Variation: A Novel

Five years later

The Metropolitan Opera House buzzed with palpable excitement as we made our way to our seats. I glanced up at the family box, which was no longer our family’s, and smiled at the bright-eyed boy looking down at the orchestra pit with eager anticipation.

“Homesick?” Hudson asked as he led me down the back row, straight toward the center, his fingers laced with mine.

“No,” I replied.

“Don’t lie,” Kenna lectured from behind us. “You know you can’t find those bagels you love in Washington, or wherever it is you two live right now.”

“You know damn well where we live,” I retorted as we approached the center seat where Caroline sat with Gavin and Anne. Hudson had been stationed at Cape Disappointment for the last two years, and it was our favorite so far. Though I often missed our house in Alaska too.

“This is us, baby.” Kenna pointed to their seats, then did a double take at her husband. “I know you are not texting work right now. Tell them I don’t care who needs to be cut open—you are mine for the evening, Matthias.”

“Just checking in with the sitter, Ken.” He tucked his phone in the pocket of his suit coat, unbuttoned the top button, and sat. “He’s fine, by the way.”

“I know that because I texted her from the lobby.” Kenna took the seat next to him, and I left one empty before sitting beside Hudson. “She probably thinks we’re insane.”

“Or just overprotective parents,” I countered.

“No date?” Hudson leaned forward and looked past Caroline and Anne to Gavin.

“Eh.” He shrugged. “Mind if I borrow yours?”

“Yes.” Hudson sat back and slipped his hand onto my thigh. “Where are Miles and Tyler?”

A teenage girl with red hair startled in front of us as she saw me, then quickly turned around and took her seat.

“Ty’s backstage with the girls,” Caroline answered. “They’re all nervous.” She looked my way. “Did you get to slip backstage?”

I nodded with a grin. “She looks fantastic, and super calm.”

“Miles has a deposition in Boston.” Anne smiled and color rose in her cheeks. “But he’ll be home tomorrow. You guys want your room, right, Allie? Because that’s the one I made up.”

“Absolutely.” I nodded. Tomorrow kicked off the one week we’d all cleared in our schedules to spend at the beach house. Mom had passed over almost four years ago, but we still kept her rules.

I glanced at the empty seat next to me.

“She’ll be here.” Hudson brushed his lips over my temple.

“Punctuality is not her strong suit,” Kenna reminded me, then arched her neck to look behind us. “But look who made it!”

“As if we’d miss it.” Everett leaned over and smacked a kiss on my cheek. “Give us a second and we’ll make our way around.” His wedding ring flashed under the lights as he reached for Michael’s hand, and they walked toward the end of the aisle.

“Not even a twinge of homesickness?” Hudson asked, his fingers stroking the top of my thigh.

“I performed here last year,” I reminded him, turning my head so I could steal a quick kiss. “And you’re my home. Best of both worlds.”

He leaned in and deepened the kiss a step beyond what would be considered appropriate for the Met, and I reveled in every second of it. I would never get tired of kissing this man.

“Ugh. You two are nauseating.” Eva slipped past Kenna and sank into her seat, the plastic wrap surrounding her bouquet crackling.

“And you were almost late.” Peace settled in my soul, the same way it always did when we managed to get ourselves under one roof.

“It hasn’t started yet, and therefore I am still on time,” Eva argued. “Did everyone bring flowers? How many bouquets does one girl need?”

“I’ve counted six so far,” Gavin answered.

“Sounds right.” Hudson adjusted the roses in his lap to protect the blooms. “Caroline, are you okay? You look like you’re going to puke.”

“I’m fine.” Caroline nodded, drumming her fingertips on the armrest between them. “Just nervous for her. It’s not every day a little local studio gets invited to perform at the Met.”

“She’ll do great,” I promised Caroline.

“Relax, it’s in her genes,” Eva added, then turned to me. “Want the latest Company gossip? We soloists hear it all. Oh, and did anyone grab a program?”

Kenna sighed and set an extra program in Eva’s lap.

“No on the gossip.” I shook my head. “But I’m glad you’re entertained.”

The young woman ahead of us turned in her seat, then stared at me for three awkward seconds before clearing her throat. “I’m so sorry to bug you, but you look like Alessandra Rousseau.”

I smiled. “Alessandra Ellis, actually, but yes. That’s me.”

Hudson’s hand flexed on my thigh, and I caught a glimpse of his dimple popping from the corner of my eye.

“Oh my God. I love you. I watch your performances all the time,” the teen gushed.

“That’s very kind of you. Thank you. What’s your name?” I asked.

“Celine.” Her face lit up, and her gaze caught on Eva. “And you’re Eva! I follow you, and I’m absolutely in love with the series you did on the differences between all the different brands of pointe shoes.”

“Thanks.” Eva flashed a grin.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Celine,” I said. “I hope you enjoy the performance.”

“You guys are legends,” she whispered, then turned around.

Hudson leaned in and brushed his lips over my ear. “I fucking love when you say your name almost as much as when you say mine.”

Heat immediately flushed my skin. “Behave. It’s the Met.” It had taken me all of three seconds to decide to take his name when we got married two years ago. I was simply done being a Rousseau.

“I don’t recall you saying anything about propriety when we were in the dressing room last year,” he whispered, his fingers sliding toward the hem of my short black dress. “In fact, I remember a lot of you asking for more, and harder, and faster at one point.”

“I love you.” And now I kind of wanted to tug him backstage for a repeat performance.

“I love you more. You’re perfect, Allie. You know that, right?” Sea green eyes locked with mine, and I lost track of my thoughts.

“Awh, look!” Eva rustled the program. “Haven Cove Contemporary Dance, and there’s her name!”

The lights went down, and Caroline started rocking in her seat.

Anne took her left hand.

I reached over Hudson’s lap and took her right.

The curtain rose, and excitement bubbled through my chest like I was the one about to take the stage. My smile widened to impossible proportions as Juniper appeared with the rest of her class.

She was flawless.