“Yeah.” Annie looked down. “My mom . . .” She stopped, not wanting to get into what had happened, and switched topics. “I was dancing professionally in New York City, and had started a modern dance company. I also had a studio on the Upper East Side for almost ten years.” Annie paused, picturing her studio, which had been on the third floor of a walk-up. The excitement the day she’d found the space, building the sprung dance floor, having mirrors and barres installed, and decorating the changing room. She’d loved her studio, spending hours in there taking and teaching classes, choreographing new pieces, and rehearsing her company. She’d spent more time in leotards and tights or leggings than regular street clothing, her hair either up in a bun or twisted and clipped up in a wide barrette. Dancing had been her life, her passion.
“What happened to your company?” Serena reached out and put a hand on Annie’s arm briefly, offering support.
“My landlord wanted to sell the building, but instead of telling me, he raised the rent by more than forty percent, knowing I’d never be able to afford it.” Annie’s mouth twisted as if she’d eaten something sour, thinking back to that time. “He also decided I owed him back property taxes, which he had said verbally that I didn’t need to pay when we first signed the contract. He’d said it in front of his lawyer, who remembered, but because we never formally wrote it down, my lawyer said he was within his right to collect on the back taxes. They totaled more than $100,000.”
Serena gasped. “No. I guess you didn’t have the money?”
“No.” Annie frowned. “And we weren’t doing well financially. Just barely getting by every month. My lawyer advised me to file for bankruptcy and get out.” She stared off into space, lost in thought about that horrible year. “That was the last straw. To lose Lili, then my mother, and then my career and everything I’d worked so hard for, not to mention my financial credibility, it was too much. I . . .”
Serena reached out again, this time leaving her hand on Annie’s arm and squeezing. She didn’t say anything, just waited for Annie to continue.
“I kind of . . . I don’t know. Lost it. No one could help me. I wanted to die. I couldn’t take care of Finn. I just wanted to disappear.”
“Oh, Annie. I understand perfectly. I’ve felt the exact same way before.” And with those words, Serena took Annie’s hand in hers and their eyes met. Understanding passed between them, and all Annie felt in that moment was relief that someone finally, finally, understood her.
11
Annie’s cell rang, breaking the spell between them. Taking her hand back from Serena, she picked up her phone and saw it was Brody.
“It’s my husband. I should take this.”
“Of course.” Serena nodded and pulled out her own phone. “I’ll check my social media while you talk.”
“Thanks,” Annie said before picking up the call. “Hi, Brody.”
“Everything okay?”
Annie laughed, happy to hear his voice, and the sound was a welcome relief from the somber mood just a minute before. “Yes. Still here. But the storm is awful. A tree fell in the backyard. I’m afraid the power or cell service is going to go out.”
“Oh no. Are you all okay?” Worry tinged Brody’s words.
“Yes. My father doesn’t think any of the trees should hit either house if they fall. But I guess we’re safer staying put for the time being. How’s Lihue?”
“Horrible. I don’t think I’m going to make it back anytime soon.” Brody paused, as someone shouted something in the background. “I’m going to wait and see if the storm lets up.”
“That’s probably for the best. The news is telling people to stay off the roads.” Annie glanced over at the TV.
“I’ll get something to eat with the guys. You going to eat all the food your father brought over this morning?” Brody chuckled.
Annie realized how much she missed laughing with Brody and teasing each other. “I’m fine. Serena and I actually have a lot in common.” She turned to Serena, who looked up at the sound of her name. “We’re getting to know each other.”
“I’m glad.” Brody’s voice softened. “It’s good you’re making friends.”
“I know.” Annie stopped, wanting to say so many things to him. How she was sorry for everything. How awful she knew she’d been to live with and how she really did want to try and make their lives better again. But with Serena there, she knew this wasn’t the right time. “Let’s talk more when you get home, okay?”
“Yes. Love you, Sexy.”
“Me too, My Fireman.” Annie’s heart gave a bump, happy they were reaching out to each other. She hung up, a soft smile on her face, and looked up to see Serena watching her.
An intensity in her eyes gave Annie pause. She tilted her head in question at Serena, wondering what was going through the other woman’s mind. But then Serena gave a small shake of her head and her eyes cleared. Annie wondered if she’d imagined it. If the storm and the uneasiness it caused were making her see things that weren’t there.
Serena spoke, her tone light and teasing. “I don’t know if I believe you that your marriage is in trouble. Didn’t sound like it from here.”
“That was not normal.” Annie pursed her lips. “I think the storm is making us be kinder to each other. Or,” she corrected, “it’s making me nicer to Brody.”
“Mm-hm.” Serena looked like she didn’t believe Annie.
“Trust me.” Annie drummed her fingers on her phone. “We’ve been having a rough time. But I hope things will get better.”
“I’m sure it will.” Serena’s voice was soft, a yearning in her tone.
Annie studied Serena, and then on the spur of the moment, she decided to be bold. They’d found common ground just a little while ago, and she really could use a friend here. “Seeing as how we’re stuck together for the foreseeable future, how’d you like to have dinner with me?” Annie paused, then plunged ahead with an invitation. “Finn’s staying at my father’s for dinner, and Brody is stuck at the airport. There’s plenty if you want to eat with me. My dad made me a pot of lu rou fan. Do you know what that is?”
Serena shook her head.
“I guess I should ask first, do you eat pork?” Annie was actually excited to share this very Taiwanese dish with her new friend. Back when she was in grade school, she had hated the ethnic foods her parents would pack her for lunch, knowing the American kids would make fun of the braised pork belly rice her dad made. But now that she was a grown-up, she realized how special their Taiwanese cuisine was, and it always delighted her to introduce someone to foods so different from what Americans thought of as Chinese food.
“I eat everything. I love food.” Serena’s face lit up when she said that.
“Me too. Another way we’re so alike.” This storm and Serena’s broken-down car were turning out to be good things. Who knew they would have so much in common? “Anyways, lu rou fan is usually finely chopped pork belly that’s slow-cooked in an aromatic soy sauce with five spices. But my dad doesn’t chop up the pork belly. He leaves it whole, which has a whole other name, I think kang rou fan, or something like that. But we just call it lu rou fan. He spoons the pork belly over hot rice with the sauce. He adds hard-boiled eggs in the sauce too, along with sliced carrots. So it’s like a stew, but the sauce is amazing.”