Dance with Me

by Mary Manners

  “It’s David Ratcliff, the sophomore transfer student…you’re familiar with him, right?”

  “The small kid with the dark hair and glasses…the one who’s always scowling?”

  “That’s him. Has he come to see you at all since the semester began?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I think you should take some time to talk to him.” They rounded the corner to the entrance hall. The rain continued to sluice from the gutters in torrents. A flash of lightning, followed by thunder, rocked the building and made Kaci cringe. “I’ve seen a huge change in him since he left for Christmas vacation. Something’s up. Maybe you can get to the bottom of it.”

  “I can do that.” Ryne tapped the side of his head. “I’ve made a mental note. I’ll take care of it first thing in the morning.”

  “I’m afraid you won’t have to wait that long.” Kaci nodded toward the office. “He’s with Principal Myers right now because he defaced one of the desks in my classroom with some pretty graphic art. I’m sorry, Ryne, but I had no choice.”

  “I see.” Ryne turned to follow her gaze. He grimaced when he saw David slumped in one of the office chairs. “Well, that’s not good.”

  “No. But I thought maybe you could talk to him before we decide what to do next. He’s not a bad kid. Just a little…off the tracks.”

  “Do his parents know what’s going on?”

  “I phoned them. His dad’s out of town on business, but his mom’s on her way.”

  “OK. I’ll try to hurry things up outside and meet you in the office as soon as I’m done.”

  “You’re sure you have to go out in this awful storm?”

  “Who else is going to make sure the kids get out of here safely?” He lifted the collar of his rain coat and latched the top button. “You know how the parking lot gets when the dismissal bell rings—like the bumper car attraction at the county fair.”

  “I guess it’s up to you, then.” She brushed a speck of lint from his shoulder. “Be careful, OK? And thanks, Ryne.”

  “See you soon.”

  As Kaci watched Ryne rush through the entrance doors and into the storm, she wondered at the tug on her heart. A whiff of his aftershave reminded her of the pine scent that clung to one of the letters she’d received and promptly answered just yesterday, from the same guy who’d written last week. Seems the advice she’d given had worked, and he’d returned for a second dose. She’d taken extra care to offer him the very best she could compose. Maybe he’d garner a bit of success with it, as well. Kaci liked to think she could help some deserving soul find a little romance…even if she’d never see any herself.

  Could it be the mystery writer and Ryne shopped for the same cologne, and what was the odd little flutter in her chest…was it possible that she was beginning to feel something more than friendship for Ryne?

  8

  Later that evening, Ryne dashed beneath the raindrops to Kaci’s front porch. Soft music drifted through the closed front door, and she sang along in a lilting voice.

  He listened for a moment, enjoying the sweet sound of her smooth soprano. When he finally knocked, the singing stopped and the radio went silent. A moment later Kaci called out, “Who is it?”

  “Ryne.” A gust of wind kicked up. “And I’m about to get carried away like a tumbleweed.”

  Kaci pulled open the door and ushered him in. “I hardly think the wind could pick you up and carry away all those muscles.” She waggled a finger at him as she tugged her reading glasses from her nose. “But I told you you’d catch pneumonia. What are you doing out on a night like this?”

  “I wanted you to see the posters for the dance. I picked them up from the computer lab when I finished talking to David and his mother. They look better than I expected.” He stepped into the living room and felt the warmth of the fireplace. A fire hissed and spat, and soft flames cast shadows across the hearth, giving the space a cozy feel. A stack of papers sat on the coffee table, and he imagined Kaci had been curled up on the couch, working her way through them.

  Kaci took the manila folder stuffed with posters and slipped her glasses on her nose. She flipped open the cover. “Wow, these are great. We should get them up right away…first thing tomorrow.”

  “I’m already on it. David’s going to help. I’ve recruited him and a few of his friends, as well.”

  “Really? Oh, that’s wonderful news. So the meeting went OK?”

  “Better than expected. I have a few other ideas up my sleeve, too, that I’d like to discuss with you. But we’ll get to those later.”

  “What’s in the bag?” Kaci set her glasses on top of the pile of essays waiting to be graded.

  “Oh, this?” Ryne drew a box of mixed chocolates from the bag. “I brought you a stash of candy, since I’ve devoured pretty much everything you had stored in your file cabinet.” He handed her the box. “I thought we’d go a little wild—throw away the diagram that tells what each piece is and just take our chances.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Kaci nodded toward the box. “You do the honors while I pour some coffee.” She took his raincoat and draped it over the computer chair before ushering him toward the fire.

  “I got a couple bags of those miniature candy bars for school, too. And a bag of your favorite dark-chocolate Kisses. I’ll drop them by your classroom tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Ryne, but you didn’t need to do that.” She smacked her lips and reached for a mystery chocolate from the box. One nibble had her moaning with pleasure. “Mmm…a chocolate-covered cherry.”

  Ryne nearly swallowed his tongue. “I know I didn’t have to.” He bit into a coconut cream. “But I wanted to.”

  That afternoon’s advice from “Love’s Lessons” rushed through Ryne’s head.

  Now that you know what’s hurt her, find out what she wants…and what she needs. Keep working around the edges to find your way in.

  “Well, I guess it’s a good thing to keep the candy stocked.” Kaci smoothed droplets of water from the fabric of Ryne’s rain jacket and rotated the chair so his jacket was closer to the fire. “You never know when you’re gonna need a piece to help you make it through the day.”

  “I suppose everyone needs something.” Ryne rubbed his hands together, warming them, as Kaci stepped into the kitchen to pour the coffee. “The trick is in figuring out just what that is.”

  Something in Kaci’s eyes flashed as she handed him the mug. She’d added a splash of cream and a spoonful of sugar—just the way he liked it. “What do you need, Ryne?”

  “For my coffee?”

  “No.” She laughed and shook her head. “I think I’ve already taken care of that. I mean, what do you want?”

  “In that case…I want to know more about you. How did you end up here, at Heart’s Haven, and at Angel Falls High?”

  “That’s not fair. You can’t answer a question with a question.” She poured a cup of coffee for herself and crossed the living room to settle on the couch. As she tucked her feet beneath her she said, “So, you go first. Why did you choose Heart’s Haven?”

  “That’s an easy one.” Ryne eased onto the couch beside her. “I met Andrew Hart one night while I was working patrol. His car stalled on Talbot Street, and he was standing on the shoulder of the road, in the rain. I ushered him into the cruiser and radioed for a tow truck. While we waited for it to arrive, we got to talking. I mentioned I was looking for a place to stay, somewhere closer to the high school since I planned on transferring. He told me there was a vacancy at his complex and to come on out and take a look at the place. So I did, and I was sold. I moved in a few days later. That was six months ago.”

  “Interesting…”

  “How so?”

  “I met Mr. Hart, of all places, at the library while I was researching the area, looking for an apartment. I’d just moved from Dallas and was staying with one of my friends. But when she eloped to Las Vegas with her fiancé and returned with a husband, I knew I had to find somewhere else to live, and qu
ick. So I was at one of the library’s computer kiosks, conducting a search when Mr. Hart settled into the desk beside me. Next thing I knew, the computer screen flashed and a site came up for Heart’s Haven. I thought there was just a power surge or something strange like that, because I hadn’t even touched the keyboard. But when I got home and sat down to read one of the books I’d checked out, a business card slipped from the pages.”

  “Let me guess.” Ryne sipped his coffee. “It was for Heart’s Haven.”

  “That’s right.” Kaci gazed into the flames dancing in the fireplace. “I have no idea how it got there. But I figured it was a sign, so I called Mr. Hart that afternoon. The rest…well…you know the rest.”

  “However you came to live here, I’m glad you did.” Ryne touched a curl that had slipped from her ponytail. “Now, it’s your turn. Tell me…what do you want?”

  She set her mug on the coffee table and sighed, gathering her hands in her lap. “I have what I want—a good job at a school I love, a nice place to live, and great friends. It’s…enough.”

  “Is it?”

  She was holding back. Was her heart so broken she couldn’t even acknowledge the fracture?

  “What more is there?” Kaci dipped her head, and the glow of flames made her hair shine like burnished copper. Ryne longed to loosen the elastic band and run his fingers through the silky curls.

  “There’s so much more.” He drained his coffee mug and set it beside hers. “It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and that generally means flowers and chocolate. I know your favorite chocolate, but what’s your favorite flower?”

  “I love sunflowers.” She inhaled deeply, as if she could smell the earthy scent as she spoke. “My dad used to plant them around our fence line every summer to attract the birds. He loved to bird-watch, and I loved the way the plants grew so tall and pretty, like friendly faces. My dad and I would sit in the yard together and talk about everything and nothing while the birds flitted around. It was…special.”

  “I imagine it was.” Ryne longed to kiss her. To put distance between them, he stood and quickly changed the subject. “I spoke with David Ratcliff and his mother. You’re right…he seems like a good kid who’s just going through a rough patch.”

  “Any suggestions on how to help him?”

  “We’ll need a backdrop for the stage at the dance. I’d like to ask David to do the artwork for it. What do you think?”

  “That’s a great idea—perfect.” She nodded. “Boy, for someone who had to be bribed to jump onboard, you sure have the accelerator at full speed.”

  “The counseling program’s important. I want to do my part.”

  “Then, let’s discuss it with David tomorrow.”

  “I’ll call him in and hash out the details. It might mean a few extra hours spent working on things after school. Are you OK with that?”

  “I’m all in if you are.”

  “That goes without saying.” He glanced at the cuckoo clock above the doorway as its tiny doors flew open and the bird came out to call the hour. “I guess that’s my cue to leave. It’s getting late.”

  “Thank you for helping with David.” Kaci gathered their mugs and set them in the kitchen sink. “I think he’s really going to like your idea. And it will keep him busy—and out of trouble—for the next few weeks, at least.”

  “That’s the plan.” Ryne stepped over to her computer desk and reached for his jacket. His gaze caught a stack of envelopes and his gut rolled as he scanned the one on top. It was addressed to…”Love’s Lessons”. And the writing was familiar—because it was his writing. He’d addressed the business-sized envelope and mailed it just a few days ago.

  “Ryne, are you OK?”

  The room whirled as his mind raced. What were letters addressed to “Love’s Lessons” doing on Kaci’s desk? What was his letter doing on her desk? Could she be…was she…?

  Ryne shook his head. No way…it was impossible. But there was no other explanation, as far as he could reason.

  “Ryne?” Kaci took a step toward him, and he snapped out of it, slipping an arm into the sleeve of his jacket.

  “Sorry.” He shook his head and glanced into her eyes. There he saw the slightest flicker—maybe a flash of realization? Quickly, she sidestepped, blocking his view of the desk. Did she know he’d sent the letter? And if she did, why hadn’t she mentioned it? The thought stabbed at him…maybe for the same reason I’m not mentioning it now. He cleared his throat and turned away from the desk…and the stack of envelopes. “I have to go. See you in the morning?”

  She hesitated, glancing from him to the desk and then back again. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then finally ventured, “In the morning.” She scooted to open the door, letting in a cool, wet gust of air. “Sleep well.”

  “You, too.” He stepped into the rain, his brain muddled. The clouds gathering like a dark curtain on the horizon mirrored the roiling in his belly. Had he been writing to Kaci all this time? Had he been using her own advice to get closer to her? Is that why it seemed to work so well?

  And what would she do if she ever found out he was the guy who signed his letters Looking for Answers? Would it destroy their friendship…and their chance at anything more?

  ****

  Kaci settled in at the computer desk and yawned. It was late, and she should be thinking about hitting the sack—not composing advice for the “Love’s Lessons” column. Yet, she knew people depended on her, and she wouldn’t dream of letting the readers down.

  That was a close call…leaving the letters out where Ryne could easily see them. What was I thinking, being so careless?

  Had he noticed them? Kaci shook her head. If he had, he would have asked about them. So she was pretty sure he hadn’t. But he was a detective, and detectives were trained to notice things.

  No…no way.

  She reached for the first envelope. Again, she thought of how familiar the print looked, and was sure she’d seen it before. She tore open the envelope.

  Dear Love’s Lessons,

  How do you tell someone you love her when you’re not sure she wants to be loved? And how do you make her see that she’s worthy of your love, when her heart’s been broken by another guy? So far, your advice has been a big help, so I’ll take any suggestions you have.

  Signed,

  Looking for Answers

  Kaci pulled off her glasses and sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. This one hit close to home. She set it aside and examined the letters left in the stack. She’d answer them first, and then come back to this later…or in the morning.

  But the words tugged at her, and she wondered who Looking for Answers might be. He never used a return address. Kaci picked up the letter again and thought of Ryne. If anyone could make her even consider falling in love again, it was him. He was kind and patient, with a great sense of humor, and he cared about kids as much as she did. And he was easy on the eyes, too.

  Kaci booted up her computer and logged into the “Love’s Lessons” site. Then she began to type.

  Dear Looking for Answers,

  Anyone worth loving is worth the effort to make them feel loved, too. Go the extra mile and do something nice for her. Find out what she likes, and go from there.

  Seems like your puzzle is fitting together nicely. Keep working at it and good luck!

  Sincerely,

  Love’s Lessons

  Kaci hit POST and then switched off the computer. She’d get up an hour early to answer the other letters before she headed to school. Right now she could think of nothing but a good night’s sleep…and Ryne.

  9

  Kaci smelled the rich scent of the sunflowers before she even noticed the beautiful arrangement gathered in an oversized pale-blue ceramic vase in the center of her cluttered classroom desk. The woodsy aroma, resplendent with a touch of summer sunshine, brought on a wave of happy memories.

  “You got some flowers, Miss James.” Lindsey, one of the students who helped her in the mornings,
said in her trademark, sing-song voice.

  “Yeah, Miss James,” Sydney, her twin, parroted. “You got some flowers.”

  “Aren’t they pretty?” Lindsey gushed, flipping toffee-colored hair from her eyes.

  “And they smell good, too.” Sydney leaned in for a good sniff. “Are they from your boyfriend?”

  Kaci frowned. “Last I checked, I didn’t have a boyfriend.”

  “Well,” Sydney twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “You’d better check again.”

  “You didn’t see who brought them?”

  “No, ma’am.” Lindsey shook her head. “They were already on your desk when we got here this morning.”

  “Well, then, I guess this calls for a bit of detective work—later.” Kaci handed each of the girls a stack of graded essays. “Will you file these into the student folders, please?”

  “You don’t want us to know who sent you the flowers, do you?” Lindsey asked. “That’s OK. We get the message. Come on, sis. Let’s get these papers filed.”

  “Thanks, girls.” Kaci sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose. She’d stayed up after Ryne left last night, grading essays, and then woke early to compose the rest of her responses for “Love’s Lessons.” The extra work, coupled with planning for the Valentine’s dance, was beginning to take its toll. She slipped into her chair and sniffed the sunflowers. The scent soothed.

  She noticed a small, sky-blue envelope propped among the flowers. She tugged it from the arrangement and tore open the flap.

  Kaci,

  Hope these flowers bring some happy memories. I’ll be glad to help you plant the seeds if you save them. Then we can talk and watch the birds together.

  Ryne

  Kaci gnawed her lower lip as tears flooded her eyes. Where had Ryne found sunflowers in East Texas in the dead of winter? She had no idea. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she brushed it away as she stood and headed across the hall.

  She found Ryne at his desk, head bowed over a file.

  “No fair.” She strode into the office, startling him so his head snapped up.