Page 49 of Close Match

Immediately, I feel awful. Here I am, her husband’s unknown daughter, and I feel like we’re leaving her out when she’s done so much for me. I begin stammering, “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean… I never meant…”

Char slides under Ev’s outstretched arm. “Linnie, sweetheart, Ev and I have no secrets. None. We both know we had pasts. Was it a shock to find out you existed? Certainly. I think what was harder was the facade you put up because you were afraid of being used.”

My eyes dart to Ev before they accurately read Charlotte’s serene face. “You know.”

“Yes, Ev wouldn’t keep something that huge from me. But we will keep it from everyone else until you’re ready.”

“Or unless I’m recognized,” I joke.

She tips her head. “Does it happen often?”

“No.” I think back to the lunch at Wolf’s Deli with my family. “More often in New York than anywhere else.”

“I’m honored to know such a strong and fierce woman,” she admits.

Ev kisses her head. “Char, honey, I think those are the same thing.”

She adamantly shakes her head. “They are not. Linnie’s strength comes from inside. She didn’t crumble when everything fell on her heart. Her fierceness is because she’s determined to do what’s right for herself, her career, and her life. They are different.”

I blink away tears. I have a feeling when I eventually go back to New York, it’s going to be just as hard to leave Char as it will be to leave Ev. I change the subject. “So, you were saying something about a second barn?”

Ev’s smile grows wide; Char’s goes wonky. “Oh, Lord. Do you butcher cows there or something?”

They both break out into gales of laughter. Extending the arm not wrapped around his wife in front of him, he says, “Let’s go see.”

I walk behind them along the flagstone path to the well-maintained barn.

It’s dark when we step in. There’s air of some type running. “Well, there’s no smell of sacrificed animals. That’s good.”

Char laughs.

“Give me a moment to find the light switch… Ah, here it is.” Ev turns on the overhead lights.

I gasp and feel the smooth bar hit me in the lower hips. It still doesn’t jolt me from my shock.

I never expected this. Never.

The studio gleams, beckoning me.

Almost in a trance, I can’t control the need to do achasse en tournanton the beautiful maple floors. Without realizing it, I flick off my shoes and begin dancing to the music that naturally flows out of my mouth. To the background of my voice singing “Use Somebody,” I lose myself. Even though I’m noten pointe, I’m gliding around the room executing grande pliés,detournes, pirouettes, and fouettés. My voice fades as I sink to the floor.

Suddenly, I remember where I am, and my head snaps up mortified.

My father has tears brimming over while Char is swiping hers away from her cheeks. “I’m sorry.” I flush horribly.

“For what? For giving us the honor of seeing what you do close up?” Char whispers.

“I assumed…”

“Correctly. When you told me how much effort you put in to doing what you do, how hard you work, how often you’d be away to maintain your fitness levels, I decided to do this. I want to get to know you here, not wonder if you’re safe while you’re driving on unfamiliar roads commuting to another city to train.” I open my mouth to protest, to offer to pay for it, but Ev steps forward. “Linnie, I’m a rich man. A wealthy man. I can’t take any of this with me when I go, only the knowledge I made my family happy. We’re adjusting to that, but you’re a part of that now. Please accept this gift as a selfish man who wants to be able to pop in on his daughter—if she permits that?”

I swallow hard so I can get one simple word out. “Yes.”

The next thing you know, I’m enveloped in Ev’s arms. It’s the first time since Mom died I feel those places deep inside of me partially fill back up. When Char’s arms wrap around us both, they top off a little more.

Hours later, I’m helping Char in the kitchen when I finally ask, “Who’s coming over tonight?”

“Oh, it’s just Monty’s former partner. He’s like another member of the family,” she says breezily.