CHAPTER TWENTY
Clara wanted me to start my new job as soon as possible, which was fine by me.
Maddy, who I’d met at the launch day event, was going to show me the ropes. She worked at the Little Duck Pond Café, but Ellie had ‘loaned’ her to Clara and she’d been acting as manager of the dance centre café until Clara found someone permanent.
The plan was that my induction would take place in the afternoon, and I’d received a mysterious additional email from Clara requesting that I bring with me some casual clothing, such as leggings and a T-shirt, and a towel.
When I arrived, Maddy greeted me and announced that first, before she showed me around the café and kitchen, we’d be joining a ‘Dancing in the Dark’ session.
‘Now?’ I asked in surprise.
‘If you like? It starts in ten minutes. No pressure if you’d rather not, though. We can just get on with the rest of the induction.’
‘No, well, I’d really like to. Do the dancing in the dark thing, I mean. I guess that’s what the leggings and T-shirt are for?’ I held up my bag.
She nodded. ‘Clara would like you to participate in any of the dance sessions free of charge. Outside your working hours, of course.’
‘Of course.’
‘Obviously it’s not compulsory, but she believes strongly in the health benefits of dance and she wants her employees to benefit.’
I smiled in amazement. ‘That’s so great.’
Maddy grinned. ‘I know. Clara’s a one-off. She seems to be on a one-woman mission to get the whole community jiving and tango-ing their way to good health! I think you’re going to enjoy working for her.’
I nodded. ‘I think I am.’
‘Right, we’d better get moving or we’ll be late and the lights will already be off!’
She whisked me along to a spacious changing room that was fitted with lockers, mirrors and a row of shower cubicles. ‘You can get changed in here and I’ll see you out there in Studio Two in five minutes?’
‘Great!’
I looked around me as I changed into my leggings and T-shirt. I hadn’t expected there would be such a lovely big changing room with so many showers. Although thinking about it, it could get quite busy in here, especially after the Zumba sessions which would no doubt be a very energetic work-out.
Maddy had told me earlier that her friend, Jaz, had been recruited as the dance studio’s Zumba teacher. I’d never tried Zumba before but it sounded like really good fun – and as a new employee, now was my chance to find out!
My mobile rang and it was Xander, phoning to wish me luck.
‘Thanks. Hey, guess what I’m about to do, as part of my café induction?’
‘Sample a bite of every cake and pastry on offer?’ he suggested. ‘Just so you can advise customers, obviously.’
I chuckled. ‘That’s your dream, not mine.’
‘Come on, then. What’s happening?’
‘I’m doing a Dancing in the Dark session. And I actually can’t wait!’
‘Brilliant.’
‘I know. Clara has this thing where she believes so firmly in the power of dance that she wants her employees to join in whenever they want to.’
‘She sounds like my kind of employer.’
‘I know. Anyway, I’d better go because the session’s due to start.’
‘How long will you be?’
‘Maddy said I’d be free by five. Why?’
‘I thought I might come down and meet you. Take you out for an early dinner to celebrate your new job?’
‘Oh. That sounds lovely. But why don’t we just grab some food from the supermarket and cook it at mine?’ A romantic dinner for two was very tempting, but I had my sensible hat on. Xander had already been far too generous. ‘They always have the best yellow-sticker bargains later on in the day.’
He chuckled. ‘You don’t need a financial advisor, do you? In fact, you could probably advise me.’
I went off to Studio Two with a big smile on my face.
It was the ‘Xander Effect’, I decided.
He always seemed to lift me, whatever mood I happened to be in...
*****
Dancing in the dark was such great fun, as soon as it ended, I wanted to do it all over again.
Lydia, who was leading the session, was friendly and bubbly, dressed in sporty pink and purple Lycra, and she welcomed us all to the session with a beaming smile.
‘Okay. Dancing with the lights off is your time to let go of all the stresses and strains of the day. It’s your chance to ditch all of those inhibitions and just move to your own rhythm in any way that inspires you.
So make the most of it, ladies and gents!
I’ll be busting some moves with you, of course.
’ She demonstrated, arms and legs flailing in all directions for comic effect, which made everyone laugh.
‘See what a rubbish dancer I am? But I really don’t care because when I’m here, I can dance like .
..’ She raised her arms for us to join in and we all chanted, ‘ no one is watching! ’
She grinned. ‘You probably won’t believe this, but I used to be painfully shy. Wouldn’t say boo to a goose. But then I discovered dance and the self-confidence it can give you. And we could probably all do with a bit more of that, right?’
A ripple of amused agreement went round the room.
‘Right, let’s get these lights off and start moving!’
If I’d had any reservations about being able to lose my inhibitions, after several beats of the first track I knew I’d be fine.
Classic dance-floor fillers followed one after the other – from Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’ to Bruno Mars’ ‘Uptown Funk’; from Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ to Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’.
When we got to the opening bars of Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, a spontaneous cheer went up. Everyone was clearly well into the whole experience and rivulets of perspiration were now trickling so relentlessly down my face, I realised it wasn’t just the Zumba class who’d be needing the showers!
When the session ended, Maddy – red-cheeked and also sweating copiously – came over and presented me with a fluffy towel and we headed straight to the changing room. And by the time I arrived in the café for my induction, I was feeling thoroughly energised and my cheeks were glowing.
When Xander walked in a little later, Maddy was taking me through the electronic intricacies of the till. He raised a hand but was clearly not about to disturb us, and I threw him a brief smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clara take his order and I could see her splitting two teacakes and putting them in the industrial-size toaster.
I smiled to myself.
Xander’s all-time favourite snack.
Teacakes slathered in butter. No jam required.
A short while later, my induction finished, I met Xander in reception and we walked out to his car.
‘I haven’t seen your place yet,’ I said as we set off to the supermarket to buy food for dinner. ‘We could eat there if you like?’
‘Sorry?’ He looked a bit taken aback.
I shrugged. ‘I’m just being nosy. I love seeing other people’s houses.’
‘Right.’ He smiled and nodded.
‘So what do you think?’
‘About what?’
‘About showing me your flat?’ I shrugged. ‘I mean, you don’t have to. I just thought... you know. You can tell a lot about a person by seeing how they live.’
He grimaced. ‘Can you?’
I laughed. ‘There’s no need to look so horrified! Tell you what, we’ll just go to mine tonight and you can show me around chez Xander some other time, okay?’
‘Okay. It’s just – well, your place is closer.’
‘That’s true. And not having wheels, it would be tricky for me getting home afterwards. I could drive Dad’s car, of course, but the clutch is a bit temperamental and I’m always scared I’m going to burn it.’
He smiled across at me. ‘I fancy a BBQ. What do you think? It’s such a lovely evening.’
‘Ooh, yes. I like that idea.’
‘I noticed you’ve got one in your back garden.’
‘We have indeed. But that’s always been Dad’s domain so if we go down the burgers and sausages route, you’ll be on chef duty, okay?’
‘Perfect. Dana always put me in charge of the BBQ.’ He grinned. ‘I can even do you a pudding – baked bananas with cream are delicious.’
I was feeling just a little uneasy, wondering why Xander hadn’t seemed keen to take me back to his place. But I dismissed the feeling as we went off to buy food for the BBQ.
As Xander had said, my place was handier to get to...