Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
échappé: to escape.
Alexander
The winter wind whipped my bare face as I followed Rudy down the stairs and out the back door on Sunday morning. We’d had a blissful thirty-six hours or so, a lovely little bubble interrupted only long enough to have dinner with Julian Hale last night, but now chilly reality had come calling.
“Do we really have to face our mothers?” I whined most unbecomingly as we made our way to the car. It had lightly snowed Friday night, leaving a crunchy dust that meant going slower to avoid hidden icy spots.
“You’d rather skip brunch?” Rudy asked the most ridiculous question, and I gave him an appropriately pointed look.
“There are better uses for our time.” By mutual agreement yesterday, we had each texted our mothers that I was back in town and proposed brunch. My mother had immediately offered to host. “And yes, I’m aware this was more or less our idea. Best get it over with and all that.”
“Are you worried they’ll be mad?” Rudy paused to unlock his car.
“Mad, no.” I wasn’t anticipating actual anger.
And judging from the barrage of questions my mother had thrown out via text, she’d already drawn the correct conclusion.
I slid into the passenger side with a sigh.
“Am I about to get a lecture on being too old, too jaded, and too far away for you? Most definitely yes.”
Rudy chuckled as he started the car, turning the heater to full blast. “And here I was worried they might lecture me on how you could do better.”
“Better?” I made an affronted noise. One of these days, I was going to convince Rudy of his true worth. “Impossible. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“Thank you.” His cheeks were already pink from the cold, but his flush deepened. “And ditto.”
“Nonsense. I turned your life upside down.” Warming my hands by the heater vent, I worried the inside of my cheek with my tongue.
I couldn’t help feeling like I was getting a far better bargain here.
After dinner with Julian, we’d decided I would finish the season in Seattle, wrapping up my contractual obligations to that company before accepting Ballet Philadelphia’s offer.
This meant six months or so of a combination of long distance and Rudy arranging to work from Seattle.
He said he was happy to do it, but my doubts were a heavy weight in my stomach.
“I’m feeling guilty for dragging you across the country, even if it is temporary. ”
“I meant what I said. I want to do life with you.” Rudy took my hand in his as we waited for the car to warm up. “If that means airports and working on a laptop at your apartment for a time, then so be it. I don’t want to think about the alternative.”
“Same.” I exhaled hard. I wanted to make this work. We would make this work. I was determined on that front. Resigned, I motioned at the exit for the parking lot. “Okay. Let’s face the firing squad.”
“Maybe it won’t be so bad.” Rudy headed toward my parents’ house.
“I hope you’re right,” I said dourly, then brightened at thoughts of what I wanted to do to Rudy once we were alone again. “Either way, tell me we can escape as soon as the food and inquisition are done.”
“We can escape until you have to leave,” Rudy said gently. I had a late-night red eye back to Seattle, and I could have done without the reminder.
“That’s my least favorite L-word.” I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest before I pulled out my phone. “I’m researching flights for you in two weeks as a distraction.”
“You do that.” We’d agreed Rudy needed time to set up telework as an option. Much as we both wanted it, neither of us could instantly pick up and move.
One budget ticket later, we arrived at my parents’ house. Rudy parked along the front main drive.
“Not sneaking around back is a novelty.” He laughed as we made our way up the walk.
“No more sneaking,” I promised. Whatever else happened this morning, I wanted to live our lives together openly. Rudy deserved way more than a secret fling. We both did.
“Alexander!” My mother threw open the front door to greet us with hugs. “Darling. I know you love a dramatic entrance, but next time, a little notice? My fridge was practically tumbleweeds.”
I sincerely doubted that, but I made a sympathetic noise nonetheless. “I’m sure whatever you came up with for food will be fine.” I glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the kitchen. “As long as there’s coffee?”
“And coffee cake!” Rudy’s mother and father came bustling up behind us. His father held a large glass pan covered in foil. Margie bounced on the balls of her feet like a six-year-old taking her first ballet class. “This is so exciting.”
“Exciting?” I asked warily as we made our way into the living room. I gave another longing look toward the kitchen.
“You look so nervous, Alexander.” My mother collected everyone’s coats. “Were you expecting a lecture?”
“Of course not,” I blustered.
“He was.” Rudy was only too happy to tattle on me.
“Game’s on, Fred.” My father greeted Rudy’s dad, and the two of them left for the media room.
I had a powerful urge to watch whatever sport they were discussing.
I would happily watch any of the various ball sports if it meant avoiding this conversation.
However, I was here now and might as well get the hard part over with.
My months of physical therapy had taught me well in that regard.
“You’re not mad?” I addressed the question to Margie, who continued to beam like a lottery winner at a press conference. She certainly didn’t look on the verge of a lecture.
“Mad?” As soon as I was free of my coat, Margie swept me into a tight hug. “We’re delighted.” She released me to hug Rudy next as her tone turned mildly scolding. “Also, you’re terrible at keeping secrets.”
“You knew?” Rudy gaped at them, gaze moving back and forth between our mothers.
“Wait.” I studied my mother more closely. Between her and Margie, they likely had spies all over Hollyberry. It had been foolish to think we could hide this from two such formidable forces. I narrowed my gaze as I considered another possibility. “Did you two plan this?”
“Plan?” My mother gave her best attempt at an innocent expression with wide eyes and soft lips, but she wasn’t a great actress. “Darling, I long ago accepted I lack any power to force you to do anything.”
“We might have hoped.” Margie offered an encouraging look, but I wasn’t buying her innocence either.
“You should give us credit for not meddling this past week.” My mother threw an arm around my shoulders. “We let you work things out entirely on your own.”
“Entirely.” I made my voice drier than biscotti, but neither mother seemed to care.
“And you did work things out, right?” Margie prodded as we made our way to the kitchen.
“We did.” Blessedly, I found the coffee pot, and fortified, I joined Rudy in laying out our plans over brunch. Despite her lamenting over the state of her pantry, my mother had come up with a lovely quiche, bacon, and several side dishes.
“You’re okay with me working remotely some?” Rudy asked his mother as he took another piece of bacon.
“I look forward to emails full of spreadsheets and action items.” If anything, Margie seemed invigorated at the thought of taking back more of the day-to-day running of the school and letting Rudy handle the behind-the-scenes end of things.
My doubts persisted, though, and as we cleared the table, I waited until Rudy left with a stack of dishes to turn to Margie.
“You’re truly okay with us being together?” I dropped my voice.
“Do you love him?” She gave me the kindest of smiles, undoubtedly far kinder than I deserved.
“More than anything.” My voice was rough with emotion. “More than ballet.”
She, of all people, would understand the force of that declaration.
Since the beginning, when she’d spied me outside her studio, following along with Isabella’s class, ballet had been my first true love.
She’d nurtured that love, watched me grow into the dancer I was today, and knew all of my sacrifices and hard work.
I loved the career I’d built, yet it all felt hollow without Rudy in my life.
“Then I’m happy for you.” Margie patted my cheek. “I’m already debating what to wear.”
“To the show in Seattle?” I’d extended the invite to the Valentine’s Day weekend performance to both our families.
“Well, that too.” She bubbled with fresh excitement, nearly dropping the coffee cups she was carrying. “But I meant the wedding.”
I did a slow blink. “What wedding?”
“Yours, of course.” Her musical laugh made her seem far younger. “Your mother and I are thinking summer. Probably two years out? The best places book early.”
Her laugh drew the notice of my mother and Rudy, who walked over to where we stood.
“Yes, I’ve heard that.” I made a noncommittal noise. Rudy looked so horrified that I grabbed his hand in a gesture of silent support, but he stayed tense.
“You might want to hold off on booking until one of us does the asking.” He gave his mother a pointed stare.
“Don’t wait too long,” she chirped.
“And do give us notice on that proposal,” my mother added thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin. “I’d like to book a photographer.”
“Oooh, that’s a great idea.” Margie nodded with her whole body, like a puppet in a children’s play. “Rudy and Alexander will want pictures for their wall.”
“We might need a permanent place to live first.” Rudy’s frustrated tone said he was quickly running out of patience for his mother.
“Of course, sweetheart.” Undeterred, Margie’s tone stayed tender and indulgent. “You make your plans. We can be patient.”
“What you are is incorrigible.” I gave both our mothers a firm look. “And we love you, but if you’ll excuse us, Rudy promised me a game of billiards before I have to leave.”
“Is billiards what they’re calling it these days?” Margie twittered, and my mother didn’t help matters with her own giggle.
“Mother.” I glared at them. “Both of you.”
With that, I grabbed Rudy’s arm and dragged him toward the basement stairs before his irritation could bubble over. I was so used to being the cranky one that seeing him frustrated was adorable.
“Well, that went way better than I hoped.” I leaned against the pool table, truly relaxing for the first time all morning.
“And way worse than I imagined.” Groaning, Rudy collapsed next to me, head falling on my shoulder. “They’re already planning a wedding.”
“They’re cute when they get pushy.” I wrapped an arm around him, squeezing him tight.
“You’re okay with their scheming?” Rudy swiveled in my grip to peer intently at me. He had his contacts in, which always made his eyes seem a little darker and shinier.
“It’s going to happen sometime.” I shrugged. “Might as well let them have their fun.”
Rudy made a sound somewhere between shock and indignation. “You make it sound inevitable.”
“It is.” Not letting him pull away, I kissed his forehead. “Neither of them would ever forgive me if I didn’t make an honest man of you.”
“Is that the only reason?” Not joining my laughter, he went even stiffer in my embrace.
Trying to hold on to him when he was this rigid was a losing proposition, so I cupped his face instead. “Well, that and I love you and want to keep you around forever.”
“I love you too.” Expression softening, he offered me a sweet kiss. He’d undoubtedly intended it to be sweet and fast, but refusing to release him, I deepened the kiss into a longer embrace that left Rudy far more pliant as he sagged against me.
“Also, I’m told adoption is far easier if the couple is legally married first,” I said conversationally, taking advantage of his breathless state.
“Shush.” Rudy glanced back at the stairs, but his small smile seemed far more pleased than truly irritated. “Don’t let them hear you say that.”
“I want a family with you, Rudy.” I reached out to guide his gaze back toward mine, so he could see how very serious I was.
“I want that more than anything.” His jaw trembled under my fingers, but his voice was firm. As was the kiss he gave me. Uncaring that we were in my parents’ basement, I kissed him back with a fierceness better suited to the bedroom. Oh well. A little passion wouldn’t hurt anything.
Hot as the kiss was, it also felt like the sealing of a promise of a future as inevitable as us falling in love had been. I couldn’t wait to jeté my way into that future together.