Counterpointe Read Online Free Page A
Author: Ann Warner
artistry and emotional fearlessness to dance Swan Lake the way it should be danced. You are that dancer, Clare. I’ve known since I saw your Giselle that you had to be my next Odette/Odile.”
Justin propped his head on his hands and grinned. “You may want to start breathing again.”
Startled, she realized she’d stopped when he said the words “Swan Lake.” It was every dancer’s dream, or at least it was hers, to dance the dual role of Odette, the white swan, fragile and vulnerable, and Odile, the black swan, strong and seductive.
“You will be returning to us next year?” Justin said. “Because if you have other plans, I need to know now. Before I make the announcement.”
She straightened and looked Justin in the eye. “There’s no place I’d rather be than Boston.”
And nothing she wanted more than this role.
Chapter Three
I am among those who think that science has great beauty.
Marie Curie
Rob Chapin pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He’d been working on a grant application for the last three hours in his office at Northeastern University, and when the phone rang, he debated answering. The rest of the faculty and office staff had left some time ago and that meant it wouldn’t be a colleague. More likely to be either his mother or his sister, Lynne.
“So, I was right, Professor Chapin,” Lynne said when he picked up the receiver. “I called your apartment, but when you didn’t answer, I figured this was where you’d be. For Pete’s sake, Rob, you need a life.”
“I have a life. A perfectly good one, as a matter of fact.”
“Sure you do. Seven days a week at the university? You’re going to turn into Dr. Frankenstein.”
“Odd. Not one student has remarked on any peculiar tendencies.”
“They wouldn’t. They’re sucking up to protect their grades. Listen, the reason I’m calling...I have a favor to ask.”
“Of course you do.”
Lynne huffed, but he knew she was faking.
“Jim will be out of town this weekend and Saturday is the last ballet performance this season. I’m hoping you’ll take me. That is, if you can tear yourself away from your molecules for an evening.”
“You know I’m not into ballet.”
“It’ll do you good. Expand your horizons.”
“My horizons suit me just fine.”
“Right. You already know what I think about that. So, will you take me?”
When his sister decided she wanted him to do something, it was always easier to give in sooner rather than later. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
Rob watched the opening moments of Romeo and Juliet , impatient at the loss of an evening better spent doing research, preparing a lecture, or finishing the grant application. Then the dancer in the leading role snagged his attention. Even to his untutored eye, it was obvious why she’d been chosen. Elegant and fine-boned, she danced as if she were floating an inch above the stage, her face alive with emotion.
When the lights came up for the interval, Lynne touched his arm. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”
“No thanks.”
Lynne left and he opened the program, searching for the dancer’s name. Clare Eliason. In her first year in Boston. Previously, she’d been with companies in Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Lynne returned and slipped back into her seat. “Do I dare ask what you think?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m enjoying it.”
“Maybe you should come more often.”
“Don’t push it.”
She pulled a face, looking as smart-alecky as she had at twelve. “There’s a reception afterwards. I’d like to stop by for a few minutes.”
So much for his plan to get some work done yet this evening. But as he and Lynne moved around the room, speaking to people his sister knew, he was glad he’d agreed to the reception, since it gave him a chance to see more of Clare
Justin propped his head on his hands and grinned. “You may want to start breathing again.”
Startled, she realized she’d stopped when he said the words “Swan Lake.” It was every dancer’s dream, or at least it was hers, to dance the dual role of Odette, the white swan, fragile and vulnerable, and Odile, the black swan, strong and seductive.
“You will be returning to us next year?” Justin said. “Because if you have other plans, I need to know now. Before I make the announcement.”
She straightened and looked Justin in the eye. “There’s no place I’d rather be than Boston.”
And nothing she wanted more than this role.
Chapter Three
I am among those who think that science has great beauty.
Marie Curie
Rob Chapin pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He’d been working on a grant application for the last three hours in his office at Northeastern University, and when the phone rang, he debated answering. The rest of the faculty and office staff had left some time ago and that meant it wouldn’t be a colleague. More likely to be either his mother or his sister, Lynne.
“So, I was right, Professor Chapin,” Lynne said when he picked up the receiver. “I called your apartment, but when you didn’t answer, I figured this was where you’d be. For Pete’s sake, Rob, you need a life.”
“I have a life. A perfectly good one, as a matter of fact.”
“Sure you do. Seven days a week at the university? You’re going to turn into Dr. Frankenstein.”
“Odd. Not one student has remarked on any peculiar tendencies.”
“They wouldn’t. They’re sucking up to protect their grades. Listen, the reason I’m calling...I have a favor to ask.”
“Of course you do.”
Lynne huffed, but he knew she was faking.
“Jim will be out of town this weekend and Saturday is the last ballet performance this season. I’m hoping you’ll take me. That is, if you can tear yourself away from your molecules for an evening.”
“You know I’m not into ballet.”
“It’ll do you good. Expand your horizons.”
“My horizons suit me just fine.”
“Right. You already know what I think about that. So, will you take me?”
When his sister decided she wanted him to do something, it was always easier to give in sooner rather than later. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
Rob watched the opening moments of Romeo and Juliet , impatient at the loss of an evening better spent doing research, preparing a lecture, or finishing the grant application. Then the dancer in the leading role snagged his attention. Even to his untutored eye, it was obvious why she’d been chosen. Elegant and fine-boned, she danced as if she were floating an inch above the stage, her face alive with emotion.
When the lights came up for the interval, Lynne touched his arm. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”
“No thanks.”
Lynne left and he opened the program, searching for the dancer’s name. Clare Eliason. In her first year in Boston. Previously, she’d been with companies in Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Lynne returned and slipped back into her seat. “Do I dare ask what you think?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m enjoying it.”
“Maybe you should come more often.”
“Don’t push it.”
She pulled a face, looking as smart-alecky as she had at twelve. “There’s a reception afterwards. I’d like to stop by for a few minutes.”
So much for his plan to get some work done yet this evening. But as he and Lynne moved around the room, speaking to people his sister knew, he was glad he’d agreed to the reception, since it gave him a chance to see more of Clare