The Dream - Whitney Dineen Page 0,62
full well the chaos that’s about to ensue. It’s not that I don’t like the waltz. It’s very pretty, but my feet just don’t want to do it.
Buck whispers, “Come on, Ash. I believe in you.”
Miss Maybelle hits her little button and immediately starts to bark, “Back, side, close. Forward, side, close. Up on the one, down on the two!”
I give up almost immediately and let Buck drag me around the dance floor. He’s so good, I figure our teacher might not notice what a disaster I am. The look on her face tells a different story.
“What was that?” she demands.
“That’s why we’re here,” Buck tells her.
“Ashley, please show me which foot is your right foot.” I’m so mortified I want to crawl under a table. Instead, I put my right foot forward.
“Excellent,” she praises like I’m in kindergarten. “So, by matter of elimination, the other foot is your left foot, correct?”
“Yes,” I mumble, feeling completely defeated.
“Okay, the woman’s steps are as follows”—she moves onto the floor to show me. “Back with the right foot, step to the side with the left foot, then close.” She continues, “Forward with the left foot, side with the right foot, and close. Now, do it with me.”
I stand next to her and try to follow along, but I look more like a toddler learning to walk than a grown woman trying to dance.
Miss Maybelle stops moving and watches me with her head tilted to the side. She looks positively despondent. “I have an idea,” she announces. Instead of telling us what it is, she walks out of the room.
“I bet she’s going to the bar to get you a stiff drink. Scratch that,” he laughs. “She’s probably going to the bar to get herself a stiff drink.”
“Alexander Buckley Freeport, don’t you dare make fun of me. I’m trying.”
“I know. It’s kind of endearing how bad you are.”
“How is that endearing?” I demand.
“It’s nice to know my beautiful friend can’t do everything she sets her mind to.”
“I haven’t done anything I’ve set my mind to,” I pout.
“I beg to differ. You put yourself through college, you took care of your sick mother, you have a career, you have savings, and you’re about to go shopping for your first house. That sounds like a lot of success to me.”
I spontaneously throw myself into his arms. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it, Ash. I’m proud of you and I think it’s time for you to be proud of yourself. Don’t let fear stop you.”
I look up into his eyes and in that moment, I’m sure I will love this man forever. I’m overcome by the need to kiss him and find out if there could be something more between us. I lean in and start to rise onto my tiptoes but before I can accomplish my mission, Miss Maybelle walks back into the ballroom. She’s not alone either.
“Jessica is one of the best students I’ve ever had,” she announces. “I think that if you watch her and Alexander together, Ashley, you might have an easier time understanding.”
Kill me now. Jessica positively beams when she sees who her old dance instructor wants her to waltz with. “Alexander, it’s you!” She proceeds to push me aside and practically jump into his arms.
“Jessica, how lovely,” he purrs before shooting me a conspiratorial look. Did he not realize we were about to have a moment?
Miss Maybelle hits her little button and Buck and Jessica take to the floor like two butterflies just released after a month in captivity. It’s bad enough I have to see my old nemesis tomorrow night without having to spend today with her as well.
When the song ends, Jessica is practically wrapped around Buck. She looks like she’s trying to climb him. “Bravo!” Miss Maybelle cheers. “You’ve only gotten better over the years, Jessica.”
“I owe it all to you,” she replies with sickeningly sweet sincerity.
“You and Alexander make a beautiful couple,” she enthuses.
Buck looks over at me and winks. I start to wonder if he knew Jessica was going to be here. Was our dance lesson just an excuse for him to see her again? My brain feels like it’s taking the scenic tour inside a blender.
Chapter Thirty-Five
September 15, 2012
Dear Molly,
Mom didn’t get up today. Hospice came and helped me bathe her. It’s getting harder for her to get to the bathroom, so they showed me how to wash her hair while she sits in bed. This is really happening. Some days I’m almost numb