Dancing Up the Ladder

by Loy Holder

  Lucille shook Liz. “Hey, aren’t you going to go in and get the key?”

  “God, I love it already.” Her face glowed as she glanced at Lucille and nodded. “Yes, I’ll just be a minute.” Liz was so excited, she rushed out of the car, leaving the door open as she ran to Alice’s front door and knocked.

  Alice opened the door. Her brown eyes twinkled, and her smile looked too big for her face as she greeted Liz warmly. “Hi, you must be Liz, and I’ll bet you want the key.”

  “Yes, I’m Liz Harmon. I’m really anxious to see it. I brought my children and a friend along. Do you mind?”

  “No, that’s fine.” Alice reached over to a lamp table near the door and picked up the key, and then she stepped out onto the porch. She chuckled. “OK. Let’s go. I’ll be happy to get this rented. It’s been vacant for months.” She motioned in the direction of the old house.

  Liz hollered at Lucille and the kids to follow, and they all fell in line behind Alice. Liz was amazed at how fast this petite woman could walk uphill.

  Alice climbed up the rather steep cement steps to the front porch with ease, unlocked the door, opened the screen, and turned to Liz. “Remember, I still need to clean. I’ll wait out here while you look around. Take your time.” She made a sweeping gesture. “Go on in.”

  Liz stepped into a small living room and felt at home. There was a beautiful oriental rug on the floor with about a foot of gleaming hardwood border showing around the edges, and a large window to the right of the front door, overlooking the expanse of lawn and trees. White filmy sheers filtered the light and softened the bright white paint on the walls.

  Off to the left were two small bedrooms. Inside them was an adjoining wall with a doorway so that the children could go back and forth without having to go through the living room. Liz smiled to herself. Ah, the children will finally have separate bedrooms.

  Anxious to see the rest of the house, she walked back through the living room straight into a large kitchen. Yep, the linoleum floor needed a good scrubbing, and there was no stove. But there was a refrigerator, and a large window spanned the sink and countertop on the rear wall. It overlooked the back lawn and the field. As she peered through the glass, she spotted a jack rabbit hopping among the weeds in the field. The house was feeling more and more like home.

  There was a bathroom off the kitchen, with a claw-foot tub, pedestal sink, and a medicine cabinet with a foggy mirror. The bathroom needed a good cleaning, especially the toilet, and there wasn’t a shower. Oh well, a nice hot bath will work.

  Next, she entered the largest bedroom off the kitchen. It had a large closet with built-in drawers and plenty of space for a double bed and a dresser. A light breeze drifted through the open corner windows, filling the room with the smell of fresh-mowed grass.

  The service porch was a bonus. It was probably added onto the back of the house later. It had several windows, a sink and a hook-up for a washing machine. The linoleum was a mess, split and dirty, but a door with a window led outside to the soft green lawn and a long clothesline strung between two sturdy posts. Most important, the porch had plenty of space for her to hang clothes to dry in the winter.

  Liz hurried to find Lucille and the children. They were in the bathroom, when Liz walked in. Face flushed with exuberance, she asked, “Well, what do you think? It’s light and spacious, and it feels good to me.”

  Lucille rubbed her forehead. “Uh…there’s plenty of room, but you’re going to need a lot of things. What about a washing machine? And there’s no stove. There’s no shower. You love to shower. Can you afford to pay the first month’s rent and buy a washing machine, a stove, and furniture?”

  Liz took a deep breath. She was not going to let Lucille dissuade her. “I’m definitely going to take this place and pay Alice now. I’ll figure the rest out later.”

  “But how?” Lucille asked, sounding doubtful. I thought you were short on funds after paying your bills. I can help you, but I need to know how.”

  “I want to do this on my own,” Liz said. She clenched her fists and straightened her shoulders. “Right now, all I need from you is emotional support. I had no idea I could find a place like this for seventy-five dollars a month. I know the place isn’t perfect, but I can turn it into a home. You’ll see.”

  Lucille looked stunned but pleased. “Maybe you can actually pull this off.”

  “Yes.” Liz grinned. I’ll have my own house soon, and you’ll have yours back.”

  Lucille nodded. “I have to admit that will make Nate happy—maybe happy enough to help you move.”

  Liz caught Lucille’s slow smile as she turned to walk out of the house and join Alice on the front lawn.

  * * *

  Chapter twenty

  After Liz paid Alice the rent for the Sibley Street house, she felt energized. The children fell asleep on the way home, and Lucille interrupted her deep thoughts. “Why are you so quiet?”

  “I’m excited, and I have things to do,” Liz said with a slight frown. “I don’t want to talk right now. My head is spinning.”

  Lucille obviously ignored her need for quiet. “So, next month?”

  “Yep.” Liz shot Lucille an annoyed look.

  “You know that’s in two weeks?”

  Liz decided to humor Lucille. “I know, but Alice is anxious to rent it, and I don’t want to lose the house to someone else.”

  “Well,” Lucille frowned. “I said we might help you move, but we’re going to the wedding that weekend, so we won’t be around. If you want, I can call my brother.”

  Liz shook her head and laughed. “You need to stop fretting. First, I need to figure out what I’m moving. Just give me some time, OK?”

  A few nights later, Bill came into the Jet and sat at the bar. Sam was in the restroom, so Liz waited on him. When she came out of the kitchen, he lit up like a neon sign. “Hello, pretty lady.”

  Liz was happy to see him. “Hi yourself. What can I get you?” She flashed him her most alluring smile.

  “Ha. That’s a loaded question.” He winked. “But for starters, one beer and a small pepperoni pizza. I gotta eat and run tonight. I have a staff meeting tonight at seven thirty.”

  Sam came back from the restroom, and Liz gave her the pizza order and then brought Bill his beer. She studied Bill while he sipped his beer and said, “I have some news, and I need a favor. I’m gonna move into my own place, and I’m gonna need some help. Do you think you and Hank could move my furniture and boxes into my new place? It will be on a Saturday.”

  “Sure. I’ll talk to Hank.”

  She nodded with a grateful smile. “Thanks. You still got my phone number?”

  “Of course.” He looked insulted. “I keep it safely tucked away in my wallet.”

  “OK, call me in a few days, so I can give you the details. I better get out there on that stage.” Then her voice went an octave lower. “You got a song request?”

  His easy laugh always spiked her temperature, and his eyes crinkled at the corners in a sensual smile. “Yes, I love the way you dance to ‘I Heard It through the Grapevine,’ and I’ll call you next Thursday.

  Her smile was sultry as she murmured, “I’ll listen for your call.” She left him at the bar waiting for his pizza, punched in a few songs including his request, and started to move on the stage. By the time his pizza arrived, his song request had just started. He brought his beer and pizza to a table close to the stage, and she felt his eyes devouring her as she danced. Too soon the song ended, and Bill stood to leave. On his way out the door, he walked by the stage and whispered, “’Bye, pretty lady.”

  Close to moving day, she and Lucille received subpoenas to testify at Ron’s upcoming trial. When he’d been arrested a few weeks ago at the Jet for throwing beer at her, he’d been charged with spousal abuse. Apparently, the outstanding warrant also caught up with him, and he was also being charged with the attempted breaking and entering at Lucille’s house.

  Liz wore the one dark suit she owned
and tamed her blond curls into a chignon at the back of her head. During the trial, Ron turned to glare at Liz through bloodshot eyes and slowly rocked from side to side, causing the shackles around his ankles to clink and scrape on the floor.

  When the district attorney called her name, she calmly answered his questions. The public defender tried to attack Liz’s character with pointed questions directed at her “profession,” but Liz was unflappable. The trial ended with Ron being found guilty of both charges and sentenced to six months in the Sacramento County Jail with credit for time served.

  Soon after the trial, Liz invited Lucille to lunch. When they were seated at a table, Lucille gave a hearty chuckle and made a grand gesture with her hands. “Finally, we both have time to talk.”

  Liz smiled. “I know, it’s been wild, trying to get things lined up for the move, but I’m hungry. Let’s check out the menu.”

  While they ate, Liz told Lucille what she’d accomplished for the move. She told Lucille she’d discovered that her former landlady had recently evicted Ron but said she could have the furniture. She’d rallied a moving team, explaining that Hank Tanner, Bill Williams, and Sam Soto were going to help. She couldn’t wait to tell Lucille the best news of all: “And guess what? I’ve found a babysitter.”

  Lucille’s eyes widened. “Jesus, Liz. This thing really is going to happen. I’m convinced now. So tell me about the babysitter.”

  “OK, I went over the other day to do a walk-through of the house with Alice. The bathroom and floors were spotless. After we finished, we were on the front porch talking. This woman, Josie, came out of her cottage to water her flowers. Alice invited her to come meet me and the children. The next thing I knew, I had a babysitter. How’s that for luck?”

  “That’s great. What’s she like?” Lucille raised her eyebrows looking enthused.

  “She looks about sixty, but she seems spry. The children liked her. She invited us into her house for ice-cream cones, and her house looked comfortable and clean. I met Frank, her husband. He was in his recliner, watching television. His face lit up when Josie introduced Ronnie and Regina. I have a good feeling about Josie and Frank.”

  Lucille laid her salad fork down and rubbed her chin. “Huh…Sounds too good to be true. How much is she going to charge?”

  “There you go again, being negative.” Liz shook her head. “Don’t worry, I can afford one hundred twenty-five dollars a month, and I won’t have to pay her until the end of the month.”

  “That’s pretty reasonable—startling even,” Lucille said. She frowned and glanced at her watch. “Don’t you think we should be getting back? Nate’s probably had it with the kids by now.” They paid the bill and drove home, chatting amiably about how the move was going to change both of their lives.

  On moving day, Liz was ready. She’d gotten the children up early, and they were dressed, fed, and raring to go. Next, she’d packed all the last-minute things and walked outside to put the final suitcase in the car. The Green Monster was full, with just enough room left for the children to sit on one side of the back seat. After making sure everything was secure, she closed the door and looked up at the sky as she stretched. There were clouds diluting the sun’s warmth, and she noticed moisture covering the windshield. Liz welcomed the cold, damp air, and she was happy to be starting her new life in a new season. Fall was her favorite time of year.

  She’d had several conversations with Bill regarding her move. He’d confirmed that Hank had agreed to help. So the plan was for her to meet Bill, Hank, and Sam at her former house in South Sacramento. They would load up the furniture and the boxes she’d packed, and follow her to the Sibley Street house. She’d let them in, and they’d take a break while she got the children settled at Josie’s house for the night.

  When Liz came back from Josie’s, Bill and Hank carried in all the furniture, and Liz told them where to put each piece. Sam helped Liz bring in the boxes. When everything was in the house, they celebrated at Liz’s huge, round kitchen table with the beer and pizza she’d provided. Sam said, “Geez, Liz. This was the easy part. Now, you’ve got to unpack all those boxes. I’m glad it’s you and not me. I hate moving.”

  After everyone had finished eating, Liz said, “I’m actually thrilled to have this place, and I want to thank you so much for helping me move. I couldn’t have done it without you. When I get settled, you’ll all be invited here for a real dinner.”

  Hank was the first to leave. He stood from the table and pushed back his chair. “I gotta pick up my mother-in-law at the airport. Enjoy your place, Liz.”

  Right after Hank left, Sam stood and gave Liz a comical look. “I guess I’ll be going, too, before you put me to work unpacking boxes.” Liz laughed and walked her to the door.

  When Liz walked back into the kitchen, Bill stood looking out the window with his back to her. They were completely alone. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by the need to touch him and feel his hands on her. Just then, he turned to find her staring at him, and he didn’t move. His eyes traveled slowly over her and he held his hands out in front of him. His lips pursed as though trying to form a word, but no sound came out.

  She took a step closer to him and he said, “Don’t come any closer, or I won’t be able to keep my word. I’ve never seen you look more alluring than you do right this minute. You have pizza sauce on your chin and a smudge of dirt on your left cheek. Your hair is framing your face like a halo. That baggy sweatshirt teases me with the loose outline of your breasts, and those jeans…did you know they’re ripped in a strategic spot? But, Liz, I don’t just want to fuck you; I want to know you inside and out. You’re in my brain, my veins, and my heart. I never again want to see that look on your face of anger at me for touching you. You’re right; I don’t have the right to do it right now. But I promise you that’s going to change. Now…I’ve said what’s on my mind, so I’m gonna get the hell out of here. I’ve left two phone numbers on the kitchen table, home and work. Call me when you get your new phone installed.”

  Liz watched Bill turn and hurry out the front door as if he were being chased by a demon. She walked to the front door and watched him drive away. Damn, he meant what he said. I need to stop teasing him. She felt strange, hot and cold at the same time, and a bit empty. She’d stopped wanting sex with Ron, but right now, all she could think of was being naked with Bill. Yikes, I better cool off, or my moral compass will take a dive. She needed a distraction, so she stared at the unpacked boxes. She was beyond exhausted, but she decided to tackle them. Yep, that would do it.

  She’d had the gas and electricity turned on two days earlier, so she was able to work late into the night putting everything away. Finally, at nearly two in the morning, the beds were made; sundries, fresh towels, and washcloths were in the bathroom; clothes were put away; and the kitchen was functional. Since she didn’t have a stove, she’d bought a two-burner hot plate from the Goodwill store. To test it, she heated some water in a pot and made herself a cup of tea.

  It was getting cold in the house, so she shut and locked the front door and sat on her well-worn beige couch to drink her tea. While she sat, she glanced at the stack of pictures leaning against a far wall and told herself she’d hang them all the next day. The honey-vanilla chamomile tasted faintly sweet, and she felt her tired body relax.

  She finished her tea and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and take a quick bath. She had just enough energy to pause in the doorway of her bedroom and admire her decorating handiwork. She’d found a tiger-print bedspread and pillows for the bed, and they complimented the filmy white sheers she’d hung over the windows. The large, oval, white crocheted rug her mother had given her years ago still looked new and would feel nice under her bare feet. She turned back the covers, set the alarm for nine, and dreamed of making love to Bill.

  * * *

  Chapter twenty-one

  Business slowed at the Jet during the holidays, so Lucille closed the club the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. That had a neg
ative impact on Liz’s income, but Christmas came to the Sibley Street house. Bill called her often during the holiday season and had a huge box of presents for her and the children shipped to her house. She also discovered credit and bought a new stove and television. The children were thrilled with their new toys and the television, and Liz cooked Christmas dinner on a real stove.

  By the first blossoms of spring, there were lots of new customers as well as the usual crowd coming into the Jet, and profits doubled. One night, two gentlemen dressed in dark suits, white, starched shirts and dark-red power ties ambled into the Jet. There was standing room only.

  Liz was on stage dancing to “Devil with a Blue Dress On.” She’d mastered the fast tempo and had perfected a high kick, turns, and twirls that would impress any choreographer. She noticed the two men as they moved closer to the stage. Liz shifted from the quick tempo to “Let’s Get It On,” a slow sensual song by her favorite artist, Marvin Gaye. Her movements and timing with the beat were exquisite. Her full, pouty lips mouthed the lyrics and brought the words alive, while her arms and hands said, “come closer.”

  Bill groaned with sexual arousal as he watched intently from the table closest to the stage. His groin pulsated and ached. He wanted to talk to his wife about a divorce soon, but she’d been very sick lately, and she wouldn’t tell him what was wrong. The music stopped, and Liz blew him a kiss as she left the stage. Hank shook his arm. “Hey, man, you OK?”

  “Whew, yeah. Just give me a minute.” Bill chuckled and looked down at his crotch with a grin.

  Hank frowned and followed Bill’s gaze. “Jesus Christ, you gotta get that under control.” He shook his head and said, “Come on, it’s time to head back across the street.”