Page 31 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘No idea. We’re supposed to.’
‘Hey, if you’re forced together you can sort out this shit. It’s only a daft row isn’t it?’
‘Yeah. Daft. In the whole scheme of things, it’s ridiculously petty and insignificant.’
‘Well then, you’ll make it up and come back friends.’ He slapped me on the back and grabbed a huge wedge of cake from the fridge.
‘Oi. That was supposed to be for sharing.’
‘I’m a growing lad,’ he said, winking and taking a massive bite from the block of cake.
I watch him disappear upstairs again and sigh.
Monica and me, friends again? If only I shared Will’s optimism.
8
Ingrida
Monica parks her big smart vehicle in the vast airport car park.
‘How’s Ruby getting here?’ Cath quietly asks as we retrieve our cases from the boot.
‘I would have thought Monica had bags of room for Ruby,’ Bonnie starts to say. ‘It’s an enormous car…’
‘Keep your voice down.’ Cath urges as Monica puts a crook lock on the steering wheel.
I do not say I know Monica did not offer a lift to Ruby, as Ruby had called me to see how I was getting to the airport. I make it sound as if Neil was dropping me off. I felt bad not to be honest with Ruby, but to say I was going with Monica did not feel right.
‘Oh of course, I forgot. Have they still not sorted out their argument?’ Bonnie asks in a stage whisper.
‘No.’ Asha pulls her case from the boot as she hisses. ‘I hope they do soon. It must not be allowed to interfere with our performances in Paris.’
Overhead, an aeroplane comes in to land and I give a small shiver of excitement. It has been a long time since I have been in an aircraft. Not since I first came to England six years ago. I smile to think how bad my English was then.
I think of all the things that have happened to me since I moved here. My mama would be very proud to see how I have made good. She would be proud to see I have become a specialist nurse and to know I am dancing again; she loved to watch me dance. I think too, she would be very surprised to see I am now a married lady and stepmama to three children. She thought I would never have children after my cancer, but I think she is up there watching me from heaven, and I can see her face smiling. Her last words to me repeat in my mind.
Ingrida, we have had a very unhappy time here in Latvia. First your father die in that terrible accident, then your uncle – Papa always said he would come to no good – brought shame on all our family, then your bad illness… and now God has decided to take me from you before my time… Do not cry, Ingrida, you must go and make a beautiful life away from all this sadness. Trust in God and always be kind to others.
I have done as you said, Mama. I have left Latvia and made a good life for myself here in the United Kingdom,Paldies Dievam.
‘All OK, Ingrida?’ Asha asks.
I stop staring at sky and – how you say? – ah yes, snap out of my memory. I realise my eyes are a little wet, so I dab them with a tissue.
‘Ja, thank you. I was just thinking how I am very happy to be here and also how much I look forward to Paris.’
Monica locks the car and smiles at me. ‘Ingrida, you’re always happy. It makes a refreshing change tohave such a positive person on the team.’
Asha, she frowns at Monica and say under her breath, ‘There are plenty of positive people here,’ before she pat me on my arm in a kind way.
Monica’s words, when she say I am part of the team and positive give to me a warm glow, even if I am only the reserve.
‘I checked our flight on the airport departures site and it was looking to be on time.’ Asha inform to us as we walk to the bus stop and wait for the coach transfer to the terminal.
Cath, she sings a line from John Denver’s song “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.
I love to listen to Cath sing – and to her happy chatter with Bonnie.
