Page 48 of Slow Burn

I walked away from the group to take the call from my mum, not least because I couldn’t hear a thing with an over-excited Sedi shrieking about how much she loved the show, and Sofia laughing in a way I’d never heard her given everything that had happened; I was glad that at least we’d cheered her up a little bit, and that seeing Gabriele up on stage had given her so much joy.

‘Mum?’ I said. ‘It’s me. Where are you?’

‘Never mind that, Lira,’ said Mum, sounding as though she was in a wind tunnel. Was she out on the deck of the ship? ‘Sedi sent me the video of you and Gabriele dancing the Argentine tango. It was breathtaking, Lira. Really, I had no idea you were that good.’

A warm feeling spread through my body and I thought that out of everyone who had congratulated me tonight, my mum being proud of me had meant the most.

‘Thanks, Mum.’

‘So listen, I’ve been thinking. And Daddy and I have been talking and we’ve decided that you should absolutely go and pursue the dancing career you should have had years ago. The studio has been running well with the stand-in teachers, hasn’t it?’

‘Yes, really well,’ I said, confused. What exactly was she saying?

‘So let’s carry on like that for now. If you’re okay to keep an eye on things remotely until we get back from the cruise, I don’t think you need to rush back to Castlebury if you don’t want to.

And once we’re back in the UK, Daddy and I will take over the management of the studio.

It’s our turn to step up and run the business we started and for you to get your chance to shine out on the stage. ’

‘Mum, are you serious?’

‘Of course I’m serious! After the way you danced tonight? There’s no way we can let you go back to managing the studio full-time, although I’m sure your clients would love to see you there now and again, whenever you can manage.’

‘Of course! I’ll be there whenever I can. There’s no way I’m just going to abandon you all.’

‘And you must get yourself an agent, Lerato. Can Carlos help with that?’ said Mum.

‘Probably. And Gabriele said he’d introduce me to someone,’ I replied tentatively.

‘Perfect,’ said Mum. ‘That’s settled then. I just wish you’d asked for help sooner, Lira. Please don’t ever think you are disappointing me by going after your dreams. This is your time to go after what you want – don’t think about us or anybody else. Especially not Gabriele Riccitelli.’

‘Why on earth would I be thinking about Gabriele?’ I asked, trying to laugh it off, as though he had been the very last thing on my mind.

‘Mother’s intuition. Promise me, Lira?’

I nodded. She was right – I hadn’t come this far for nothing. Gabriele and I might have feelings for each other, but I couldn’t let that impact the decisions I made next. Wanting to be with him didn’t mean I couldn’t put myself first for a while, now that I actually had the chance to.

‘I promise.’

As I wandered back to the others and handed Sedi back her phone, still reeling from the conversation I’d just had with Mum, Carlos burst through the door leading through from the bar, joining our impromptu private party in the backstage corridor.

‘I have something to ask you both,’ he announced grandly.

I raised my eyebrows at Gabriele, who shrugged in response. Neither of us seemed to have a clue what he was talking about.

‘I have begun working on a new production,’ said Carlos, leaving a short pause for effect. ‘And I am hoping to use the success of Slow Burn to accrue a big budget, big-name producers, a much longer run. Broadway .’

‘Broadway?’ I asked, my voice catching in my throat. I caught Gabriele’s eye – I knew how badly he’d always wanted to perform on stage there.

‘And, Lira, I have watched you over the last few weeks – your calmness, your intuition, your ability to bring everything of yourself to each and every dance. I want you in my next show. I want to take you to New York; for everyone to see this bright new talent I have discovered!’

‘What?’ I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

‘You are the most beautiful dancer, Lira, surely you must know that by now,’ said Carlos, looking at me with affection.

This was all too much, what with Mum’s turnaround and everyone staring at me and Carlos saying all these lovely things.

I felt as though my legs were about to crumble underneath me, and Gabriele must have noticed because he put his arm around me, pulling me close to him.

Everyone clocked it, of course, and Sedi gave me a little wink and even Sofia nodded knowingly.

It seemed like everyone knew what was happening between us before we’d even acknowledged it ourselves.

‘And, of course, Gabriele, it goes without saying that I would like you to be my leading man,’ said Carlos.

The atmosphere changed as Sofia’s look darkened and Gabriele slackened his hold on me. I put my arm around his waist, letting him know that I was here for him now. That I understood what a tough decision this was going to be to make.

Gabriele cleared his throat. ‘Carlos, as I am sure you would know, there is nothing I would like more. But after what has happened with my father, it is not possible for me to be on tour right now, especially somewhere as far away as New York. I am not sure if it will ever be possible,’ he admitted.

Sedi gasped, an audible reflection, perhaps, of what we were all feeling inside.

He was too talented to give up everything he’d worked for; there had to be a way for him to be able to continue to dance.

My mind was reeling with thoughts of the conversation I’d just had with my mum, about how things at the studio had been fine without me in the end, that it hadn’t fallen apart because I wasn’t there.

And then a vague idea came to me – could what worked for me work for Gabriele, too?

Could he help his family and continue with the career he loved?

I took Gabriele’s hand and squeezed it. ‘But what if…?’

He looked at me. ‘But what if what ?’

‘I have an idea,’ I said, feeling my cheeks flush as it dawned on me that I probably shouldn’t have this conversation in front of an audience.

Gabriele searched my face for clues. ‘What idea?’

I glanced nervously at Carlos, and at Sofia and my sister.

‘We should go,’ said Carlos, taking the hint. ‘Let you talk. Come on, everybody, let us return to the party.’

Once they’d gone, I turned to Gabriele. My heart was hammering in my chest and I wondered what was making me so nervous – did I think he was going to reject my idea? That he’d think me silly for even suggesting it?

‘I’ve been thinking about your family farm.

About that building you showed me, the B&B your mum wanted to open.

And I wondered if… this is a bit radical, so hear me out…

I wondered if I could use my experience of managing the studio in Castlebury to help your mum set it up.

Maybe you could host weddings – the wedding party could stay on site, and the reception could take place on the veranda, and maybe the ceremony in one of the vineyards.

In the summer, when the weather is good. And—’

‘Lira,’ he said, running his thumb across my cheek. ‘When did you think of all this?’

‘Just now,’ I admitted. ‘After speaking to my mum. She’s agreed to manage James Jive herself. She wants me to go and pursue my dancing.’

‘At last she talks sense,’ said Gabriele, smiling down at me.

‘But what about you? I don’t want you to have to give up dancing, either.

Is there a way you could do both things, too?

Help your mother on the farm – we both could – but then also be free to do Carlos’s show, and other jobs that are too good to turn down.

You said your father had staff and that your mother was worried about them losing their jobs – well what if they could take on even more responsibility?

They know the wine-making business better than you, don’t they?

Surely they could manage if you weren’t there on the farm with them every single day? ’

Gabriele raked his hand through his hair, seemingly trying to take all of this in.

‘And you would be there, too? With me, at the farm? In between shows?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ I said, being bold. ‘If you want me there. Because obviously you might not be into any of this. You might think it’s a terrible idea. And please don’t think I’m forcing you into doing something that—’

‘You are not forcing me,’ he insisted, looking deep into my eyes and making my stomach swirl with hope. ‘It is the most wonderful idea I have ever heard.’

He kissed me hard, then held me away from him as though he wanted to drink in every detail of me.

‘It means that we have a second chance, Lira. And this time, we are absolutely not going to mess it up.’