Stars, Love And Pirouettes (Dance 'n' Luv Series) by Roy Street, Alicia Street Page B

to the dishwasher with her empty bowl.
    Lauren slumped in her chair. “What am I going to tell all my friends? And for the first time I actually got invited to Suzanne Wenliss’s anniversary party. I know your dating a movie star was the reason.”
    “Doesn’t it matter that your daughter’s on TV? Don’t I count?”
    Lauren gave her an apologetic smile. “Of course you do. You’re the most important one of all.”
    Whatever that meant. Jenna could feel her mother’s mood sinking, and that same old childhood fear lodged in her gut. “Don’t worry, Mom. It’ll be okay,” she said, not quite sure what she was reassuring her about. Or if this was for her mother or for herself.
    “I’ll bet if you changed your mind and called Sean he’d take you back.”
    With an inward groan, Jenna said, “I’m going upstairs for a rest.” She’d started her day so early on the set of Sunrise Lane that by the time seven o’clock rolled around, she was more than ready to chill.
    Up in her room, Jenna lay across her bed taking in the silence delicately shrouded by the soft light of the old brass lamp on the night table. A faint brushing of cool night air swept over her from the rear window with the merciful daintiness of an angel’s fingertips.
    Things were slow this time of year at the rooming house. Since Aiden left, there had been just two visitors. A sweet young couple from Philadelphia staying on the third floor. She’d met them once at breakfast and had only spoken a few words with them. Even so, their having checked out early this morning left Jenna blue.
    Maybe it was about watching the couple sharing life’s simple pleasures, reminding her of when her dad was alive and he used to fawn over her mom. And about her memories of when the three-story farmhouse had been filled with the noisy presence of her siblings and their friends. The winter emptiness brought back that period when grief and worry had overwhelmed her family, transforming it into something her seven-year-old self hardly recognized, right down to a mother whose drinking and dark moods had left her abandoned.
    She rolled onto her side and pulled her knees toward her chest. Great. Now I’m going fetal . Rather than succumb to any preliminary symptoms of withdrawal, she rose from her bed and went to the window. It was a clear, starry night. She gazed up and recalled Aiden pointing out the constellations and the wondrous moment when she’d seen a shooting star and made a wish.
    Her eyes panned downward and she spotted something that made her heart leap.
    The silhouette of a telescope perched on the roof’s adjoining deck.
    Could it be ? Had Aiden returned ?
    Hearing a knock on her door, she turned and rushed toward it.
    She opened it and saw Aiden standing there.
    “Remember me?”
     
    **
     
    Aiden drank in the splendid sight of her. Wide brown eyes in her delicate, childlike face, her tousled hair hanging loose over her shoulders. Skinny jeans and bare feet. A dark green long sleeve tee that hugged her lithe and graceful frame.
    She didn’t look annoyed, but was she happy he’d come back? Or only surprised?
    “Got a question,” she said. “If you’re this teacher you say you are. How come you’re not teaching? It’s the middle of the week.”
    “I used to be a teacher, but now I work for a charitable educational foundation.” Which I happen to have created and funded .
    “Oh.”
    “I saw you and Sean in the tabloids.” Why did he let that come out of his mouth? Duh. Maybe because he needed to know whether or not he had a chance.
    “That’s just PR. My relationship with Sean is over. Not that it was ever anything serious.”
    More thorough answer than he expected. As if she were trying to make it clear she was available. “Wow. Had me fooled.”
    “Guess people aren’t always what they seem, are they?”
    A barb aimed straight for him. He noticed she hadn’t invited him in. “Are you still angry with me?”
    “You’re the one who