home afterward.”
Scott laughed.
“That’s a lot of driving.”
“Not really. I’d be working in that area anyway.”
Audrey looked at him hopefully.
“You’d actually do that?”
Derek smiled.
“Of course. Somebody has to help you become a Broadway star.”
She laughed.
“That’s musical theater, Uncle Derek.”
“See? You can teach me something too.”
Audrey jumped up and hugged him.
I looked at Derek.
“Are you absolutely sure? We don’t want to inconvenience you.”
He waved away my concern.
“You’re family. Stop worrying.”
I thanked him several times.
Scott seemed relieved.
And Audrey was happier than I’d seen her in weeks.
At that moment, I believed Derek was doing something wonderful for our daughter.
I had no reason to imagine that within a few weeks, I would regret trusting him.
At first, everything seemed perfect.
Three afternoons a week, Derek picked Audrey up after school.
He drove her to the
studio, worked on paperwork while she attended class, and brought her home around nine.
Audrey would rush inside hungry and excited.
“Mom, you have to see what we learned!”
Sometimes she practiced combinations in the kitchen while I prepared dinner.
Other evenings, she demonstrated new movements in the hallway.
Scott recorded her performances on his phone.
“Our future superstar!” he’d announce.
“Dad, stop filming!”
But she would be laughing.
I loved seeing her so happy.
She talked about her instructor, Ms. Alvarez, and the students in the advanced program.
She explained ballet terminology I could barely pronounce.
Once, she even corrected the way I was standing.
“Mom, your shoulders are too tense.”
I laughed.
***NEXT PAGE
“Sweetheart, I spent nine hours dealing with hospital paperwork. My shoulders are allowed to be tense.”
She grinned.
Then she showed me how to stand properly.
Those evenings became some of my favorite moments.
