Be prepared, there's alot happening in this chapter!
Chapter 7
The day of the Summerton show finally came, and when Elsa woke up, she immediately pulled the covers over herself. The realization that she and Hans were going to perform that very night unnerved her. Eventually, she got out of bed and forced herself to eat a somewhat full breakfast. By the time Valery came to help her get ready, Elsa found herself wondering if it was not too late to lie about a stomach bug.
"I can't believe the show's tonight." Elsa whispered as she and Valery walked to the main house.
"You'll do great Elsa." Valery assured her.
"I never performed in front of an entire audience before. What if I fall on my face? Or I miss a spin?"
"We still have some time before the show. After we grab some lunch we'll head back to my place and get you dressed."
The girls approached the building just as Penelope opened the door and stepped out. She was dressed in a purple low-cut summer dress and tall heels. Slipping on her sunglasses, Penelope turned and scoffed at the approaching girls. As Elsa climbed the deck, the older woman leaned over and stuck her foot out, causing Elsa to stumble a few steps and fall on the wooden floor. Shooting Penelope a dangerous glance, Valery stepped to the side and helped Elsa up.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine." Elsa nodded and brushed off her shorts. She turned and watched Penelope strut off towards the direction of the cabins.
Valery released a small huff and opened the door for them. "Just ignore her, she's a nothing but a stuck-up man-hungry bitch."
Close by, Eugene walked past his friends with his gaze on his clipboard. "Tsk tsk watch your potty mouth there Ms. Fontana. You don't want to be sent to Mr. Westergaard's office do you?"
Elsa giggled at Eugene's humor, while Valery rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself. "Let's get you ready."
"Okay okay let's go through this again."
Elsa held up her arms in the correct position as Valery slipped another pin into her hair. The selected dress was laid out on the bed and her makeup was done, so now the girls only had to finish styling Elsa's hair and put on the dress.
"I just have to keep my head up, my shoulders down…" Elsa's voice faltered and her shoulders slumped. "I don't think I can do this."
Valery smiled as she picked up a purple sequined barrette from her dresser top. "Yes you can. Just pull up, watch your frame, and let him lead you."
Elsa sighed and looked down at her lap. "I'm just scared of freaking out and falling on my face."
"Hey it's okay to be a little scared." Valery pointed out.
She scoffed and turned to a large poster of a dancer that hung on her wall. "You should've seen how scared Hans was at his first performance. It was at a wedding reception party here at the resort with a hundred guests. We were supposed to do this impressive salsa number but Hans so nervous about messing up that he ended up locking himself in the janitor's closet ten minutes before we were supposed to perform."
Elsa could not help but join in Valery's laughter as she imagined her confident and talented dance partner hiding in the tiny closet. Beside her, Valery carefully slipped the barrette into Elsa's hair. She then moved back and gestured to the mirror.
"Take a look."
Elsa followed her gaze and her eyes widened at her appearance. Her long hair was arranged in an elegant tight bun and adorned with the sequined barrette. A faint trace of lavender eye shadow and black mascara traced her deep blue eyes and small purple sequined earrings glistened on her ears As she looked at herself she felt her belly flip as she thought about what Hans will think when he saw her.
"It's beautiful." Elsa whispered at last.
She grinned and turned to the dancer. "Thank you."
"No Elsa thank you." Valery closed her concealer case with a small sigh. "Look I just want to let you know that I'm not a slut like Will keeps telling everyone. There was no relationship or romance. It was just a careless drunk one-night stand. Everyone keeps telling me it's not my fault and he seduced me, but I keep thinking it is, since I didn't push him away."
"Hey." Elsa reached out and took Valery's hand into her own. "Everything will be fine."
Valery looked up at her and slowly nodded, yet Elsa could see the slight fear in her eyes and the way her free hand fumbled with her shirt. When Valery did not respond, Elsa leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her in a warm comforting hug.
"It'll be okay."
"Here we are!" Valery announced as she and Elsa made their way through the parking lot and to where Hans stood.
The dancer looked up from his phone and smiled as they approached. As they drew nearer, Elsa's gaze fell on Hans' elegant dress shirt, black pants, and sleek black shoes. His shirt was the same color as her dress and opened at the first two buttons. For a long moment Elsa did not know what to say as she took him in. He looked just as handsome as the night she first saw him in the ballroom.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"She's ready as she'll ever be." Valery said and helped Elsa take off her sweater.
The slip of clothing fell and Hans' eyes widened at the sight of Elsa. She was dressed in a flowing, purple, strapless dress that reached just below her knees and was sprinkled with silver sequins at the hemline. His eyes then lifted up to her face and he took in the light trace of make-up and her hair. For a long moment he did not know what to say as he took her in.
Her glossy pink lips curved into a timid smile as Elsa looked down at herself. "What do you think?"
"You look beautiful." Hans softly confessed. He took her hand so she could do a small spin. Elsa felt her cheeks warm up as she felt his eyes take in her appearance once more.
Valery smirked at the blushing Elsa and awestruck Hans. "Okay that's enough ogling Hans. You got a hotel to get to and a dance number to perform."
She held out the shoebox that held Elsa's silver heels and Elsa took it from her after releasing Hans' hand. She then stepped up and embraced the dancer. Valery's eyes widened in surprise before she smiled and returned the hug.
"Thanks again Val." Elsa said softly.
"Don't mention it. I know you'll both do great." Valery admitted.
It took the pair a little more than half an hour to reach the Summerton Hotel. As Hans turned into the lot, Elsa turned to her right and looked up at the complex.
This resort was smaller than the Southern Isles yet just as elegant. The rooms were lit with a golden glow and the hotel's name was displayed in gleaming gold letters on a marble sign. Small trees stood on either side of the doors and were draped in gold lights. At the revolving doors, a young doorman conversed with a tall gentleman who was dressed in a fine black tuxedo and smoked a cigarette. Close by, another man in a red dress shirt was walking along the sidewalk with a beautiful young woman in a coral pink cocktail dress. Elsa felt her nervousness return as Hans pulled up in an empty spot that faced the hotel. She looked up at the building and worried her bottom lip.
This was it.
Noticing the anxious look on her face, Hans smiled and took his hand into hers. "Can I offer you a piece of advice?"
Elsa turned away from the hotel and met his gaze. A few weeks ago she would've expected him to snicker in amusement at her and throw a snide remark. Tonight though, Hans looked at her with a small assured smile that somewhat settled the crazed butterflies in her belly. She silently nodded and Hans squeezed her hand once more.
"Don't pay attention to them. Just think about all the times we danced in the studio. When it was just you and me and no one else." he whispered. He lifted her hand up to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles.
Elsa swallowed and remembered the one time she and Hans danced together after one of his evening sessions. She felt so at ease back then. When she turned back Hans noted the new smile on her face as Elsa straightened and turned to the Summerton.
"Let's go."
After informing the hotel receptionist of who they were, the couple moved into the large banquet hall where the party was being celebrated.
There were at least a dozen circular tables scattered all around with at least seven people seated around them. All the guests were dressed in dresses and suits and young. The waiters wore dark purple vests and white dress shirts as they walked around and served drinks and finger foods on silver trays. The large stage and small set of steps leading up to it was right next to the doors, and when Elsa turned to the audience, she saw a young woman who looked as old as Anna seated at the table closest to the stage. She was a pretty girl with short brunette hair and dressed in a pastel pink cocktail dress and gold heels. Seated beside her were a broad man with a full dark gray beard and a beautiful woman with long dark brown hair.
Elsa had to guess that the man was the owner of the hotel Mr. Summerton, and the beautiful brunette haired woman and the young woman in the pink dress were his wife and daughter. Watching them laugh and talk with a passing couple, Elsa could only hope that they would like the performance. As Hans led her up the stage, she felt her free hand come down and fumble with the soft edge of her dress.
Standing on the stage, Elsa felt her heartbeat pick up as she felt more than two dozen pairs of eyes on her and Hans. The lights were down and a sudden hush fell over the crowd as a low voice began to speak from across the room.
"The Summerton Hotel is proud to present Hans Westergaad and partner Elsa Nordland in Mambo Magic!"
In an instant her arm was raised and a calm blue light flashed on them from above. The room was filled with applause and the music began to play. Elsa blinked at the darkened faces of the guests and the Summertons and she felt her breathe hitch as Hans slipped his hand down her raised arm.
"Relax." he whispered, and Elsa swallowed and forced on a nervous smile as Hans spun her. Moving back to him, Elsa accidently smacked into his chest yet Hans easily took hold of her hands and they began the dance.
As they went through their practiced routine, Elsa's head began to turn to the audience, yet she just as quickly turned back and looked at Hans before she could even glance at the Summertons. Looking back up, she caught the approved grin on his face as he guided her. Elsa smiled in return and felt herself start to relax as she mentally repeated the steps and routines to herself. She told herself to relax and imagine that she was not dancing in front of dozens of people, but in the dance studio with the vintage dance posters and wooden floors. And just like that, Elsa began to enjoy herself as she spun to her side and mirrored Hans' steps and movements. When he released her to allow her to spin, Elsa swept away, did a quick graceful spin, and returned to his arms with a smile.
They moved to the center of the stage and Hans moved back to spin her two more times. A little dizzy, Elsa slipped into his arms and felt his hands grip her hips.
"Wrong way!" Hans chuckled and Elsa cursed herself as she faced him and followed his moves.
She forced herself not to turn to the crowd as Hans released her and she swayed her hips and shook her dress in the seductive way Valery taught her. Before her, a few guests began to clap and Elsa felt a grin return on her face as she danced back to Hans.
"Ready for the lift?" he asked.
Elsa raised her arms as well with a nod and hard swallow. She then watched Hans dance away from her and her feet stumbled slightly as Elsa danced to the other side of the stage. The spotlight suddenly fell on her and Elsa lifted her arms and began to make her way across the stage. When she neared Hans though, Elsa felt her feet slow down and she turned to the audience. Her face flushed in sudden embarrassment yet she quickly began to move her arms to the beat, hoping that the audience did not see her hesitation. Behind her, Hans gripped her waist and led her to the next few steps.
"Keep going keep going." he encouraged and Elsa forced her worry aside as they danced to the right and then Hans' grip returned to her waist.
Elsa noted the move and lifted her legs, allowing Hans to spin her in a full circle. The audience once again broke into applause as Elsa and Hans resumed their dancing. As the song neared to an end, Hans lifted Elsa back up midway and spun her to the left and then right before releasing her. Together they performed the last of the routines before they threw their arms back to conclude the dance.
There was a small pause in the audience before an impressed Mr. Summerton lifted his arms and began to clap loudly. His smiling wife and daughter followed his lead and suddenly the entire banquet hall was filled with applause.
Keeping one arm around each other, Hans and Elsa turned to the applauding guests and bowed. As they straightened, Elsa felt her smile stretch from ear to ear as she took in the smiles on the guests' faces. In the front, Mr. Summerton was shaking his head and praising them loudly, while his daughter clapped and bounced in excitement.
Elsa's heart thundered inside her chest as she turned and met Hans' glance. His eyes were bright and the smile upon his face was enough to make her want to reach out and kiss him. Elsa held herself back though and turned to the guests. Her gaze lingered on the audience and Elsa suddenly caught sight of the Weseltons, who sat at a table away from the Summertons. When had they arrived?
Elsa quickly turned away from their gaze and smiled anew as she and Hans bowed once more and then turned to walk off the stage.
The rush of excitement still coursed through Elsa on the way back to the Southern Isles Resort. Light music played from the radio as Elsa huffed and shimmied out of the dress in the backseat. Casting a quick glance at the mirror, Hans noticed her bare shoulders peeking from behind the seat and he cleared his throat.
"You were fantastic tonight." he said as he finally forced himself to look at the road before him.
"It was amazing! I never felt anything like it!" Elsa exclaimed and tossed her hair back behind her.
Sprawled out across the seat, she gently folded the dress and set it aside. She then turned and snatched her blue blouse from the bag on the floor. Looking up, Elsa noticed Hans' eyes flickering away from the sight of her bare skin.
"Hey keep your eyes on the road!"
"Sorry." Hans stammered with a weak smile.
Elsa pulled the blouse over her head and then leaned back to pull on her shorts. "I'm sorry that I didn't do the lift."
"It wasn't that important." Hans insisted. He turned just in time to see Elsa rise up and crawl in between to sit down next to him.
"That's much better." She then turned to Hans with a curious glance. "Did you get a text from Val or Eugene? They should be back from the clinic by now."
"I haven't checked." Hans grabbed his phone and handed it to her.
Elsa turned it on and released a small sigh at the blank screen. The last text they received was one from Eugene informing the couple that he and Valery was on the road. "Nothing."
Hans frowned. "I hope everything went okay. Knowing Eugene he would've texted something by now."
Elsa nodded in agreement and played with the strap of her seatbelt. Turning her gaze to the window, Elsa decided to watch the dark trees pass by. She then felt a warm hand take hers and she told herself not to worry.
They drove into the resort's parking lot half an hour later. The main house and surrounding cabins were dark and the faint sound of chirping crickets filled the air as Hans opened the door and slipped out. Beside him, Elsa unbuckled her seatbelt and checked the time on her phone, the bright screen shining on her face.
It was past eleven. Her parents and Anna were sure to be asleep by now. She hoped that Anna kept her promise and come up with some way to fool their parents into thinking Elsa had gone to bed early.
The door to her right opened and Elsa looked up and smiled at Hans. She allowed him to take her hand and help her out of the car. Closing the door behind her, Elsa leaned back against the car and Hans pressed his hands on the windows on either side of her head. A small grin was exchanged between them before Elsa leaned close to him. Hans closed his eyes and moved forward to close the space in between them when a nearby shout pulled him back.
"Hans!"
The startled couple turned to see a frantic Eugene running over to them.
"You gotta come! It's Valery!"
No words were exchanged as the three of them hurried to Valery's cabin. The building was lit with a dim light and a small crowd of staff members turned at their footsteps. Pushing past the group, Hans moved to the bed where Valery laid on her side. Her face glistened with sweat and her left hand clutched her thighs. When she saw him, Valery began to cry and grabbed his hand with her free one.
"Shhh, I'm here." Hans whispered and brushed a stray strand from her cheek.
"It hurts!" the young woman choked out.
Hans forced himself to keep his own fear at bay and he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Everything's going to be okay Val."
As he continued to comfort her, Elsa turned to Eugene with an incredulous look. "Why didn't you call an ambulance?"
"Val was too scared that it'd cause a scene and Jerome would find out. She was fine on the way back but t-then I don't know something opened up when she got here and she started bleeding." Eugene explained in a trembling voice.
Elsa turned back to Hans and Valery and stepped towards them. "I know who can help her. I'll be right back."
And without another word, the young woman turned and hurried out of the cabin. Outside, Elsa took her phone out and dialed her father's number. Pressing the phone to her ear, Elsa placed a hand on her chest to control her erratic heartbeat. After the third ring, the line was picked up and Elsa let out a relieved breath.
"Hello? Elsa?"
"Daddy I need your help!"
"What's wrong? Where are you?" Adgar demanded, the dazed sleepiness in his voice suddenly gone and replaced with sudden concern.
"It's an emergency. You need to go get Dr. Sweet and come to Valery Fontana's cabin right now!" Elsa instructed, trying to keep her voice at a firm level. She heard her father shuffle to get up from bed and her grip on her phone tightened.
"I'm on my way."
Elsa paced in front of the door, gripping her phone tight and praying that Valery was holding up inside the cabin. She turned at the sound of the two pairs of oncoming footsteps and released a relieved breathe as her father and Dr. Sweet rush towards her. While her father was dressed in a pair of sweats and a hoodie, Dr. Sweet wore his white jacket and carried his large doctor's bag.
"How is she?" Dr. Sweet asked as he and Adgar followed Elsa into the cabin.
"Not well." Elsa answered. She allowed the doctor to pass through and approach Valery's bedside.
Looking up, Hans stood and stepped aside as Dr. Sweet took his place and knelt down. Valery's eyes flew open when she felt him take her wrist and check her pulse. Her eyes were full of tears as she looked up at the determined doctor.
"Please help me!"
"Shhh, I know it hurts. We're gonna take care of it." Dr. Sweet gently lifted her hands from her thighs and Elsa winced at the dark splotches of blood on her pants. She turned to her father and saw that his face was red with anger.
"Who is responsible for this girl?" he questioned.
The rest of the staff glanced at each other hesitantly, unsure of what to say. Elsa turned to Hans as he stepped away from Dr. Sweet.
"I am sir." he revealed.
Adgar's face contorted in disgust and Elsa felt his hand grip her shoulder and pull her towards him. She looked at Hans just in time to see him meet her glance with a pained look on his face.
"If you all could step outside please? The young lady needs some space." Dr. Sweet insisted firmly as he took out a pair of gloves and began to slip them on.
"Yes of course Dr. Sweet." Adgar nodded. He began to lead her out and Hans, Eugene, and the rest of the staff trickled out behind them.
As Dr. Sweet tended to Valery, Elsa stood beside her father under the dim glow of the cabin light. A few feet away, Hans sat on the porch steps and ran his hands through his hair. Eugene sat beside him and patted his back in attempted comfort. Half of the staff had left for the night, while a few members remained behind, waiting for the prognosis. Casting a glance behind her, Elsa hoped that Hans would look up at her, yet he kept his head down.
Just then, the door to the cabin opened and Dr. Sweet stepped out with his bag. Hans and Eugene turned and immediately sprung up, while Elsa stepped up with a held breathe.
"Ms. Fontana will be okay. I gave her some antibiotics and she needs plenty of rest. I'll stop by tomorrow to make sure her wound is healing properly." Dr. Sweet announced and wiped a hand across his brow.
"Oh Good Lord!" Eugene breathed.
"Thank you so much Dr. Sweet." Hans stammered and shook the doctor's hand.
"Is there anyone close that could stay by her side for the rest of the night?" Dr. Sweet asked.
"I can." a girl with bleach blonde hair volunteered.
"Good, if anything should happen just give me a call at once. I'm staying over at the main house. Room 201." Dr. Sweet explained. He reached into his coat pocket and handed the girl a small white card.
The doctor then turned and began to make his way down the sidewalk with a very much relieved Eugene at his side.
Elsa felt her father place a hand on her back to guide her away. As they began to walk away from the cabin, she found herself turning around and meeting Hans' glance. Adgar followed his daughter's gaze and gave the young man a final sickened shake of his head before he urged Elsa on. With a helpless sigh, the young woman could do nothing more but follow her father back to their cabin.
"Is that what my money paid for Elsa?" Adgar growled.
Elsa winced at the anger in his tone and hurried to catch up with his quick strides. "I'm sorry that I kept this a secret but Valery needed the money and if I told you the truth then you wouldn't have given it."
"You're right I wouldn't." Adgar scoffed, turning to face his daughter. "I'm starting to see a side of you I don't like Elsa. Don't think that I can't guess where you've been running off to and with whom."
When Elsa remained silent, he turned away from her and continued on. "I thought I raised you better Elsa. I'm not sure who you are anymore with the behavior I've seen from you."
"If you could just…"
"No Elsa! I won't hear it!" Adgar retorted. "I don't want you to have anything to do with those people. They're a bad influence on you."
Elsa bowed her head and swallowed down the large lump in her throat as they neared their cabin. She clenched her fists together and forced herself not to argue anymore.
In front of the door, Adgar turned to her one last time. "I mean it Elsa. I won't have you involved in their affairs, especially that boy's. Stay away from him." And with nothing more to say, the older man opened the door and marched inside.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Elsa followed her father into the dark cabin. Neither one of them spoke as they turned to their bedrooms and disappeared inside. Sitting down on her bed, Elsa released a deep sigh and turned to her right where a sleeping Anna laid sprawled out on her bed, her snowman tucked in her arms. Across their room, Elsa heard her mother's sleepy voice.
"Is everything okay Adgar?"
"Everything's fine dear."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air as Elsa stood up and tiptoed out of her bedroom. In the hallway, she moved near her parents' rooms and stopped just beside their door. She peered inside and saw her father laying on his side with his eyes closed and his arms wrapped around her mother. For a few moments, Elsa stayed pressed against the wall until she heard her father begin to snore. Relieved, she moved past their room and crept to the front door. Casting a final glance at her parents' bedroom, Elsa slowly opened the door and stepped out into the warm night.
