Page 89 of Forbidden Dance
The line is quiet, then he says, “You’re breaking this family’s heart all over again.”
I don’t know what to say to that. He was the one who broke it first. So I just say, “I’m sorry, Dad. I’m sorry for all that I’ve done. But I have to go.”
I hang up.
The phone rings again almost immediately and I realize he’s done the dial-back thing. I click ignore.
Juliet reaches over and squeezes my arm. “I’m sorry, Livia. I know that was hard.”
I feel numb about this encounter with my father. But it had to happen. One way or another. And I have the best reason. Blitz loves me, or so he told Bennett. And I’m not going to let him hurt his career for me. Because I love him too.
The pilot comes over the speaker. “Our flight path is approved and we are cleared to take off in twenty minutes,” he says.
Juliet glances over at Bennett. “I have an idea of what we can do when we get there,” she says. “But you’ll have to talk to the director.”
When Juliet explains what she thinks will work, I know she is absolutely right. I just have to have the guts to do it.
Chapter 31
Bennett is on the phone the moment we land on the ground in LA. Another Mercedes drives us off the tarmac and Juliet directs the driver to a shop on the way to the studios. She wants to pick up an outfit for me.
As we pull up to the doors, I know it’s not going to be like anything I’ve ever shopped in before. Huge glass doors surrounded with gold make it look like a jewelry store. Or a bank.
Bennett is still in the front seat talking to the people on the set ofDance Blitz. My heart is probably not going to stop hammering the rest of the day. I’m just having to adjust to the nerves. It’s like the excruciating moment before you go onstage for a recital, feeling like you might faint from the pressure.
Only instead of it being just a few seconds, I’m dealing with it all day.
The driver opens the door, and Juliet leads me out, leaving Bennett behind. “I told them to bring out everything they had in white,” she says.
A woman is expecting us and leads us to a back room where a rack of white outfits is already set aside for me. I run my fingers through them. Some of them sparkle, others have some shine. One is more sheer.
“We don’t have much time,” Juliet tells the woman. “Livia, do you see anything you like?”
“They are all beautiful,” I say. “But Blitz likes me in pale blue.”
Juliet nods and the woman says, “I’ll go pull some.”
She is back in a flash with three blue dresses. I choose the simplest and take it into a room with red velvet curtains.
I stare at the mirror as I change out of the red shirt and black skirt that I wore on our first date to the San José Mission. My family is so angry. I may never see any of my other clothes again. I’m glad I wore my favorite.
I slide the blue dress on. It fits perfectly, long sleeved and fitted at the top, then floating across my hips. A hint of sparkles begins on my belly and intensifies as the skirt begins, then it disappears again in the flow of the fabric.
I step outside.
“Turn for me,” Juliet says.
I make a quick circle, feeling the air rush against my legs as the skirt flies out.
“Yes,” she says. “This is good.” She feels along the shoulder and under the arm. “Fifth position,” she says.
I lift my arms. She checks everything again.
“All right,” she says. “Excellent quality all around.” She turns to the saleswoman. “Ring it up, and bring me a light cover or coat or wrap of some sort. She’ll wear this out.”
I head back to the fitting room and gather my clothes. Another young woman arrives and provides me a pretty satin bag to carry them in.
“Thank you,” I say. “Are the tags cut off?”
