Wilson raised his eyebrows as Clara stood up and extended her hand in an inviting gesture.

"Mr. Birch, would you like to dance with me?" She smiled warmly.

"You still remember the steps?" he asked, surprised.

Today, she had been full of surprises.

"I never forgot what you taught me," she answered softly.

He was momentarily taken aback, then a faint smile crept onto his lips.

Yes, he had taught her the ballroom dance steps. He recalled her stepping on his feet many times when he was teaching her, yet he had still wanted to teach her – because her apologetic expressions were cute, because her serious focus was cute, and because her growing joy as her dancing improved was cute...

They made him want to keep watching her.

Wilson stood up and gently took Clara's hand. In the warm glow of candlelight and music, they began to dance slowly, just like they used to back in the day.

What surprised him was how effortlessly they moved together. He had expected her to be a bit rusty after s