Pointe Shoes

Chapter five

The Hoover Dam was amazing. Breathtaking. Awe inspiring.

I hadn't ever seen much of America, only traveling to random Californian cities, New York, and the occasional Chicago, but only for ballet compitions. I'd never really explored my country.

Max, however, had visited every state, even Alaska and Hawaii. He'd seen the Hoover Dam 3 times already.

"Wow." I whispered, feeling tiny standing on the humongous dam.

"It sure is something, isn't it?" Max said with a grin.

"It sure is." I replied, barely glancing his way. I was trying to soak the whole thing in.

"You know, the Hoover Dam was built during Herbert Hoover's presidency." Max stated, as we started back to the van. "It was during the Great Depression, before Roosevelt took over. It gave a whole lot of jobs, to a whole lot of people. My great grandfather lived during the Great Depression, and his neighbor moved to work on the Dam." He explained as we climbed back into the van. I smiled as I look at the pictures I had snapped while we were up there. I got several of the dam itself, and the look form the top, and a selfie of Max and I, his arm draped casually over my shoulder, both of us grinning. I reminded myself to print it out when I got home.

We drove out of the parking lot and continued to drive down the highway. I smiled at Max, I was really enjoying this road trip so far. I know that getting your hopes up only leads to disappointment, so quickly dragged my eyes away from him and back to The Book Thief. Max kept insisting I read to him, and honestly? I didn't mind. He laughed at funny moments, and gasped at surprising things. Occasionally, I got a comment about what happened. My favorites included "Lesiel, you beautiful spinster, I will find you love." Which was a quote from some TV show Max loves, and "Is it possible to force two characters into holy matrimony?" Which, unfortunately, is impossible.

My ringtone began to blast from my phone and I pulled it out of my bag after struggling a minute to find the blasted thing.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey! It's Mom!"

"Hi Mom." I smiled, happy she remembered to call. "How are you?"

"Amazing! And, um, do you remember Mark?" she asked, sounding nervous.

"No." I briefly recalled a man in a dark suit my mom had introduced me to a week ago, but I didn't remember his name.

"Well, he's a really nice man and actually was my boyfriend through all of high school and two years of college, and now... He's my husband." My mom rushed the last part out, leaving me shocked.

"You got MARRIED?" I yelled into the phone. Max jumped in his seat, and turned his eyes, the color of dark chocolate at the moment, to my wide eyes.

"I know this is sudden, and you don't really know him, and I'm really sorry about that, but I really love him. I never stopped." She told me, her voice calmer now, almost serene sounding, though not losing the joy behind the words.

"Mom, don't you think you've rushed into this? What if he's not the same guy?" I pleaded with her, twisting a strand of my blonde hair in between my fingers.

"Honey, he's the one in the pictures." Was all she said. "Sweetheart, I have to go help a student with her bun, but I love you so much and I know this must be hard for you, but everything going to be great. I'll talk to you soon. Have fun, Clara." She said, hanging up.

I sat there, staring at my phone, not believing what just happened. My mom, queen of think it over, got married. Then I remembered I had brought the pictures. I dug through my bag, smiling when I pulled the familiar shoebox out. I opened the lid, and pulled out the picture I knew she was talking about.