Page 13 of A Temporary Forever

Out of my two friends here, I’ve known her the longest. We met when I choreographed a fashion show shortly after I arrived in Manhattan.

At that point, I hadn’t picked up any jobs. I was all nerves, and we bonded together after I gave her a Snickers bar.

We lost touch and reconnected again last year, around the time I met Cora.

“I’m dancing for the last time tonight.” I sag into my chair and blink rapidly. Merde, saying it out loud for the first time cracks the carefully forged no-more-self-pity veneer.

“That’s bullshit. You were outstanding, they would be crazy to let you go!” Saar raises her voice, and several patrons look at us.

“What happened?” Cora frowns.

“My visa happened,” I grumble.

“Wait a minute,” Saar says. “You have a work visa tied to your job. That was the reason you needed a job last year. So if you have a job, the visa stands.”

“Except that it needs regular renewals, and my boss missed the deadline for that. As of tomorrow, I’m a tourist here.”

“Okay, so you’ll miss a few shows, but you’ll get back to it as soon as the renewal kicks in.” Saar plays with a napkin.

“I was let go because the theater can’t employ me illegally. They’re giving the role to my understudy. They won’t wait for me.”

Lily, the new waitress, approaches with my order,her hands trembling as she places the tray with my coffee and pastries in front of me.

The deafening silence around our table is probably not helping her composure, and as she pulls her hand back, she tilts the saucer, and some of my latte soaks my croissants.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” she chants, her eyes wide with horror.

Cora jumps up and rushes to the counter.

“It’s okay. I was going to dunk them, anyway.” I grab Lily’s wrist and try to smile at her, to calm her down, though smiling is the last thing I feel like doing.

Cora returns with a rag and wipes the table. She walks Lily back to the counter and talks to her in a hushed voice.

No one speaks before she returns. “It’s going to be okay,” she says as she sits down.

“Lily or me?” I hate the defeat in my voice.

“What are the options to get your visa renewed, or apply for a new one?” Cora asks.

“This website is anything but user-friendly, but it looks like the process is lengthy and requires an employer to apply on your behalf.” Saar speaks as she swipes up her phone screen with her finger.

With my bureauphobia, it hasn’t even occurred to me to check the government website.

“My boss is glad to get rid of me.” I sigh.

“Then he’s an idiot, especially after last night.” Saar puts her phone down. “Besides, there are other types of visas.” She takes a sip of her drink, staring at me over the rim of her cup.

“Are you going to offer me your insufferable brother again?”

Saar means well, and I’m sure marriage might be a reasonable solution here. But Caleb van den Linden is the last person I would want to pretend to live with—or even like—in public. And I most definitely wouldn’t want to owe him a favor.

As much as Saar thinks it’s a good idea, Caleb dislikes me enough to refuse, even though he loves his sister and normally wouldn’t say no to her.

“Yeah, it might be difficult after our last dinner, but Cal isn’t planning to marry for real. Definitely not now, when—” she stops herself. “Never mind. He’s available, and you know he’s on a mission to fix all my father’s mistakes.”

“I never asked, what did your father do to Celeste?” Cora looks at Saar.

“My older brother Finn’s wife used to take burlesque classes at Celeste’s school. One night, Celeste asked Paris, my sister-in-law, to cover for a missing dancer.”

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