Irresistible You (40 page)

“Your father has always enjoyed a loving family and a very successful and rewarding career. There’s no reason in the world that you can’t also.”

“You’re referring to my relationship with Juliet, I assume.”

“Yes.”

“And where exactly do you see this relationship going?”

“Give it a chance J.T., hold onto her,” she said.

“Mom, I’m not the one who let go,” he said. She looked at him questioning. “There’s something I need to tell you about my relationship with Juliet.”

“No, not again, please don’t tell me you’ve let her go, because you don’t have the time and work is more important to you. Honestly J.T., look at you. How long do you intend to be alone? This happens every time. At this rate you’ll never get married.” She cross her arms over she chest and huffed.

“Are you done?”

“Yes,” she said disgustedly.

“First of all, I have every intention of getting married someday, just not right now. I know you want the best for me and I love you for that. But some things are just out of my control.”

Taylor sighed heavily. “I realize that, just be patient. Now it’s time for me to make a confession.”

“What kind of confession?” he asked curious as to what she might say.

“I have never meddled in you romantic life…” he nodded the truth in her words. She paused, “until now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when I suggested that you take me to lunch last week,” he nodded. “…and the playbill and invitation to the ballet,” he nodded again. “That was my very subtle way of getting you and Juliet to meet. But it was apparently unnecessary, since the two of you had already met months ago.”

“You were matchmaking?”

“Yes.”

J.T. chuckled. “So all this time I was focused on Mamma Lou, and it was you I should have been looking out for.”

“Louise helped me plan a few things. But as I said, it seemed fate had already done the job. I guess you and Juliet were just destined to be.”

 “At this point it doesn’t matter. She’s no longer interested. And you know that I never pursue something or someone who’s not accessible and obtainable. She doesn’t want me.”

“Do you want her?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s not over, encourage her.”

He began laughing. “And how do you suppose I do that?”

“Simple I went to Crescent Island and Louise helped me. She can help you too.”

“Mamma Lou?” he groaned inwardly bemoaning the fact that he was actually considering asking Louise Gates, an avowed matchmaker, for help with his love life. “She’s the last person I’d talk to about this.”

“Who better to match you up with Juliet again than the matchmaking queen herself? Avail yourself of her vast knowledge. Listen to her, she knows what she’s talking about.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Taylor kissed J.T.’s forehead, picked up her briefcase and said goodnight. Alone again J.T.’s mind whirled. He was in love with a woman he’d just dumped. She was in Florida with another man, his only recourse was to go to Crescent Island and talk to Mamma Lou. How did his life get so complicated?

“Damn,” J.T. said knowing he was never going to live this down at the next poker game with the guys.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Juliet and Richard had been dancing in the studio for nearly five hours. Sweat dotted her brow and her knitted leg warmers were soaked. She changed clothes during the last break, but now even that outfit was drenched. The intense rehearsal was one of the last few they expected to have before her final performance and Richard’s eventual return to London. She changed clothes again during their break, while Richard met with Phillip and Peter.

Juliet’s retirement and the date of her final performance had already been announced in the beginning of the season. What management hadn’t expected was to lose Richard at the same time. His contract was up and he had decided to accept a limited engagement with the London Ballet Company next season. There were a number of companies vying for the honor of sponsoring his last performance with the CBC. But he had requested that his last performance coincide with Juliet’s and keeping her same sponsor, E-Corp.

Phillip, Roger and Peter were all stunned when Richard told them of his decision earlier in the day. They had met with him and his agent anticipating that he would continue on with the company long after Juliet had left. Much to their chagrin he had rejected their offer. His reputation in the ballet world was highly esteemed. His performance linked with Juliet’s guaranteed a full house.

After changing Juliet walked down to the main stage just as the chorus rehearsal had ended. Since the entire company and crew had been assembled, the stage was essentially packed. Juliet found an open space and sat down in the rear of the stage just as the daily dance troupe meeting commenced. Announcements and notices were usually ignored as most of the troupe used the thirty minute down time to rest, keep warm and stay limber. A quiet chatter among the dancers continued as Roger read his usual notes.

“How did they take it?” Juliet asked as Richard came in and sat down beside her.

“Disappointed, but they’ll live.”

“You’re gonna be a hard act to follow,” he said.

“You’re absolutely right, Love,” Richard said, “ditto.”

From the wings Peter and Phillip walked onstage and stood next to Roger. He looked at the two men and nodded. A hushed silence rippled through the crowded stage at the sight of Phillip at a daily meeting.

Juliet, having already known about the upcoming announcement waited patiently as Phillip began his speech congratulating the dancers and crew on another superb season. Ten minutes later he asked Richard to come up front. Once Richard arrived, Phillip grasped his hand and thanked him personally for his dedication and excellence. He had done the same when Juliet told him she had decided to retire. He finished by announcing that Richard intended to return to London at the end of the season. A collective gasp swept through the dancers.

Afterwards the stage was sectioned off into two areas—one for the two principal dancers and one for the rest of the troupe. The principals took center stage and began the routine as members of the dance troupe stood around discussing the choreographer’s latest ideas.

Juliet crossed the stage in a flurry of pirouettes, jumping high and higher each time. She soared into the last jump and came down hard. Her weight pulled to the side and a popping sound echoed. She crumbled to the hardwood floor in pain. Richard rushed to her side along with Roger, Peter and Phillip.

“Get an ambulance,” Roger called out to the back stage crew.

Nadine immediately picked up the phone and dialed for emergency services. After the call was made she hurried to the now crowded floor. “Everybody stand back please,” she ordered then told her assistant to bring her a pillow and several ice packs. “Give her some air.” She knelt down to assess the injury. “Where exactly does it hurt?”

Juliet took a deep breath and exhaled raggedly, “My ankle, I think I twisted it when I came down.”

Nadine nodded. Having had the same career ending injury she gently grasped Juliet’s leg and felt around for any broken bones. Satisfied that there were no broken bones she took the pillow and placed it under Juliet’s leg to elevate the foot then placed ice packs on Juliet’s quickly swelling ankle.

She leaned down to Juliet. “It looks like a slight sprang. I didn’t feel any broken bones. Hopefully you’ll just have to stay off of it for a few days.”

Juliet, having never been seriously injured nodded then bit at her lower lip in pain.

Peter immediately canceled rehearsals and dismissed the dancers. Only he, Richard, Nadine and Juliet remained on the stage.

“Right this way,” Juliet heard Roger say as he directed the EMT to the stage. “She fell,” he said stating the obvious.

The medical team instantly took over as soon as they arrived. They commended Nadine on her quick thinking by elevating her ankle with a pillow and the ice pack. They rolled a stretcher next to Juliet, then gently placed her on it and rolled her out to the ambulance. Nadine followed.

Wasting little time, Vanya marched into Peter’s office and announced that she was prepared to replace Juliet in that evening’s performance. Before he could open his mouth she continued with her list of qualifications. “I am the only one here capable of replacing her. I’m as good as she is, even better some say. I’m a soloist, second lead. I know the routine. I can even dance with Richard.”

The callous way she presented her case gave Peter pause. “Vanya, I know you’re looking at this as your big break. But we haven’t even heard from the hospital yet.”

“Why?” she asked in all seriousness. “What can they possibly say that you don’t already know. Juliet will not be dancing tonight, that much is obvious.”

Peter winced. Vanya’s attitude was cold and calculatingly. “As soon as Nadine calls with a report, we’ll know what our options are. Believe me we realize that as soloist and Juliet’s primary understudy you are the likely choice to replace her for tonight’s performance. But before we make that call, we need more information.”

Not nearly as satisfied, Vanya was on the verge of a full-fledged tantrum. “What exactly are you waiting for? Juliet left here on a stretcher. There’s no way she’ll be dancing tonight. It’s simple, she’s out, and I’m in.”

Peter stood and came around to face Vanya. “As soon as we know for sure we’ll call you.”

“This is absurd,” she complained, “I’m the only possible dancer you have.”

“I’m not saying you’re not. Vanya, please, we’ll let you know one way or another.”

 A quick knock on the door turned both of their heads as it opened and Phillip came in. Looking from Vanya to Peter, Phillip asked Vanya to excuse them a moment. She huffed and marched out.

When the door slammed loudly, Phillip turned to Peter. “I presume Vanya wants to dance tonight’s performance.”

“You presume correctly. She was just about to have another one of her full-blown fits before you came in.”

“Can she do it?”

“She knows the moves, technically, and she’s proficient. She just needs more seasoning and confidence. Kitri is a demanding role.”

“Maybe this opportunity will give it to her.”

“Maybe, hopefully,” Peter said looking more concerned than assured. “Has Nadine called yet?”

“Yes,” Phillip said, “Juliet will be out for the next week and a half, looks like she’ll be back on stage just in time for her final performance.”

Peter walked back around his desk to sit. His brow furrowed. He had one last performance in the spring series and Juliet was his lead dancer. Vanya was the obvious choice, but he wasn’t particularly confident in her ability to carry the entire ballet. “I’ll talk to Vanya.”

“Good,” Phillip nodded his agreement as he turned and walked to the door. “Don’t forget to send flowers to Juliet.”

Juliet stood in the wings with a soft cast on her foot and crutches under both arms. She had insisted on returning to the theater amidst staunch warnings from her emergency room doctor and Nadine.

She watched with anxiety as Vanya danced. She struggled with basic elements of the performance. She glanced across into the opposite wing and caught a glimpse of Nadine shaking her head miserably. She knew that look all too well. Vanya, with all her self-proclaimed brilliance, was a nervous wreck.

Juliet sympathized, holding a performance together was difficult. She had learned that years ago. It took patience, understanding of the character and ice-water in your veins to go out on stage and dance. Knowing the technical movements was one thing. Feeling the dance in your heart and soul was another.