Chapter Three

"Down and up." Cooper instructed. "Left leg up."

Jody heard him, but she was in another place entirely. Cooper was walking around the room to make sure that his ballerinas were doing what they needed to. He stopped at Jody. She raised her legs and arms, she went down, came back up, but she did it with a smile on her face.

"Well, someone's happy today." Cooper said, bring Jody back to reality.

"Yep, got enough sleep last night." Which was a total lie. She spent yesterday afternoon with Maureen, Eva and Galina looking for wedding dresses. Then she spent a romantic evening with Charlie.

Cooper looked down at Jody's hand, to make sure that she had a tight grip on the bar, when he noticed her engagement ring. "Wow, nice ring." He said, sarcastically.

"Thanks for noticing. I've only had it on for like a week." Jody retaliated back.

"So when's your wedding to Mr. Perfect?" Cooper sneered.

"If you're referring to Charlie, in three weeks." Jody said. Inside she was jumping for joy. Only three more weeks. She thought to herself.

"Well, congratulations to you both." Cooper said, even though they both knew he didn't mean it.

After practice, Jody told everyone what happened. Charlie had a grin from ear to ear.

"So, what's left?" Eric asked.

"Well, we have to mail out the invitations…" Jody started.

"Already done that." Eva interrupted.

"What?"

"Yeah, I saw them on the table yesterday and I mailed them off for you. I know you guys have enough on your plates already. Just trying to help you out as much as possible." She explained.

"Okay, we need the cake, the rings, and we need to call and book a church and someone to marry us." Jody concluded.

Maureen and Jim rose. "We'd love to stick around, but we have stuff that we have to do." She said.

"Okay, see you later at the house."

After they were gone, the group went back to talking about wedding details. Just the Cooper walked by. When he saw them, a look of resentment and hatred came across his face.

He stopped by briefly. "Jody told me the news today."

Charlie put his arm around Jody's shoulder. "Yeah, it is wonderful news." Cooper was about to leave, when Charlie added, "I guess this time I got the girl."

Cooper's eyes flashed red, and he stormed off. After he was out of ear shot, everyone burst into laughter.

Later on that night, at dinner, the conversation about the wedding came back up.

"By the way, Maureen, when is your wedding?" Jody asked, not forgetting that she too was engaged.

Maureen looked at Jim. He was the one to answer. "We're thinking three or four months."

After dinner, everyone went off to do separate things. Eva and Eric went to the mall to look for guys. Maureen and Jim went to bowling with Jim's friends. Galina and Sergei went to ABA to practice their piece. That left the whole house to Charlie and Jody.

They were snuggled on the couch, watching TV. The next thing Jody knew, Charlie got up, turned the TV off, and pulled Jody to her feet.

"Do you know what we haven't done in a while?" He asked her.

"I don't know, but I'm sure that you'll tell me." Jody smiled.

Charlie kissed her. "We haven't danced together in a while." He went over and put some music on, suddenly, the two were sweeping across the floor.

When they were done, Jody smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too." He replied.

The next morning, Charlie had to be at practice first thing. He left Jody a note.

When she awoke, the note was on her pillow. I'll be available about noon, we go and buy the wedding rings then. Love, Charlie. Jody smiled to herself. She got up, showered and started her day.

At noon, Charlie arrived home. The door was unlocked, which meant that Jody was home. "Jody." He called. He heard sobbing in their room. He opened the door and saw Jody on the bed, her eyes red from crying.

Charlie rushed over to her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"You don't want to marry me." Jody cried.

"Of course I do. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't want to marry you."

"You deserve much better."

"I love you. No matter what." Charlie assured her.

"You wouldn't if you knew about me." Jody said.

Charlie just sat back.

Jody continued. "I didn't want to tell you, but I can't hide it any longer. I have to shave everyday or every other day. I have to shave everything. My legs, armpits, and my face."

"You're face?" Charlie asked, smiling.

"If I don't shave almost everyday, if not, I grow a beard and a mustache." Jody sobbed even harder.

Charlie cupped Jody's face in his hands. "I love you for you. Also, can I tell you something? My grandmother had to shave everyday of her life and that didn't stop my grandfather. Not to mention, now I have a shaving buddy."

"You're okay with that?"

"I'm very okay with that. Nothing is going to stop me from marrying you." He assured her.

Jody wiped the tears from her eyes. "I feel so foolish."

"Nonsense." Charlie took her hand. "I have an idea. Why don't we go out tonight?"

"Okay. I have to go and practice until three. Why don't we go out then? You can pick me up." Jody suggested.

"Okay." Charlie gave her one last kiss before she took off.