Page 57 of Dare
“Please,call me Cara. And this is Ginny.” She smiles down at a tiny blond girl, who’sglancing around the room, taking it in.
Shelooks at me when I kneel down to her level. “Hi, Ginny! Look at your prettytutu! I’ll bet purple is your favorite color.”
Sheresponds with the most adorable gap toothed smile I’ve ever seen. Her motherhas explained that she understands everything that’s being said to her, she’svery bright, but she’s nonverbal. A few of the other kids filter in and startchasing each other around the room, and Ginny eyes them, warily.
“Daisy!”I call to one of my other students, a sweet girl a few years older than Ginny,and she rushes over, ponytail bobbing. I introduce the two of them. “Ginny isstarting today and she’s a little nervous. Will you be her buddy and help herfollow along?”
“Sure!”Ginny’s mom quickly explains that she doesn’t talk, but Daisy isn’t fazed. Ithink that’s the best thing about children, the way they accept everyone. I hada few ask about the scar on my face when I started teaching, but it was justcuriosity, not fear or repulsion. Ginny takes Daisy’s hand and lets her leadher to the barre.
Caralets out a little sigh of relief, and I turn to her. “She’ll be fine.”
Andshe is. Cara stays to watch in case Ginny needs something. She communicatesusing sign language, and I remind myself to find a program online to learn it.If she continues with dance, I want her to be able to speak to me. The classgoes well, and everyone leaves happy. My heart swells at the sight of Ginnylaughing and giggling on her way out. I hope ballet will give her another wayto express herself.
I’mcooling off, drinking a bottle of water when Betty, the woman who works thedesk part time, sticks her head through the door. “Someone here to see you,Ayda.”
I’minstantly alarmed. “Who?”
“Ididn’t get her name.”
Her.What a relief. I shouldn’t worry, after all, Alex is standing guard outside.“I’m coming.” It’s probably one of the mothers asking about a private lesson.
Thankfully,Betty and Alex are the only other people present in the lobby for the next fewminutes. Still dressed in my leotard and ballet shoes, I round the corner andcome face to face with Victoria. She’s dressed in dance clothes, her hair in apile on her head. A taunting smile widens her face.
“Whatthe fuck are you doing here?” I demand.
Hereyes flash with anger. She expected me to be afraid, but all I can feel israge. I have never done anything to this woman, other than dance better thanher, and she ruined my life. “Now, what kind of greeting is that for aprospective teacher? I heard this school was looking for an instructor for abeginner class. I figure I can fit it in between my competitions.”
She’sjust here to screw with my head, to remind me how everything hangs in thebalance, and with one shove, her boyfriend can bring it crashing down. Somethingcomes over me, I don’t know if I’d call it rage, because I still feel calm,eerily calm. I feel calm when I slam my fist into her mouth, when I grab herhair and jerk her head back so I can land the next punch on her nose, whichsprays blood onto my clothes. My voice is level when I shove her to her kneesand say, “You’re going to walk out of here and never come near me again, do youhear me? Tell your psycho boyfriend I’m done fucking with both of you.”
Bawlingand holding her nose, she nods frantically. “Answer me.”
Hatefuleyes glare up at me. “It’s your fault he doesn’t want me! He spends all histime following you!”
Thisbitch is crazy. “Because you told him to!”
“No!I don’t give a shit what you do.”
“Butyou came here.”
“Ithought he’d be here,” she whispers.
Lettingher go, I leave her with a warning. “Let this be the end of it, Vicky. If youshow up again, this isn’t going to end well for you or him. I have nothing leftto lose. You don’t want to fuck with me.”
Alexgrabs her arm when she gets to her feet and escorts her outside. He has a biggrin on his face when he returns. “Damn, girl. That was brutal.”
“Shedeserved it.”
Heholds up his palms. “Not saying she didn’t. I’m sorry I didn’t stop her.”
“You’resupposed to keep Talbot and the senator away from me, not a woman dressed as adancer. She knew what she was doing.”
Lightsflash across the front of the school and two officers enter. Shit. I’ve neverbeen in trouble in my life. Alex knows one of them and intervenes, dragging himaside where they talk in low murmurs. They approach me and the look on Alex’sface tells me I’m not going to like what I hear.
“Thebitch is pressing charges, Ayda. You have to go with them, but I swear, I’llhave you out in a few hours.”
Witha sigh, I glance from one of the officers to the other. “I have an order ofprotection from her and her boyfriend. Does that make a difference?”
“Yes,we can arrest her, and she’ll face charges for breaking the order, but thatdoesn’t mean you won’t have to answer for assaulting her. Be sure your lawyerknows about the protective order, and that you were defending yourself.”
