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We all laugh, and I turn back to Chase. “Okay, I guess we’ll have a little girl-plus-Drake time.” Chase grins and kisses me again, this time lingering a little longer.
“Gross,” I hear Willow mutter.
I laugh, breaking our kiss and watching as he rises and heads up the stairs. I focus back on the game. It’s my turn, but I don’t have anything I can place on the discard pile, so I draw a few cards until I can.
“You two are so in love it’s ridiculous,” Olivia announces. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy before.”
“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” I ask her, watching the game as it continues. “I had this chaotic and busy life in LA, and here, I just... live. I know how lucky I am to be able to say that, and to spend my days with Emily and then Willow when she gets out of school. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about it, though.”
Olivia nods. “Yeah, but you deserve that. You’ve always worked so hard. You deserve to relax now and enjoy your pregnancy and your relationships. You can get back into the workforce when the time is right. Any luck on getting ahold of the owner of the studio?”
When the old dance studio shut down, it was purchased by someone outside of Gamble Springs. Janice has been helping me hunt down the new owners to talk about purchasing it, since it’s been vacant the past few years, but getting a hold of them hasn’t been easy.
“No luck yet. Hopefully soon. I’ve seen it on the outside and have peeped into the windows, and it’s got such great bones. I know I can’t fully open it until after the baby is born, but it needs so much work. I’d rather start those renovations as soon as possible.”
“I can’t wait!” Willow chimes in. She sits up on her knees in the chair. “It’s going to be so fun to get to dance again. Will you be my teacher, Addison?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure. I do want to teach, but I don’t know how many classes I’ll be able to manage on my own. I’m nervous to take on too much at once. While I know dance, I’ve never owned a business before. What if I can’t juggle it with a newborn? But then I’m worried that if I don’t try to make it happen now, this dream will just get pushed aside.”
Indira pats my hand. “You’re not on your own here, though. You have an entire family backing you and supporting you. And you can start off small—only offer a few classes a week. Maybe one class for each age group.”
Olivia nods. “That’s a good idea. You can fit that in Monday through Friday and only work a few hours a day. Then you’ll still be able to dance yourself and still have lots of time with the baby.”
“You’re right,” I say. “That sounds pretty great.”
“Now you just need to think of a name,” Drake adds.
A spark of excitement grows in my chest as my mind tumbles with ideas for the rest of the game.
