Marcus sighed. “Sold-out crowds, every night.”
Alice raised her eyebrows. “Are you serious? After he gave you and the others the sack?”
“It’s not fucking fair. I’m out of a job, and she’s just—”
“Probably halfway to New York already,” Alice said quietly.
Good, Marcus wanted to reply, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Alice seemed to understand from the look on his face, though. She studied him for a long moment.
“Marcus, what was she supposed to do? You know how much this gig meant to her, after the way she left NYB. It’s bloody hard being a woman in this business, and while that’s not an excuse, look at it from her point of view. She didn’t have any good choices, and she chose the best bad option.”
“At least she’s still got options,” he said bitterly.
“You have options, too,” his mother replied from the kitchen. “For example, you could call the woman you love.”
Marcus ran his hand over his face, feeling his own rough stubble against his palm, and said nothing.
“It is love, right?” Alice pressed. “That’s why you look like eighteen kinds of shit right now?”
Marcus gave a humourless laugh. “There’s also the small matter of having no job,” he reminded her. He paused. “But...yeah. I loved her. But it’s too late now.”
Alice scooted closer and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “I’m sorry, then. I’m sorry for everything. But you’re going to be okay. I know it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, but you’re just going to have to believe me, because I was right then, and I’m right now.”
“She is,” Leanne said, placing two plates on the coffee table and pushing them towards Alice and Marcus. “Eat.”
His stomach rumbled, and he reached for his plate and took a bite of toast. It was hot and crisp, and the melted cheese burnt the top of his mouth, just like it always had when his dad had made it for him and Davo. Alice picked up her own plate and moaned appreciatively as she chewed her toast.
“I know this is a blow, love,” his mum said gently as he ate. “And I know it’s been a terribly hard year. For all of us. But rememberwhat your father used to say? You only fail if you don’t try. So you have to try.”
Marcus swallowed a mouthful of toast and looked into his mum’s face, which was so like his own. “He really wanted me to dance again.” And now Marcus probably never would.
“No, love. He wanted you to be happy again, and dancing made you happy. But life is long and strange and full of things that will make you happy. People, too. He believed that, and I need you to believe it as well.”
Marcus hastily swiped away the tears that filled his eyes as she spoke. He had been happy these last few weeks, happier than he’d been in years. And now the person responsible for that was on the other side of the world, and probably just as furious at him as he was at her.
“Thanks, Mum. I’ll try.” Marcus stood and stepped around the coffee table to hug her, and she reached up to stroke his hair, rocking him gently side to side and sniffling into his shirt.
After a moment, she pulled away and wiped her eyes, then offered them both seconds of cheese on toast, which they accepted.
“Have you thought about what you’ll do next?” Alice asked after their plates were clear. “You could teach, you know. Or go overseas and audition for some European companies. That video’s not a great audition tape, but it’s a start. Or I could ask Izzy if she’s got any openings at the shop.”
Marcus laughed, for real this time, imagining himself selling dance belts and ballet slippers as techno music throbbed overhead. “I haven’t really thought about it, and I need a little more time, okay?”
The few times he’d tried to think about it, he hadn’t come up with anything he wanted to do besides dance at ANB. That had always been the dream, even if it would’ve only lasted a few more years. He’d never imagined himself doing any other job. He hadn’t been to university. He’d gone straight from high school to the company and stayed there ever since. And now, he was thirty-one and had to start all over again.
“Well, when you’re ready to think about it, I’m ready to help. Listen.” Alice paused for a moment, seemingly considering her next words very carefully. “I heard a rumour, about Heather’s friend. Carly, I think?”
Marcus raised his eyebrows. “What about her?” He’d been ignoring the world, and especially the ballet rumour mill, for almost a week. He didn’t want to know what it had to say about him.
“Well, it’s just gossip, so it’s probably only half true, but I heard after your video went viral, Jack Andersen had a fit and got Carly fired. He sounds like a real piece of work.”
“Yeah, he is” was all Marcus managed. He remembered what Heather had said, that Carly was an acquired taste. But he also remembered the way she’d talked about her best friend, like a sister.
Alice seemed to realise she should leave it there. She gave him a pat on the back, picked up their plates, and rinsed them in the sink.
“We should go,” she said to his mum, and they both hugged him once more. His mum still looked a little teary, and he gave her an extra squeeze and a kiss on the top of her head.
“I love you,” she said, smiling tiredly up into his face.
