Chapter 4 - Jive Along

Hello All. Here is the 4th part of the story. Hope you all enjoy this, and a Merry Christmas, as well as other holidays!

Emma was feeling incredibly guilty. There really was no reason why she should be feeling this way, and she really should not have been resenting her boss at this moment, especially after everything that Belle had done for her and her son.

However, she still was feeling slightly bitter and resentful.

Belle had recovered over the remainder of the week and had come back into the office on Monday morning. She had commended Wendy and Ruby on holding the fort and Emma for managing to find a suitable candidate.

"I remember this girl. She didn't have the correct qualifications, but she was born in France and she had obviously done her research. I m glad that she had the interpersonal skills we need. She starting in a week?"

And with that Emma's decision was approved and she felt elated.

Of course, now, it was Wednesday and they were at the dance class.

The source of her resentment was obvious.

If she was dancing with Belle, she would not be able to dance with their wonderful instructor. Damn her boss and the fact that she was better. Not that she REALLY meant that, of course. Just a little.

Today, they were doing the jive. Cam and Killian were convinced that their class was ready for it. "Step back, bring weight back forward, 3 side steps right, then left, repeat." The basic figures were going well, and within the hour they were paired up and attempting to dance. Emma's brain wasn't really in it.

When she had left Jones the note the week before, she had assumed that he would end up peppering her with calls, asking her out on dates and generally making a nuisance of himself. However, apart from one text-message discussion, he had made no efforts to do that at all. The only things that he had asked were if she needed a van and how many items of furniture would need to be lifted. There was exactly one piece of innuendo, related to her hopefully having a four poster bed and handcuffs available. After she shot him down, he just confirmed the day and time and wished her well. Since then he had not communicated with her at all, and Emma was beginning to find that she actually missed the attention that he had shown her the previous week.

In her mind, this was related to her dancing with him, and in turn with Belle having not been there last week. Emma's tired brain added those two, and came to the conclusion that it was Belle's fault that her dance teacher was not paying her attention.

She almost fell over when the musical piece that they were learning to ended and Belle came to an abrupt stop. Great, another thing to blame her boss for.

Emma listened as the instructors summarised the session and dismissed their class, but didn't really concentrate on the words, thinking of ways to ensure that her partner was not going to be making it to the next session. So, when she heard someone speak in her ear, she literally jumped.

"I would offer a penny for your thoughts, but I worry that you would accuse me of treating you like a commodity." His voice, smooth as silk, left no possibility of mistaking his suggestion. "May I walk you to your son?"

His eyes were alight with mischief - the door for the mirror walled room was no more than 5 meters away, but she still nodded, attempting to get her pulse under control - from the surprise, she told herself.

"I had taken the liberty of calling in some favours for Saturday. I have a friend with a can who will come along and will help us. That is alright with you, lass?"

Emma's expression turned slightly apprehensive, but her companion waved away her concern, "He would only expect to get a drink or a meal out of it. I can assure you that a pint at the end of the day will be all the payment he would ever need. Grumpy is like that." Despite herself, Emma turned to look at him. "Grumpy?"

Jones chuckled, "His name is Leroy. But's always so moody that we call him Grumpy. The name stuck."

Thankfully, they had reached the children's class by then.

"Mamma!" Henry came running to her, crashing into her legs and looking up at her. "I can do Kat wheel!"

Jefferson, who was already pushing Grace's arms into her coat laughed. "Cartwheels, Henry. Cart-whe-els."

Henry turned back to the man and to the amusement of the adults present said "Yes! Kat Wheels!"

Mira had finished talking to the other parents and had come over to join them. "Just show them, Henry."

The boy nodded, and then started across the floor, putting his hands out in front of him, and wheeling sideways. Once he was done, everyone applauded. Mira spoke up, "Henry, go put your trousers and jumper on and you can come back for the coat, ok?" The little boy nodded and ran off. His teacher turned her attention to his mum.

"So, I hear you are moving." The grin on her face immediately alerted Emma that something was up, so her response was an apprehensive: "Yes?"

"Excellent!" The redhead did not pause for breath, "I was thinking, a place with lots of boxes and heavy lifting is no place for a child. Do you want me to take him off your hands for a day? There's a reading group on Saturdays in the town library, and then maybe I could take him to Granny Lewis's place for lunch?"

Emma had to admit that the idea had merit. Mira, seeing her hesitate, continued, "I have a two year old nephew and I helped out with our cousins all the time. I can call you at any time intervals. You make the rules, I just want to make sure that Henry isn't on your minds when you move any crates."

"Wait, Granny Lucas's?"

"Yeah. Cam and I eat there all the time. Mrs Lucas is a wonderful cook. You know the place?"

"I know Granny. She's Ruby's Gran."

"So, you'll let him go?"

Emma hesitated. After all, these people were still strangers and she was still not sure of them. "Can I call you or Killian tomorrow or Friday and confirm?"

Mira nodded and went to help Jefferson lace up Grace's shoes, while Jones smiled and wished her and Henry a good week.

When Henry almost got crushed by a stack of boxes that he had kicked, on Friday morning, Emma hurriedly found the number that was tucked into a coat pocket. The not-quite awake dance teacher answered the phone with a strangled "hullo".

"Mira? Sorry to call this early, but I was offering if your offer still stood? Can I drop off Henry at 10 at the Studio? YO'll come over? You are a life saviour. Thanks."

Maybe there were people who were more insightful than her in the world.

AN: Hope you are liking it! I am going to be posting a surprise piece on Christmas Day, before I go play with my nephew, so bee on the look out for it.