Page 18 of A Play for Love

“Sorry, I’m late. I had some wedding calls to make.” I set my purse down behind the reception desk.

“I still can’t believe you and Nathan decided to get married in two months.”

“I know. Crazy, right?” I smiled. “But I didn’t want to wait, and neither did he. I mean, we already have a kid together. It’ll be okay. We can pull it off between myself, Nathan, you, Sasha, and all the girls.”

“You bet. We’re here for you, and it’ll be magical.”

“I had a dream last night about Rose,” I said as I sat in the chair next to her.

“Again?” Kendall’s brows furrowed.

“Yeah. I’m really getting sick of it.”

“Listen, Sofia, you really need to tell her about Nicholas and that you’re getting married.”

“She lost that right when I called and left her a voice message, and she never reached out.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But I think subconsciously it’s really bothering you. She is your mom regardless of how shitty of a person she is.”

“I don’t want to talk about it or her. She made the decision to cut me out of her life completely.” I quickly brought my hand up to my eye. “I have to get ready for class.” I walked away.

I still had some time before my students showed up, so I put on my pointe shoes, turned on the music, and danced, letting myself slip away into another world and let all thoughts of Rose Finnegan leave my mind. I wouldn’t lie and say the hurt wasn’t there because it was. I’d just done a good job of hiding it. I was in the middle of doing pirouettes across the floor faster than I should have been when I felt my knee buckle, and I fell to the floor.

“Fuck!” I shouted as I grabbed my knee and held it.

Kendall ran into the room.

“Sofia, are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine.” She grabbed my arm and helped me up. “Shit.” I gritted.

“I can’t believe you haven’t had that knee fixed yet,” she said.

“I was going to, but then I got pregnant with Nicholas. I don’t have time to be down with knee surgery.”

Kendall helped me over to the chair and helped me take my pointe shoes off.

“Well, you have to do something. You can’t go on like this.”

After my class, I looked at my knee, and it was swollen. Limping my way out of the studio, it was time to pick Ella up from school. My phone rang as I pulled into the parking lot, and it was the school calling.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Miss Finnegan. Can you come to the principal’s office for a moment when you get to the school? Ella said you were picking her up today.”

“I just pulled into the parking lot. I’ll be in there in a few minutes.

“Thank you.”

Sighing, I parked the car and slowly climbed out. My knee was on fire, and it wasn't easy to walk. Limping into the school, I went down to the principal’s office, and when I opened the door, I saw Ella sitting in a chair.

“What’s wrong?” Ella asked. “Is it your knee again?”

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.” I smiled as I patted her head. “Why are we here?” I whispered.

She shrugged.

“Miss Finnegan, it’s good to see you again. Please, come into my office.”

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