UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 7

 

          The evening Charlie had dreaded passed by quickly and by the time she made it to the dance floor, it was mostly the younger crowd gyrating to the rock music. She saw Rebecca on the floor with Ricky, but didn’t see Adam. She walked around and found him as far away from the band as he could get. He was sitting in a chair at a table. Charlie walked over and occupied the chair next to him.

          “Well, hello there Adam. You certainly don’t look like you’re having much fun at all. I take it you don’t dance.” Charlie said.

          “Nope, not to this crap. I’ve always felt like a fool trying to bounce around in time to the music. It just feels so, so, so….”

          “Mortifying, embarrassing, humiliating, uncomfortable, awkward.”

          “Yes, all of those and more.”

          “I saw Rebecca out there with Ricky dancing away. You’re such a good date to let her go off with someone else and dance.”

          “Being a good date has nothing to do with it. In fact, it is my most sincere wish Rebecca would turn her attentions to that young man and leave me be.”

          “Really? I received the distinct impression from your date that she expects a more permanent relationship by the end of the year.”

          Adam turned a frowning face to Charlie and heaved a huge sigh. “I’ve received the same impression many times now and no matter what I say or do, Rebecca doesn’t seem to hear my words.”

          “Maybe you need to try some different words or a different way of saying them.” Charlie suggested.

          “Actually, I’ve been thinking seriously of heading back north to visit family. Maybe by the time I come back, if I come back, she’ll have gotten over her infatuation.”

          Charlie felt her chest tighten. Adam couldn’t really go back north and stay there. Not until she found out what or if there was anything to the feeling she had when they touched or the way she felt just sitting next to him. “Your family lives up north? I don’t think you’ve ever said much about them beyond your sister and brother provided grandkids, but we haven’t had all that many conversations.”

          Adam finished his drink and responded. “Yep, raised in Massachusetts, a descendent of a very old, probably arrived on the Mayflower, family. Summers on the Cape, winters at the local private school, having your life totally and completely planned out for you by your parents and grandparents. I think I’m the first one in generations to break away from all the family held expectations. But then, I’m the middle child and you know what they say about middle children?”

          “Actually,” Charlie broke in, realizing that Adam may have had one too many glasses of whatever he was drinking. “I’m an only child, so I know nothing about middle children, but I can certainly identify with parental expectations.”

          At that point, the music stopped and a breathless and sweaty Ricky and Rebecca returned to the table.

“Oh my gosh. Dancing is just so much fun. And, I’m afraid it’s made me all dewy. Thanks so much for partnering with me Ricky. This old fuddy-duddy here says he doesn’t dance.” Rebecca said, poking Adam in the chest and then caressing his abdomen.

“Your welcome Rebecca. You’ve got some great moves out there and I hope you’ll dance with me some more when the band returns. It will return, won’t it?” Ricky asked turning to Charlie.

Charlie took Adam’s hand and looked at his watch. Again, with the sizzle. “My mamma hired them until midnight, so they should be doing one more set before quitting for the night. You’ll be able to watch and enjoy Rebeca’s moves a few more times.”

“Great. How about something to drink Rebecca? I’d be happy to get it for you.”

“Why sure Ricky, I’d love some ice water and another glass of champagne. It will surely help with my dancing.”

While Ricky went off to procure drinks for all of them, since he’d politely asked if Adam and Charlie wanted anything as well, Charlie watched Rebecca touch and fondle and try to kiss Adam. She did everything she possibly could and Charlie was a bit surprised Rebecca didn’t straddle Adam’s lap and hump away. True, Adam did try to deflect some of Rebecca’s attentions, but he’d had that one drink too many.

When Ricky returned, they all drank and talked about the party and how wonderful it was of Charlie’s mamma to hold it and invite them. Rebecca alluded to the possibility of an even bigger party in the fall and Charlie and Adam just happened to look at each other when she did. Adam frowned and Charlie had to manufacture a cough to keep from laughing out loud. Poor Rebecca. Poor Adam.

When the band returned, they began the set with a slow tune. Charlie stood up and pulled on Adam’s hand, telling Rebecca, “This is my one dance with your date. Promise I’ll return him in good condition and try to refrain from stepping all over his feet.”

Adam tried to demur, but Charlie just clasped his hand tighter and pulled. On the dance floor, Charlie put her left arm up around Adam’s neck and tried to place his left hand in the small of her back. She was snuggled right up against him and could feel her body’s immediate response. And, before Adam pushed her away, she felt his against her tummy as well.

“For God’s sake, Charlie, hasn’t anyone ever taught you about personal space? Ever since the first time I met you, you’ve invaded my personal space. I don’t like it. You need to respect and provide a decent distance between us.” Adam said as he used his right hand on her left hip to push her away. He clasped her right hand with his left and tried to push her into a waltz or foxtrot or whatever.

“Well for God’s sake yourself Adam. It is a slow dance and couples are supposed to touch when they do that. What is your problem anyway? You certainly didn’t seem to mind Rebecca pawing you not too long ago.” Charlie retorted, allowing Adam to lead and hold her almost as far away as his arms would reach.

Adam didn’t respond, so Charlie continued. “You know what I think Adam? You want to know what I feel. Well, even if you don't, I'm gonna tell you. The first time we shook hands, I felt something, some kind of current from you and I know you felt something too. It seems like you want to avoid getting close to me. I thought maybe it was because of Rebecca, but after tonight’s talk, I don’t believe that. To be perfectly honest, I’d like to get closer to you and see what this feeling I have is all about.” Charlie leaned back and tried to catch Adam’s eye.

There was no response to what she had to say and Adam wouldn’t look at her. Instead, he stared stonily off into the distance and continued to more or less push her around the dance floor. It reminded Charlie of the required dance lessons of her youth when she had to dance with some boy with sweaty hands. She hadn’t like it then and she didn’t like it now.

“Okay, fine. I received your message loud and clear. Enjoy Rebecca or run away to the north. It’s not like I’ve got a lot of time and interested invested in you Adam. Thanks for the dance.” Having said that, Charlie removed her hand from Adam’s shoulder, spun around and walked off the dance floor. As far as she was concerned, the party was over. She went into the house and decided she was hungry. After a visit to the buffet, Charlie took her full plate and another glass of champagne to where her mother was sitting with her two closest friends.

In response to Charlie asking if they minded if she joined them, they all responded it would be delightful and while Charlie stuffed her face in a lady-like manner, she listened to these older but still attractive and sexy women talk. She was sure they’d already covered whose daughters had given birth or gotten married or divorced, so she found the topics they were discussing of interest since they dealt with a variety of items that were of interest to her.  

When Charlie finished eating, one of her mother’s friends, Dottie, looked at her and said, “Your mamma says you’re building yourself a house out on that lake property your granddaddy used to own. How’s it coming?”

Charlie gave them all a big smile and patted her lips one more time with her napkin, hoping she didn’t have food in her teeth. “It’s coming Ms. Dottie, it’s coming. So far, I’ve been lucky that company projects can be handled by the other crews and I just need to check in now and then. Thank you for asking.”

Ms. Louisa, another friend inquired, “Your mamma also said you’re using different kinds of building materials and that your house is going to look very odd. I surely do hope you’ll invite us all out for a housewarming when it’s finished.”

“Well, it’s something I drew up when I was a kid, not real professional or anything, but my architect was able to take that childish drawing and draw up the best plans. And, of course, you’re all invited to the housewarming. Mamma would most likely make my life a misery if I tried to do it when she’s out of town or didn’t invite y’all.”

It wasn’t long before her mamma’s friends decided to find their husbands and go home. They laughingly talked about how they used to be up when the sun rose and now, they all had to be in bed before midnight. Those were the last of the older attendees and Ruth Ann told Charlie, “The ones still here are in your age group. I’m gonna take your daddy off to bed. We haven’t been up this late in forever and I have to say I’m sorely tired.”

Charlie’s dad had joined her mom in saying good night to their friends. He gave Charlie a big hug and she turned to her mamma. “It was a very nice party mamma. I did enjoy myself, especially seeing some folks I haven’t seen in a long time. The band should stop playing pretty soon and then I think everyone else will be off. If not, I’ll simply kick them out.”

“Now Charlie, you don’t go doing anything rude. You promised to be nice tonight and that promise holds until the door closes behind the last guest.”

“I know that mamma. I just funnin’ you. Now, you and daddy go on off to bed. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of and locked up before I head for bed.”

As Charlie predicted, when the band stopped playing and thanked those on the dance floor for their appreciation, folks began to head for the door. Charlie was there to say farewell and thank them for coming. When Rebecca and Adam came up, Charlie was just as polite to them as she was to everyone else, but she had to stir the muddy water just a bit. “Well, Adam, you be sure and have a wonderful time up north. I surely do hope that you’ll come on back down, at least when the weather up there gets really cold.”

Charlie was smiling in a very sincere and kind way when Rebecca turned to Adam and almost yelled as her eyes filled with tears, “You’re leavin’? You were just gonna leave and not say a thing to me? Adam Foster you are the most hateful man I know. Here I thought we had something precious.”

“Thanks a lot,” Adam said rather nastily before he took off after Rebecca who most likely had had too many glasses of champagne.

“You’re most welcome Adam. I always do my very best to be helpful.”

Adam turned back and glared at Charlie before he took the stairs two at a time.

Charlie kept laughing off and on as the last few guests left. Then, she met with the band members and thanked them for their hard work that evening. Following that, she finished up the evening when the caterers had tidied up and loaded their equipment into their vans. Doors locked, windows checked, unnecessary lights extinguished, she finally headed for her own bedroom. It was almost 2:00 am and Charlie didn’t understand how her mother had thrown affairs like this on an almost weekly or biweekly basis when she was younger. Charlie hadn’t had to do a lot of the work, but still, she too was tired.

Ready for bed, Charlie hoped the cleaning crew as well as the crew that would dismantle the bandstand and dance floor wouldn’t be too loud in the morning. It would be the only day she’d have a chance to sleep in and she was really looking forward to being a lazy bee the next day. Just check on some materials she’d thought about ordering and perhaps visit to a couple of antique stores. Maybe her mamma would like to join her because she planned to furnish her little house with older items or refurbished stuff and her mother had excellent taste.

Charlie snuggled down on her pillow, yawned and chuckled one more time when she thought about how Adam’s evening might have ended. Served him right, stringing poor Rebecca, bless her little heart, along as though he really were interested in a special relationship that would lead to marriage. Rather than face the problem head on, he was going to run away and hope it solved itself before or if he came back. Charlie was glad she’d learned that about him, because regardless of her reaction to him, she couldn’t abide a coward. Still, her last thought before sleep claimed her was that it was too bad she’d never know how they’d be together skin to skin.