Chapter 40

"Where's tha want this?" Barry asks, holding up a sign. I hurry over from where I've been putting the final coat of paint on the walls in the foyer.

The sign displays the New Steps logo that Darcy designed a couple of weeks ago. A silhouette of two guys dancing with a rainbow-heart background. It looks amazing, made real and two feet tall. I call Darcy, who's cleaning the kitchen.

"Wow!" he exclaims when he sees it. "I didn't imagine that it would look so good."

He ushers Barry outside the front door and shows him the place where the sign will go. Barry's offer to make the sign has been gratefully received, but it's not the only assistance we've had. We've been overwhelmed by how many people wanted to come and help. My dad and Alan have helped with the renovations, along with Barry, on the weekends. Mum has been incredible, and marshalled Maggie and Brenda into helping. Justin and Mark, freshly back from their honeymoon, got in touch with us and lent their help, mostly clearing the jungle outside, mowing the old bowling green, trimming the hedges, and weeding the car park. Mr Hamilton came forward as he's a knowledgeable gardener and took ownership of the flower beds, directing Justin and Mark in what can be saved and what needs replacing. Claire has helped with the marketing, offering some great advice and useful contacts. We'd given ourselves a month before opening, thinking that as long as the studio room is ready, we can start, and work on the rest as we go. With everyone's help, the studio is almost completely ready when Barry brings us the sign two days before we're due to open.

When it's hung, we gather everyone together to have a look.

"I'm proud of you, son." My dad puts his arm around my shoulders and draws me into a side hug. I turn and hug him properly.

"Thanks Dad. We couldn't have done it without your help."

I release him, and I see him go over to Darcy. I don't know what Darcy says to him, but I see a rare smile blossom on my dad's face and then he hugs Darcy, too. A warmth spreads in my core, watching them together. I think I've come to understand my dad more in the last few weeks than I've ever done in my life. I feel a lot closer to him. Seeing him and Darcy together makes me really happy, especially when Darcy's relationship with his own parents is so broken.

Before we leave for the day, we stand and stare at the sign again.

"I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes," he says, and I can understand that from what he's been through.

"Greek?" I ask, as I have no idea about mythology.

"Egyptian," Darcy replies, giving it a final look.

"Are you nervous?" I ask Darcy, the morning of our grand opening.

"Yes. Well no, but yes." He stops speaking and laughs. "I'm excited about what we're about to do, but nervous in case no one wants to come and dance with us."

I understand him, and I feel it too. But I also know that we're fully booked for the first two months. Darcy created a website with an online booking system. We booked in all those clients who wanted to join us from his parents' school, and then Darcy had sent the information to all the people in his inbox. The response has been phenomenal and we haven't even advertised yet, simply relying on word of mouth and the publicity from the competition.

I put my arms round him and nuzzle into his neck, inhaling his warm citrus and honey scent.

"Are we crazy?" he asks.

"Probably." I chuckle. "But I can't think of anyone I would rather be crazy with."

"Do you want to drive?" I ask, as I reluctantly release him.

"Oh no, not today. I'm far too nervous for that," Darcy laughs. Once we'd finalised the contract for the studio, I bought a car. Just a cheap runabout, but it was clear we were going to need one to get to the new studio, fetch supplies for renovating it, and to get to the lessons we're giving at Gran's retirement village. Darcy is learning to drive as well and making good progress.

We're just about ready when people start arriving. It's a beautiful summer's day, and we can open up the studio doors and use the garden as well.

My parents arrive, along with Barry, Maggie, Alan, and Brenda. They soon apply themselves to helping and making refreshments. Justin and Mark are not far behind them, bringing some of their friends that we met at their wedding. Claire came straight over and hugged us, saying she was a very proud big sister. All our clients from the forties event bring their support, as well as many people we've never even seen before.

I feel a burst of pride when my gran arrives with some of her new friends who we've been teaching lessons to. I go over to greet them.

I see Darcy talking to someone and it takes me a moment to realise that it's Julia.

"Hi Nick." She greets me as I walk over. "I'm back for a few weeks, between sailings, and I heard what had happened. I wanted to check in on you and give you some support. I'm so happy for you both and I'm glad you're alright Darcy." She gives us both a hug.

"Thanks Julia. I guess you were the one who saw my mum for what she really is. I wish I'd seen it sooner," he replies, his face darkening.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, she could be really persuasive. But let's not let her influence darken your day any longer. How about you show me around and a dance for old times' sake?"

"Of course." Darcy's smile returns and he leads her off for a dance.

We take turns giving tours round the small building, and explain some of the plans we have for classes and events. We end up taking even more bookings, so we're going to be busy for a long while. At this rate, we'll have covered the first year's rent within the first few months, as well as being able to pay ourselves enough to live on. We've agreed that we'll be frugal and make sure we have all foreseeable expenses covered before we give ourselves a raise. We're hoping that people don't tail off after the first rush of interest. We've installed a sound system that we can Bluetooth to our phones and I play some music. As usual, Darcy and I start with a dance together. It's one we've been practising for some of the competitions we're planning to enter, hoping we have a shot at the Nationals again next year. Then we encourage others to dance and we both dance with different partners.

Taking a short break, I collect two cups of tea and take them over to where Gran is sitting.

"It's going well," she says, and I agree with her.

She takes an envelope out of her bag and hands it to me.

"What's this?" I frown. It looks very official.

"It won't open itself," she replies with a smile. I give her my best "not funny" look and open it, withdrawing the papers from inside. The first thing I notice is a solicitor's name across the top. I shoot her a worried glance, but she's just giving me one of her best enigmatic smiles. I quickly read through the first page and sink down onto a chair before my knees give way—they feel very wobbly right now. I read through it again and then look at her.

"You can't." My voice is nothing more than a papery whisper.

"I think you'll find that I can do what I like," she says primly.

"It's too much," I croak, as speech is difficult and everything feels difficult, like I'm moving through treacle. My brain feels the same way.

"What's wrong?" Darcy appears by my side, concern tingeing his voice. I don't take my eyes off Gran, but hand him the paper. All is silent for a moment while he reads it through.

"Oh,"he says, handing the papers back.

Gran reaches across the table and places her hand on top of mine, giving it a squeeze.

"Nicholas, seeing you grow up from a young boy with potential into the kind, thoughtful young man you are now has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I can't thank you enough for the joy you've given me—and are still giving me with what you and Darcy are going to achieve here.

"I was always going to leave it for you in my will, but I don't need it anymore. I don't see why it has to stay empty or why you should wait. I know you were saving up for a place of your own, and how you used that money to start this studio, but I'm sure you're both in need of a home. I'm pretty certain you and Darcy would like some privacy." She gives a little wolfish grin as Darcy turns an adorable shade of pink. I'm pretty sure that she's a hair's breadth from tittering with glee that she did that to him.

I can't accept it, of course, as much as it would really help Darcy and me out. I'm not denying that our own space would be fantastic, but...

"It's too much, Gran. I can't accept it. Surely you need it, to sell or something for your own care?"

"My dear." She squeezes my hand again. "I have enough, and it's not your concern."

I still protest.

"But—"

"Nick." Darcy cuts in and sits on the chair next to me. "Do you remember a conversation we had a month ago, when I said that using your savings to start our own studio was too much and I didn't want you to?"

"Yes, of course I do." I'm not sure what he's getting at.

"Well, you were pretty stubborn about it." He gives my gran a look and then turns back to me. "I think your gran has the edge on you for stubbornness, and I also think you should let her have her way. Just like I let you have yours."

The sass pulls me out of my stupor.

"You let me have my own way?" I retort.

"Oh, I knew I'd love you." Gran cackles at Darcy with delight, then, in an aside to me, she whispers loudly, "Don't let this one go, Nicholas."

Like that was ever going to happen.

"Mrs Parker!" Darcy blushes again.

"I think you can call me Gran too now, don't you?" She tells him and his colour deepens.

"Is everything alright, love?" my mum asks, as she and Dad appear next to our table.

"Well, Mrs Parker has just given Nick her house," he says, breaking the news for me. I look up at my parents and they're smiling like it isn't a surprise.

"You knew?" I ask incredulously, but I already know the answer.

"We always knew she was going to leave it to you, Nick. She amended her will years ago. That she's doing it now, we also knew, but she wanted to be the one to surprise you."

"I'm surprised alright."

"Well," sniffs Gran. "So far, he hasn't said yes."

I look at my gran and her expectant face, the smiling faces of my parents, and then to Darcy, my beautiful Darcy. The thought of living alone with him and not having to share a space, fills me with a deep joy... and something else. But this is not the time or place to allow my horny ass to follow that route, so I look back at Gran, seeing from the look on her face that she knew what I was thinking. I almost blush myself, but instead, I give one of her wolfish grins back at her.

"Yes. Thank you." It seems an inadequate thing to say, but I can't think of what else, so I repeat it. "Thank you so much, Gran."

"I knew you'd see sense, with a little help from your man, of course." She tilts her head to Darcy, and when I knee bump him under the table, he bumps me back. She produces a pen. "Now, if you'll just sign the papers, I can give them back to the solicitors."

I dutifully sign them and hand them back over to her. I lean over and kiss her on the cheek and whisper, "Thank you, Gran. I mean it when I say you've made my year."

"Oh, I can't take the credit for all of that. I think it's mostly due to Darcy."

She's not wrong, and I turn to him to tell him that. He's looking over at the door. His face is ashen, all traces of the pretty pink shade obliterated. I follow his line of sight and see a figure framed in the doorway. His dad.