Page 88 of A Temporary Memory

How could Cody be so intuitive, so understanding? “I met him after a show, and I was so fucking tired. I taught classes from ten a.m. to six p.m., and I booked performances as early as eight at night. Then I’d perform, sometimes at three or four different venues a night, or I’d have a show at eight and then another at two in the morning. I booked as many as I could. When Frederick interrupted the rat race, I saw a chance to breathe for a moment.” I was weak.

“It’s still not your fault.”

“I lost everything, and because I took the risk, I might’ve cost Mom her care.”

“Youdidn’t. And you’re not going to let her down.”

“Know anywhere I can get a job for seven or eight grand a month with no degree and only dance experience?” My joking tone fell flat. I let out a breath. Spilling my history had been cathartic. “I’m not looking for you to solve my problems, Cody. It’s just nice to talk about it. I know Thelma will help me, but I hate to put that on her. What she makes in tips a day can barely buy her a nice dinner.”

“You have a big heart, Tova Grace.”

I liked hearing that version of my name. Any name Cody said was music to my ears, but then he wouldn’t choose one to manipulate me with. “You know what my stage name used to be?”

“Hm?”

“Fannie Grace.”

His chuckle vibrated against my back. “I was definitely riveted by a fanny.” He pressed another kiss behind my ear.

“I’m sad about us,” I blurted out and squeezed my eyes shut again.

He stilled, then nuzzled my hair, his hot breath wafting down my neck, creating delicious shivers. “I am too. The rest of the month is going to fly by.”

“Three weeks.”

“Three weeks,” he said softly. “Do you...” His chest moved against my back with his breathing. “Do you see yourself staying?”

“No.”

“Never?”

I was afraid to look at him. This conversation would’ve been impossible if I got lost in the warm depths of his brown eyes. “I would have to move Mom closer, and Frederick convinced me to sell my car and use his car service. He claimed it was safer, and he could invest the money I made from the sale and grow it.” Which he’d done. And he’d kept it.

“But it only made you more dependent on him.” He was incensed for me.

I’d met the perfect man, and I’d have to leave the perfect man. He wasn’t willing to move out of Buffalo Gully. LA was firmly out of the question. “There’s no way for me to make a living here. I doubt the refinery or coal mine needs a dance instructor.”

“Is that what you’re going to do for work?”

“Yeah? I mean, I love performing, but what I’d really love is to perform for me. To do a number I created because I wanted to. Because I wanted to share my artistic expression. Before, I had to sell my act to a crowd. I had to perform for them, but I’d like to learn what my own style is again after all this time.” I let out a wistful sigh.

“Why don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“At the end-of-season performance. The kids can perform. Then Catherine. Then you.”

The girls had thought I’d perform, too, and Cody made it sound so easy. I’d been so excited when I told him that Catherine was thrilled to learn a routine for the end-of-season dance. I couldn’t stomp over her performance. “That would be showing off.”

“The kids would be delighted.”

“Yeah, but they’re biased.”

“Their family would also like to see their kids’ teacher dance. Otherwise, they might wonder if you really had skills.”

“Do I need to get my tassels?”

“Yes, but not for them. Seriously, ask the kids and see what they say.”

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