The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged (14 page)

“Don’t feel guilty, Kittycat. I understand
why you kept things from me. And you didn’t lead me on when you
found out what would happen in the future. I would have been far
more hurt if you had told me next week. Or even tomorrow.”

Anna nodded, though she couldn’t erase the
guilt from her heart.

“But I do think we should end things now,
before either of us gets more hurt than we already are. At least
romance-wise. Then we can remain friends and have a good friendship
instead of parting as hurt lovers later.”

She nodded again. He was right. But it still
hurt.

“Katrina?”

She looked up.

“I was going to talk to you about what Aaron
had told me last night. Either way, we would have resolved it
tonight. It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” she said and then the tears fell
freely. Hugo pulled her close and let her cry on his shirt.

Hugo walked her home a while later. They were
quiet, but Anna was feeling better. Hugo had taken it well. He said
he’d been thinking about it all day and had already gotten his head
and heart around not being with her.

When they got to her apartment door, he
kissed her on the cheek. “We have rehearsals for
Arches
tomorrow, don’t forget.”

Anna managed a smile and nodded. “I can’t
wait.”

He waited for her to unlock the door and then
said goodbye and walked to the elevators.

Anna went inside and saw the living room
light was on. Was Aaron home?

She walked around the corner and froze in
surprise to see Aaron on the couch kissing another guy. She stared
for a moment, fascinated, and then cleared her throat.

“An—Katrina. What are you doing home?” he
asked, looking as surprised as she was. Anna didn’t recognize the
other guy. He was good looking in a feminine way, with thick auburn
hair and blue eyes. “I thought you were staying with Hugo.”

She blinked rapidly and shook her head. Aaron
was at her side in a flash. “What happened?” he asked putting his
arm around her and leading her to the couch.

“We broke up,” she said softly. “We...had to.
I told him....” She looked at the other guy and back at Aaron. “I
told him what I was and what was expected of me in the future. We
decided it was best to end things now. Well, Hugo decided and I
agreed.”

“
Oh, Kat,
I’m so sorry.”
He hugged her tightly.

“I know it’s for the best, but it still
hurts.”

Aaron nodded. “I know.”

She glanced at the other guy again. “I think
I’ll just go to bed. Give you some privacy.”

“You don’t have to. Cam’ll understand.”

“Oh, yes, it’s totally fine,” Cam said
gently. “You shouldn’t be alone after a break up.”

Anna shook her head. “I just want to go to
sleep.” As if to justify her claim, she yawned. “I danced hard
tonight.”

“How did it go?”

Anna flushed in pleasure. “Good.”

“Standing O?”

She nodded. “Two curtain calls.”

He grinned. “That’s my girl!”

“Thanks. I’ll see you in the morning.” She
hugged him and then went to her room.

After a few days, seeing Hugo didn’t hurt as
bad. She began to be able to enjoy his company as a friend. The
other dancers seemed to be surprised that they’d broken up, even
though they hadn’t been overt in their dating. It was just known
that they were together. Questions were asked, but Hugo just said
they’d had their reasons and to let it go. When a rumor began that
Anna had cheated on him, he got angry and squashed it
immediately.

Anna danced both Friday and Saturday nights
and received standing ovations both times. Wednesday she danced
again and Thursday was the Spring Gala and the premier of Hugo’s
Ballet.

She fidgeted backstage, waiting for the music
to begin.

Hugo came up behind her and put his hands on
her shoulders. “Katrina. It’s all right.”

His touch was calming and she took some deep
breaths. Sometimes when he touched her, sparks flew through her
veins, making her wonder what it would be like to be with him, but
it was getting easier to be around him without feeling that way all
the time.

Although opening night had been last week,
the Gala was the really important event of the season. The audience
was filled with celebrities galore, as well as the who’s-who of New
York society. After the performances, there was a dinner where the
dancers would intermingle with the guests. She knew she was sitting
at Tom’s table, which made her feel much better about going, but
she was still nervous.

The music began and Anna took another deep
breath as the curtain opened and the blinding stage lights came on.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to become one with the
music and the dance.

The ballet was met with resounding applause.
Hugo grinned at her as he led her out for their bows. Her heart
soared at the appreciative audience. She was so happy for Hugo she
could hardly stand it.

The good thing about being the first ballet
of the evening was that there was plenty of time to get ready for
the dinner. She dressed in the lavender gown that Wilhelm had
bought her, wishing he was here. She comforted herself by
remembering that there had been people to see her dance tonight.
Tom and his wife were there and cared about her. Tommy, too,
although she doubted his wife cared very much. She knew Hugo cared
and Aaron too. She didn’t feel lonely like she had when she’d
danced Giselle.

The hallway got noisy and she supposed that
the dancing was completed for the evening. Those in the audience
who were staying for the dinner would be heading out to the
promenade and the dancers were supposed to be there as quickly as
possible.

There was a knock at the door. Anna opened it
to find Aaron standing there with a goofy smile on his face.

“Wanna head out together?” he asked.

Anna nodded. She and Hugo had talked about
going together, but their emotions were still raw and they decided
they still needed healing separation.

She and Aaron made their way through the
theater and Anna gasped when she walked inside the dim lobby. The
ceiling, four stories above, was draped with beautiful sheer
fabrics and flowers. Dozens of round tables had tall vase-like
centerpieces with cascades of colorful flowers hanging down from
them. Anna could smell the flowers as she walked through the room.
Hundreds of people meandered around the room, talking and laughing.
The men’s black tuxedos were a sharp contrast to the elegant,
colorful gowns of the women.

“Oh, Aaron. It’s so beautiful.” She looked
around. “How are we supposed to know where to sit?”

“Over here.” Aaron led her to a table where
one of the dancers was sitting. “Hey Mindy. Where are we
sitting?”

She smiled. “Let’s see.” She looked at a
clipboard in front of her. “Aaron, you’re at thirty-three. Katrina,
you’re at....” She looked up at Katrina. “Wow. Table one. You’re
with the Mayor. And that hot blond guy everyone’s been gossiping
about.”

Anna glanced at Aaron. “Tommy?”

He shrugged. “Guess you’ll find out.”

Mindy pointed to the direction of their
tables and they walked away.

“I’ll find you for a dance later,” Aaron said
and went to go find his table.

The occasional woman’s laughter was heard
above the din, making Anna feel awkward. Socially awkward wasn’t an
apt description of her any longer; she was much more comfortable in
social situations now than she’d ever been, but she was also used
to having ‘duties’ in these types of situations. Was that why Tom
wanted her sitting with him? So that she could help influence the
attending men as she had for Devin? She glanced at the men as she
wandered through the large round tables. Would she be expected to
fuck any of them?

Anna looked around and spotted a number one
on a table near the dance floor. It made sense that Tom was at
table one with the mayor. After all, he ran the city. It had to be
Tommy who was the ‘hot blond guy’ being gossiped about. Tommy was
very good looking and charming. But she imagined he usually attend
these types of events with his father. Was he always gossiped
about? How did New York gossip work? Anna didn’t usually pay much
attention. Either she was too out of it or it was just
uninteresting. Who really cared who was fucking who or how
someone’s hair was a disaster?

She met Tom’s eye and he smiled and stood as
she approached. “Katrina, the star of the night,” he said with a
big grin and kissed her cheek.

“Tom....” Anna blushed, shaking her head.

“Katrina, you remember my wife, Kelsey?”

“Hello, Katrina,” Kelsey said with a kind
smile. Her brown hair was pulled up in an elegant twist and she
wore a strapless, blue chiffon gown. “I’m so glad to see you
again.”

“Hello, Mrs. Pendleton,” Anna said softly
with a timid smile. “Thank you. It’s good to see you again, too.”
Kelsey had always been kind to her after she understood why Anna
had been with Devin.

“And of course, Tommy and his wife Kim.”

Tommy gave her a sad smile. Anna nodded
stiffly and glanced at Kim. She was watching Anna with a sad,
although somewhat suspicious, look. Kim’s face was fuller than it
had been when Anna had met her. Anna supposed it was the pregnancy.
Her straight and amazingly shiny dark hair and bangs glimmered in
the lighting from above.

Tom introduced the other couples at the
table: Mayor Timothy Craig and his wife, McKenna, and Scott and
Jennifer Moody, important people of some sort in the city. Vincent
and his partner, Walter, would be joining them shortly.

Anna became alert as she saw someone familiar
making his way through the crowd towards their table. Tall and
blond, she couldn’t quite see his face until he was closer, and
when she was finally able to see it, she inhaled sharply.

“Kurt?” she whispered.

Kurt smiled at her as he strode across the
dance floor and stopped in front of her. “Hello,
Engel
,”
he said softly.

“What are you doing here?” she asked,
bewildered.

“I came to see you dance. And to see
firsthand how you were doing.”

“But...I thought you couldn’t come.”

“
Vati
cannot. I can. At least more
easily than he can.”

She stared up into Kurt’s blue-gray eyes.
Well, he would definitely be the one that was being gossiped about.
He was as handsome as ever, and more relaxed than she’d seen in a
while.

He grinned. “Shall we sit?” he asked, pulling
out her designated chair beside Tom.

“I...um, yeah,” she stuttered and sat down.
Kurt sat in the chair next to her. She looked at Tom. “Did you know
he was coming?”

Tom smiled and nodded.

“How are you fortunate enough to know our new
favorite dancer, Kurt?” the mayor asked.

Kurt put his arm around Anna’s chair and
smiled in his relaxed way. “She was married to my brother before
he...died.”

Anna didn’t know how she felt about Kurt
putting his claim on her so quickly. She supposed he had a right
to, but...well, she didn’t want Hugo to find out this way. She’d
rather tell Hugo than him find out by seeing her across the
floor.

She looked around to see if she could find
him, and spotted him across the room with Vincent and some other
men.

Anna stood suddenly. “Excuse me,” she said
and made her way to the other side of the room as quickly as she
could, considering the crowd. She could feel Kurt’s eyes on her
back as she walked away.

Hugo saw her walking towards him and said
something to Vincent and then walked towards her. “Katrina? What’s
wrong?”

“Kurt’s here.”

He stared at her. “Here? Why?”

“He came to surprise me, I guess. I just...I
didn’t want you to think I called him to come or anything. I....”
She swallowed and looked up at Hugo’s kind eyes. She wanted his
arms around her again. She knew why they broke up and, now
especially, it was obvious it was the right decision, but that
didn’t mean she cared for him any less.

The look in his eyes told her he felt the
same way. If they had been alone, he might have even kissed her. “I
know you wouldn’t have done that, Kittycat,” he said softly,
reaching for her hand. “Where is...oh.”

“What?” She was focused on his hand holding
hers.

“Is that him?”

Anna whirled around and saw Kurt weaving his
way through the crowd with a determined look on his face.
“Yes.”

Hugo chuckled. “He looks like a Duke’s son.”
He took hold of Anna’s wrist and pulled his hand away from hers. “I
won’t keep you from him, Katrina. This is why we broke up.”

She looked back at him. “But Hugo....”

“Katrina.” Kurt’s voice was low and
almost...warning-like? That was so unlike him

“You must be Kurt,” Hugo said with a smile
and extended his hand. “I’m Hugo Sintzenich.”

Kurt eyed him suspiciously, but shook his
head in surprise. “Sintzenich? You are German?”

Hugo said something in German to which Kurt
responded in kind with a laugh, lightening the mood. Kurt slipped
his arm around Anna’s waist and the two men chatted in German for a
few minutes. Anna looked between the two men, bewildered. What were
they saying?

“Holy shit. Kurt?” Aaron appeared next to
Anna.

“Aaron. It is good to see you.” Kurt smiled
broadly in greeting. “You were great tonight. As usual.”

Aaron grinned. “Thanks. What are you doing
here?”

“Came to surprise An—Katrina.”

Several of the dancers walked by their little
group, and Anna saw them looking at her and Kurt as they passed.
She wondered what they were thinking and tried to step away from
Kurt, but he kept a firm grip on her waist.