CHAPTER 34 — HOME AGAIN

"Alright kids, it's almost time!" I called, gathering the kids around me. They were all in matching red, black and white with white gloves and black hats.

"Are you ready to wow the crowd?”

A chorus of ‘Yay’ and yeses floated around the air, and I beamed at them proudly. The school had officially opened few days ago and the kids and I had been working on a new dance routine to crown the ATJ exhibition to promote the school. Bills for ads and promotions had been footed by Wilder Industries and the entire Christmas exhibition show had been sponsored personally by the god of the industry himself, Lennox Wilder.

I looked at him now, sitting in the bustling audience, calm and stoic and cool as he waited for the dance performance of the kids. Thanks to Lennox, promotions had been on a much larger scale than the last dance show and we had managed to gather an even bigger audience than we had earlier anticipated.

In all honesty, none of this would have been made possible if Lennox hadn't walked through that door all those weeks ago. It seemed like a distant memory now. I watched backstage as the curtains raised and the kids took their formation on the stage.

Lennox sat up, an interested glint in his eyes at the sight of his daughter, taking front and center stage. I hadn't told him that she was going to be the star of the show.

The music started and I looked on proudly, my heart in my throat as the kids executed the dance sequence perfectly, just like we had practiced. The show ended and there was a standing ovation with the audience cheering and clapping as the kids bowed, blew kisses to the audience, and took their leave.

Tonight had been a success.

A few minutes after the show, I had just finished speaking with the man when Lennox found me.

"That's the fifteenth producer to pull you aside tonight," he commented, his eyes bright with excitement and pride. "I hope it's all good news."

"It is! He wants me to be in charge of the choreography in his new dance movie." I informed him.

Lennox's eyes beamed with pride. "That's great news!"

"I know. I turned him down."

His smile was intact. "Yes. No doubt, you got a better deal from one of the others with a fatter pay, yeah?"

"Yes, I did. I turned them down too."

His smile faltered and fell off his face. "What? Why?"

I looked at the stage, some of the parents for the audience had gathered around Mr. Covel and were inquiring about the talented dance instructor, asking if there were still vacancies to enroll their kids in the school. I knew that he was referring them to me.

Few days ago, Mr. Covel had given me the keys to the building and legal documents, transferring ownership of the dance school to me.

"It was your idea to reopen it, it's your responsibility to keep it open and take care of it." He had said, his voice, brokering no argument.

I had been dumbfounded. "S...Sir, I can't... This is your dream. Your legacy."

"Now, it's yours, Verity." He had sighed, tiredly. "I'm old, I've lived my life, but you're young, vibrant and still in your prime. No one loves dancing more than you do and you've always wanted what was best for All That Jazz, even when I was intent on selling it, you tried your best to save it. I'm indebted to you, Verity, I think it should be you carrying on this legacy. I know you will take care of it."

"This. This is what I want," I told Lennox now, a hopeful gleam in my eyes. "I want to teach dance. I want to stick with All That Jazz and make it better. I want to keep my job here in ATJ but go bigger with it. I'm never leaving. This is my dream and I have you to thank for all of it."

Lennox smile was easy and soft. "The pleasure is all mine."

***

I stood in front of the door I had known all my life, anxiety, kicking my chest. It had been a long flight from the West coast all the way to the small town in Georgia I had grown up in.

I looked at Lennox now, standing tall and confident, under his arm was a parcel wrapped in Christmas wrappings, his other hand held Shaye who had dressed up nicely for the occasion.

An entire team of football players were knocking around in my skull. I was jittery, anxious, and nervous but he looked as cool as a cucumber and as confident as ever.

I didn't blame him for being so calm and collected. It had been his idea after all.

He had wanted to meet my parents. He was excited about it even, asking for my thoughts on the various gifts to get for them.

Somehow, his excitement had infected me, and I decided it was time to stop running away and face my parents, albeit, with him on my side.

I raised my hand and knocked raptly on the brick red door I had painted with my dad and Penelope when I was only five. A few beats passed and I heard locks turn and soon, the door creaked open an inch.

My mother’s gray blue eyes were staring back at me in cold shock.

"V... V... Verity," she whispered, her eyes wide, her jaw on the floor.

The sight of her was a kick to my spine. Wrinkles crinkled the skin around her eyes, nose and corners of her lips and her hair had grayer than blonde in them now.

"Mum," I whispered, those treacherous tears, pooling at the corners on my eyes.

"Verity!" She cried, pulling the door open wider and tackling me into a warm tight hug. "Oh my god, I've missed you!" She cried, large sobs, wracking her chest, warm tears, falling on my neck. "I've missed you so so much!"

"Who's at the door, honey?" A familiar voice called out and soon, my father wheeled himself into view, on his wheelchair.

My mum stepped away from me to let him see.

He stopped when he saw me, his eyes going wide in shock. "V..." He whispered, like he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Papa!" I cried, unable to stop myself and flung my arms over him. He held me close as I hugged him to me. He smelt familiar, like starch and laundry detergent.

"And who's this?" He asked, when I let him go, gesturing at Shaye and Lennox I had momentarily forgotten about.

I opened my mouth to speak but Lennox stepped forward boldly, stretching his hands to shake my dad's. "I'm Lennox Wilder. And this is my daughter, Shaye. Merry Christmas," he said, handing him the gift parcel he had wrapped for them. "I'm her–"

"He's my fiancé!" I blurted out, not wanting him to steal my thunder.

Silence settled across the entire foyer.

Shaye was grinning hard and bouncing on her tiny feet. My mum was beaming proudly. A small smile stretched my father's lip. "Merry Christmas, Lennox," he said now. "And welcome to the family."