Dance and Be Glad

by Melissa Wardwell

  “I’m so sorry for messing up, Jill,” he whispered into the night air.

  Beeping rang through the night sky, ripping him from the red taillights. He tried to fight the pull that the annoying sound had.

  “What in the….”

  Mike tried to shake himself awake but his neck was stiff and his back ached.

  Opening his eyes to see his steering wheel in front of him, the sound of the beep filled the cavity of his car.

  Reaching for his phone, the school’s phone number flashed. He looked to the clock to see it was three forty-five.

  “Shoot, Emily!” He had slept the day away in his car.

  “Hello?” he answered the call.

  “Dr. Emerson. We have Emily waiting for you here in the office. Mrs. Matthews has offered to bring her home since her name is still on as an emergency contact, but we wanted to make sure you were there.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m sorry, I worked a ….”

  “I will let her know she is free to take the girl. Good day sir.” The secretary’s cross tone told him she had no time for his excuses.

  What a way to show Emily he could do this parenting thing.

  Chapter 3

  Jill glanced at the two girls seated beside her. Emily sat quietly, watching the fields flash by. Katie watched her friend who she loved like a sister with concern in her eyes. No smiles or giggles like two young girls should be doing. She knew Mike had to be feeling just as lifeless as his niece looked. Mike and Tom had a close relationship that Jill had been envious of, especially when her own sister had done everything to make theirs a struggle. Siblings should never fight as much as Jill and her sister Julie had.

  “How was your day?” Jill asked in hopes to engage Emily in some conversation.

  “It was good. Tommy teased Emily today, but Sarah and I took care of it.”

  She dreaded asking what her darling daughter had done; she knew how inventive her girl could be. If she didn’t though, she would be a bad mom.

  “Katie, what did you do?”

  “Oh, we just told the teacher. Sheesh mom, what did you think we had done?”

  Kicked him. I would have as a kid. Jill laughed to herself. She had done it, once. Daddy’s spanking later made it known that that wasn’t the way to handle things.

  “I’m glad you did the right thing, sweetie.”

  Sitting at the light, it dawned on her that she had no idea where Mike and Emily lived. This was just what she needed to get the little girl to open up a bit.

  “Emily, think you could tell me how to get to your uncle’s?”

  “Kind of. I know we pass your house.”

  “Really? Can you guess how far?”

  Jill was surprised that she had never known he was a neighbor. Of course, when living in the country, surrounded by corn fields, you can miss a few things.

  “We turn at the first road past your place.”

  They lived closer than she thought. “Left or right, sweetie?”

  “Left, I think. I’ve only been there a week.”

  “Em, we’re neighbors now. Isn’t that awesome?” Katie’s excitement filled the truck and Jill glanced over to see a smile cross over Emily’s face. She had a feeling this would be good having them live near each other.

  “Yeah. Sarah lives up the road too,” Emily replied.

  Little girl chatter continued, mostly from her daughter, as Jill dove the fifteen minutes to her home. When they reached the road Mike lived on, Emily pointed in the direction they had to go.

  “Turn when you see a mail box surrounded with bricks. It’s the big house in the middle of the woods,” the girl informed her then turned her head to look out the truck window again.

  From Emily’s description, Jill had a feeling she knew exactly what area she spoke of. A basketball court, some swings and monkey bars had sat where a one room schoolhouse once rested. The little country park became a popular hangout for area teens - Doug, Tom, Mike, Julie, and Jill included. Jill would go to the park after school with some of her friends, and watch Mike and the other, older boys play basketball. Now that Jill thought about it, she was three years older than the two girls next to her when she first met Mike.

  Jill and her girlfriends would tell their mothers that they were there to practice soccer, but really they sat on the monkey bars and watched the boys play basketball during hot summer days. Her eyes were always glued on the rippling muscles of the tall, lanky blond as the other girls giggled and tee-heed relentlessly. When one would make a basket, they cheered and carried on shamelessly.

  On one particular day, Jill watched intently as her tall, handsome and blond crush caught a rebound and dribbled the ball around his opponents with ease. His basket was directly in front of her and she had a full view of the power in his muscles. You could say this was her first encounter with attraction to the opposite sex. Her heart beat with the rapid rhythm of the ball, her stomach tensed with excitement, and she could feel heat, more than that given off by the sun, creep up her neck. She locked her eyes on him as he jumped and soared through the air and slammed the ball into the basket, swinging from the rim before dropping to the ground. She was so caught up in this boy that she missed her friend’s hand coming toward her face while cheering. A flash of sky and then dirt in her face, Jill recalled struggling to breathe for a whole new reason.

  That day played in her mind as she drove down the road.

  “No, no, no. Just lay still for a sec,” a male voice implored her. “Do you hurt anywhere?” he asked as he gently helped her roll.

  The stunning blue eyes of Mr. tall, handsome and blond surveyed her from head to toe. What a hottie.

  “I think I’m okay.” This boy was doing funny things to her, so she tried to sit up; a little too fast apparently because she fell right back, but this time into his lap.

  “I told ya to stay put. Wow! You must have caught a stone or stick or something. You have a pretty serious gash on your forehead.”

  Disappointment and an aching head reeked havoc on her as the smell of sweat and something spicy sent her nerves into overdrive.. This was not how I hoped to meet. He started gently brushing hair out of her face and the wound. He’s so gentle. He called for his friends to get him a cloth but the ringing in her ears drowned out any other sounds.

  “I need to put pressure on her head,” he crooned. He had a way of making her fell like she was all that mattered even when he gave orders.

  “You sure know a lot about this stuff. You a Doogie Houser on the side?” Her head felt fuzzy, making the world tilt. “Things are spinning.”

  “You might have a concussion. Just keep your eyes open. Once we get the bleeding to slow, I’ll run you to my dad’s office. He’s a doctor.”

  Her eyelids became heavy and a hint of worry scrambled his gorgeous face. “So, what’s your name anyway?” he asked her as he rubbed the length of her arm. She figured it was an attempt to keep her awake but all she wanted to do was sleep.

  “Jillian. I’m in sixth grade. I hate school pizza.”

  He chuckled at her response.

  “I’m Michael. I’m in tenth grade and I agree with you on the school pizza.”

  Something soft touched her head and searing pain radiated through her nerves.

  “Sorry about that. So, I just remembered that we have seen each other before…”

  “You came to my church.”

  “Right. Right. Well, nice to meet you, Jillian. Your church was cool. You know I thought about coming back on Sunday.”

  She could feel him dab away at her forehead as he talked. His attentiveness was soothing. It was rare for her to receive this much attention. Too bad she had to get hurt to get it.

  “That would be nice. Michael, I really need to sleep,” she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. No matter how hard she tried, it was like glue kept them in place.

  “Jillian, you can’t. Come on, talk to me. Someone help me get her to the car…..”

  She crept up to the driveway
and knew it was the right place.

  This had been their place to meet and be themselves; goofy, silly, flirtatious teens. It was how they kept their relationship a secret once their friendship shifted. There was no acknowledgment of each other except the occasional “hello” in the halls. They didn’t even sit together during youth group meetings. He was the track and basketball star while she was the mousy drama geek. A relationship between the two was a farfetched idea to their peers. The only ones at the time who knew of their relationship were her future husband, Doug, and her cousin Tina. She would write her cousin to tell her all about their time together. Jill felt like she could freely tell her best friend and cousin because Tina lived in Colorado at the time. Now she lived in Georgia; it wasn’t closer, but at least she could travel to someplace nice to visit her.

  Jill turned onto the bumpy dirt path and silently prayed that her truck didn't rattle to pieces. “How does he drive over this in his fancy car?” The question was rhetorical, but the word, “Carefully” coming from the other side of the truck put a smile on Jill’s face. Emily was opening up. Just a little.

  She crossed over the land bridge with metal guardrails on the sides. The bridge enabled the creek could flow freely. A couple of small twists and turns and she could see the clearing. She didn’t remember the park being this far back in the woods but then again she hadn’t stepped foot on the property in a lot of years.

  A tree right by the drive caught her eye and she had to stop. Clearly carved in the trunk of the tree were two sets of initials. Her breathing stopped when it dawned on her who they belonged to.

  “Mom, you okay? You look sick.”

  She felt sick but in an effort to show indifference, she continued on and reassured her daughter she was fine.

  At the crest of the hill, the trees parted like a curtain to reveal what was hidden behind them.

  In the middle of the clearing that once held swings, a slide and a special gazebo, sat a home that looked to be out of a southern romance novel. The gazebo looked to have been restored and was situated on the corner of the front porch. The two story home wasn’t mansion size but appeared grand all the same. Four Corinthian pillars supported a second story balcony framed in wrought iron railing. Hanging baskets hung in various places on both the main and upper levels. Potted plants and plush gardens gave the house a welcoming feeling making her forget that she was in Michigan and instead it transported her to Tina’s mansion down south.

  The driveway led her around to the back of the house where all the beauty that graced the front of the house disappeared. Off to one side was a barn that looked to have no purpose but to hold things. The kind of things that a bachelor who might have money to burn and needed a place to put his toys. Another barn that looked like it could house animals was in the process of completion. Attached to the house was a large garage with its doors wide open for all to see what it contained. One side held the Jag she had seen him drive earlier but it was what she saw on the other side that, like the tree and the location of his home, made her wonder about Mike’s ability to let go.

  Mike and Doug were the best of friends who met in auto mechanics class and shared a mutual love for classic cars. Both were known for his classic clunker. Doug’s was the truck she now drove. Mike’s was a 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo. The car was the center of many dates for Jill and Mike as they would take drives along the winding country roads. Sometimes it was a slow stroll; others were “petal to the metal” rides. That was when Jill discovered she had an inner thrill seeker screaming for a hint of fun as well as her deepening affections for the driver. He would tell her his dreams for life and the car, dubbed by the guys as “Black Beauty” because of its triple black coloring and it seven hundred horse power engine. Then followed those with dreams he had for them. The car they spent many nights dreaming in, sat nicely tucked in to the garage sparkling like the beauty she was meant to be.

  Movement caught her attention as she turned off the ignition to the truck. Barreling from a door that led from the house to the garage was the burliest dog she had ever seen. His bark wasn’t frightening, but more like a plea for some play time. It was shocking just the same. Mike came running out of the house after the dog, without his shirt, giving commands that fell on deaf ears. His chiseled torso twitched as he ran after the dog making her check her own face for drool. He had grown out of his jangly stick figure body into this rippled man. The good girl side of her hoped he would hurry and put that shirt on. Then there was a woman who hadn’t seen a man’s bare chest in ten years who hoped he wouldn’t. Behave yourself girl, she scolded herself.

  “Brutus, come on bud. Don’t scare the lady,” she heard him holler at the dog while pulling the beast back from the truck. “He won’t bite, I promise. He just might lick you to death.”

  “He really is a cool dog. He won’t bite, I promise Ms. Jill.” Emily confirmed.

  “Mom, can I go in and see Emily’s room?” How could she say no to her daughter’s pleading eyes?

  “Sure, go ahead but don’t be long. I have dinner to get out of the crock pot before it overcooks.”

  Both girls exited one side of the truck while Jill climbed down from the other. Mike came to meet her while pulling his sweater on. Thank God. Brutus was no longer in sight.

  “Where’d he go?” she asked as she looked around the yard, seeking a distraction.

  “He followed the girls inside. He has really taken a liking to Emily. He is kind of her protector now. It’s odd, it‘s like he senses her pain.”

  “They say dogs can do that.”

  Awkward silence filled the space around them. She searched her brain for something to say but he beat her to the punch.

  “Is this Doug’s old truck? Tin Lizzy, isn’t it?” he asked as he walked around the truck, surveying how poorly she had taken care of it in recent years.

  “Yes, it is. Is that Black Beauty?” she asked pointing to the Monte Carlo.

  “It is. She keeps me busy with her tune ups and need for rides in the countryside.” His embarrassed smile was that of the mischievous boy he once was. “I could never bring myself to get rid of her. Too many memories.”

  Jill caught the reflection in his tone and suspected the memories where similar to the ones she had on the drive up.

  “So, did you have a hard time finding the place?”

  “Not once Emily told me where you are. I saw a few familiar things driving up. I can’t believe you bought the park.”

  “It was a great piece of land and the county was selling it cheap. I couldn’t just let it grow over.” There was that half smile again as he rubbed the back of his neck. It twisted her insides. “I saw your truck parked at that little place around the corner on my way home.”

  “That is us, since before Katie was even a thought.”

  Silence again. Ask him about the house. The thought of going back to her lonely hovel of a house was the last thing she wanted to do.

  “Your house is amazing. It doesn’t even look like it belongs here. What gave you the idea?”

  “Well, a few years back, I was working in a hospital in Georgia. I fell in love with some of the architecture, took lots of pictures, and brought the look back here to this frozen north. I met a couple of guys there who became good friends of mine. They brought in a drunk driver. They work for the Savannah PD.” Mike paused. “I don’t know why I am rambling. You don’t care about that.”

  “Well, actually, I do. I have a cousin who lives in Savannah. So it is kind of neat.”

  “Yeah? What’s the name?”

  “Tina Acker… no wait, she married last summer. It’s, oh shoot, think Jilly. Andrews. That’s it - Tina Andrews.”

  Surprise shone on Mike’s face, “Did you say, Andrews?”

  “Yeah,” she hesitantly answered.

  “Did she marry a man who had a twin? I mean spitting image?”

  “As a matter of fact, she did. Let me think…. I believe it was Blake. I had back row seats at the wedding. Well, it a
ctually turned into a double wedding. It was really great to watch. It’s a long story, but his brother, Jake married that day too.”

  “Wow! Talk about a small world. They’re the two who kept me out of so much trouble,” he remarked with amazement still on his face. “I’d received an invite to that wedding, but I was in Africa at the time with a fellow doctor and didn’t even know about it until after the fact. They are some of the best guys I know. I am glad they finally found ladies to whip them into shape.” Mike’s expression changed to reflect how she felt - lonely.

  “Yeah, it was beautiful.”

  “So, anyway, I suppose…” he started.

  “How are you doing…..” she asked at the same time.

  “Sorry,” they said in unison.

  “You go first,” he insisted.

  “How are you doing?”

  His smile disappeared as he crossed his arms over his chest. Their trip down memory lane seemed to have given him a reprieve from the grief that clouded over the home. “It comes and goes. There are days that I pick up my phone to call him to chat. Other times I call his phone just to hear his voice on the voice mail. Honestly, I’m hanging by a thread. Don’t even get me started on Emily.”

  “These things take time.” She reached a hand out to place on his forearm, in hopes to offer some semblance of comfort. Instead the act caused the pesky butterflies that took up residence in her stomach to flutter at a neck breaking pace. It’s only a memory. He’s a friend.

  She watched him to see if he had a similar reaction but all that she could see was his killer sideways grin.

  “Thanks for helping me out. I really appreciate it,” he placed his hand over hers. “And I’ll try to be patient.”

  She slipped her hand from his hold, the warmth of his skin still burned on her hand. The responses she had to his nearness bothered her. There was no rational reason for it. They hadn’t seen each other in over a decade. There was little to no unresolved feelings between them, at least for her. Yet here she was, feeling like an infatuated school girl. Pull yourself together, girl. Pushing her reflections aside, she turned to open her truck door.