Page 3 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘Thanks, Cath.’ A bubble of anguish starts in my chest.
‘What on earth happened to you, Monica?’ Bonnie leans over Ruby to pat my leg. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you arrive late. Everything all right?’
‘Yes, fine thanks, Bonnie.’ I keep my head down.
Fine. Just peachy. Oh, apart from discovering your husband’s a rotten dirty cheat. I feel myself starting to slip.
Clarissa calls for silence. ‘Ladies, our new dance school badges have arrived, and I have to say Hazel’s design is marvellous. They will need to be sewn onto our tops in time for the competition. Right-hand side, between the chest and the shoulder.’ She indicates the required position.
I join the others as they pool around Clarissa to see thenew insignia. We’d all agreed the old ‘Dance by Clarissa’ next to a top hat had desperately needed updating.
Eagerly, everyone takes a new patch.
Ruby hands me mine and gives me her ‘What the F?’ look.
I stare at the sewn patch, and have a terrible urge to laugh, which I quickly suppress.
An artistic representation of a dance figure denoted by bright blue fluid curves stands poised on one leg, the other outstretched in a high kick. This, I can see, has Hazel’s brushstroke genius. What can’t be Hazel’s work is the rest of the design. Our new group name – only Clarissa could have come up with this – has been embroidered in a tiny blue font below and along the line of the extended ‘leg’. Instead of capitals the first letter of each word is in lower case but enlarged and in a flowery silver font quite different to the blue lettering. The eye is immediately drawn to the four standout letters sparkling in silver thread. I stare, lost for words, at the bespoke badge and quickly exchange looks with Ruby.
‘What do you think, ladies?’ Lady C beams at us all.
There is a stunned silence before Bonnie gushes out her praise. She appears to be the only one, other than Clarissa, who hasn’t clocked the unfortunate result.
‘Oh, isn’t it lovely?’ Bonnie holds her patch high, squinting at the lettering. ‘I’m not wearing my glasses but these lovely sparkly letters, I can see the “d” must be for dance and the “c” and “k” for Clarissa Kirkland. So I am guessing the “i” is for inspiration?’
‘It isnotan “i”.’ Clarissa’s indignation is palpableas she gives Bonnie a piercing stare. ‘It is an “e”and it stands forexcellence.’
‘Oh, silly me. An “e”. Well, what a lovely name for us, “Dance Excellence – Clarissa Kirkland”. How marvellous. Did Hazel design this? Clever lady. We’ll be the buzz of the town.’
Fay instantly corrects Bonnie in her usual annoyed tone. ‘Talk, Bonnie, for goodness’ sake, it istalkof the town. Dear me.’
Ruby, still looking aghast, points to the kicking leg and opens her mouth. ‘But…’
‘Very nice,’ I say and grab Ruby’s arm as I steer her away.
She clamps her mouth shut and shakes her head as we cross the studio on Fay’s heels to pay our lottery and Paris money to Janine.
‘Really?’ hisses Ruby. ‘I mean DECK’s a bad enough name but that definitely reads “DICK”. Even that ruddy leg looks like a ginormous…’
‘Shh, she’ll hear you.’
‘Unbelievable. Well, I’m not sewing that on my top!’ She leans into me as she adds, ‘Talking of almighty di—’
I shush her with my hands. There’re too many flapping ears in here.
‘Monica, how did you find out?’
I put a finger to my lips. ‘We need to pay Janine first and then get out of here.’
We stand behind Fay waiting to hand over our money and my mind lurches back to Vince.
I knew – of course I knew – deep down. All the signswere there but I chose not to look closer. Why didn’t I confront you? Daft question. I didn’t have any proof until today.
Prickling with anger, the now-blatant clues slam into my head.
Your flat. All the nights you stay away in Birmingham. No wonder you didn’t want me at your city centre pad, purchased with our joint savings (I bristle at the added injustice) just before I fell pregnant with the twins. Our conversation replays from the first and only time I saw the damn place when you got the keys. What an innocent I was.
‘This is amazing. Views over the city too. We can come and stay here when there’s a dance show on at the Hippodrome…’
