Page 27 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘It is her dearest wish to see us perform in the competition and I am willing to do everything in my power to make it happen.’
‘It’s wonderful Hazel’s going to join us,’ I respond.
‘She will need plenty of rest at the hotel. Her energy levels are so low.’
‘We can all help look after her.’
‘Thank you, Monica. Knowing Hazel, I am sure she would climb a mountain – on her knees if she had to – in order to watch us. She is a most determined lady, despite her poor health.’
I have often wondered about their relationship. No one has ever questioned if they are together as a couple or just close friends, but Clarissa told me they met in the West End of London where they were both teenage dancers. When Clarissa turned to choreography, Hazel – who appears to have come from a well-off family – funded her career and encouraged her to open dance schools up and down the country. She was the brains behind both starting and eventually selling off the Kirkland franchise. When she found Clarissa was bereft without her own dance classes, it was Hazel who encouraged her to start a new amateur dance group. It has now been running for over fifteen years. I can’t imagine Clarissa without Hazel, or vice versa. They’ve been together for forty-plus years, and I feel a stab of envy at their obvious closeness and mutual support.
‘Now the reason I called is I am more than a little worried about the flight.’
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. By the way, do you have our boarding passes?’
‘Those? Oh, no. Janine advised me that as we are a large group booking, we must check-in together and thepasses are issued at the airport. No, Monica, my troubling thought is about Sheila.’
‘Sheila?’
‘Yes? What if Sheila’s group is on the same flight as us?’
‘Erm… I hadn’t thought about that. Well, if her group appears, Clarissa, we’ll just smile politely, hold our heads high and keep ourselves to ourselves.’
‘Yes, of course we will. Thank you, Monica. Oh, you must think me paranoid, but you know I cannot stand that woman after what she did to me. The only reason Sheila Bold won the Expression North West heats was because she used my choreographic techniques. It is dance plagiarism. After all those years under my tutelage. I feel utterly betrayed. I hope you never have to experience such hurtful behaviour.’
I think to myself I could tell her quite a bit about hurtful behaviour, but I say something supportive and once I’ve checked which terminal we are meeting in, we say goodbye.
Once I’ve dropped the twins at school in the morning, I’ll pick up Bonnie, Cath, Asha and Ingrida then park at the airport. Ruby can make her own arrangements – that’s if she comes.
As for Vince, he has no idea what’s coming to him.
I zip up the suitcase and pat the top, his tablet safely nestling inside.
No idea whatsoever.
7
Ruby
The meal has been ready for twenty minutes and is beginning to dry out. It’s an hour after Will should’ve been home, but I resist texting. He’s got out of the habit of letting me know where he is, but the last thing he needs is an overbearing mother checking up on his every move. Besides, I know he’s been at a rugger practice and it’s no doubt overrun.
I decide to dish mine up – shoving his in the microwave – and sit in the kitchen with my laptop as I eat.
Sighing, I think of Max. It’s too bad he’s so far away. I could’ve done with him here to completely take my mind off things.
He was really supportive about Monica-gate. We’ve spoken by phone most days; morning-time for me – night-time for him.
‘Look, if you were true friends, Monica would surely laugh it off?’
‘That’s what I thought. That she’d come round once she’d calmed down. But she’s jumped right up on her high horse, and I can’t reach her.’
Of course, Max hadn’t heard the exact message as I deleted it the minute I realised what I’d done. I regret not copying it before trashing it.
‘Give me the gist of what you said again.’
‘In all honesty, I can’t remember my exact words. But I know thepractically-perfect-never-had-an-orgasmbit will have grated…’
‘Ouch.’
