Chapter 43
Noah
I can’t believe I’m really here. Here in this beautiful place with this wonderful man, who’s on his way to our mobile home right now to get us some sweaters.
This is our fourth night here, and I still can’t quite grasp how lucky I am. I’m sitting on the edge of the dune, gazing at the horizon, which is just swallowing up the last remnants of sunlight.
It’s low tide, the sea has receded, and the beach is deserted.
Suddenly, a figure darts across the damp sand, and judging by his build, I’d say it’s a man.
His steps are light, almost as if gravity doesn’t apply to him.
He keeps flying toward the water until the first wave breaks around his ankles.
He looks around frantically, but he doesn’t see me in the shadows of the darkness.
Then he begins to move, fluidly, elegantly. He’s dancing to music only he can hear. “Hey, what are you staring at…?”
“Shh!” I quickly pull Luca down, hoping he hasn’t been spotted, and he looks at me blankly. Without a word, I point to the surf.
“That’s Chrissi.”
“Seriously?”
“Chrissi has a problem with light and brightness. I told you he’s highly sensitive. Darkness gives him peace. This isn’t the first time he’s done this.”
My eyes are still fixed on the dancer, and now that I know, I can actually recognize him. “Wow, he’s so good.”
“He had the best teacher. Paps says, Chrissi was dancing before he could walk.”
We watch Chrissi, spellbound. By now, a large full moon hangs in the sky. Its light reflects off the water and the damp sand, bathing him in a dim glow.
“Who is that?” Another figure is running across the beach, straight toward Chrissi, but he doesn’t seem to notice him. “Why isn’t Chrissi reacting?”
“He probably has his eyes closed; he usually has when he’s dancing.”
“Should we do something?”
“Wait a minute. I think I know who that is. I’ve seen the two of them together before.
” For a moment, the man just stands there, seeming to watch Chrissi, then he takes his hand, follows his movement, and turns him toward him so that they’re facing each other.
He touches Chrissi’s ear, then his own. Earbuds.
Both are still standing, presumably letting the music wash over them.
Then the man pulls Chrissi toward him, and he follows.
This first movement unfolds into a beautiful choreography of closeness and distance.
With ease, the two leap through the surf, holding each other so tightly that not a leaf could fit between them, twisting their bodies around each other so that for a second I worry they won’t be able to ever pull apart.
“Who is he?”
“The night security guard from the campsite here.”
“I don’t know anything about dancing, but he’s good too, isn’t he?”
Luca nods. “Very good, actually. He can keep up with Chrissi, and Paps says Chrissi is exceptional.”
***
“Just one dance. Come on, mon Papillon. It’s a family tradition.
” The worst part is, I’m afraid he’s telling the truth.
The dance floor is packed with members of the Delfosse, Lejeune and Gaillard families, and they’re all great dancers.
The only ones standing on the sidelines with a beer are Adrien and élias.
Chrissi is dancing with Aurélien, the same person we saw him dancing on the beach with, and I could swear there’s more going on between them than just dancing. You could say the same about Philipp and Nika though, and they’ve been just friends for over twenty years.
“When a slow song comes up. We agree that I simply can’t jump around like that.” Now I just have to hope that doesn’t happen all night.
“Slow song, coming right up.” And with those words, Luca turns around and disappears into the crowd.
“What’s he doing?” I know what he’s doing, but hope springs eternal, and maybe I’m wrong. Adrien and élias just grin.
“You don’t really think Luca would pass that up.” élias laughs and Adrien shakes his head. “You made it very easy for him.”
Less than two minutes later, Luca is back standing in front of me. “The next song is ours, mon Papillon.”
I recognize it from the very first note, the opening melody with the bagpipes and Celtic harp is unmistakable. “La tribu de Dana”, a classic.
“May I have this dance?” I really like the song, and all of a sudden the idea of dancing to it with Luca doesn’t seem so bad. I place both hands in his, and with light steps he pulls me onto the dance floor.
Until now, I thought my dancing skills began and ended with slow dancing.
Goodness, I was wrong. Luca can dance, and more importantly, he can lead.
To the beat of the music, he moves me across the dance floor, towards him, away from him.
We turn to the right, we turn to the left, he spins me, himself, both of us.
Damn, this is fun. Again and again, he comes up with new steps, and I try to keep up.
Luca raises his hand to spin me, but doesn’t let go of the other one.
I look at him questioningly, and he just laughs.
With a little more force, he pulls my hand, and now I follow.
My body turns against his, my back is pressed against his chest, and I let my head fall onto his shoulder, laughing.
Now I get it. Luca’s hands move to my waist pulling me close and swaying our hips to the beat.
For the second time in my life, I don’t feel completely ridiculous dancing in public. We may not be as highly professional as Chrissi and Aurélien or Nika and Philipp, but we are us, and that’s more than enough.
The song comes to an end, and I turn in Luca’s arms. “Thanks for convincing me. That was really fun.”
“You’re a good dancer when you stop worrying about what others think of you.”
“I love you, Chéri.” I don’t let him reply. I know his answer, I feel it through his lips on mine. He loves me.