just strolled the greeting card aisle again. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me. What’ll I do? I’ll wither to my death without you here.”

The gentlest of smiles softened her lips as she palmed his cheek. “I hope that someday soon you’ll wake up, look in the mirror, and finally see what everyone else sees.”

Speaking of the greeting card aisle….

“You won’t wither on your own, Daniel. You’ll bloom.”

DANIEL SAT in his car and ripped the envelope open. Inside was a folded piece of paper with a number written in blue ink. Under the number:

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