Page 28 of Second Dance
“Hey, Dad.”
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Not really.”
“Me either.”
“I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.” Bella’s voice cracked, and she drew in a ragged sounding breath.
“Thank you. I accept your apology.”
We sat in silence for a few moments.
“I mean, do you like this person?” Bella asked.
“I’m taking her out again tonight.”
Bella flinched as if I’d slapped her.
“I told you I don’t want you to date her,” Bella said. “It’s totally selfish of you. I mean, what happens when you break upand I still have to see Grace at school every day. I don’t want people talking about me.”
“Why would people talk about you if I date Grace’s mom?”
“Kids gossip, Dad. Everyone knows that.”
“Bella, I love you to pieces. But this is not your decision. I might have a chance for something wonderful with Gillian, and I’m not going to let you dictate what happens.”
Bella jerked to her feet. “God, Dad, you’re so selfish.” She ran back into the house, slamming the French doors behind her.
What in the world was I supposed to do with this kid?
6
GILLIAN
Thirteen bodies moved in unison across the studio floor, following my cues through the morning Pilates routine. Sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the polished wood as I walked between the mats, adjusting postures and offering corrections. Delphine, Esme, Seraphina, and Lila held their planks in the second row—my usual crew, here three mornings a week without fail.
After the others filtered out, toweling off and chatting about their days, my friends lingered. They rolled up their mats slowly, exchanging glances I pretended not to notice. This morning, they clearly had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
“Tell us how it went,” Esme said. “I’ve been dying to know.”
“It was … weird,” I said. “Hard to even explain.”
“She came home glowing,” Delphine said. “Which worries me.”
“Don’t be like that,” Esme said, smacking her arm. “You’re such a buzz kill sometimes.”
“Sorry. But I don’t want her to get hurt,” Delphine said.
“It was one date,” Seraphina said. “No one’s getting hurt.”
“Not yet,” Delphine mumbled.
“What was it like to see him after all this time?” Lila asked after shooting Delphine a look.
“Like I said, strange. It felt as if no time had passed and yet the opposite too.” I drank from my water bottle, the image of Alex’s soft brown eyes as he looked at me across the table playing before my eyes. “He’s as sweet and interesting as he always was. But he’s been through a lot.”
“The poor man. Losing his wife like that,” Lila said. “And leaving him alone to raise the children.”
