This is my review of Finding Center by Katherine Locke. This is book 2 of The District Ballet Company. This is the conclusion to Aly's and Zed's story. The events in this story take place approximately two years after the events of Second Position.
Aly is now dancing full time with the District Ballet Company. Zed is still teaching his high school classes. Aly is in a good place with her mental health but events happen that almost send her spiraling out of control. She becomes ill but manages to recover only to find out that the reason for the illness is because she is pregnant. She is apprehensive about telling Zed about the pregnancy at first but her therapist manages to convince her he needs to know. She tells him and he is overjoyed at the news that Aly is pregnant. They are both happy that she is pregnant but both scared that something will happen to this baby like the first baby Aly was pregnant with. They have a scare early on in the pregnancy where Aly thinks she is miscarrying but it turns out to be a false alarm. Aly has not told her parents about the pregnancy yet but she tells her mom and her partner about the pregnancy after the scare. She is told to rest for a few days so she does that. She decides to hide her pregnancy for as long as possible so she can continue to dance. Aly is devastated when her boss finds out she is pregnant before she tells him. He informs her that he must give her roles to another ballerina because he says he cannot let her dance any role that might be a risk to her or the baby for liability reasons but still lets her dance one role. He modifies that role some so it won’t have any lifts or other acrobatics in it. Aly feels like her career is slipping away from her due to her pregnancy. Zed is keeping a huge secret from Aly and she knows he is keeping something from her. Zed even proposes but Aly turns him down.
Aly is very nervous about telling her father about the pregnancy but once she does he is ecstatic that he will have a grandchild. Zed is nervous about telling his parents as well but once he tells them, it is the beginning of a reconciliation with his parents as well.
Meanwhile, Zed feels like he is spiraling out of control as well. He realizes that he should be happy because he has Aly back in his life, a job he loves, and a baby on his life. He feels lost and empty though until it finally hits him that the reason he is so unhappy is because he misses being able to dance. Zed goes to see his doctor and gets his new prosthetic leg fitted with a new ankle joint that will allow him to attempt to dance again. He starts taking ballet lessons to learn how to dance again. He feels exhilarated that he is able to do what he loves again but he keeps it from Aly that he is dancing again. He knows that he will never be a dancer of his previous caliber again but he is happy just to be dancing again. He feels complete having ballet back in his life. He feels like it will send Aly spiraling out of control if she knows that he is dancing again when she is struggling to hold onto her dancing because of the pregnancy. Aly eventually learns that Zed is dancing again and she is happy for him. She also comes up with the idea that he join her in her upcoming performance that she will be dancing in. Her ballet director approves this change and the two work hard to get their routine perfect. Opening night of the ballet arrives. Aly and Zed dance and wow the audience. At the end of the performance Zed once again proposes to Aly and she says yes this time. Aly and Zed have a beautiful healthy baby girl. Aly returns to the stage after her maternity leave is up while Zed continues to teach and dance as well.
My recommendation: Definitely read this one but be sure to reading Turning Pointe first and then Second Position before starting this one.
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