He drove her to the
studio, worked on paperwork while she attended class, and brought her home around nine.
Audrey would rush inside hungry and excited.
“Mom, you have to see what we learned!”
Sometimes she practiced combinations in the kitchen while I prepared dinner.
Other evenings, she demonstrated new movements in the hallway.
Scott recorded her performances on his phone.
“Our future superstar!” he’d announce.
“Dad, stop filming!”
But she would be laughing.
I loved seeing her so happy.
She talked about her instructor, Ms. Alvarez, and the students in the advanced program.
She explained ballet terminology I could barely pronounce.
Once, she even corrected the way I was standing.
“Mom, your shoulders are too tense.”
I laughed.
“Sweetheart, I spent nine hours dealing with hospital paperwork. My shoulders are allowed to be tense.”
She grinned.
Then she showed me how to stand properly.
Those evenings became some of my favorite moments.
