Page 27 of Beyond The Barre

Audrey nodded. “We didn’t have quite the same pressure on us as you did—the lowest rung of the company, the nameless, faceless group who dance behind the major stars, out of the spotlight.” She smiled. “I freaked out the day the email arrived. I'd been accepted into the Queensland Ballet Company. All of my hard work, the years of training and sacrifice, had paid off.”

Scarlett remembered her days in the corps. How the shimmer of membership had quickly faded. Soon, just being one of the company wasn't enough. It was about moving up, getting noticed, winning solos and larger roles. The training got harder, the competition more fierce. “That last year I felt like I was running on a treadmill that only went faster: pushing myself harder just to stay in the same place. I danced every night until my toes bled and went straight back in the morning for more."

“Is that why you retired?”

“The truth is, I wasn't so certain I wanted this anymore—the work, the long hours, all the counting calories and missing out on normal life.” She sighed. “Now I just want to go back to the stage. I miss it so much.”

“Out of the full company of dancers, we all know only a small handful will ever graduate to be principals, dancing the big roles, and of them, maybe one or two in a generation will become prima ballerinas, the best of the best, praised and adored by all. You worked hard enough to be one of those dancers.”

“I don’t think I’d call myself a prima. Besides, most dancers peak in their late teens or early twenties, and by the time we’re over twenty-five, our bodies can't keep it up any longer.” She stared into her milky coffee. “They’d have kept me around another year in the back of the corps, just another face in the crowd. But we all know a ballerina has a limited shelf life.”

And if you're not moving up the company ladder, sooner or later, you'll be moving out. From there, it was a slow slide to minor companies, touring smaller cities until finally, you admitted defeat and wound up teaching or quit ballet entirely—just another dancer who couldn't make the cut.

“Which is why teaching the next generation of dancers is so fulfilling.” Audrey smiled, clearly proud of all she had achieved with her dance studio.

“It is amazing watching them improve so much and so fast.”

“And you’re helping to empower those boys and girls who want to make a career out of dancing. They see you and see it’s possible for them too. Like Aimee.”

“She is just the sweetest!”

“She looks up to you so much. I’m sure she wants to be you when she grows up.”

Scarlett sipped her cappuccino, wondering why anyone would want to be like her. Her career had been her life. Everything she did or didn’t do had been dictated by dance. Scarlett wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially happy, adorable Aimee.

Then again, Scarlett thought, if she could do it all again, would she really change anything?

CHAPTER 13

The Saturday of the wedding was a clear, warm day with a gentle breeze floating over the Maleny hills.

After her early yoga class, Scarlett prepared for the wedding by painting her nails, styling her hair into a chic updo, and putting on makeup.

She studied her appearance in the full-length mirror while she waited for Linc to pick to her up. Knowing people would be looking at her, interested to see who Linc had found appealing enough to give up his single life for, Scarlett had been extreme dieting all week. Her already low-calorie plan had been halved, giving her just enough energy to get through her classes and gym sessions while staying in ketosis so she would burn some fat. She had noticed a difference on her scale, but she found it hard to see any substantial difference in the mirror.

Knocking on the door made Scarlett pull her attention from scrutinising her backside, and she let Linc in. Dressed in grey pants with a matching waistcoat over a crisp white shirt, he looked like he’d stepped right out of a fashion magazine. The tips of her fingers tingled with the need to touch, to explore. Her blood pulsed harder when he was around, and her heart fluttered at the mere sight of him.

“You look great,” she said, unable to move her eyes from him.

“So do you.” He gestured to her body. “Just gorgeous.”

Heat flushed her cheeks at the compliment, which she wouldn’t let herself believe. She wondered again why he was with her when he could have any number of other prettier, sexier women.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Nervous?”

She nodded .“It sounds like all of the hinterland will be there.”

“Hamish and Greer do know a lot of people. Or at least their parents do.”

After she locked the door, they walked out to Linc’s car. As usual, Linc opened the passenger door and closed it once she was settled inside.

The scenic drive out to Emerald Hills past quickly. Scarlett’s nerves got worse and worse with every metre. Was it too late to change her mind?

Cars were packed in the ample car park, and Linc found a spot under the shade of a gum tree. As they walked through the lot, she took note of what people were wearing. Sundresses and day suits in a variety of colours and fabrics, and many women were indeed wearing hats—although considering it was an outdoor wedding, she wondered if this was less of a fashion statement and more to protect against the harsh sun. While being grateful she had slathered on layers of sunscreen under her makeup, Scarlett hoped her pale skin didn’t go too red today.

Linc held her hand and led her down a path beside the main restaurant to the area where the wedding would take place on a flat lawn with sprawling views of the Glasshouse Mountains. A large white marquee that reminded Scarlett of a circus tent had been erected, and people were milling about inside. As they got closer, Scarlett saw that hay bales with blankets on top had been set out for guests to watch the ceremony from. At the end of the alter was an arbour for the bride and groom to stand under and exchange their vows. Fairy lights and sprigs of native flowers adorned it.

“This is so beautiful,” Scarlett said as she took it all in.

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