Carlton,” she said.
“If you don’t, I will.”
There were two more solo performances. Both of the girls wore costumes that Amy considered out of bounds for teenagers. It appeared an unfortunate trend was under way. When the show was over, Megan came bounding out, still wearing her snowflake outfit.
“You danced beautifully in both pieces,” Amy said, giving her a hug.
“Ms. Carlton let me help design the costume,” Megan said. “How do you like it?”
“Uh, it’s very realistic,” Amy answered as she gave Jeff a look to let him know it wasn’t a good time to criticize. “And you really sold the story.”
The blond-haired man who’d been sitting on their row stepped closer. Megan turned around.
“Mr. Ryan! I didn’t think you’d really come.”
Megan introduced the teacher to Amy and Jeff. Even in a North Carolina winter, he exuded an unmistakable West Coast vibe. He shook Jeff’s hand.
“I never would have guessed that a studio in a town like Cross Plains would have such a high-level program, especially for contemporary dance,” Ryan said.
“Ms. Carlton has been running the studio for years,” Amy said. “Have you been interested in dance for a long time?”
“Since I was a teenager. A girl I dated in high school dragged me to a dance class because she needed a male partner, and I was hooked. My buddies on the soccer team made fun of me, but it’s not bad being one of the few males in a world dominated by beautiful girls.”
“You don’t dance now, do you?”
“No. I blew out my right knee in a skiing accident, so all I can do now is watch and appreciate a good performance.”
Megan was hanging on the teacher’s every word.
“I’ve enjoyed having Megan in my World History class,” he said. “She’s a great student.”
“She takes after her mother,” Jeff replied.
Ryan turned to Amy.
“And Megan tells me you’re a novelist. I like to write, but I’ve never had the discipline to finish anything longer than a short story, and nothing I’ve written has been published.”
“I’m just getting started.”
“Landing a book contract is a big deal. Congratulations.”
Amy could see how this good-looking male teacher would be popular with the students.
“What brought you to Cross Plains?” she asked. “Megan said you came from California.”
“She did?” Ryan looked at Megan.
“That’s what Bethany and I guessed,” Megan replied, blushing. “I think I told my mom you looked like you were from California, and I heard you talking to some of the boys about surfing.”
“Actually, I’m from Colorado, but I’ve spent time in the San Diego area, too,” Ryan replied. “When I was in college, I’d ski in the winter and go to California to surf in the summer. That life ended when I hurt my knee and had to start paying back student loans.”
“Can we go home now?” Ian asked, pulling on Amy’s arm.
“Don’t interrupt,” Amy said.
“I need to leave myself,” Ryan said. “Nice meeting you.”
Megan went to the dressing room to get the rest of her clothes.While they waited, Amy complimented Ms. Carlton on another good program but didn’t bring up Megan’s costume.
“I thought you were going to say something to her about Megan’s outfit,” Jeff said when the dance teacher moved on.
“It bothered me as much as you, but I’ll do it later when she’s not dealing with the stress of putting on a big program.”
“I can’t believe Mr. Ryan came to the recital,” Megan said when they were in the car. “Bethany will be sick with jealousy.”
“Why?” Jeff asked.
“All the girls have a secret crush on him. I mean, he’s like something from a magazine.”
“Remember what your dad and I mentioned the other day—”
“I know, I know,” Megan interrupted, then stared out the window.
They rode the rest of the way home in silence.
Three days before Christmas Amy was in the family room wrapping presents. Outside, the wind whistled through
“If you don’t, I will.”
There were two more solo performances. Both of the girls wore costumes that Amy considered out of bounds for teenagers. It appeared an unfortunate trend was under way. When the show was over, Megan came bounding out, still wearing her snowflake outfit.
“You danced beautifully in both pieces,” Amy said, giving her a hug.
“Ms. Carlton let me help design the costume,” Megan said. “How do you like it?”
“Uh, it’s very realistic,” Amy answered as she gave Jeff a look to let him know it wasn’t a good time to criticize. “And you really sold the story.”
The blond-haired man who’d been sitting on their row stepped closer. Megan turned around.
“Mr. Ryan! I didn’t think you’d really come.”
Megan introduced the teacher to Amy and Jeff. Even in a North Carolina winter, he exuded an unmistakable West Coast vibe. He shook Jeff’s hand.
“I never would have guessed that a studio in a town like Cross Plains would have such a high-level program, especially for contemporary dance,” Ryan said.
“Ms. Carlton has been running the studio for years,” Amy said. “Have you been interested in dance for a long time?”
“Since I was a teenager. A girl I dated in high school dragged me to a dance class because she needed a male partner, and I was hooked. My buddies on the soccer team made fun of me, but it’s not bad being one of the few males in a world dominated by beautiful girls.”
“You don’t dance now, do you?”
“No. I blew out my right knee in a skiing accident, so all I can do now is watch and appreciate a good performance.”
Megan was hanging on the teacher’s every word.
“I’ve enjoyed having Megan in my World History class,” he said. “She’s a great student.”
“She takes after her mother,” Jeff replied.
Ryan turned to Amy.
“And Megan tells me you’re a novelist. I like to write, but I’ve never had the discipline to finish anything longer than a short story, and nothing I’ve written has been published.”
“I’m just getting started.”
“Landing a book contract is a big deal. Congratulations.”
Amy could see how this good-looking male teacher would be popular with the students.
“What brought you to Cross Plains?” she asked. “Megan said you came from California.”
“She did?” Ryan looked at Megan.
“That’s what Bethany and I guessed,” Megan replied, blushing. “I think I told my mom you looked like you were from California, and I heard you talking to some of the boys about surfing.”
“Actually, I’m from Colorado, but I’ve spent time in the San Diego area, too,” Ryan replied. “When I was in college, I’d ski in the winter and go to California to surf in the summer. That life ended when I hurt my knee and had to start paying back student loans.”
“Can we go home now?” Ian asked, pulling on Amy’s arm.
“Don’t interrupt,” Amy said.
“I need to leave myself,” Ryan said. “Nice meeting you.”
Megan went to the dressing room to get the rest of her clothes.While they waited, Amy complimented Ms. Carlton on another good program but didn’t bring up Megan’s costume.
“I thought you were going to say something to her about Megan’s outfit,” Jeff said when the dance teacher moved on.
“It bothered me as much as you, but I’ll do it later when she’s not dealing with the stress of putting on a big program.”
“I can’t believe Mr. Ryan came to the recital,” Megan said when they were in the car. “Bethany will be sick with jealousy.”
“Why?” Jeff asked.
“All the girls have a secret crush on him. I mean, he’s like something from a magazine.”
“Remember what your dad and I mentioned the other day—”
“I know, I know,” Megan interrupted, then stared out the window.
They rode the rest of the way home in silence.
Three days before Christmas Amy was in the family room wrapping presents. Outside, the wind whistled through
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