Page 15 of I'm Yours

She comes into the kitchen with a bright smile on her face. Bandit jumps from his place on the floor and runs to greet her.

“Be good for Daddy today, Bandit, and I’ll give you a treat when I get home.”

Mom’s eyes meet mine and we grin.

“Picture time!” Mom says, grabbing both her phone and her expensive camera off the counter.

“Get your backpack first.” I gesture to where it sits by the door.

We get her positioned in front of the large wooden entry door in front of the house and take pictures of her by herself, with Bandit, with me, and a few with her grandparents. Then Emmy and I file into my pickup and I drop her off at school. While I’m trying to get her to stay with me, she’s not having it. She’s ready to kick me to the curb and I know that’s good, but damn it hurts. She’s supposed to want to stay by my side forever, right?

After I pull out of the parking lot, fighting back the emotion of the morning, I go run a couple errands for Dad, picking up a few items he needed for the horses and then some cases of soda that he likes to keep in the fridge in the shop. Just as I’m about to head back out of town, I see the Lakeside Dance Studio building and make a last minute decision to pull in.

I pull on the door and step inside, looking around. I hear sultry music from the back and hear someone call out, “I’ll be out in a second!”

I look around, pictures of dancers grace the walls. It didn’t look like much from the outside, but inside tells a different story. There are four rooms plus what looks like an office, each of the dance rooms have a large glass wall and a quick look inside shows a mirror on the opposite wall. There’s a sign that says “No shoes allowed past this point” and I furrow my brow, wondering what that means. There’s a built-in shelf that looks like it’s to store shoes and maybe even hang backpacks and coats. It’s impressive, really.

This same studio was here when I was growing up, but it looks updated, modern, and when I look to the side at another sign that reads “All dancers welcome here” I know that it’s exactly where I want Emmy to be.

“Keep going, ladies. You’re looking great.”

That voice. I know that voice.

It arrests me, my feet glued to the floor.

And then I see her.

She’s standing probably ten feet away from me and she gasps. I open my mouth to say something but I don’t even know what to say.Sadie.Our eyes connect and she takes a step forward then another. I do the same but then neither of us come any closer.

“Holy shit,” Sadie breathes, stopping in her tracks. My sentiments exactly. I had no idea she still lived in Lakeside, though I made it very clear to my parents that I didn’t want to know details on Sadie’s life.

We stare at each other, eyes blinking slowly. “What…” the rest of my question sticks in my throat. I’m not even sure what I was going to ask her. What is she doing here? What’s she been up to the last dozen years? Why couldn’t she love me back all those years ago?

“Reed.” My name sounds like heaven coming from her lips. I close my eyes, letting it wash over me. It’s been so long since I’ve heard her voice or seen her in the flesh, not just in my dreams.

“Sadie.” My voice is thick and scratchy. She bites her lip and looks over her shoulder when the music in the back changes, someone calling her name and asking if Sadie wants her to continue.

“Can you take over for a bit, Kandace?”

“You got it!”

When her eyes return to mine, we continue our stare down, neither of us making a move.

“My daughter. She’s looking for dance classes.” It’s the first thing that comes to mind to say. But what am I supposed to do here? Shoot the shit with her? Make small talk? She made it clear twelve years ago that she no longer cared about me, so it’s best to keep things cordial now. If she came out to help a visitor, that must mean she works here, right? It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way; like my mind is stuck.

Her eyes widen at my mention of Emmy but they don’t seem surprised. Of course they aren’t. I’m sure she’s heard all about Emmy from my mom. Possibly even the fact that Katherine died, too. I assumed that when Mom was keeping in touch with Sadie, it meant that they were doing so over social media or the occasional phone call. Now I wonder if they’re hanging out together, spending time with one another.

“I heard… about your wife. I’m sorry.” So, she did know.

I nod, shoving my hands in my pockets. I never understood why people said they were sorry. It wasn’t her who forced Katherine to stare at her phone screen rather than focus on the road ahead of her. I suppose it’s one of those sayings that started years ago and it just never changed over time.

“Thanks.”

She looks away and then back again, her eyes still so pretty. “Has Emerson danced before?”

My entire body flinches at her use of my daughter’s name. She knows about me. Possibly knew I was moving home and I didn’t even know she was still here. I take a minute to really look at her and that’s when I realize what she’s wearing.

Fishnet stockings, heels that look like they could be used as a weapon, they’re so tall, a pair of shiny bright green underwear and a black bra thing that looks incredibly complicated with all the straps.

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