Page 73 of Dancing on Air

Merde was a traditional good luck message at BAC to say to another dancer before a performance. The fact that Max’s mother had taken the time and effort to think of her on this day had her heart aching as she thought of her own mother.

Did she even know that Cora was dancing? Did she care? She’d sent a newspaper clipping to her but knew better than to expect a response.

She thought suddenly of her aunt Patty and tears streamed down her face.

“Hey, Max said, breaking into her thoughts. “What’s all this?” He held onto her. “Are those from my mother? Did she say something that made you cry?”

Cora shook her head. “Yes, they’re from your mother but no, she’s not the reason I’m crying. I was just thinking of my aunt Patty. How proud she would be if she could see me now.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m done with tears. At least for now.” She smiled and took a step back.

Max ran his eyes over her. “Want to head out a little early?”

“Hell yes. I need to be there.”

He nodded. “I always got to the venue an hour early when I headlined.”

“How many times was that?” she asked with a nudge of her elbow into his ribs.

“Twice,” he said with a smile. “Once more than you.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“For now. I still plan on headlining for your ballet. Someday.” She went and got her things.

“I have one more surprise for you,” Max said as he took her bag from her and opened the door. “It’s waiting downstairs for us.” He hit the elevator button.

“What?” she asked, only to have him shake his head.

“The key word in that phrase was surprise.” He chuckled when she stuck her tongue out at him.

The moment they stepped out onto the sidewalk, a huge black limo pulled up in front of her.

Then, to her utter surprise, JT and Kayla jumped out and hugged her.

“This is a surprise.” She laughed and hugged her family. “A very happy one.”

“There’s one more.” Max reached into the limo and pulled out a huge bouquet of white flowers.

Cora couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as she buried her face in the soft petals.

“I think we broke her,” JT said, holding onto her.

“No, just… getting this all out now instead of in front of a couple hundred people.” She laughed as she wiped her eyes.

Just then someone honked their horn and the group was forced to climb into the limo and head towards BAC.

Chapter Nineteen

So much went into a production before the first show. When Max arrived, he and Cora were pulled in two different directions while her family went down the block to the coffee shop to wait for the time that they could start seating for the first show.

Cora disappeared backstage to get the final touches on her costumes and to break in a few new pairs of toe shoes that matched her costumes. She would have hair and makeup before the rehearsal, then touch up as guests were being seated.

Meanwhile, Max ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. He happened to see his sister, who snuck backstage and wished him luck and then disappeared again, no doubt trying to avoid their parents.

Several crew members were out and he had to find replacements. Costumes were having issues and they needed his final sign-off on substitutes.

Sheet music had gotten damp somehow and copies had to be made. Props were missing or had been damaged and needed repairs.

Almost half an hour before the last rehearsal, he had to order a cup of coffee just to stay jazzed and drank it with two scoops of sugar.

He sat through the entire practice while calling out loudly over the music each detail that needed correction, trying not to stop the flow of the full performance.