Page 77 of Second Dance
“Not surprising. Bella’s a sweetie,” Gillian said. “Big heart. Sensitive.”
“Impulsive.”
Gillian chuckled. “That too.”
“Her mother was that way. Jumped into whatever she was interested in with both feet.”
“I wish I could be more like that. Instead, I analyze everything to death.”
“Both ways work, depending.”
She curled her legs under her, shifting toward me. “I’ve been wondering how you lived here for a year and we never ran into each other.”
“It’s odd, yes. But maybe the timing wasn’t quite right until now.”
“Maybe so. We certainly didn’t have good timing back when we were young,” Gillian said.
“No, we didn’t.” We were quiet for a moment, gazing into the fire pit. The kids came out in their suits, asking if they could turn on music.
“Go for it,” I said.
Soon, country music piped through the speakers and the kids were in the hot tub with the bubbles going, muting their chatter.
“Do you want to dance with me?” I asked.
“Now?”
I stood, offering her my hand. “Why not?”
She smiled as I helped her to her feet. “Will the kids be disgusted?”
“Let them be.” I drew her into my arms. She rested her head against my chest as we swayed to the music.
“Did you ever tell Mattie about me?” Gillian asked.
“Yes, she used to tease me about the ‘one who got away.’”
“Do you think she knew I was here?”
“Doubtful,” I said.
Still, the idea struck me like a bolt of lightning. Could she have found Gillian’s dance studio and figured out who she was? It was preposterous. But then again, that was my Mattie. She’d always done everything in her own way, without worrying about what was considered normal. Did you do this, Mattie? Are you up there watching all of this unfold?
But she didn’t answer up there in heaven. Yet, I felt her just the same. A warm, comforting blanket of a thing. She’d given me permission to move on. That was the last gift she’d given me.
I pulled the beautiful woman in my arms closer as another song played through the speakers and more stars dotted the sky and my children laughed and splashed in the hot tub. The sweet world kept turning.
16
GILLIAN
Grace pressed her face against the car window as we pulled into Delphine's driveway, already bouncing with excitement. “Annie and I are going to the beach every single day. And we're having a sleepover marathon. And?—”
“Breathe,” I said, laughing as I turned in my seat. Alex caught my eye from the driver's seat, his smile warm and indulgent.
The moment we stopped, Grace launched herself out of the car, then doubled back to stick her head through my open window. “Have fun, Mom. You deserve this.” She kissed my cheek, then leaned past me toward Alex. “Take care of her, okay?”
“That's the plan,” Alex said, his hand finding mine on the console.
