Our Last Dance

48.

"This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I was inviting you to California with me," Lindsey smirked as he wrapped his arm around her, guiding her through the hospital parking lot. 

She chuckled, "Me either, but honestly, it's very much helped any doubt to deny your offer..."

"Really?" he creased his brow in wonder. 

Although it was October, California was not overly cold that fall, in fact, the sunlight was warming them enough that they didn't need a heavy coat, the brown leaves were blowing gently in the breeze and the crisp smell of fall simply added to the reminisce she was feeling. 

"I moved to Aspen with Trevor's father because I loved him so much, I just wanted to be with him that I picked up and left the place I truly loved. Since he's been gone, I've felt awfully secluded, but being here the last few hours has taken from that feeling. Not only being with you, but just being here in general..." she sighed. "I don't know, it feels good here."

"It certainly does... This is my home and I don't even know how I wound up in Colorado when I grew up here, met Shelly's mom in Vegas and started working at the college. It's far from where I thought I'd be and now that I don't have those responsibilities, I just wanna be here. I wanna get back into the music scene, I want to get my old band back together, I just want a fresh start..."

"I think it is a great idea, there's no reason you shouldn't do what makes you happy..."

"But I will really only be happy if you come with me," he assured. "Are you really willing to come with me? What about your house? Your dance studio?"

They started making their way to a cafe just across the street from the hospital and luckily it was not overly crowded that Sunday morning. 

Seating her at the table, he made his way to the other side and he took a seat, taking her hands within his. 

"Since you asked me last night, I really have been thinking about it all," she sighed. "Some things are falling into place for me and it's really giving me thought about things I've been thinking about but have been too scared to bring up..."

"Like what?" he wondered, not really knowing she had been afraid to speak up.

"Despite breaking my ankle, because that was a bummer, the time off was great. We were just home and even though I was constantly thinking about my little ballerinas, the time to myself was nice. I enjoyed training Shelly at home and everything, but I've been thinking about retiring."

He was pretty shocked to say the least. 

"I don't know if I'm retiring indefinitely, but for the time being, I think it would be healthy and so when you asked me, I only had to consider leaving my house and I think it's time for me to move on. I'm gonna have Trevor move into his house, it's his house anyway, it's where his father and I raised him and if you and I want to be here, there's no reason he shouldn't raise his family in his home..." she paused to linger. 

"But?" He knew well she had much more on her mind. 

"The only thing that kind of breaks my heart is being away from Ireland, but I feel better now, hearing that Shelly and Leo are moving into the house across the street... That's just uncanny because within all my swarming thoughts of us welcoming your new grand baby, thinking of leaving my grand baby, our kids---somehow it's all working in our favor because they're gonna have each other."

"They will and they do still have us," he explained. "I've been thinking about moving back for so long and I do feel bad for thinking about things like this because Leo and Shelly have just bought their house, but we're a plane flight away... I was thinking we can move there, it'll be a little temporary, but we'll be back and forth so often to see the kids. There's so much more than just the holidays and birthdays, and you know if we do decide to stay here, we can always have the kids with us."

She grinned at the idea of everything coming to mind; there were so many alternatives and nothing at that point was permanent, but it was the need for change for the sake of their growth as a couple and for themselves. 

"What do you say we wait a couple months, do some more planning and once all is said and done, we can tell the kids?"

"Okay," she nodded. "And I do want to wait some time, just because as far as the studio goes... I really want to give it to Shelly. My dance studio will always be mine, but she's got a love for dance just as I did at that age and I want her to do what she wants with it as she trudges through motherhood and continues her studies."

"Wow, Stevie, really? What about Trevor or Annelle?"

She shrugged, "Annelle is a full time nurse and has never been into dance, Trevor dances for fun, not to teach and they'll have the house. He works and besides, there is the ballroom downstairs... Shelly is the only one who will truly appreciate it and when they're moved into their new place, she can decide that she wants to teach or not. She doesn't have to, but I trust her to teach my students and take care of my studio. And if I decide, I want to teach again, I'm thinking I'll open a studio out here," she shrugged. "I can be my own chain."

"Well, hey, that's a pretty fancy idea," he grinned. 

"We have options, but either way, Lindsey, I'm with you... I want to stay here with you and I want us to relish in our time together without feeling guilty and or like we're forcing each other into anything..."

"That makes me so happy, Stevie, really..." he undoubtedly shook his head. 

She smiled but then took a long pause. "I just realized, I should call the kids... They'll be coming back from their trip tonight and they have no idea I'm out of state..."

"Oh, yeah... That's quite a thought," he smirked. "We should be home by tomorrow night. I just need to make sure these guys are good to go with their newborn..."

"Of course, they'll understand. Besides, maybe we should let them know our ideas to move here so we can all plan accordingly for the next several months."

"Sounds good," he smiled. "Let's get out of here," he winked, standing tall in order to offer her his hand. 

She took his hand and slowly entered his embrace and after a moment, she looked at him and she was quite taken by him; she had butterflies because not only did he send a frenzy down her spine with his looks, but she was simply excited about their future together.