“Alright. Play the hard way,” he sniffs. “But when that baby is born, I’d rather it kept its mother’s name and didn’t put a blemish on the Wolfe legacy.”
I stop, my jaw going slack.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“I’m talking about the child you two are having out of wedlock because you couldn’t control yourself around the woman mopping your floors. A girl with her background, pregnant with your child and soon to be your wife, is certain to mop the floors with you. She’s going to take you for everything you've got, Dom. That’s another reason I’d be a damn fool to hand you that money now. So go ahead, son. Lawyer up, and good luck.”
The phone beeps and goes dead. I am left standing outside in the dark, literally and figuratively. My mind is doing acrobatics in an attempt to wrap around the elephant in the conversation. Or the baby, should I say.
Mila is pregnant?
Chapter 37
Mila
“You haveno idea how refreshing it is to be around another classically trained dancer with a love for modern ballet,” I tell Jasmine. I put the word out that a new dance studio is coming soon. Pointe Dance Studio, my studio, is opening soon, and I need some dance instructors; experienced instructors. The flood of inquiries pouring into my inbox blew me away. I set up interviews with dance majors at Berkeley to seasoned instructors from other cities looking for a fresh start. But Jasmine’s is the one that really stood out.
“Oh trust me, I get it,” the young, thin girl smiles at me. Even the way she stands as we walk around the studio screams the noticeable fact that she is a dancer. God, I miss this culture. It’s almost enough to bring me to tears. “I feel like all anyone wants to do anymore is club dancing. No offense, but I can’t really get behind the idea that shaking my ass is actual dancing.”
“I understand that too,” I say, biting my lip. I leave out the personal detail that I work at the Cockpit as a ring girl. I enjoy it, but I think it’s because that’s the first time I’ve stretched my dancing muscles since the night my parents died.
“Now, don’t let the primitive room deter you,” I tell her, motioning to the two men on ladders against the far wall with paint rollers. The electrician is hanging the overhead lighting I picked out, and another guy is working on the ballet bar against the wall. “All the construction will be done by the end of the week; the cleaners will come in, and then the sound guys. We should be up and rolling in about ten days.”
“It’s beautiful,” Jasmine says, walking in front of the wall of mirrors. Her posture straightens, and I feel my breath catch as I watch her fall into a routine.
Plié, tendu, breathe. Chasse, glissade, pas de bourrée. Jète, développe, arabesque.
I have tears in my eyes. This is it. It’s where I want to be. It’s home.
Jasmine is hired. I have several more interviews tomorrow, and that should wrap up the hiring process. I might even have a full staff. That’s the nice thing about interviewing prospective dance instructors. As I drive home for the day, my mind is buzzing. Everything is falling into place, and it’s something I never thought would happen for me.
“Honey, I’m home!” I call out as I walk through the foyer, chuckling to myself. There is no answer back. “Dom?” I call out as I reach the kitchen. His office door is ajar. I can hear him typing on his computer, so I invite myself in, but tap on the doorframe first.
“Hey,” I say softly. “Is anybody home?”
“Just working,” he says in a monotone voice, and I step inside slowly, crossing my arms.
“I just got back from the studio,” I go on. “I interviewed Jasmine. The ballet major? She is an absolute dream. I had a feeling from her application that she was going to be great, but I wasn’t expecting her to be this perfect.”
“That’s good,” he says, still typing.
“Yeah. It’s all really coming together,” I add.
No response.
Hmm.
He’s really not being himself right now. Well, he isn’t acting like he has been for the last couple weeks. I slink over to his desk and snuggle into him.
“You’ve been working really hard recently,” I say, kissing him on the cheek and then the neck. “Maybe you could take a break. I promise I’ll make it worth your while…”
“Yeah, I’ve got a lot going on right now,” he says, minimizing the tab.
“Alright,” I say, standing up straight again. “The offer is always available, anytime, anywhere.”
His eyes scan over my body slowly, and he swallows. Then his eyes trail back up, stopping halfway before he looks away.
“Is it the Golden Rule deal?” I ask. “Is Rafe still being a pain in the ass?”
