Void’s song “Miracle Worker” started playing, making the space feel less empty.
“Let’s warm up,” Jasmine said.
When they finished stretching, Katie asked, “Where’s Daddy?”
“He’s packing for his road trip, remember? He’ll be here as soon as he can.”
Will hadn’t yet attended a lesson for Katie at Pirouette. He had been on a road trip for the first couple and then had been needed on a site visit for a new property investment during the third. He told Jasmine he would be there that afternoon, both to see her and Katie before his road trip and to wish her well for the Open House.
Jasmine hoped that was true.
He had been acting strange since returning home from his last road trip. She had chalked it up to the stress caused by the custody issue, but that had been resolved a few days ago in Will’s favor and he still seemed distracted. The few times she tried to get him to open up to her, he had blown her off.
Whatever else he was going through, she told herself, he wouldn’t let Katie down. With that in mind, she moved forward with the lesson.
Not even ten minutes later, there was a knock at the front door. It was loud enough that Jasmine heard it over the music.
That was odd, she thought. It wasn’t Will, who would enter from the back where the owners and employees were now meant to park. He also knew the code to unlock the door. Figuring it was a potential client or a delivery, she walked over to the sound system and hit the pause button.
“Sorry, Katie,” she said. “Please give me a minute. I’ll be right back. You can free dance to stay loose.”
Katie nodded.
Jasmine headed through the door to the lobby. She glanced to the right and saw Alima in the assistant’s office standing with the phone to her ear. Her friend mouthed, Sorry, and pointed at the phone. Jasmine waved at her to let her know she would deal with it.
Her eyebrows lifted when she looked to the front doors and saw Ginnie on the other side. The eager grandmother had been in touch a few times to request information and get an application to complete for her granddaughter. Jasmine expected them at the Open House and wondered if something had come up to interfere with that.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open, producing her most gracious business owner smile. “Hi, Ginnie. It’s so nice to see you.”
Ginnie returned her smile, but it looked strained. “It’s nice to see you too.”
Picking up on her tone and body language, Jasmine’s smile faded. “Is something wrong?”
The other woman shook her head. “No, not really. I know I’m a couple days early for your Open House and you’re likely not expecting guests, but, well, there’s something important I want to discuss with you about my granddaughter and I’d hoped I could do it without a bunch of other people around. Would you mind if I came in for a few minutes?”
Jasmine hesitated. Ginnie looked stressed. Her hands were pressed together and her upper lip was coated with sweat. Of course, it was nearly eighty-five degrees, which would explain the perspiration. Jasmine was getting hot just standing there.
Besides, maybe her granddaughter had special needs. Jasmine would be happy to reassure her that the child would still be comfortable at Pirouette.
“Of course,” she said, stepping to the side and allowing Ginnie to pass.
The scent of stale cigarettes and poorly masked body odor made Jasmine struggle not to wrinkle her nose as the woman entered the studio. Ginnie had seemed so polished and put together during their previous encounters. The difference now had Jasmine’s instincts firing off warnings.
Changing her initial plan to bring Ginnie back to her office, Jasmine waved at the cushioned lounging benches and chairs in the waiting area. Alima’s voice got louder for a moment as she walked with the desk phone to the outer office door and pushed it closed with a wave at Jasmine to say she didn’t want to interrupt her meeting.
Jasmine had the inexplicable desire to push the door back open. She didn’t know why she felt so uncomfortable as she sat beside Ginnie, but there was no denying it.
“What would you like to tell me about your granddaughter?” she asked, keeping her tone polite and interested.
Ginnie’s smile was more genuine this time. “She’s just an amazing little girl. So lovely and talented. Quite shy, of course, but most kids are at her age.”