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.