Page 52 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘A Bollywood spectacular.’ Asha beams and smiles proudly.
‘How many numbers are Sheila’s group performing?’
Asha runs her finger down the list. ‘Looks like they are doing two.’
‘Talking of Sheila, has anyone seen Bold as Brass?’ Cath asks.
‘No. Maybe they did get chucked off the flight in Manchester?’ Asha grins. ‘What time is it?’
‘Ten.’
‘Oh good. It says here we will be getting a tour of the theatre in half an hour. Excellent.’
‘Clarissa is running late.’ Monica looks up from her phone. ‘She said continue without her as best we can, and she will join us as soon as possible.’
‘Is she OK?’ Ruby asks, but Monica only shrugs without looking at Ruby.
‘Oh, for God’s sake…’ Ruby steps towards Monica but her phone buzzes and Ruby stops to look at her message.
Asha hurriedly throws her bag on her chair. ‘Come on, everyone. Let’s make good use of the time and warm-up and run through the dances.’ She calls to Ruby, ‘Ruby, get off your phone. I know you have a new love in life but right now Dance Excellence – Clarissa Kirkland needs you.’
We all smile apart from Monica.
Ruby, she sees Monica look away, so she turns to me and rolls her eyes up to heaven – I love this expression. I have only learnt it in the last few weeks, and I often roll up my eyes to heaven when Neil is not looking if he says something I disagree with, but I do not want to be in argument with him. After all, we are newlywed. Fay tells me this, another expression I am liking very much. So,when Ruby rolls up her eyes, I give her a smile to say to her, ‘it is better we do not have any arguments’.
There is a wider empty area, a vestibule – a good French word – at the opening of the room. Asha suggest we can practise our steps in this vestibule even if we have to make them a bit smaller.
We spread out and follow Asha. First, we march on the spot, roll out our shoulders, swing our arms, and then we do plié squats to get our muscles ready to dance. My mind, it go to thinking of the telephone call last night and I must be frowning as Asha tell me in a joking way to cheer up. I quickly fix a dancer’s smile on my face, but my thoughts are elsewhere.
At first, I was very relieved to be back in Paris. At Manchester Airport, when we found we had no flight tickets, I thought we would have to go home. I know Neil, he would not have been pleased to see me – not until he has spoken to Rita and Terry. Then I thought the French authorities would stop me getting on the Eurostar in London. They wanted to know where Kazimieras Valenko was. I told them I had not seen my uncle in years, which is true, but they say he was wanted in connection with a number of criminal offences and had left France saying he was staying with his niece, Ingrida Valenko. They also told me my visa will soon run out and I will have to go back to Latvia or get a new visa. So, I explain to them how I am a specialist nurse in the NHS, and how I am also now Ingrida Goodman, but I did not have time to get a new passport to show this. I show them my wedding ring and photographs of Neil and the children on my telephone. Itwas a big relief when they let me go so I could get onto the train with the other ladies. I had not done anything wrong but it make me feel like a criminal.
At the hotel, when I get the call fromunknown number, I knew it was going to be Kazimieras before he spoke in our native language.
‘Ingrida. At last, I have found you.’
‘How did you get my number?’
‘That is no way to greet your uncle. You have been very elusive these last five years.’
‘Kazimieras, what do you want?’
‘What? You do not ask me how I am? You do not ask your uncle how he has been doing, how he has been managing with no home when he comes out of prison to find his sister’s flat is gone? How he has lived when he realised the money his sister held for him has also gone? When he finds his only niece has left for Paris without leaving her phone number…’
I could not speak. My stomach did a knot twist.
‘…And when I find you in Paris where you promise to pay me back before, you disappear without giving me a single euro? I have spent five long years looking for you.’
I hover my finger over theend callsymbol, but pull it back sharply when he adds, ‘I know where you live. Yes, Ingrida, I do. I know you are in England, and I know you work as a nurse and where you work – your friends in Latvia. They tell your loving uncle how to contact you. I think you are earning very good money, yes?’
I felt sick. ‘You are wrong.’
‘I think now you will pay back what you owe?’
‘I do not owe you anything. Mama left only a few hundred euros, and it was not yours. Besides, it is gone. I used it to fund my training as a nurse.’
‘You are not taking me seriously, Ingrida. Perhaps I should tell you I am in England on business? Perhaps I should tell you I am going to Manchester…’
‘I am not in Manchester. I am in Paris.’
