Touch Me When We're Dancing

by Suzanne Jenkins

  “I feel like a teenager again,” Valarie said, her head on his shoulder.

  He turned the car around and headed out of town.

  Hi Dear,

  I’m so excited to write to you. I keep thinking about all that has happened since we spent that Saturday at Lisa’s. You were there. You saw Tim’s meltdown. You know. It wasn’t just me imagining that he is in love with my daughter.

  Here’s the scenario. I really hated the thought of him living with Brent in those grimy executive apartments where Mary and Sam live. Like I have been known to do when I have no business getting involved, I intervened and talked to Marian and then approached Ted. He agreed that it was better to let Tim and Valarie live there than let the house stay empty while Marian is gone.

  I wanted to get Tim alone, away from Valarie, so I could interrogate him about Lisa, too. I was walking on the beach and ran into him. He told me he was alone, that Valarie had gone to the Bronx to balance her mother’s checkbook. It wasn’t like I went to his door.

  “Invite me in for coffee,” I said. “I’d like to talk to you about an idea I have.”

  He looked at me like I had two heads; maybe my invitation seemed a little presumptuous, but then I thought he might be worried I was going to make a pass at him. So I put his mind at rest.

  “I’m not going to make a pass at you if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said, and he roared laughing.

  “I was hoping you would.”

  Anyway, we went up to the apartment. I wasn’t sure if Lisa was home or not. I didn’t see her car, and it was dead silent downstairs. The first time I saw the apartment, I was shocked at how shabby and, frankly, how dirty it was, and it hadn’t changed. It was difficult to relax in that environment.

  He poured coffee for us. It was Dominican, he said. He talked about Valarie while we sat together, and I almost didn’t say anything to him about Lisa. But finally there was a lull in the conversation. For some reason, I forgot about Ted’s house and launched right in about Lisa first.

  “I couldn’t help but notice your reaction to Lisa on Saturday.”

  “I’m sorry about that,” he said after a few seconds. “I do have feelings for her, but I know she doesn’t feel the same way. I really care about Valarie, and she’s working with me on coming to terms with my feelings.”

  “Think about confronting my daughter alone,” I said, maybe a little more forcibly than I should have. “Let her know. She could be holding back because of Sandra. And her boyfriend was standing right there.”

  “Pam, truthfully, I can’t deal with Ryan’s baby. It’s bad enough that she’s had kids with two other men, but now a baby with that sleazeball, too? Yeah,” he said, shaking his head in disgust. “No way.”

  I was dumbstruck. He knew that Ryan was the father. It seemed I was the last to know. And he was judging my daughter! I had to bite my tongue. He’d married Sandra, the lowest scum of the earth, and he had the nerve to say that about Lisa!

  Immediately, I was regretful that I had encouraged him to confront Lisa about his feelings. I was so glad I didn’t talk to him about taking Ted’s house. As much as I’d love to have Brent next door, I hated the idea that someone as intolerant as Tim would be raising him. Hopefully, Valarie would have a bigger influence.

  I took my cup to the sink.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ve said my piece. I’ll leave now.”

  “I’m sorry. I know I’ve probably insulted you.”

  “Tim, forget it. Best wishes for you and Valarie, though. I hope you’ll tell her that there’s no chance in hell Lisa would ever give you a second look. It might have been possible, a tiny smidgen of possibility. But if I saw her lean in that direction, I’d clue her in quickly about your narrow-mindedness.”

  My words hit him in the face; he actually cringed, to my delight.

  “You’re not going to tell her, are you?”

  He looked frightened, like if I told Lisa, she might kick him out of the apartment. My opinion of him was sinking fast.

  “Of course not. What do you take me for? However, I hope you move out as soon as possible. It makes me sick to think of how generous she’s been, and your opinion of her is so low.”

  “Pam, I’m sorry,” he cried. “I made it sound much worse than it is. I’m just hurt. I lash out when I’m hurt.”

  I looked at him carefully. I decided I didn’t like Tim at that moment. Nothing he could say would change my feelings. He was provincial, a small-minded, mean man. I could see why he’d write a book about Charlie, perhaps exposing personal things about the man that gossips and like-minded people would love. Then I thought about poor Valarie, wondering if he’d turn on her.

  “Goodbye,” I said, and put my coat on and left the apartment. He didn’t try to stop me.

  Running down the steps, I hoped my daughter didn’t see me, but as luck would have it, she was waiting for me.

  “I saw you walk by with him. Were you really going to leave without saying hello?”

  “I was going to pop in! You just beat me to the punch.”

  I squeezed by and took my coat off. “I have a story to tell you.”

  “Something about Tim?” she asked, pointing at the ceiling.

  “No, although I had no idea that he was such a prig. No, this is about Dale!”

  I told her all about Gladys and Marian watching him sticking his fingers up the back of Laura’s bathing suit, and then of Randy throwing him off the set.

  “Poor Violet,” Lisa said. “What’s she going to do?”

  “She’s going to stay with us. Noni went to Staten Island to pack up her things. She was afraid he’d throw all her treasures away.”

  “He went from being an intolerant maniac to a pervert? What is with those sons of Gladys’s? They’re all nuts.”

  “That’s not all. I have good news, too. Well, sort of good.”

  I told her about Randy’s idea to have Ryan host a program about all the buildings Jack had been involved with saving in the city, and that seemed to move Lisa. She was still not sharing everything with me, but I’m okay with it. I don’t need to know everything.

  We had a nice visit, and I could see that after a while she was getting tired. We didn’t talk about the baby. As far as she knows, I still don’t know who the father is.

  “I’ll leave,” I said. “One more thing, Dan and Julie are going to start spending the weekends here across the street. They’ll move in little by little while their house is for sale.”

  “Hopefully, if their house is anything like mine, it will sell right away,” she said. “It’ll be nice to have them across the street.”

  “I think so, too,” I said. The dogs were looking at me, wagging their tails. “I guess I’ll take off.”

  She didn’t beg me to stay, so I bundled up again and got the dogs ready and we left. I had the feeling Tim was watching me go, and it unnerved me for a moment.

  I headed north, toward home. The sand still had a thin layer of snow, so I didn’t bother looking for glass, having withdrawal. We hugged the shoreline, the dogs nipping at the lapping waves. When we were closer to home, I saw a man standing on Ted’s terrace, but it wasn’t Ted. This handsome guy was big and tall with massive shoulders, and he was wearing a leather jacket and no hat, his thick hair blowing in the wind. As I got closer, he waved to me and ran down Ted’s granite steps. He looked like a male model. You know how you see those ads for testosterone that show a gray-haired guy with muscular thighs and a bulging crotch in their jeans? Yep, you got it.

  “Great,” I murmured, figuring it must be Marian’s swinging boyfriend.

  “Hey, Mrs. Braddock,” he shouted. “I’m Will Carlson, Marian’s fiancé.”

  I was sure she had said she’d given him the ax.

  “Hi, nice to meet you,” I said, wondering why he was there if she was away.

  “I was wondering if you knew where Marian is today? I’ve been waiting out in front for almost an hour.”

  “Was she expe
cting you?” I asked, thinking there was no way in hell I was telling him she was in Bali.

  “No, actually, I had a cancelation today and wanted to surprise her.”

  Then, as luck would have it, Ted appeared on the beach, jogging toward us with Charlie. I just prayed he wouldn’t open his mouth. But of course, we know Ted. He couldn’t just jog by, no, not Ted. Charlie was all over me, hugging me, telling me how much he missed me and Randy, that he was hurt Randy hadn’t invited him to Bali. When I could get away from his clutches, I introduced them.

  “This is Will,” I said, avoiding any mention of Marian. “And this is Ted and Charlie.”

  “Just here for the day?” Charlie asked, smiling.

  He was digging to see if this was a male friend of mine while Randy was gone. Of course, Will picked up on Ted’s name right away.

  “Hey, you must be Marian’s landlord! Nice to meet you,” he said, sticking his hand out. “I’m waiting for her and forgot my key. Could you let me in?”

  “Ha! You’ve got a long wait. What? Did she take off on you?”

  Cringing, I wanted to swat Ted, but the dogs had had enough, and I let them pull me toward the house.

  “What do you mean, take off?” Will asked.

  “Pam, tell him! She’s in Bali, taping a show with Pam’s husband.”

  “Ted, you have a big damn mouth,” I muttered.

  Leslie was watching this unfold from the veranda. “What’s going on out there?”

  “When did you get back?” I asked. “Hurry, let’s lock the door before they come here. I’m so sick of Ted.”

  I’d forgotten about Leslie. Randy had arranged for her return before he left, but she had to finish another job first. I quickly told her what was happening, and she agreed that the best thing for me to do was to stay out of it. However, Will had other plans.

  We were having coffee, catching up, when he reappeared at the back door.

  “Do you want me to answer it?” Leslie asked.

  “I’ll get it. Just be available.”

  I opened the door, ready to slam it in his face.

  “I guess you knew she went to Bali since she left with your husband,” Will said.

  “I knew. But she didn’t leave with my husband. There were several others going along with Randy.”

  “She didn’t tell me she was going away,” he said.

  “Will, she told me she broke up with you. If that’s the case, she might not have felt she owed you an explanation.”

  “Your neighbor won’t open the house for me,” he said, looking at me.

  If he thought I was going to invite him in, he was nuts. But seconds later, I heard Alison’s voice. It was like the universe was purposely trying to involve me in Marian Cooper’s mess.

  “Hey, I saw you down by Lisa’s and hoped you would stop by. So here I am instead.”

  We kissed cheeks, and I stepped aside so she could come in, but Alison had other ideas.

  “Who’s your friend?” she asked, looking him up and down.

  Remember, Alison is seven months pregnant. However, this fact didn’t seem to bother Will Carlson. I introduced them. Finally, tired of standing with the door open, I stepped aside, flashing Leslie a look, which she returned.

  “Come in. You’re letting all the heat out.” I felt like Nelda, admonishing the neighborhood children.

  Alison turned to Will and slid by me, the two of them laughing, flirting. Now that they were inside, I supposed I’d have to serve coffee. My tolerance level was sinking by the second. The only good part about it was that I didn’t need to talk to them because they were completely engrossed in each other. It made me sick! I quickly texted Lisa about it, but she didn’t answer me. I hoped she was taking a nap.

  It didn’t take long for Will to tire of sitting around my kitchen table since it was clear I wasn’t going to help him get into Ted’s house. He got up to leave, and Alison couldn’t move fast enough, the two of them leaving together.

  “She’s really a tart, isn’t she?” Leslie said after they left. “She’s awfully pushy for being a neighbor.”

  I thought that was an appropriate name for Alison—not sweet, but not bitter. She was a tart.

  “She is definitely a tart. She’s my late husband’s daughter. Her mother was my best friend growing up. They had an affair, supposedly before we got married, but with him you never knew. Alison is older than my children. I’m surprised you didn’t comment on how much she looks like Lisa.”

  “I’ve only seen pictures of your daughter, don’t forget.”

  Banging on the front door got our attention.

  “Is anyone home?” It was my mother.

  “You’re back!”

  “Yes, thank God. I’m getting too old for this crap. Next time someone wants to leave their boyfriend, tell her to call her father.”

  “I wonder why she didn’t call John and Jeanie,” I said. “I should have suggested it.”

  “God forbid anyone disturb the happy couple,” Nelda said, shrugging her coat off.

  “Did they get married?” I asked.

  “I don’t think so, but when’s the last time anyone heard a peep out of either one of them?”

  She went back to her room, grumbling. My mother is a trip. Later she went out to meet Miranda’s school bus, then insisted on going grocery shopping. Leslie offered to drive her, and I felt better about her going out again with Leslie there. It was already dark like it gets in the winter, and cold.

  After they left, I was suddenly depressed. I’d had enough winter, enough sacrifice of things I love to the weather. Not being able to beachcomb was getting to me. Perhaps the continuous bombardment of people was also becoming an issue. I hadn’t been on the beach without running into someone I knew for weeks. Ted retiring and Alison moving into Dave’s had changed the landscape.

  In spite of what I was feeling about people, I contradicted myself and wondered what had happened between Alison and Will Carlson. I picked up the phone and keyed in her number.

  “Well, what happened?” I asked.

  “You won’t believe it,” she said, animated. “I forgot how late it was, and Dave was home by the time I got back. I invited Will in for coffee. He eagerly accepted, which surprised me because I thought he’d want to be alone with me.

  “Dave brought all kinds of goodies home from the store, so we had an early dinner. The wine is flowing and Dave and Will drank at least a bottle and a half so far. I can’t wait to have this kid. Anyway, like I said, you won’t believe it.”

  “Alison, you’re killing me here. Tell me!”

  “He’s a swinger. He and that lady that rented the house from Ted swing. And he went into it like he was pitching Amway, for God’s sake. Touting all the benefits to a relationship, the freedom it gives couples. I almost shit! And you know what? Dave is interested. Dave!”

  I thought about Dave for a minute. He wasn’t a prude by a long shot. He was a moral, honest guy. But he was sort of a dud. Maybe swinging would be something a dud like Dave might like.

  “So are you interested? It sounds scary to me.”

  “I’m not sure. I mean I’d love to have sex with Will. He is hot! Especially now that I’m with an older guy, I understand the positives about it, how giving they are, willing to take their time. Don’t get me wrong, Don was great, too. He always put my needs first in bed.”

  “Why’d you leave him, then, Alison?”

  “He was responsible for my mother’s murder. He knew it, and he never apologized for it adequately. If he’d shut his mouth, no one would have found out what she’d done. No one cared about what Marie died of but her.”

  I felt like she’d stabbed me in the chest, and I gasped when I heard my sister’s name. Fortunately, Alison had come a long way, and she caught herself.

  “Pam, look, you asked. I’m just giving you the story. I feel awful about the way she died. You know I love Miranda, and I don’t care about her condition. I’d adopt the kid if I could. She’s the sweet
est, kindest, smartest little girl.

  “But to get back to Don, my mom would still be alive if it wasn’t for him. She’d probably realize the error of her ways and come around, just like me.”

  “I wish she were still alive, too. I wonder all the time if we could have mended our relationship. I made friends with Sandra, so that should prove that anything is possible.”

  “Good riddance,” Alison said, and we both started to laugh.

  “So what’s the next step with Will?” I asked.

  “He’s still here. Dave has him in the den, watching sports. He’ll probably fall asleep in his recliner like he always does, and I’ll get to flirt with Will. We won’t take him to bed with us tonight because Diana is here. I can just imagine the tales she’d have for her father!”

  “I forgot about little Diana. She’ll keep you an honest woman.”

  “That’s the thing about swinging. You are being honest,” Alison said, already talking the talk.

  “Well, I’ll be ready to hear all about it,” I said, surprising myself. Maybe I was becoming depraved, with the frog in the warm water syndrome. “Call me tomorrow!”

  We said goodbye. I am looking forward to hearing about their escapades. Jeanie will flip if she finds out.

  I got to thinking about Jeanie then, and wondered if John cried out Cassandra’s name when he came? LOL! Yes, I understood though, because he’d been married to her for so long.

  Long marriages change you. My marriage to Randy is still new, and we’re getting to know each other. I don’t think he thought through the restrictions that marriage can place on a person when he married me. He missed me and said he didn’t want to leave me, promised he wouldn’t leave me, but then when it got right down to it, the second someone else important to him came along, I was no longer the focus. I don’t think he gave me that much thought when he planned the trip to Bali within hours of meeting Laura. I had a choice to make. I could have raged and insisted he not go, or just do what I’ve done. I’m still peeved, but I’ll live.

  Oops, my daughter is trying to get in touch with me, which is odd because it’s late. I’ll end this now. We’ll chat soon.