Page 50 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz

‘The Tuileries Palace , it was built by Catherine de’ Medici…’

I find myself scanning the expectant mothers, thinking, will I be that big? Or there is a nice maternity outfit , or what a cute baby . I am sure Ingrida notices my focus, but she does not mention my condition. I find myself completely relaxing in her company.

Ingrida tells me about her life in Latvia before she moved to the UK.

She tells me about her cancer and hysterectomy at such a young age.

And about her nursing job and her horrid Uncle Kazimieras.

I tell her about my family and my annoying sister, Rashmi.

And I talk about my dentistry training and how I moved in with Jay and our future travel plans.

We take the Metro from Charles de Gaulle station to Sacré C?ur and climb the steps to the massive white cathedral before sitting at the top to take in the views over Paris.

‘Look at that. You can see how all the Paris streets are laid out, and over there, the Eiffel Tower. You get a real sense of the scale of it from here.’

‘I love to look at the rooftops. When I live here, this place it was my favourite place to come and sit and think.’

‘Why did you leave Paris?’

‘My uncle, he follow me here. So, I disappear. He did not know I went to United Kingdom, not until recently. He is a bad person… but I know God, he will protect me and my family.’

‘You must have a strong faith, Ingrida?’

‘ Ja . And you?’

‘I guess it is always there in the background, but I do not really think about it much.’

We are quiet as we take in the expanse of Paris in front of us and I decide to risk asking about Neil.

‘How is it being married?’

‘ Ja , it is good. And Neil, he is a good man… why you laugh?’

‘His surname – Goodman.’

Ingrida’s face splits into a smile. ‘ Ja , it is good name for him. Is very funny. But I am worried he does not want other people to know we are married. This weekend he was to say to Rita and Terry, Maya’s parents but he has not. I call on my phone and Rita think I am still just nanny.’

‘What did Neil say?’

‘He not speak with me yet.’

‘Well, call him.’

‘He say he will call me.’

‘Blow that. If Jay or I want to speak to each other, we call there and then. It does not matter what we are doing, we always prioritise calls to one another. You should get in the habit of doing the same with Neil.’

‘This is good idea. It would be good habit to make, to talk whenever he or I feel this need. I like this.’

‘So, call him…’

‘I will. As soon as we are back in the theatre when we have Wi-Fi. I…’ Ingrida pulls at her tight wedding ring and does not make eye contact. ‘Asha, can I ask you something?’

‘Sure.’

‘You and Jay, do you tell each other everything? I mean, do you have secrets? I mean, from each other?’

‘Absolutely not. It nearly killed me to hold back telling him I am pregnant for just one day. We tell each other everything. How about you and Neil?’

Ingrida shrugs and before I can reach over to touch her arm, she gets to her feet and heads towards the cathedral entrance. I want to ask her more, but the moment is gone.

‘Come and see inside the basilica.’

We enter the church, and all eyes are immediately drawn to the ceiling above the altar. The first sight of the incredible mosaic of the risen Christ takes my breath away.

‘It is beautiful, ja? ’ Ingrida whispers. ‘One of the largest ceiling mosaics in the world.’

We walk about the vast interior, our eyes fixed on the mosaic and the central dome as we take in the Roman-Byzantine architecture in complete silence.

The church has a calming effect on us both and before we leave, Ingrida turns to me to say, ‘I will be only minute.’ She kneels before the bronze altar and closes her eyes, and her lips move in silent prayer.

When she rises, I ask, ‘Praying for something?’

‘ Ne . Just praising God.’

We leave the church and I give a little smile when I find my hand has subconsciously moved protectively to my stomach as we descend the many steps of Montmartre . We take the Metro back to Notre Dame and slowly walk back to the theatre where we head for the café.

‘Did you see there was a film crew setting up outside? Wonder what that is about. Come on, Ingrida, I will buy you something to eat. I can’t believe we have seen so much of Paris and spent practically nothing.’

‘ Ja , the receptionist, she tell me all the free places and it seem good idea to use our Metro passes as we already have them.’

I buy us each a light snack to set us up for dancing and remind her to call Neil. ‘You can call from here and I can go back to the dressing room.’

‘ Ne , if you do not mind, I would like you to listen to call and listen to what Neil say. I can put it on speaker. I do not want to make any mistake with the English.’

‘Well, only if you are sure?’

Ingrida nods and dials Neil’s number.

‘Hiya.’ The voice is that of a small child.

‘Grace, is that you?’

‘Guy-da.’

‘Hello, my lovely girl. How are you?’

‘Guy-da, when are you coming home?’

‘Tomorrow, sweetie. Where is your daddy?’

‘He’s downstairs. Nanna was cross with me and sent me to my room. I was very sad, so Theo came up with daddy’s phone. Daddy told him to tell me I could play some games.’

‘Grace, why your nanna cross with you?’

‘I told the big secret to Nanna and Gramps.’

‘What big secret?’

‘That Daddy put Great-Granny’s gold ring on your finger.’

‘Oh, that big secret.’ Ingrida looks at me wide-eyed.

‘What did Nanna say when you tell her this?’

‘She said a very rude word, so I told her it was a very naughty word and she sent me to my… my…’ Grace bursts into tears.

‘Grace, it is OK. Do not cry. I am here. Shh.’

My hormones must be playing havoc as I find myself filling up, listening to Ingrida try to comfort the little girl.

‘I don’t like Nanna. She is mean,’ Grace stutters out with sobs. ‘She said I was lying… that I was a naughty girl.’

Ingrida grips the phone so the whites of her knuckles show, but her tone is calm and soothing.

‘Grace. Listen to Guy-da. Nanna, she not mean to say those things. She was upset. She miss your mummy very much. You are a very good girl and you have not done wrong thing. Tomorrow, I will give you big hug when I am home.’

‘Guy-da?’

‘Yes?’

‘I love you.’

‘I love you too, Grace,’ Ingrida puts a finger to her lip and then to the phone even though the child cannot see her. They say goodbye and Ingrida looks directly at me.

‘Well?’

‘Well, they must know now.’

She slowly nods her head.

‘I mean, that is good is it not?’ I ask her. ‘Neil will be forced to tell them you are now married, right?’

‘Yes, he will have to tell full truth. It is better it is out in the open but I do not think they will be very happy.’

‘Is it really his grandmother’s ring?’

‘ Ja .’ Ingrida touches the ring fixed tightly on her finger.

‘It is too tight Ingrida, and anyway you should have your own ring. When you get back, you must tell Neil to get a new ring for you. This is a symbol of your marriage, not his grandmother’s.’

‘You are right.’ Ingrida snaps her phone away decisively.

I look past Ingrida to see a large number of people entering the theatre.

‘People are starting to arrive,’ I say. ‘There are lots of them. We had better go and get changed… Wait. That man, is it not Ruby’s boyfriend, Max?’

Ingrida looks to where I am pointing and nods.

Max is pulling a small suitcase along as he scans the faces of those in the café. When he spots us, he waves and comes across.

‘Hi, have you seen Ruby?’

‘She and Monica, they go out for afternoon,’ Ingrida replies.

‘She’s out with Monica?’

‘ Ja . They are best friends.’

Max scratches his head. ‘I’ve been trying to call her mobile, but it says it’s unobtainable.’ Max’s eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks incredibly tense.

‘She drop phone into River Seine.’

‘She did what?’

‘Not deliberately,’ I interject. ‘Ruby wanted to call you from my phone, but she could not remember your number.’

Max’s features soften.

‘You come to watch final show?’ Ingrida smiles. ‘We are doing “Dancin’ Fool”.’

‘No, I mean I’d love to watch, but I have a late flight home tonight and I need to set off for the airport in a while.’

‘Well, the show starts in just over an hour and we are first on the programme,’ I explain.

‘Right. So, Ruby should be back soon?’

‘She may already be in the dressing room. We have not gone down there yet.’

‘If she is, can you tell her I’m here.’

‘Sure. Nice to meet you again, Max. Come on Ingrida, we need to get ready to be Dancing Fools.’