Simone and Keith had already resumed their rumba. Sexy, restrained and elegant: it was the perfect dance for them and they already did it superbly. Dominic was walking around them, correcting Keith’s arms. They didn’t have any lifts but they had technique and style. The only flaw to me was that Simone always looked a bit too impeccable, as if she were posing for a camera. I preferred Nina, who danced with her heart and soul.

—

I practiced dancing whenever I was free, and when I couldn’t do that, I worked on my body with stretches, sit-ups and push-ups. I was so grateful I no longer had to answer phones or use a computer or fill in agendas for other people. This was work I could do. I’d always been lean but my musculature became more defined. I became stronger and more flexible than I’d ever been, and I could feel the difference when I danced with Ryan. When it worked, it was like we were two halves of the same person. I felt free and strong, beautiful and courageous, capable of anything. I could lose myself in the dancing and know that he’d be there to catch me when I needed him.

Although Ryan and I sometimes argued, I had to respect him. We were both covered in sweat after one of our sessions, but he was the one who had to pick me up repeatedly. I felt guilty when I made a mistake and he’d have to do it again. My body wasn’t always in the right place at the right time, I forgot to arch, I whacked him on the head with my arm but he never complained. He just accepted that it was his job to lift me in addition to his own dancing. His Cuban motion had improved, although it wasn’t anything to write home about. At least his hips looked like they matched mine. And I appreciated that he always came on time and worked hard without complaining.

Now that it was April, Ryan’s work days were becoming longer and sometimes he had to return to the landscaping firm after our lessons. He often came to the studio in his workman’s pants and boots again, changing into regular shoes before he danced with me. I didn’t tell him that I loved seeing him in his gardener’s outfit. He always smelled of earth and greenery then, his body strong underneath the rough clothing.

One afternoon, I saw Ryan walk in behind me, reflected in the mirror. He was early today. He quietly sat down at one of the tables by the edge of the dance floor and I averted my eyes, pretending I hadn’t seen him. I focused on myself in the mirror and whipped off a turn to the right, spotting myself. Good, now a single turn to the left. Both clean turns, now the double turns. I stared myself in the eyes and did a double to the right, then a double to the left. Great, now that we’re warmed up, how about a triple to the right? One, two, three. Ryan just sat there and watched me with his intent gaze.

—

Irene interrupted us during our lesson. We were in the middle of a tango oversway where Ryan had just gone from a backward pivot turn to arching me back in his arms.

Irene tapped him on the shoulder. “There’s a phone call for Charlie. The girl says it’s an emergency.”

When I gasped, I broke my position, which threw my entire body out of balance. I floundered.

“Whoa,” said Ryan, steadying me. He put me back on my feet. “Take it—”

I’d already raced into the reception area to pick up the phone. The only person who knew I worked at the studio was Lisa.

“Charlie?” Her voice sounded much younger and higher on the phone.

“Are you all right?”

She started to sniff. “School was over and I didn’t feel okay enough to go to Uncle’s office. I’m sorry, Charlie. I just couldn’t do it today.”

“Are you sick? What happened?”

“I lost feeling in my legs again.” Her voice was thin and scared. “The teacher became alarmed in science class but I told her I’d hurt my ankle. Then it went away and I could walk out, so I did. Please don’t make me go to the office today, I feel too bad.”

I didn’t know what to do. Lisa’s school was in Chinatown. It would be the smartest thing to make her go to Uncle’s office but to tell them she couldn’t work today. At least Uncle could make sure she was all right until Pa and I got home. I couldn’t leave the studio with my entire schedule booked full, and Pa would get into trouble if he kept his kid at the restaurant.

“Lisa, you won’t have to work today but I think you should go—”

“I’m downstairs.”

I stopped. “From Uncle’s office?”

“From yours.”

I threw the handset back into the receiver and ran to the elevator. I jabbed at the elevator button. Luckily, the doors opened right away and it was empty. When the elevator opened on the ground floor, Lisa was standing there, cheeks wet from the rain and her tears, dragging her book bag on the floor. I hugged her and pulled her back into the elevator with me. Another woman entered with us.

I kept an arm around Lisa as I wiped her face. The woman standing across from us had sparkling high-heeled shoes sticking out of her smooth leather bag. Her silk scarf was tossed casually over her shoulder and I could see she was wearing a leotard underneath her spring coat. “I saw you dancing the other evening.”

I remembered I was at work. “You must be a student.”

Lisa peeked up but didn’t say anything.

“I am. I’ve been training for years at another studio but just transferred here. I wanted to tell you, you were wonderful.”

I was so startled that this elegant woman was complimenting me that I could barely stammer, “Thanks.” I smoothed back Lisa’s hair. When the elevator doors opened, I took her hand and led her into the studio.

—

Ryan was waiting for us in the reception area. I’d completely forgotten about him. “I’m sorry, I’ll be right with you.”

“No, it’s all right. Let me guess, you guys are related, right?”

Lisa smiled up at him.

“You’re so wet. Are you Charlie’s sister?” It was Nina. “Let me take your coat and bag.”

Irene said, “I’ll make you something warm, dear. Would you like some tea or hot chocolate?”

Lisa said, “Hot chocolate, please.” She whispered to me, “Does this mean I can stay?”

I was nodding when Dominic appeared in the doorway to the office behind the reception area. I froze. “I’m sorry, she has nowhere else to go today and—”

He stepped out. “What a lovely girl. Welcome to the studio.”

I stared. I’d assumed that he would be angry my sister was interrupting my lesson. She’d always been thrown out of the restaurant when Mr. Hu saw her. “You don’t mind?”

“Of course not. Your sister is welcome here as long as she wants to stay. Let her come every day.” I remembered that in other countries, it was a tradition to teach ballroom to children from a young age. Dominic was used to having kids study at his studio. Lisa drew in a breath and raised shining eyes to me.

I wished so much I could say yes. Lisa saw my expression and her face fell. “I wish she could. She has a job after school.”

She looked so forlorn.

Ryan said, “Do you want to see me throw someone around?” Lisa brightened up. She nodded. He took her delicate hand and went with her into the studio. The moment they passed the doors, he swooped her up and did a series of turns down the ballroom with her in his arms while she shrieked with laughter. When he put her down, he gave her a wink and said, “Now, I didn’t say who I was going to do it to, did I?”

—

Lisa sat at one of the round tables, sipping a cup of hot chocolate and chatting with Nina as if she would never stop. I had phoned Uncle to tell him that Lisa had gone home sick to the apartment and I was accompanying her. If I didn’t lie, he would insist on her coming back to his office. Although the studio closed at ten thirty p.m., Pa worked so late these days that I still always got home before him, so I knew we wouldn’t be caught.

This was one of the days when I practiced the other dances with Ryan. He still needed to learn to be a good general dancer for Evelyn’s wedding. Lisa saw us go from samba to tango to swing. At the end of his lesson, we did a part of our mambo for her. Her face was glowing with pride as she watched me. She didn’t look jealous in the slightest.