Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

On the first Saturday in December, Ribbons & Twirls has their first ever Winter Recital. Since it opened, Sabrina has filled nearly every class, has a waiting list for the youngest ones, and hired two part-time instructors. I love watching her dreams come true.

All the kids are sitting around the studio and the classes take turns, one by one, performing their routines. It starts with the youngest kids first. They’re so small that a chorus of “aww” goes up as they take the floor.

“Look at my niece. Isn’t she the cutest ballerina you’ve ever seen?” Slade is front and center, probably blocking all the people behind him from seeing the dance floor with his big head and wide shoulders. He points and waves at a little girl standing off on the left side waving back shyly. He cups his hands on either side of his mouth and yells, “You got this, Shelby!”

“Ready?” Sabrina mouths too quiet for me, and probably anyone else, to hear. As the music starts, she begins to move. All the little eyes on the dance floor follow her and mimic her movements. A warmth spreads through my chest as I watch her lead the kids through a short routine filled with turns and something I’ve learned is a plié.

Sabrina is so graceful it’s hard not to watch her, and she looks like she’s having as much fun as the kids.

Brogan leans over and nudges me, then signs, I want one.

One what? I sign back.

A kid. Maybe five or six. He grins so wide as my brows lift to meet my hairline and then he turns his attention back to the performance while wrapping an arm around London on the other side of him.

I chuckle to myself. A year ago, that would have been hard to picture, but now I can see it. Brogan and London with a bunch of kids, and me and Sabrina babysitting, maybe even with a couple of our own. I can see it a dozen different ways, but they all include her.

As one class finishes to a round of applause, the next stands and prepares to take their place. I spot Greer among the new group and a smile tugs at my lips. The entire class of kids are dressed in blue tutus and sparkly tiaras.

When they take their positions, Greer is front and center. She smiles, revealing a missing tooth since the last time I saw her. I glance around for Olivia, finding her off to one side with her phone raised to video the whole thing, no doubt.

Like she’d done with the others, Sabrina stands where the kids can watch her for cues and then starts them off. They all raise their arms out in front of them, each of them making a heart with their hands.

Sabrina meets my gaze and smiles a little wider. I’ve started doing the sign every time I make a touchdown. I didn’t mean to make it a whole thing. It’s just every time I make it into the end zone, I’m thinking of her. And I want her to know that I feel the love and support she gives me, not just on game day but every day.

As the music starts up, the kids move in unison. It’s a heavier beat than the other songs. Less classical, more rock. It makes me grin as it vibrates through the studio.

And unlike the dancers before, they don’t just wave their hands around in the typical graceful way. I realize almost immediately they’re signing the lyrics.

My heart squeezes in my chest and my throat is thick with emotion. I feel my teammates’ eyes turn on me to get my reaction. I couldn’t explain it if I wanted to. I just, fuck, I love her so damn much. No one has ever gone to such great lengths to show me that they accept me exactly as I am.

I love you, I sign to her as the dance continues.

“I love you too,” she mouths as a blush creeps onto her face.

It’s another hour before the last class has finished. The guys and I are standing in the back of the studio laughing as we watch Slade, who has his niece up on his shoulders, show off his dance moves.

It feels like an eternity until Sabrina has talked to every parent or kid who wanted to thank her. When she finally reaches me, she looks exhausted but happy.

“Congratulations.” I hold out the bouquet of roses to her.

Her smile brightens and she takes them, lifting them to her face and breathing them in. “Thank you.”

Brogan steps closer, offering her his bouquet, which is annoyingly bigger. “That was the best dance recital I’ve ever seen.”

It’s the only one he’s ever seen, but I don’t point that out.

“Thank you, guys, for being here.” She hugs him and then London, then Slade stops dancing long enough to hug her too.

I wait my turn, letting her soak up all the love and support here for her today. She deserves it.

The studio has started to clear out when she finally returns to me.

“Did you enjoy the recital?”

“What wasn’t there to enjoy? I got to stare at you for two hours straight.”

Light laughter makes her shoulders shake.

“It was great. I love that you had Greer’s class signing the lyrics. That was awesome.”

“And dancing to rock music.” She grins and then her face falls serious. “I couldn’t have done this without you. And everyone should know some sign language.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” She leans forward and kisses me, then whispers, “In case that wasn’t obvious.”

A tug on my shirt has me glancing to the side. Greer beams up at me. “Did you see me, Uncle Arch?”

My insides liquify at her calling me her uncle. I’m honored actually.

“I sure did.” I squat down in front of her and then hold out my hand for a high five. She slaps her little palm against mine with spunk.

“Aunt Brina promised to teach me more signs too so I can talk to you even when you aren’t wearing your ears.” The look of excitement on her face at the prospect is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’ll teach you one right now. Ready?” I ask her.

Her eyes widen and she nods quickly, watching me intently.

I make the letter P and then tap my left shoulder and move it down and across my torso. Greer follows intently. Her tongue peeks out between her lips as she attempts it on her own. She gets close, but it’s obvious she’s already forgotten.

“This is a letter P,” I say, helping her form the letter with her own hand, then I move it the same way I did. “Shoulder to opposite hip.”

I drop her hand and then watch her do it on her own.

“What does it mean?” she asks eagerly after she’s successfully done it twice.

“Princess.”

Her eyes light up and she does the sign again. “Like that?”

“That was perfect.”

She turns and runs off toward her friends and shows them how to sign it.

I stand in front of Sabrina, and she smiles at me in that soft, doe-eyed way that I recognize from Brogan and my brothers falling in love. But I never thought anyone would look at me like that.

I love you, I sign to her. Three little words that encompass everything and yet somehow still don’t even scratch the surface of my feelings.