“Who’s the teacher?”
Just as I asked the question, in strolled one of the most famous faces in the dance world. I’d been a fan since I was a little girl and watched her dance as Clara inThe Nutcrackerand then again as Odette inSwan Lake. Tatiana Kropotova was a world-wide ballet legend. And here she was in Knoxville, Tennessee, teaching a public dance class.
Who convinced her to make the trek and leave her retirement?
I glanced around at my siblings, but my eyes kept falling onto Colton. He had the money to pay her for sure, probably at the hands of Autumn. Andrew had money in stocks, so it could have been him, too. I didn’t miss the way they were all glancing back and forth at each other like it was musical chairs with their stares. Whose gaze would be the last one standing?
Dammit.
Someone was going to come clean by the end of this session.
“Someone pinch me,” I murmured as she stepped over to an ancient stereo system in the corner. “Ow!” I jerked my arm back and sneered at Tami. “What was that for?”
“You asked for someone to pinch you. Here I am, at your service.”
“I hate you, you know.”
“I know. With all your heart. Now, let’s get down and boogie.”
I was still in awe of the fact that Tatiana Kropotova was standing at the front of the classroom where I’d once been so beaten down I’d thrown in the towel and hung up my pointe shoes. But here I was, watching my idol call a class to session as an ’80s playlist pounded in the background. My mom and Tami definitely had something to do with this. And that left me even more confused.
Tatiana clapped her hands in a way that brought us all to attention and fall in line. My sisters pushed me forward until I was standing front and center along with some people here for the public class, while my family hung out along the back line.
I wasn’t going to let that last too long.
Tatiana directed our class in numerous moves that even the most talented dancer struggled with, but my smile never faded. In the mirror, I watched my family move their hips and spin on their feet, all while they laughed and poked fun at each other. We were all having a blast, and whatever fears I had about being back in this dance studio faded away.
She choreographed three different routines for us to dance out. A particular scene fromCenter Stageflashed through my mind with each step. She even had us perform leaps round-robin style. I couldn’t get enough of my siblings jumping and twirling across the hardwood. Colton was surprisingly flexible with his leap. His hockey background definitely helped. I stole a look at Tatiana and smirked at her surprised face when he performed an almost perfect grand jeté. Andrew was the last of my family to take the leap.
He missed his cue, and Tatiana clapped her hands in his direction. And then he missed it again, which only ignited the Russian beauty’s anger. Her clap echoed around the room, and the entire class stood at attention.
“Andrew, please,” I heard Sadie say as she nudged him. None of us wanted to witness Tatiana’s wrath after she snapped at one attendee at the beginning when they answered their phone.
A few expletives flew from his lips before Andrew took his stance. In the blink of an eye, Andrew launched in the air, his legs twisting underneath his frame as he spun at his highest peak and then landing in perfect position for a tour jeté. It was a small move compared to Colton’s, but to watch Andrew complete it flawlessly was remarkable.
He stood to the side with my siblings as the rest of the class went about completing their jumps and twists. Before I knew it, my turn had come, and all eyes landed on me.
Moving gracefully in my socks, I positioned myself in the middle of the floor and waited for the crescendo of the song. Setting my feet into place, I launched one leg into the air and performed four Italian fouettes followed by a grand jeté before joining my family. They all stared at me in awe. Mom reached out and tugged me closer as she wrapped her arms around me.
Tatiana slowed the music for a cooldown, and then the class was brought to a close. I hunkered in the corner with my mom, too afraid to push my way through the crowd to meet one of dancing’s elite artists. I had no doubt my family was going to do it for me.
As the pack started to dissipate, I felt another hand on my arm. My older brother was there to push me, or catch me, whichever I needed. And while I loved their support and having them here, I still felt the absence of Nate. Not only would he have been the first one to drag me to meet Tatiana, but he would have looked so damn sexy in spandex.
“What has you smiling like that?” Mom asked as she unraveled herself from around me.
“I was just thinking Nate would look really hot wearing spandex.”
“You know he would have been here if he could,” she replied, repositioning her ponytail. Mom kept her blonde locks just below her shoulders so she could pull it back when she was cooking or working on the farm. She looked so much younger with it pulled off her face.
“I know.”
Beside me, Andrew adjusted the hem of his shorts with his free hand. He was miserable in those biker shorts he wore, but I appreciated it. “Have you heard from him recently? I haven’t in like three days besides a couple of text messages.”
“I just know he’s in Tokyo. Or was. Last he told me they were having some issues with contracts, and legal was moving at a snail’s pace.”
I nodded. It seemed Nate hadn’t been keeping in touch with Andrew as much either. I heard the same story four days ago.
“I miss the girls. They would have loved this.”
