Page 56 of Be Less Panda

‘No. But I was hoping they’d have a party so I’d finally get a chance to find out how good a dancer you are.’

‘We can go dancing if you want. I know an exclusive venue where they play the music you like.’

‘I like the sound of that. Is it far?’

‘Not far at all.’

‘Good.’ She smiled. ‘Let’s go.’

He waved down the next taxi that drove past. ’Rue de la Dordogne please.’

Nancy looked surprised. ‘I didn’t know there were any clubs in our street.’

‘I said it was exclusive.’ He held the taxi door open for her.

‘I’m not sure I’ve got the right shoes on for dancing. Can I pop home and change them?’ she asked.

‘You can dance in your bare feet if you want.’

’It sounds very laid back, this venue.’

‘It is. I hope you’ll love it.’

The taxi set off. Nancy looked out of the window, trying to work out how there could be a club on their street without any evidence of music or people visiting it.

‘Are you ok?’ Hans asked.

‘I’m just confused by this mysterious club. Is it like Brigadoon?’

It was Hans’ turn to look puzzled now. ‘What is Brigadoon?’

‘It’s a mythical Scottish village that only appears for one day every hundred years.’

He grinned back at her. ‘I’m hoping it will be around more often than that.’

Nancy looked at Hans smiling next to her. ‘You seem very relaxed. In fact, you’re the most relaxed I’ve ever seen you.’

‘I thought about what you said earlier, about taking a chance to be happy without worrying about the future. I need to be brave enough to do the same.’

‘That sounds promising.’

He reached out and held her hand. The taxi turned the corner into their street. ‘Pull up outside number 27, please,’ Hans said to the driver.

‘So we are going home first?’

‘You’ll see.’ He got out of the taxi, paid the fare, then opened the main door to their apartment block and headed for the door to their stairwell. They climbed the stairs together until they reached the third floor.

‘Here we are,’ Hans said.

Nancy was confused. ‘But this is your flat.’

‘It is. And I’ll be here alone now that Dieter is moving in with Ingrid.’

‘I thought you said we were going dancing.’

‘We are. I have a record player and records you love so we can dance with no one else to bother us. What do you think? You’re not disappointed, are you?’

The idea of having Hans all to herself wasn’t a disappointment. Far from it. ‘It’s a lovely idea.’

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