“Ballet was extremely painful, though I did better than Traci.”
“Only marginally so,” Shannon said.
His mother chuckled. “I find that hard to believe, dear. You look like you can do a lot of things well.”
“Not as many as one would hope.” Looking adorably flustered, she walked over to his mom. “I’m glad we got to meet. How long are you in town for?”
“Only about a week or so. Although these classes were a good excuse, I really wanted to meet Jeremy before I go on my Christmas cruise.”
“He’s a good kid.”
Right before his eyes, his mom turned into a grandmother. “He’s a wonderful boy.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he said.
Shannon gave his mother a card. “Here’s all the details about tomorrow night’s class. I’m delighted you’ll be there.”
“Thank you. I never imagined liking something new so much, but I do. I’m starting to realize that there are a whole group of people out there my age who like to dance. I’m really excited about my new hobby . . . and the cruise, of course.”
His mother looked so excited, Gunnar explained about how her cruise was a dancing themed one.
“I would love to go on one of those,” Shannon said.
“You should work on one of the dancing cruises, dear. They would pay your fare. I bet your husband’s too. I bet it would be great fun.”
“Dylan probably won’t want to dance, but he would love to go on a vacation. I’ll have to ask Dylan what he thinks about that. It would be perfect, especially if it was free.”
Worried about staying too long, Gunnar said, “Well, we should probably get going. It’s been a long day.”
“Do you need to go this minute?” Shannon asked. “We were just about to go upstairs and have some red velvet cake. Would you like some?”
“Did you make red velvet?” his mother asked.
“Oh, gosh no,” Shannon said. “I don’t cook.”
“Kimber?”
“I’m afraid I’m not the chef either. It’s Shannon’s sister-in-law, Jennifer. She lives with me and Gwen and makes an amazing array of things.”
“I haven’t eaten so well since I lived at home,” Shannon said.
“What do you say, Mom? Want some cake?”
Her eyes lit up with interest. “I hate to impose.”
“You won’t be imposing one bit,” Kimber said. “Jennifer has been trying out cakes all week. She’s thinking of offering them to some of her customers that she cooks for.”
“We have cake coming out of our ears,” Gwen said. “I promise, you’d be doing us a favor, Mrs. Law.”
“Would we be able to maybe take a piece home to Jeremy?”
“Of course,” Kimber said. “Come on up and join us.”
His mother beamed and followed Shannon up, talking a mile a minute to both her and Gwen.
Gunnar waited for Kimber to remove her shoes and then walked by her side. “How are you?”
“I’m pretty good. You?”
“Better now.” When she arched an eyebrow, he explained. “I’ve been kind of dreading this lesson for days. I can’t believe I got so lucky with you being here.”
Her cheeks pinkened a bit but she shook her head. “I didn’t really do much.”
“You did.” He couldn’t put into words how she’d helped him out. It was probably too personal for where they were, but he knew that holding her so close had felt amazing.
“Your mom is nice.” She smiled. “Chatty too.”
“You got that right. My brothers and I used to say that it’s surprising that we ever learned to speak.”
She laughed. “I’ve got a mom like that too.”
“I guess we’ve got that in common.”
“I guess we do.”
When they entered the kitchen, he found Shannon, Gwen, and his mother already sitting at the table nearby. The other blond in the room was slicing a thick wedge of red velvet cake.
She smiled at them. “Hi Gunnar. It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise. Thanks for the cake.”
“I’ve already put your son’s slice in a plastic container.”
“Thanks. Jeremy’s going to love it.” Picking up his piece, he glanced at Kimber. “Are you having any?”
“Nope. I’ll have some tea and sit with everyone, though.”
“Do you not care for red velvet cake, dear?” his mom asked.
“I do like it, but I’m afraid cake isn’t in the cards for me right now.”
“She has a modeling job next week,” Shannon explained.
“As soon as I get back, Jennifer better look out, though. I’ll probably be tasting everything she makes.”
“How did you get started modeling?”
“It’s kind of a funny story. I was out shopping with my mom at one of the big department stores in Manhattan, and a person who worked there asked if I’d like to help out with their runway show that afternoon. I didn’t want to, but my mom thought it sounded like fun for me—especially when they offered to give me one of the items from the show for fifty percent off.”
Gunnar leaned closer. He was as interested as his mother.
“I got there early and was nervous about what to do, but one of the real models just said to have a good time since I wasn’t a professional or anything,” Kimber continued. “So that’s what I did. I think I did everything I wasn’t supposed to. But it must have been enough, because next thing I knew I was signed up with a modeling agency and had two shows booked.”
“And the rest is history?” his mother asked.
“Yes. Well, pretty much. I guess I was in the right place at the right time.”
Shannon looked at her fondly. “Kimber’s far too modest. I have a feeling she built a career out of tenaciousness and hard work. She’s pretty special.”
“Not that she’s biased or anything,” Kimber joked.
His mother looked positively smitten. “Well, I’m going to have to go see if I can google some of your magazine covers. I can’t wait to tell everyone back home that our Gunnar is dating a real, live cover model.”
Gunnar groaned. “Ma, stop.”
Kimber laughed. “You’re making me feel good, but I’m not just being modest. Whatever success I’ve had is really due to a whole lot of luck. I was blessed with good genes, I happen to photograph well, and was at the right place at the right time.”
From the other side of the table, Shannon raised her eyebrows at Gunnar.
He winked. Kimber could deny it until the cows came home, but he was pretty sure there was a whole lot more to her successful career than luck.
Looking even more flustered, Kimber asked, “Can we please talk about something else now? How’s that cake?”
“Amazing,” Shannon said. “I swear, sometimes I think Jennifer could make a gourmet meal out of any five things in this house. I see nothing. She sees possibilities.”
“I’m just glad that I have all of you to experiment on,” she quipped.
“You know, I do think Shannon did make a good point,” his mother said. “That’s how life is. It’s all about who sees nothing and who sees possibilities.” Smiling at Kimber, she said, “I’ve always been fond of the possibility side of life, myself.”
Reaching for his mom’s hand, Gunnar gently squeezed. “Me too, Mama.”
CHAPTER 19
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist.”
—from an editorial in the new york sun, 1897
She was three days away from her trip to New York. Almost unconsciously, Kimber had fallen back into her former routine, preparing for the upcoming days like an athlete might prepare for a sporting event.
She’d begun sleeping as much as she could, followi
ng a strict diet, and drinking lots of her favorite Vitamin Water. After a day of protest, her body had accepted the changes and seemed to be taking it all in stride.
Ironically, it was the rest of her life that she was having a difficult time getting back on track. The fact was, ever since she’d accepted the job, her quiet Bridgeport life had turned on its side. Her model friends had come back out of the woodwork and were reaching out to make plans. Brett was texting constant updates, and both the designer and the merchandiser had called for more information. Even one of the seamstresses had emailed to make sure her measurements hadn’t changed in the last three months. She’d experienced a moment of panic when she’d asked Gwen to help with the measuring tape.
All of the attention and stress wasn’t a surprise, and part of it actually made her feel good. It was nice to know that she was still wanted and that she had been missed.
For a few hours, Kimber had actually contemplated what her life would be like if she started saying yes to Brett again.
But on the heels of all that satisfaction came a curiously empty feeling. The money and the stress and her former life wasn’t what she wanted anymore.
It was just too bad that she was feeling like a woman in limbo. She wasn’t excited about her chosen profession, and she was at a loss about what to do with her future.
Feeling like she was going to crawl out of her skin or she start screaming, Kimber went downstairs to Shannon’s dance studio.
Twelve little girls, all dressed up in black leotards, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers were lined up against the wall. Shannon was standing in front of them holding up a small white tulle tutu and talking very seriously.
Boy, they were adorable. After smiling at them for a moment, Kimber scanned the rest of the room. And had to stifle a gasp.
The whole area by Shannon’s storage closet was covered in small wooden nutcrackers. There had to be at least two dozen of them spilling out of the closet and onto the floor. She shook her head. Shannon was one beautiful dancer and one heck of a mess.
Unable to help herself, she walked over and picked one up. It was a beautiful thing, all gold and white and adorned with fake jewels and goose down. One of his shiny black boots had been scratched, though. Placing him carefully against the wall, Kimber sighed. These tiny works of art should have been wrapped in tissue paper and carefully stored in boxes. Not tossed into a sack like yesterday’s trash.
At least her mood had brightened. Now she had a plan for the day—to save those poor little guys and find a far better way to store them.
“Who are you?” a little voice asked.
She turned and felt herself blush as all the girls as well as Shannon were staring at her. She straightened. “I’m Kimber. Who are you?”
“Erin.”
Erin was wearing a shiny pink little skirt around her black leotard. She was also staring at Kimber expectantly.
Feeling a little whimsical, Kimber half-curtsied. “Miss Erin, it’s nice to meet you.”
Erin smiled big enough to show that she was missing a front tooth.
“I’m Alison,” a little dark-haired girl next to Erin declared.
Kimber curtseyed again. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Alison.”
She smiled at the rest, the majority of whom were wiggling like it was killing them that they hadn’t spoken to her. “You all look very pretty.”
As she’d hoped, all the girls smiled back at her. One kind of fluffed her tutu, which made Kimber stifle a laugh.
Then she heard a loud clearing of a throat. The girls froze.
And Kimber lifted her eyes to see Shannon staring back of her like Kimber had just been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. “Sorry for interrupting, Shannon.”
“I should hope so,” Shannon huffed. The little girls giggled.
“I was just walking by and saw this . . .”
Shannon raised her eyebrows. “Mess?”
“Yes. This mess.” She picked up one forlorn-looking red-and-black nutcracker. “These poor little guys need to be cared for better, girl.”
“I know.” Looking uncomfortable, she added, “We had a hard time trying to find the right costume.”
“I’m a snowflake!” Alison piped up.
“Are you? Like in Frozen?” She was pretty sure there were talking snowflakes in that movie. But maybe they were fairies?
All the girls erupted in laughter. Shannon too. “I guess you ladies are not dancing in Frozen?”
“They’re snowflakes,” Shannon said importantly. When Kimber continued to gape at her, she added, “They live in the Land of Snow in The Nutcracker.”
“Ah.” Kimber held up one of the wooden guys littering the floor. “It’s all making sense now.”
“Want to see us?” little Erin piped up. “Can we show her our dance, Miss Shannon?”
“I don’t see why not.” Walking to her iPad, Shannon said, “All right, snowflakes. Let’s see if you can get into position.”
The little girls went tearing around, giggling and whispering to each other. Five seconds, then ten passed.
“Now, who’s ready?”
They each raised a hand. Well, except for Erin, who was smiling at Kimber.
“Erin, I need you to be a snowflake right now, if you please.”
The little girl immediately straightened and carefully curved her arms just like the others.
Still holding one of the wayward nutcrackers, Kimber leaned against the back wall as the music started and the little girls all tried to perfectly mimic Shannon who was dancing the steps directly in front of them.
Their dance was imperfect. Okay, it wasn’t very good. Most of them were late on Shannon’s counts. One simply twirled a lot, another kept looking like she would rather be running through a field instead of concentrating, and little Alison got her feet tangled when Shannon called out pas de deux and almost fell.
But not a bit of that mattered. What did was the look of delight on their faces, their extreme adorableness, and the almost angelic expression that had appeared on Shannon’s face as the little girls’ parts were done. As if to celebrate, Kimber’s beautiful sister began to pirouette like she was a ballerina in the middle of a music box.
She looked so beautiful.
Shannon loved dancing. She loved teaching dance. And because of that, it all showed brightly through each cell in her body. Kimber could watch her every day, just seeing that look of bliss on her sister’s face made everything a little bit brighter.
And right on the heels of that realization was that knowledge that Kimber wanted some of that too. She wanted it bad.
When the music ended and all the girls curtseyed, following Shannon’s graceful example, Kimber clapped. “Bravo!”
They grinned at her then sobered as they looked at their teacher.
Shannon wasn’t smiling.
“Snowflakes, we have some work to do before our performance. A lot of work,” she said in a sober tone. “If you cannot start dancing in a straight line and moving in sync, I’m afraid we’re going to have to have extra practices.”
One of the little girls frowned. “But, Miss Shannon—”
She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid there is no good excuse here. We must dance our best, even in front of ladies like Kimber.” She rang a little bell. “Go take a water break and come back in five minutes. We’ll go over the middle section one more time, and then try it to music again. Off you go.”
They scattered like wildflowers in a summer wind.
Walking to her side, Kimber frowned at her. “Boy, that was kind of harsh, teach.”
“I have to be. Once I smile at their cute antics, they’ll try do the same things again and again. Trust me on this.”
“I do. But they were sure cute, though.”
Shannon smiled. “Oh. My. Word. They were so cute. I dream
about these little girls, they make me so happy. But they are currently some sorry-looking snowflakes.”
“I guess I can’t argue with that.”
“So, you haven’t told me why you’re here. Did you need something?”
“No. I was . . .” How could she admit that she was feeling kind of blah about her work situation? “I guess I had a little bit of time on my hands so I decided to come down to see if you needed help cleaning.”
“As much as I need your help with those nutcrackers, I need help teaching even more. Want to help?”
“No. You know I don’t know a thing about dancing.”
“You can listen though, and help me keep an eye on twelve busy six-year-olds.”
“I don’t know—”
“Here they come.” She lowered her voice. “It’s easy. I promise, even you can catch on. Just watch me and try to help the girls do the same thing. Thanks!”
And with that, Shannon clapped her hands and told the girls to get back in line. “Miss Kimber has agreed to help me teach this class today, ladies. She’s going to help me correct your mistakes.”
Little Erin smiled at her again.
Kimber smiled back, fearing that hers looked far less sure.
But there was no time to lose as Shannon called out, “Watch me ladies. I’m going to do this once by myself, then we’re all going to do it together. Plié, revelé, chassé to the right.” She paused. “Ready?”
“Yes, Miss Shannon!” they chorused.
“Let’s go then. Kimber, you watch the six closest to you.”
“Yes, Miss Shannon,” she answered.
And then she had no time to even smile at the girls. All she could do was keep up and arrange little girls’ arms and positions.
Fifteen minutes later, she stood back against the wall and watched them dance. And . . . they were better! When they curtsied, she clapped and clapped.
And when Shannon smiled brightly and called out, “Well done, snowflakes!” Kimber felt like she’d done something good too.
“Thank you Miss Kimber,” Erin said as she gave her a hug at the end of class. “I hope you help us all the time.”
“I’m sure I’ll come back. I had a good time, sweetie.”
Save the Last Dance Page 13