Pris hadn’t believed it was possible.
The year they spent together was both beautiful and maddening. Her performance and rehearsal schedule was brutal. He’d just passed the bar and been offered a position at a prestigious Boston firm. On paper, it didn’t seem to work—they were in two different worlds and had opposing responsibilities. But he’d fallen just as hard—and they realized someone would have to give in, in order for it to work.
Pris remembered sitting across from her mother at the kitchen table, spilling out her heart, desperate for advice.
“Mom, I don’t know what to do. If I stay, I’ll be traveling all over the country for Swan Lake. It’s my dream, but I didn’t realize I could love someone this much.”
Her mother gazed at her with such raw regret and pain, Pris froze with dread. It was as if her mother knew the outcome of her dilemma, and there wasn’t a happy ending.
“I know about that type of love,” her mother said slowly. Her usually bright blue eyes were shadowed, and her fingers shook as she reached across to grasp hers. “Is there a way Garrett can be with you? Do a long-distance relationship for a while? At least, until Swan Lake closes?”
“He just passed the bar and got a job at Fitzgerald & Watkins. He’ll be working nonstop hours and not be able to travel.” Pris shut her eyes with despair. “I don’t think we can survive that type of stress. And I know ballet has been my everything, but the idea of losing him? I’d die, Mom. I never knew I could love someone like this.”
Garrett had swept in like a hurricane, tossing her neat life into chaos. But it was a chaos that filled her soul in a new way—a way dancing never could. Suddenly, her priorities shifted. She’d been yelled at by her instructor for losing concentration. Pris knew she couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, or the chance to be cast in the next performance would be minimal.
The real problem was her sudden disinterest. All she wanted was to be with Garrett.
She needed her mother’s sane advice. Craved to be told what was the right thing for her future. The decision that would not keep her up night after night with regret.
“Pris, sometimes opportunities come into our lives we’re not prepared for. The heart and head can be on separate pages, and there’s really not one that’s right and one that’s wrong. It just . . . is.” A sad smile touched her lips. “If you love Garrett and believe you’ll lose a bigger piece of yourself by walking away, you need to follow that instinct. You can never regret love. It’s the other things that will always make you wonder.”
Relief rushed through her. Finally, she was being told what to do. Which choice made the most sense. “You’re saying to choose Garrett.”
“I’m saying you need to do what’s right for you,” Mom corrected. “But a lifelong soul mate is rare to find. Easy to lose. Maybe there will be other opportunities for ballet down the road.”
She sifted through the words, even though her gut told her once she left the ballet world, there would be no more chances. It was a competitive, cutthroat environment built on the youngest, the best, and who worked the hardest. Sacrifice was consistently required. A full-force love affair took too much of the space that dance demanded for excellence.
Pris ignored the sliver of uncertainty at the idea of leaving years of ambition and passion behind. But her mother was right. To lose Garrett at this point would be too much. This was a sacrifice for love.
“I know what I need to do, Mom. Thanks.”
Her mother hesitated, searching her gaze with a bit of desperation. “Be sure, Pris. And once you decide, commit to your choice fully—no holding back. If it’s Garrett, give him everything you are.”
The memory faded. Mom’s words still rang in her ears, like she was right beside her. Funny, Pris had always viewed the encounter differently. Believed Mom was urging her to choose love over a career because she had no regrets loving her father. But what if she was thinking of someone else? A man she’d given up but never forgotten? A man who made her doubt and, perhaps, regret her choices?
Viewing things through the new lens offered her a deeper understanding of the impassioned way her mother gave advice. Commit one hundred percent. Don’t look back. All the things she’d believed she’d done but had only buried them deep underneath the surface, waiting for the what-ifs to rise and explode and cause chaos.
Which they had done. If only she could have allowed herself to grieve her career, to be intentional and kind about her sacrifice, maybe she wouldn’t have had this pent-up resentment toward Garrett.
But she was tired of living this way. Tired of steeping herself in the frustrated rage that did nothing but erode her marriage day by day.
It was time to get real with herself and make some changes. To make some choices. Her sisters were right. She’d been a passive participant in her life for too long, refusing to be real with herself, and her husband.
Not anymore.
She looked down at her phone and realized it was time. She only hoped he picked up.
Pris took a deep breath, relishing the fresh air, then rang his number.
His familiar voice saying her name flooded all the aching, empty places inside her. She realized how strong the connection with her husband still was. Even with their difficulties. Pris just didn’t know what she was going to do about it.
“Hey. How are you?” she asked.
“Fine. Worked late again. Closed the case, though, with a big settlement. Finally, I feel like there’s been justice done.”
Happiness washed through her. His liability case had taken up both his time and his passion—a faulty electronic had caused his client brain damage, which also caused the loss of his family. Garrett had been the only one at the firm wanting to take the case because of the challenge. “That’s wonderful news. You’ve worked so hard, Garrett. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Did you have a nice day?”
“Actually, it was full of surprises. I had a long talk with my sisters, and some hard truths came to the surface.”
“Ah, well, that’s good. I was hoping they’d decided to sell the place instead. Dev really is being the most rational one here. I’m glad you and Bailey finally got on board.”
Irritation ruffled. Why should she be surprised? They talked nothing of emotions to each other—only banal items of everyday life. Of course he’d expect her big truth would have to do with selling the house. God, she was so tired of it all. “No, we’re keeping the house. It’s part of Mom’s legacy and I feel at home here.”
“Even though it’s not practical?”