Their mother makes it to us and immediately wraps me in a one-sided hug.
“Hi, Mrs. Claire,” both of the little girls sing-song from behind her.
“Oh, hi,” I stammer, doing my best to return Ginger’s gesture, but I’m certain I’ve already made it awkward.
“Don’t you look pretty,” she says, stepping back and smoothing her coat. “Pink really suits you.”
“Thank you.” I fidget with the chain of my necklace.
“Cori, Dill, Fen! Stop talking so fast and let them be. You will have all of Coach Everett’s attention Monday at practice. Now run along.” She waves them off.
Coach Everett?
Why does the idea of him coaching little kids make my heart beat a little quicker? Fuck, I bet that’s cute. My eyes flit over toEverett standing and listening intently as Ginger speaks. Both of his hands are casually in his pockets, and he nods and smiles like this is some normal conversation between old friends.
The three boys run back toward the rink, yelling, “Bye, Coach” in unison, and Everett lifts his hand.
“The girls are so looking forward to dance classes starting back up after Christmas,” Ginger continues.
“Oh! They dance?” I ask, eyeing both girls, who are peeking out from behind each of their mother’s legs.
“What are you talking about, hun?” She cocks her head to the side.
I frantically search the street for any clue that could help me sound less crazy. My eyes dart down to the two little girls.
Mrs. Claire.
They called me Mrs. Claire.
Looking up, my eyes land on the ballet studio situated across the street from Stella’s Diner.
I teach dance.
Blush creeps up my face. “Oh…um…I just…I just meant...” I force a laugh, trying to cover my mistake, but I can’t think of anything to say that would make sense. Ginger’s brow knits together. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” she asks.
“We didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” Everett cuts in. “Isn’t that right, babe?” He nudges me with his elbow gently.
“That’s right.” I nod and force a smile.
“Oh, I remember what the first year of marriage was like.So young and so in love.” She laughs. “How do you think Rusty and I got all these kids? I think I came home from our honeymoon pregnant with…well, you get it.” She laughs again and moves the baby to the other hip.
“Oh, no that’s not what he meant. We’re just both in desperate need of some more coffee. Right,babe,” I say, gritting my teeth.
“Ginger, have you seen Cori’s gloves?” a man, who I assume is Rusty, yells from where the three boys are now rolling around in the snow.
“One second,” Ginger yells back. “Well, I’ll let you two get going. You’d think I’m the only one in this family who knows where anything is. We’ll see you two later.”
The four of them make their way back to the rest of their family, leaving me alonewith Everett.
“Okay, so that was…”
“Informative,” Everett finishes for me.
“Yeah.” The street is full of people coming and going from each shop. My eyes settle on the dance studio. I wonder if this version of me is happy teaching dance. If she ever knew what it was like to dance on the stage at Lincoln Center. “I can’t believe it’s mine.”
Everett turns to see where I’m looking. “No? Have you ever considered owning your own place before?”
“Not really.”
