Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

The morning of the grand opening, I get to the studio before the sun is up. I hardly slept last night. I was exhausted when I got home from working at Lilac but too keyed up for today to do anything but toss and turn and accidentally keep Archer up most of the night with me.

I offered to go sleep on the couch since Flynn is crashing in my room, but he wouldn’t hear of it. I made a pot of extra strong coffee before I left so hopefully that helps him get through the day.

There isn’t much to do to prepare. London made a banner for the outside window that says, RIBBONS & TWIRLS NOW OPEN, so I hang that, then I turn on all the lights and start the music. The plan is to keep the door open and let people wander in to check it out. Saturdays are pretty busy in the neighborhood, so I’m hoping for a lot of foot traffic.

Official classes start next week, but the dance floor area is open if kids want to check it out while I talk to their parents. I also have orange juice and donuts, and mocktails in case the adults need a reason to linger and let me convince them my studio is the perfect place for their kids.

At eight o’clock I prop open the front door. My heart is beating wildly in my chest. This is it!

I pace the studio, not quite sure what to do with myself while I wait. Only minutes pass, but it feels like an eternity before the first people step inside.

I flash them my biggest smile and then freeze.

“Mom? Dad?” I’m shocked as I stare between my parents. My parents standing in my dance studio.

“Surprise!” Dad beams at me.

I hurry toward them, throat thick with emotion and tears already blurring my vision. I wrap an arm around both their necks and let them wrap me up in one of our family hugs that I have missed so much.

“How are you here right now?” I ask when I pull back and swipe at the wet drops sliding down my cheeks.

“As if we were going to miss this.” My mom sounds outright annoyed that I’d think otherwise.

“You didn’t have to come all the way here,” I say. They weren’t big travelers before my mom got sick, but since then, they’ve rarely left, not even for a weekend trip. I’ve kept them updated on the studio with pictures and videos. I never expected them to show up. “I’m so glad you did though.”

I hug them again, and some of the nerves I’ve been holding on to fall away.

“The place looks great, pumpkin.” Dad surveys the space with pride shimmering in his eyes.

“Do you want the full tour?” I step forward before they can answer and stop at the refreshment table. Dad has a major sweet tooth. Predictably, he swoops up a donut.

There isn’t a lot to show them really, but they listen intently as I explain every little thing I did to make this place mine. The last stop I make is to a framed photo on the wall behind the front desk. It’s a picture of me and my mom at my very first dance recital. She was Mother Ginger in our performance of The Nutcracker, and I was a bon bon.

“Oh wow.” Mom stares at the photograph. “Look at my hair. I forgot how long it was back then.”

She touches her shorter locks with one hand. I hardly remember it being as long as it is in the old picture. She cut it to about shoulder length when I was in junior high, and then when she started chemo went even shorter to a cute pixie cut. It’s grown out now, almost to chin length.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” My voice breaks and I rest my head on her shoulder.

“Oh, honey.” My mom tries to smile, but it falls as she studies my face. “What’s going on? I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am. The day hasn’t even started and it’s already more than I dreamed. It’s just that everything has been so chaotic. The building owner is selling, and the new landlord is an asshole. I might have done all of this for nothing.” Just for a moment I give into that fear, then shake it off. “It’s the opening and I’m already worrying about the ending.” I swipe at a few more tears. “And I missed you guys so much.” I fling myself at her again.

She wraps her arms around me, then gently taps my back in soft, reassuring pats. “Only happy tears today.”

“I don’t want to lose this place. I know I haven’t even taught a class yet, so it’s silly to be so attached, but it feels like I am exactly where I should be.”

“Then you’ll figure it out. You always do. You’re a fighter.” She pushes my hair back away from my face and speaks the words like fact.

“I must get it from you.”

A small smile lifts the corners of her mouth. There’s commotion outside and I can see a group of women scoping out the studio through the window. I guess it’s time to pull myself together.

“How long are you staying?” I ask them.

“Through the weekend,” Mom says. “We rented a cute little house not far from here.”

“Can we hang out later?” I ask.

“Absolutely. We’re at your beck and call.”

“I want to meet this boy I keep hearing about too,” Dad says, voice gruff and stern.

“Archer,” I say, smiling even thinking about him meeting my parents. “And maybe you can finally meet Brogan too.”

“We’d like that,” Mom says as two women slowly enter with timid smiles.

I smile back brightly at them. “Welcome!”

Mom leans in and whispers, “We’ll get out of your way and let you talk with other people.”

I know I need to go mingle, but I don’t want them to leave.

“Okay. I’ll text you as soon as I’m done here.” I hug Mom and then Dad. I hadn’t planned on it, but now I wonder how it ever could have felt this perfect without her here today. “Thank you so much for coming.”

After those first people trickle in, others follow. Families, parents with their kids, moms out to brunch, and some locals who just want to see what’s happening in the neighborhood.

I’m dizzy with excitement as I talk with all of them. I’ve hardly had a chance to breathe when Olivia and Greer show up.

“Congratulations!” Olivia hugs me with one arm. In her other, she has a big bouquet of yellow roses. “These are for you, but I’m not sure where you’ll find room for them.”

I take them from her, blushing as I set them on the front desk with the others.

“Archer?” she asks.

“And Brogan. I think they were seeing who could send the biggest, most embarrassing display.” They had practice and meetings so they couldn’t be here today, but I felt their presence. “And my parents drove down for the weekend to surprise me. Now that you two are here it’s just been the perfect day.”

“They’re proud of you. So are we.” She looks down at Greer.

“Are all these people going to take dance classes from you?” Her big, green eyes stare around the studio with wonder.

“Probably not, but hopefully some of them.”

There are two girls dancing together in front of the barre. One has on a purple tutu and a big matching bow on each pigtail.

“Those two will be in your Wednesday afternoon class,” I tell her.

“Really?”

“Yep.” I nod.

She goes from excited to bashful, looking down at her shoes.

“Why don’t you go say hi and introduce yourself,” Olivia says.

It takes a few seconds, but she does, walking slowly toward them.

“How’s the opening going?” Olivia asks once Greer’s gone.

“Really good. Two classes are already full and lots of people have taken flyers or signed up for the mailing list.” I can hardly believe it. Today has felt like magic.

Her jaw drops open. “Sabrina! That’s wonderful.”

“I know. I’m freaking out a little. I thought I would have weeks, maybe months, working part-time here and the club.”

“Are you going to quit Lilac?”

“At minimum I’ll have to cut back.”

She lets her bottom lip stick out, which makes her look a lot like her daughter when she’s pouting. “When am I going to see you?”

“We will make time. I promise.”

By late afternoon, the refreshment table is empty, all the flyers are gone, and I am exhausted. A happy exhaustion. Another class filled up and I met a young woman with experience in teaching teens and adults looking for part-time hours.

I clean up quickly and am turning off the music when Archer shows up.

“Is it too late to sign up for dance classes?” he asks as he steps into the studio.

I’m so relieved to see him, I take off at a jog and launch myself into his arms. He catches me easily, spinning me around as I pepper him with kisses.

“You came!” I say when I pull back.

“Of course. Although it looks like I missed all the fun. I heard you were busy today.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“London came by.”

“She did? I didn’t see her.”

He nods. “She said the place was packed. She didn’t want to interrupt.”

I’m sorry I missed her, but it means so much that she came.

“There were so many people.” A grin breaks free on my face. “I think I blacked out for half of it.”

“An instant hit.” He presses his mouth to mine in a quick kiss. “We should celebrate tonight. Dinner?”

“Yes.”

He sets me on the floor, and I quickly grab my purse and turn off the lights.

“Where do you want to go?” he asks as we head out the front door. “Do you want me to invite Brogan and London too?”

“That depends,” I say, fighting a smirk as I lock the door behind us. When I’m done, I face him. “Do you want backup when you meet my parents?”

His brows lift and the second my words register, a flash of panic crosses his face.

“They’re in town for the weekend. And very excited to meet you.” I look at him hopefully. I know springing the parents on him is a lot, but he’s going to have to meet them eventually because I’m in this for the long haul.

He wears his nerves in a sheepish grin for me to see. “Wow, parents. That’s…” He trails off and runs a hand over his jaw. “You know, actually, I’m not feeling great. Maybe we should celebrate next weekend.”

I laugh at the adorable fear in his eyes. “Relax. They’re going to love you. Just like I do.”