Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (41 page)

“Mitch I’m scared about tomorrow
Charlie x” She lay there in the darkness as the image of her Mum’s tears haunted her.

Her phone ran
g a few moments later as she lay back against her pillow.

“Hi Baby, what’s wrong” he asked
.

“My Mum’s downstairs crying over the song that I’m dancing too tomorrow” Charlie replied, trying to choke back her own fears
and nightmares.

“I’m worried that it’s all going to go wrong tomorrow when she realises who your Dad is and then what happens if she tells me I can never see you again” she finished.

“Hush, now, I’m sure it will be fine and if it’s not we’ll find a way through it” Mitch soothed, wishing he was there to hold her instead of miles away.

“God, I hope so and at least my Aunt Sarah knows and she will be there too” Charlie finished and then yawned.

“Try and get some sleep we’ve got a long two days in London” he said “And I need you to have some energy left after all the dancing” he finished.

“Ok, night Mitch”

“Night Charlie” and the phone went dead.

Mitch got up and headed down to his kitchen for a drink and to ponder all the possible scenarios that Charlie had obviously been through in her mind. As he stepped through the door Jester walked over to him and offered his head, as if he wanted to help share the load. Grabbing a glass of water he headed through to his studio and quietly put some music on and started to dance as it always helped to clear his mind. When he finished he turned to find his Dad leaning in the doorway

“Can’t sleep either” he said

“No, guess it must be the nerves” Mitch replied

“Yes, me too. I’m nervous for you guys dancing and I’m really nervous about meeting Stephanie again. Every time I think about her I panic and I won’t blame her if she blows me out I just need to explain everything and tell her the truth” James admitted.

“Come on let’s just sleep on it” Mitch said, not wanting to take on his Dad’s problems as well as his own and Charlie’s. Why was life so complicated?

Chap
ter 50

As five thirty appeared on the alarm clock I pressed snooze for that extra ten minutes to fully wake up and then I headed for the shower before my daughter could get there. Standing under the warm water I wondered what this weekend would bring, I knew how big the prize money was for the winners and how beneficial it could be to the college and also Charlotte’s possible career in dancing. I had to admit to being a little nervous about meeting Mitchell’s family; after all this was the first parent of a boyfriend I had met and it normally meant that things were pretty serious between the two of them. I knocked Charlie’s bedroom door at around six and she soon emerged and headed for the shower while I made us some early breakfast.

I watched as Charlie pushed her cereal around the bowl and then threw most of it away. I quickly grabbed some cereal bars and fruit from the cupboard and put them in my bag for the journey as I knew that she would need something before she started to dance. At ten to seven Sarah and Chris pulled up into the driveway and we were soon on the road. Charlotte handed over her CD for the music system and sitting next to me in the back of the car she closed her eyes and I guessed she was visualising her way through all of the routines in preparation. In between she was on her phone texting Julia and Mitchell in equal measure. I spent the time gazing out as the various different counties passed by the window and trying not to think of James every time the one song looped around again and took me back in time.

We stopped at a service station and managed to get Charlie to eat something more substantial before we began to see the city of London crowding into the windows as traffic around us built up.

“Shall we go straight to the venue and leave the hotel until later” I said, as I watched my daughter staring at her watch in anxiety.

“Good idea, anyway they probably won’t let us in the rooms until later in the afternoon” Sarah replied, as Chris nodded and continued to navigate his way through the traffic and nearer the O2. Pulling into the parking area we were directed to a separate car park which I guessed was for the competitors. As we got out of the car I spotted Julia’s Mum pulling in a little way back and we hung back so that the girls could walk in together.

While Charlie and Julia managed to locate their practice area and the rest of the girls Sarah spotted a coffee bar and we headed across for the wait until we could take our seats inside. There were twelve different groups competing for the title from all over the country and I guessed that just being here amongst the twelve was an honour. I looked at all the people headed through to the auditorium as I sipped my coffee and then looked at Sarah and Chris sitting in front of me.

“You look as nervous as I feel” I said, trying to lighten the mood
.

“I’m glad I’m not dancing” Sarah replied, as I watched her look away and continue to scan the crowd. Chris remained quiet too and seemed to be doing the same thing. As we walked in to take our seats I looked at the programme and real
ised that Mitchell’s group was on first and then Charlotte was about half way through with their first dance. Then there would be a break for lunch at around one thirty before the second dances.

Looking around at all the other people watching I saw a tall slim bloke with short blond hair taking his seat a few rows below us, next to an elderly couple who looked so familiar but I just couldn’t think why. Shaking my head I reached across and gave Sarah’s hand a squeeze as she smiled at me and the house lights went down and then I saw Mitchell and the guys walking onto the centre of the stage. Their first dance was to a Justin Timberlake track which I vaguely remembered Charlie playing a few times on her iPod. I was blown away at the way he moved and the group as a whole controlled the dance floor and took the audience with them through the tricky steps and turns, somersaults and incredible acrobatics. As the music faded the audience were immediately on their feet and I joined in but worried about how Charlie was feeling back stage.

As the next few groups came and went some with great applause some not so great I waited with baited breath for my daughter to appear.

“
Charlotte’s next” Sarah whispered into my ear.

“Yes I know, I feel sick” I replied.

“She’ll be great, I just know it” Sarah replied as the start of Umbrella filled the hall and the backdrop on the stage depicted the falling rain as the group appeared on stage. I held my breath all the way through and at the end I knew from their faces they had been practically perfect. Another standing ovation occurred and I spotted Mitch standing just in the wings as they left the stage. By the time the tenth group were performing Charlie had appeared and found the spare seat next to us.

“That was fantastic” I breathed “You were definitely the best group” I finished.

“Stop it Mum, you’re just saying that” s
he said, smiling at the comment.

“Mitch and his group were better” she continued.

“So when do we get to meet his family then?” I asked. I couldn’t help but notice a strange look of panic cross her features and it seemed to be mirrored by Sarah next to me. What was going on?

“I’ve spoken to Mitch as we’re going to meet after the final dance today in the foyer if that’s ok” she replied. We had bought some sandwiches so after a quick bite Charlie headed off again to change and get ready for their second dance of the day. I spotted her down at the front near the stage talking to Mitchell as they headed out into the corridor.

“I’m just off to the ladies” I said to Sarah.

“I’ll come too” she replied, as we left the hall at the back and headed towards the rest room.

All the way Sarah seemed to be nervously checking all the people that were buzzing
around. As we joined the queue the elderly lady I had spotted earlier passed by and seemed to start and then smile at me. Perhaps she thought she knew me too, perhaps it was one of the other girl’s grandparent who had maybe realised that I was on the local radio, and had seen me on the website or at some of the previous dance events.

“Do you have any lipstick?” I asked
Sarah, as we stood at the mirror “I think I packed all mine in my other bag”

“Sure” she replied, handing
me some light coloured gloss.

“How do you think they’re doing?” I asked

“Well, I would say it was close between them, Mitchell’s group and that mixed group from London” Sarah replied “But hey what do I know about dancing” she finished, linking her arm through mine as we headed back to our seats.

The second half seemed to fly by even quicker than the first, I enjoyed Charlie’s bond theme dance to Skyfall and once again the crowd did too as the roof lifted to the sound of applause. I was secretly pleased to note that the London group were slightly out of sync with their music and I think they did as they filed silently off the stage. As the final two performed I turned to see Charlie and Mitch headed towards us, he slipped into the row of seats a bit further down and Charlie was soon next to me.

“We nailed that one” she breathed, her face still flushed from her exertions on the stage.

“It was fantastic, the best in this half” I replied “So what’s the plan for later?”

“Well, once you’ve met Mitchell’s family our two groups are just going to have an hour’s practice for tomorrow as we decided it would be great for the girls in mine and the guy’s in Mitchell’s to be like the end of the scene in the movie and just join in from each side of the stage. We’ve checked with the organisers and they are going to let us do a couple of practises once the place is empty s
o I’m afraid you’ll have to hang around a bit before we go to the hotel” Charlie said.

“That’s no problem” I replied as the last group took the stage “I’m sure we can have a chat with Mitchell’s fa
mily as we’ll all be waiting” I said, as I again noticed the worry flit across my daughters face, draining the colour away. The same look that was on the face of my best friend and Chris too.

With the final group finished, the lights came back on and we started to move and stand up.

“I’ll just go and get Mitchell”
Charlotte said, as she headed through the crowds in the aisles. I stood up and stretched my legs and waited for the people to disperse until there were just a few groups still hanging around. I stepped into the aisle with Sarah and Chris behind me and saw Charlie and Mitch just ahead. Then as if in slow motion the tall bond guy who I had spotted earlier stood up and turned around so that I could see him. My heart leapt in my chest as he smiled that all too familiar smile that I had never forgotten and he started to close the gap between us. I closed my eyes and then opened them again as my world started to spin and my legs began to buckle. The last thing I remembered was hearing the sounds around me begin to fade in my ears as the memories from twenty four years ago spilled over me like a waterfall as I fell.

Eventually I came too and as I opened my eyes I found I was staring into the worried green gaze of my daughter. I tried to sit up but felt dizzy again and I fell back into the arms that cradled me. I couldn’t see who held me but as I blinked a couple more times and then sat up I saw Sarah, Chris, Charlie, Mitchell and of course the elderly couple who I now knew to be Pam and Peter, James’ parents. A couple of other people were stood to the side and looking at their attire I realised they were the stewards for the arena.

“I’m ok” I said, quietly as I tried to move but the arms that held me against his firm body wouldn’t let go. I looked down at them, they were slightly wrinkled but the nails were clean and I knew they were connected to the only man I had ever loved completely.
My mind tried to clear a path through the cords of my thoughts that linked today with the past, my past, James’ past, and a past that had somehow collided with the present.

“Mum, are you ok?” Charlie finally said.

I nodded in her direction as she reached over and I saw her take my hand in hers “You fainted” she finished.

“I know” I replied as I wondered what I should say next but nothing was coming into my mind other than the questions ‘How?’ ‘Why?’

One of the stewards stepped forward

“Are you ok to stand as we need to clear the arena” he said.

“I’ll help her” the deep voice said from behind me and once again I felt my whole body trembling from the sound that had not changed in all these years. I looked across to Sarah and she just looked sheepish and then smiled at me.

“Thanks” I said, as James pulled me up and I was standing again, his body so close behind me that we were almost touching, even though he had withdrawn his grip on me.

“I think I need some air” I said, as Sarah and Chris appeared either side of me and we started to all make our way through the seats to the exit.

“We’ll see you in a little while” Mitchell said, as he stood with his arms around my daughter, both their faces looked pale with shock at my reaction. I nodded and then we were all heading towards the doors. Sarah motioned to the café we had stopped at earlier which had a small outside seating area and she left Chris to escort me to a seat in the evening air. At the counter Sarah ordered and then spotted James heading in my direction
.

“James, give her some space, she needs time” Sarah said “We all do”

He nodded and turned to his parents for a quick word.

“Would you be able to give Mitchell a lift back to the hotel if I take my Mum and Dad now?” he asked.

“Yes that’s a good idea” Sarah said. James was about to leave when he hesitated and pulled out a piece of paper that he handed to Sarah.

“Can you give this to Stephanie and tell her I would like to talk to her but only if she wants to” he finished.

“Ok” Sarah said, she could plainly see the love that still burned brightly in his eyes “I will” she finished.

From the chair I could see Pam, Peter and James heading out towards the parking area as Sarah headed over to us with some hot coffee.

“It’s a shame the bar is not open I could do with something stronger” Chris said, as he watched them all depart as well. Sarah sat down and as she pass
ed me the coffee she also handed me a small slip of paper.

“It
’s from James, he said he would like to talk to you when you are ready too” she finished, taking a long sip of her coffee and smiling over at Chris. I carefully opened it and once again I was sucked back into the past, his writing so familiar so remembered through the year of his letters. I could see my fingers shaking as I tried to concentrate on the words that were written there.

             
“Dearest Stephanie,

I know it’s been a long time, too long really but I need to talk to you and tell you what really happened all those years ago. I know I must have broken your heart and for that I am truly sorry but if you’ll hear me out may
be I can start to mend it again. Mitchell knows which room I am in at the hotel and I will be there all evening waiting for you till the end of time.