Now & Forever 3 - Blind love (28 page)

Chapter Eighteen

The time
for the audition was drawing near. Lara was scheduled to perform with Andres on
December twenty-first the second to last day of auditions. Their rehearsals
increased in intensity. Andres and Lara argued and fought, then made up and
danced. As partners, they had become a couple, performing fluidly, close but
not romantic. She came home nervous and tired every day. Some days she closed
herself in the bedroom with a headache. Peter, facing final exams for his first
semester at the university, was tense and drawn.

As December twenty-first drew closer, correcting exams and
producing final grades kept Peter too busy to think about losing Lara. The
rehearsals interfered with their love life as Lara was often too tired. When
Peter did make love to her, he wondered how many more times he’d have the
chance. He’d disappear into to the kitchen, to control his emotions. One night
he ran into Sam.

“Peter, what are you doing here so late?”

“Getting a glass of water.” He turned away from his father,
trying to hide the tears in his eyes.

“Is something wrong, Pete?” Sam turned on the flame under the
kettle to make a cup of tea.

“Nothing new. It’s only a few more days until Lara’s
audition.”

“You’re worried she’ll get chosen and not return?”

Peter nodded, as the words caught in his throat.

“Isn’t there some way you could be together even if she’s
picked?”

“I’ve been thinking about it, but I can’t find a way out.
Even if I apply to New York City universities, it’ll be a year before I can get
hired, if then.”

“I’m sorry, Pete.”

“What about you and Pat, Dad?”

“Things are messed up on that front too, son. Love troubles…”

“Stink.”

“Well said, Pete. I’m going to try to get some sleep, after I
finish this book.

“I’ve got to get back…”

“What a mess…for all of us,” Sam sighed, taking his tea with
him.

Peter folded Lara in his arms. Her nearness soothed him and
he was able to join her in sleep. But they were both restless.

Saturday morning, December twentieth, seven a.m., Peter was
up first. Lara was catching the train to New York for her audition at ten. No
matter what happened, Lara would return for her things at Uncle Jim’s. It could
be their last morning together.

Peter wanted to make love to her before she left. He rolled
over and watched her sleep. Her face was relaxed, calm and so lovely with her
dark hair scattered over the pillow. Peter picked up some curls and rubbed them
through his fingers, feeling their silky softness. He bent to smell the
freshness of her hair and the faint sweet smell of her perfume. His lips
brushed her shoulder, peeking out of the warm quilt. It felt cold and he
covered it with his hand. Lara sighed, rolled around and reached out for Peter.
He raised her hand to his lips causing her to open her eyes and smile. She
touched his rough face.

Lara reached for his hand and put it on her breast. He pulled
her close to him and kissed her slowly and gently, as his emotions skimmed
along the surface of his skin. His hands moved over her body as if in slow motion,
caressing and stroking her tenderly. She felt heat trail his fingertips from
one end of her body to the other. He wanted to remember every sensation, every
touch, every flame ignited by making love to her. When they were satisfied, he
took her in his arms.

“This may be the last time we make love,” he said.

“I’m not leaving you forever, just a few days. I’ll be back.”

“Maybe. And maybe not.” He turned to stare out the window.

“Oh, bear, I love you so much. Please, Peter…I’m coming back.”
She reached for his hand, turning him to face her.

“Lara, I love you, now and forever.” Fear settled in his
heart.

Peter looked into her eyes. He saw love…but would it matter
if she was chosen to dance? He hugged her.

Lara got up to pack her overnight bag. Callie was coming to
take her to the train station because Peter couldn’t face going. To distract
himself, he was at the piano. When Callie arrived, a grim-faced Peter took
Lara’s bag out to the car. Lara and Peter hugged and he kissed her with
passion. She clung to him. Finally he let her go, turned and went into the
house and closed the door.

* * * *

In the car, Callie didn’t know quite what to say but spoke up
anyway.

“Love like Peter’s love for you doesn’t come along every
day.”

“I love him too. He’s overreacting. I’m not going to get
chosen so there is nothing to worry about.”

“But what if you do? What will you do?”

“But I won’t.”

“Dancing for one season doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to
dance there for years, does it?”

“In fact, you can be replaced from season to season. Being
selected after this audition would only mean I’d have a secure position for one
season…and only as long as I stay healthy…don’t get injured.”

“So you might lose Peter for only one season of dance?”

“But I won’t get chosen.”

“But if you did and you accepted…one season of dance and the
loss of Peter’s love forever, right?” Callie persisted.

“Please don’t put it like that.”

“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“I guess it is.” Lara looked out the window at the gray
countryside, tears clouding her eyes. She watched the frost on the car window
melt.

“A big price to pay to dance, isn’t it?” Callie turned the
SUV into the parking lot of the train station.

Lara got out, closed her coat against the cold and bought her
ticket at the window. Callie joined her on the platform lugging her small
suitcase. The day was cold, slightly damp and overcast with low-hanging clouds
blocking the sun. There was a sharp wind blowing, biting into them while they
stood on the platform. Snow was coming. Lara stamped her feet one at a time to
chase away the numbness from the cold. She hugged her bag and watched for the
train.

“When will you know?”

“My audition is on the
twenty-first. They have
another day of auditions after. Then they will confer and decide by December
twenty-third, I’ve been told.”

“No delay for Christmas?”

“They want the dancers to report for rehearsals by January
second…they need to give some notice.” Lara trained her gaze on the train
tracks.

When Callie saw the train approach, she hugged Lara and
whispered in her ear.

“Please come home to us. You are family now, Lara. ”

“I’ll be back.” Lara broke from Callie and picked up her bag.

The train stopped and clouds of steam filled the platform. A
few other people got on board along with Lara, who found a window seat right
away and waved to Callie. Callie waved back as she watched the train pull away.

* * * *

Peter was at the piano playing
Liebesträume
. In the middle of the piece, when the music paused and
Peter lifted his fingers from the keyboard for a moment, the train whistle
blew. He looked out the window and saw first the smoke, then the train as it
picked up speed, chugging out of Willow Falls, carrying Lara to New York. Tears
filled his eyes. Then he finished the piece.

Sam had been reading the paper in the living room. He put the
paper down and watched Peter motionless at the piano. He pushed to his feet,
heading into the kitchen to put up a pot of tea. It would be tea for only two
today…and maybe every day thereafter. Peter joined his father. His head came up
when he heard his father whispering to himself.

“She promised me,” Sam muttered, “she promised me she
wouldn’t break his heart. She lied.”

* * * *

Johnny and his father had stopped speaking. Jakub moved into
Marcia’s house after Jay’s funeral. He missed the grandchildren but was happy
with Marcia. He went to work for the landlord across town, and Marcia made his
breakfast and packed his lunch every day.

Jakub made more than enough to pay the rent for the house. In
December, he handed a glowering Johnny the rent money, and sent best wishes to
Rebecca and the children. He missed them; Johnny was angry and wouldn’t let
anyone see Grandpa but him.

Every night Jakub and Marcia watched sports together,
sometimes eating popcorn and cuddling up on the warm, comfortable sofa. The
white walls made the living room feel cool in the winter, so Jake often built a
fire. Marcia crocheted a gold blanket to keep the chill off. It kept them warm
as they stretched out in each other’s arms. Sometimes lovemaking started there
and continued upstairs.

Everything wasn’t smooth all the time between Jakub and
Marcia. From time to time they’d quarrel. Jakub would swear at her in Czech and
she’d swear back in English or they’d give each other the silent treatment. But
they always made up by bedtime.

Jakub made love to Marcia frequently, proud he could keep her
satisfied. Marcia’s complexion took on a rosy glow, she put on weight and her
good health returned.

Christmas was coming, depression swirled around Marcia who missed
all the old traditions. She longed for the return of the good times with Jay
and his family. The big box of ornaments in the attic taunted her with memories
so she considered throwing it out. Jakub convinced her to keep them.

“Someday you look back…and remember.” He dusted off the box.

She wished the holiday would be over soon.

Johnny relented when his children begged to visit Grampa.
Jakub brought the grandchildren to spend the night a few days before Christmas.
Marcia decided not to have a tree or decorations, but she had fresh-baked
gingerbread men ready for them when they arrived. Joey took two cookies and
bowed when Jakub introduced him to Marcia. Annabeth looked at Marcia with
suspicion and didn’t touch the cookies. Jakub was embarrassed by Annabeth’s
cool hostility toward Marcia who put her hand on Jakub’s arm and smiled her
understanding.

The children played in the snow with Jakub, had hot chocolate
and listened to stories read in Czech by Jakub and in English by Marcia. They
watched a movie and then it was time for dinner. When Jakub cooked, everybody
cooked. He commanded his team of three, handing out assignments to each of the
children and Marcia too. They worked side by side in the kitchen.

“Joey, you wash beans, Annabeth, set table. Marcia, make
pasta.” Jakub barked orders in a friendly voice while preparing the meat dish.

Dinner was a mixture of Czech and American dishes. Jakub
talked about the American food Marcia made. The children listened to him
attentively. Joey gave Marcia a big hug after dinner, but Annabeth was still
distant. Marcia cleaned up in the kitchen while Jakub put them to bed in the
guest room with a bedtime story.

Jakub and Marcia turned in early too, as they were tired
after such a busy day.

“Thank you,” Jakub said to Marcia, kissing her.

“For what?”

“For the children, nice cookies, story, everything.”

“They are nice children.”

“Annabeth is angry. I don’t know why.”

“She’ll get used to me. Give her time.”

“All right. I try to be patient.”

The next morning Marcia made a breakfast of chocolate chip
pancakes and bacon. When they finished, the children helped in the clean-up,
carrying in dirty plates and wiping down the table. Marcia was washing the
silverware when Annabeth spoke to Jakub in Czech.

“Miluješ ji?” she asked Jakub, looking at Marcia.

“Speak in English when Marcia is here, please,” Jakub said,
bending down to speak directly to the child. “You asked me do I love her?”
Jakub translated, pausing to look at Marcia’s back.

She stopped, turned off the water in the sink and stood
completely still.

“Yes, I do, Annabeth,” he said, looking at Marcia.

Marcia dropped the silverware in the sink with a loud clang.
She turned around and looked at Jakub with tears in her eyes.

“Joey, why don’t you ask her if she loves me?”

“Grandpa, why don’t you ask her yourself?” Joey cocked his
head to the side and put his hand on his hip.

“Ask her, Joey.” Jakub stood up and stared at Marcia.

“Yes, I do,” Marcia said, looking into Jakub’s eyes, not
waiting for Joey. Two tears escaped and ran down her cheek. She wiped them away
quickly.

There was silence in the room as Jakub and Marcia stopped and
the children stood by watching. Finally, Jakub crossed over to Marcia, took her
in his arms and gave her a quick kiss.

“Yuck! Grandpa! Yuck,” Joey said.

Jakub released her, laughing at Joey.

With a very serious face, Annabeth walked over to Marcia and
put out her hand. Marcia took the little girl in her arms and gave her a hug.

When it was time to go home, Joey gave Marcia a big goodbye
hug and Annabeth thanked her politely with a smile on her face. It was good
enough for Marcia.

* * * *

New York City

On the train ride to New York City Lara missed Peter already.
An empty feeling seeped into her bones along with the cold dampness of the
winter air.

Lara met Andres for dinner; he was chatty and no longer
interested in sleeping with her. She breathed a sigh of relief. He talked a
little bit about a new woman in his life. She had bewitched him, even though
she was not a ballerina. They talked about the audition and Andres tried to
calm Lara down, but she was too nervous.

She checked into the posh Monroe Regency Hotel on Park
Avenue. They had excellent security and she felt safer there. Her room was
large with windows looking downtown from the
twenty-fifth floor. The
colors were neutral and muted, beige with a chocolate brown bedspread and floor-to-ceiling
drapes. Lara closed the drapes and double locked the door, remembering what
Peter said about her attacker.