Linda Graves/layla hazine
romance, fantasy Author
romance, fantasy Author
| Excerpts from Veiled Rose Nights |
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At the annual Christmas Party, Terra was blown away when they opened the package with the airline tickets, as well
as the cruise brochure. She were totally floored, when they looked in the brochure and realized they were teaching
right along with Sethos and some of the best known Belly Dancers of the world. Sandi and Jo shared a smile at her
excitement and the other 50 girls present applauded furiously. The smile faded as they saw the tears in Rorie’s
eyes.
Sandi took her hand. "Rorie, it’s not for 9 months."
Jo hugged Rorie, "You know Ryan would want you to get back into your dance."
Rorie tried to smile. "This is an awesome gift. But, I’m just not ready. Besides the twins will be heading back to
college. I just don’t see how I can get away. Terra, it is great for you. Maybe one of the girls can go with you.
Terra cocked an eyebrow at her best friend. "You need some time. No problem. It is 9 months away."
"Terra, Ryan has only been gone 5 months. I am not ready." Slow tears trailed down Rorie’s cheeks. Each of the
others at the party remained quiet, watching the scene playing out in front of them. Rorie and Ryan had been
together since they were 12 years old. Their marriage was strong, secure and happy. It takes a special man to live
with a Middle Eastern Dancer, and Ryan was that man. He loved watching his wife perform and was never
threatened or jealous of her dancing. He was always there to help with the sound system and when need be, he
was quite good on the drum. One month short of their 21st anniversary Ryan had been killed in an automobile
accident.
"Rorie, honey," Terra’s voice was quieter now. "Jo is right. You know it. Ryan would be pissed if you let your dance
die. He was so proud of what you had accomplished. You’ve kept your distance since the accident and that is fine,
totally understandable. But your kids will be leaving in a couple of weeks to go back to school. You will need to
keep busy."
"Terra, I don’t…"
Sandi interrupted. "Their right. When the kids are gone, you should at least start back to teaching. Fill your time up
or you will drive yourself crazy. Maybe someday you will feel like performing again. You can see how that plays out.
But life goes on. We are all here for you and will always be."
Rorie looked at her friends. The whole room was full of people who genuinely cared about her. She picked up the
envelope and looked at the flyer for a very long time. She held it up with a sigh. "You know, it might be a good idea
after all." More cheers went up and Terra supportively hugged her best friend. "I think you’re right. It might be time I
took some of my classes back over." Rorie smiled and brushed away the streaks of tears.
True to her word, after the first of the year Rorie began to teach again. Whether it was the endorphins from the
exercise or the joy and excitement she felt in teaching and sharing, slowly she began to feel more herself. She still
thought of Ryan often, but she focused on all the good they had together. Slowly the bitterness was lifting.
By Easter, she had begun to feel the twinges of excitement that Terra had felt the night of the Christmas Party.
Terra was ecstatic when Rorie came to her to discuss the cruise. They then spent hours discussing the trip and
fine-tuning the choreographies they would be performing and teaching on the cruise. Working so toward an
actually performance had truly rekindle the fire within her. It felt good, very good. Deciding on the costuming was
even more difficult. But finally the time had come. Woo Hoo!
as the cruise brochure. She were totally floored, when they looked in the brochure and realized they were teaching
right along with Sethos and some of the best known Belly Dancers of the world. Sandi and Jo shared a smile at her
excitement and the other 50 girls present applauded furiously. The smile faded as they saw the tears in Rorie’s
eyes.
Sandi took her hand. "Rorie, it’s not for 9 months."
Jo hugged Rorie, "You know Ryan would want you to get back into your dance."
Rorie tried to smile. "This is an awesome gift. But, I’m just not ready. Besides the twins will be heading back to
college. I just don’t see how I can get away. Terra, it is great for you. Maybe one of the girls can go with you.
Terra cocked an eyebrow at her best friend. "You need some time. No problem. It is 9 months away."
"Terra, Ryan has only been gone 5 months. I am not ready." Slow tears trailed down Rorie’s cheeks. Each of the
others at the party remained quiet, watching the scene playing out in front of them. Rorie and Ryan had been
together since they were 12 years old. Their marriage was strong, secure and happy. It takes a special man to live
with a Middle Eastern Dancer, and Ryan was that man. He loved watching his wife perform and was never
threatened or jealous of her dancing. He was always there to help with the sound system and when need be, he
was quite good on the drum. One month short of their 21st anniversary Ryan had been killed in an automobile
accident.
"Rorie, honey," Terra’s voice was quieter now. "Jo is right. You know it. Ryan would be pissed if you let your dance
die. He was so proud of what you had accomplished. You’ve kept your distance since the accident and that is fine,
totally understandable. But your kids will be leaving in a couple of weeks to go back to school. You will need to
keep busy."
"Terra, I don’t…"
Sandi interrupted. "Their right. When the kids are gone, you should at least start back to teaching. Fill your time up
or you will drive yourself crazy. Maybe someday you will feel like performing again. You can see how that plays out.
But life goes on. We are all here for you and will always be."
Rorie looked at her friends. The whole room was full of people who genuinely cared about her. She picked up the
envelope and looked at the flyer for a very long time. She held it up with a sigh. "You know, it might be a good idea
after all." More cheers went up and Terra supportively hugged her best friend. "I think you’re right. It might be time I
took some of my classes back over." Rorie smiled and brushed away the streaks of tears.
True to her word, after the first of the year Rorie began to teach again. Whether it was the endorphins from the
exercise or the joy and excitement she felt in teaching and sharing, slowly she began to feel more herself. She still
thought of Ryan often, but she focused on all the good they had together. Slowly the bitterness was lifting.
By Easter, she had begun to feel the twinges of excitement that Terra had felt the night of the Christmas Party.
Terra was ecstatic when Rorie came to her to discuss the cruise. They then spent hours discussing the trip and
fine-tuning the choreographies they would be performing and teaching on the cruise. Working so toward an
actually performance had truly rekindle the fire within her. It felt good, very good. Deciding on the costuming was
even more difficult. But finally the time had come. Woo Hoo!