Lee got up the courage to speak first. “Care to dance again?”
“Sure. I could use a break,” she said, watching Leon’s mouth drop open as she walked away from the busy table, leaving him to serve the throng of hungry people.
Lee grasped her hand with a little more tug than before, and led her to the dance floor. Trying for nonchalant, the fireman was careful to leave ample space between them as he caught two sets of eyes glancing in their direction. “Oh boy, I hope I’m not causin’ any trouble for ya, Sherry.”
“Whaddya mean?” she asked warmly, pulling her face further from his to get better eye contact.
“Seems we’ve got ourselves an audience.”
Scanning the room casually, she offered Lee a knowing look. “The way it works ‘round here is yer damned if ya do and yer damed if ya don’t,” she said matter-of-factly. “People got a way of judgin’ people no matter what they do. I learned a long time ago to live my life and do what makes me happy.” Raising her eyebrows towards the spectators she added. “And the rest can take a flight.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Lee held her closer. “Amen to that.”
The look of disappointment mirrored both their faces when another slow song didn’t follow. Sherry lifted her head from Lee’s shoulder as the song ended. “Thanks,” she grinned. “Yer a good dancer.”
“It takes two to tango,” Lee winked. “Thanks.”
When the chicken dance song came on, Lee quickly took hold of Sherry’s hand, helping her exit the dance floor before they were forcibly joined into the humiliating tune. Martha was off to the side, holding a hand over her reddened, smirking face. “Whatsa matter? Ya don’t like that song?” she teased.
Sherry rolled her eyes and Lee nervously pinched his nose with his index finger and thumb, forgetting for a moment that he still had Sherry’s hand.
“Seems my Luke can still sleep through anything,” Martha commented.
Sherry’s brow furrowed as Martha pointed to Luke, lying under a table, fast asleep. Denise was sitting next to him, playing with Rainy Day bear. “He got his hearin’ aids in?” Sherry asked.
“They work fine. He sleeps through fourth of July fireworks and hunter’s gunshots, too.” She laughed in disbelief. “Do ya want me to take Denise back to my place?”
Sherry scanned the room from her vantage point, looking for Kenny and Gertrude. In the corner lit by the entrance lights, a group of people including Sherry’s parents, Alan the fire marshall, and Reverend Tellly plus ten other townspeople, were chatting. A beat later they all roared with laughter as if someone told a joke.
“Sure. It looks like momma and daddy aren’t ready to leave yet.”
Kneeling down under the table, Sherry asked. “You wanna go have a sleep over with Luke?”
Denise’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Her lips curled at the sides. Sherry kissed her on the nose. “I’ll come pick ya up after breakfast tomorrow.”
“I’ve still got pajamas, spare clothes and a toothbrush for her since last time,” Martha assured, walking away with Denise’s hand in hers. Martha’s husband Henry scooped Luke up off the floor and they walked out. Sherry watched Kenny lift Denise up and gave her a big bear hug before the four of them exited the building.
“Precious things,” Lee commented, searching Sherry’s face.
“They are,” she admitted. “I love ‘em both to bits.”
People were mopping the sweat off their foreheads as the Chicken Dance ended. Sherry pulled her lips inward, stifling a grin as she watched the dance floor empty. For a second the room was silent save for the din of chatter in the background. There was a squeak of feedback before the DJ bellowed that a line-dancing competition was about to start.
“Oh Lord, my momma’s been waitin’ for this!” Sherry beamed. Gertrude and Kenny suddenly gyrated past Sherry to the dance floor; Gertrude’s brows wiggled at her daughter.
“Joinin’ us darlin’?” she asked.
“I need a partner!” Sherry shouted over the music.
“Ya got one,” Lee shouted back, surprising himself. “I may not be a good one, but I’ll give it a go.”
“I’ll take it.”
Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Sherry pulled Lee by the hand, taking her place beside Gertrude. Kenny was on the opposite side of Gertrude. Jenny Martin and Alan were beside Kenny when suddenly Sarah waddled in beside Lee.
“If my water breaks, don’t stop me!” Sarah joked, shouting to the row of line-dancers behind her.
Boasting their weekly lessons, Kenny and Gertrude began moving to the exact pace of the music. Sherry was no slouch, either, she’d joined them many times while they practiced at home. Often, during backyard barbecues and other events, the family would whip out the ghetto blaster and dance in tune to country music, while their guests watched, sometimes joining in.
The steps were pretty simple at first. Lee was able to easily follow Sherry’s lead. She watched him, nodding encouragement as she exaggerated the steps for his benefit. Jenny and Alan were pretty good but poor Sarah struggled, having lost much of her coordination with pregnancy.
During the chorus, the dancers turned so their backs faced the person next to them as they grasped their neighbor’s shoulders from behind. Lee gently slid Sherry’s hair off her shoulder to avoid pulling it, giving her a shiver up her spine as his finger grazed her skin. As they turned back to face their neighbor, Sarah relented, having lost her partner since Lee was now facing Sherry.
“I’m done,” she admitted, blowing her hair out of her face.
“Good try, honey!” Gertrude shouted.
In the second chorus, the partners had to swing around, holding each other from the side at the waist, then lean in and sway from side to side. When they turned to face each other, Lee followed her lead, finding himself holding her gaze a moment too long. His eyes quickly moved down to her lips and back up again. She swayed her hips and turned, grasping him by the neck as his heart skipped a beat.
Sherry’s moves complemented his as they danced in unison, naturally, as if they’d been dancing partners all their lives. “Have ya done this before?”
“Never. I swear,” he laughed breathlessly.
Those not on the dance floor began clapping to the rhythm, and as the dancers swayed and moved their hips again in time, there were some whistles and shouts of encouragement. Sherry moved in, stepping to the beat, holding Lee’s hands in hers as the song came to a close. When the song ended, the screams, shouts and whistles were loud enough to wake the dead. As they stopped and the room was silenced, all partners were face to face. Sherry watched Lee’s chest heave up and down in time with hers as they smiled brightly at each other.
“That was amazin’!” Sherry gasped delightedly. “I don’t think I’ve ever danced that well with a partner before.”
Lee’s hand rose as he ran his index finger down the side of her cheek.
“Alright, alright let’s vote on who was the best line dancin’ couple now,” the disc jockey bellowed. He scanned the room. “By way of applause, tell me who was yer fav’rit.” Pointing the mike at each couple, the DJ received mediocre claps. Even for Gertrude and Kenny. As the mike reached Sherry and Lee, the whole room exploded into applause and whistles.
The DJ lowered his head, laughing. “Well, it looks like a win by a landslide, folks!” Pushing his hand behind the sound equipment, he pulled two brightly colored pins out of a bag. They had two ribbons hanging down, like the ones you’d see at a baking contest or a pageant for the best dressed pig. Round with frills. The disc jockey sauntered over to Lee and Sherry while many whistled and remained clapping beside them. Sherry’s face was beet red while Lee’s nose was so focused on the polished floor nobody could tell he had a huge, stupid grin.
The music returned although the dance floor thinned. It was slightly past ten o’clock. Senior citizens and older children were making their way out after the line dancing, as expected. Chattering was quieting down in the background
and thus the DJ lowered the volume to a conversational level.
‘We’re headin’ home now, darlin’,” Kenny said as he found his daughter helping herself to a bottle of water. “You can catch a ride home from someone, right?”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Sarah’s still here.” Sherry leaned in so Kenny could peck her on the cheek.
“I’ve got my car here, too. It’s no worry,” Lee offered, mopping his forehead with the back of his sleeve.
“Have fun, love,” Gertrude winked as she walked, hooking her arm inside Kenny’s as they exited the lodge.
“Here.” Sarah wobbled over to Sherry, carrying a beer in her hand. “Yer parents are gone. You need to drink.”
Taking a long sip of beer, Sherry caught Jenny at the corner of her eye, walking over with a circular platter full of tiny plastic containers, like the ones they use in the hospital to bring patients their medication. Glancing inside the plastic cups Sherry noticed that they were all filled with different colors of jello.
Sherry lifted a brow. “Jello?”
“Jello shots,” Jenny clarified. “They got vodka in ‘em.”
Wasting no time, Sarah grabbed one and shoved it in Sherry’s other hand. “Drink.”
Sherry’s brows knitted together. “What the hell?”
“Well if I could have one I would, so you might as well drink for both of us.” Sarah rationalized. She placed a hand on Sherry’s arm, speaking matter-of-factly. “I tell ya what, I’ll eat for both of us…fair?”
“You look like you could use one,” Leon observed from behind, handing Lee a beer.
Lee accepted the bottle with a thin smile. “Just the one. I’m drivin’.”
Glancing at his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, Sherry watched as Lee heartily drank. Shrugging, she hesitantly sniffed the green colored substance inside the cup, tipped her head back, and squished it into her mouth.
“How is it?” Jenny studied Sherry’s twisted face. “It’s my first time makin’ ‘em.”
Sherry swallowed hard. “Pretty good. Strong, though.” She closed one eye, looking like she just ate a lemon.
“Hey, let’s go sit here.” Leon gestured toward an empty table close to the nearly empty dance floor. “Looks like all the old bitties have left now so the party can start.”
Leon’s face was flushed from the dancing and alcohol and his eyes were glassy.
With a bottle in his hand, Steven walked over to the table the gang was now occupying, nodding hello. “There’s a ton of alcohol left. Nobody hardly drank anything.”
“No worries. The lodge only charges for what’s used.” Sarah shifted over so she could see Jenny. “You best be keepin’ them things hidden. Word gets ‘round you brought ‘em shooters and there’ll be hell to pay.”
Jenny gave Sarah a nod as thanks and rose. “I’ll go pass ‘em around.” She bent down to Sherry. “Here. Take three more for us for later.”
Pulling them toward her, Sherry strategically placed them behind the empty beer bottles, away from view.
Lee examined his award that the DJ pinned on his suit jacket. “I never won an award before.” He removed his jacket and loosened his tie. “I s’pose there could be worse things.”
“You guys were good,” Sarah complimented. “I’d a won had I not been carryin’ a watermelon.”
Sherry laughed, examining her award, which was too heavy pinned on her dress. The spaghetti straps were being forced forward, revealing part of the upper half of her bra. She blushed as she carefully removed it, placing it on the table beside her drink. “Denise’ll get a kick outta this in the mornin’.”
“I’ll give mine to Luke so they match,” Lee offered. “Where’d ya learn to dance?”
Sherry took a sip of her drink and answered. “My folks have been line dancin’ for years and we always have some dancin’ goin’ on durin’ the summer. Even Denise knows a little.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I’ll invite ya next time.”
Lee grinned, feeling his cheeks warm, although he wasn’t sure if it was because of the drink or because of the beautiful woman who just invited him to her place sometime. He tried to forget that he inadvertently caught a peek of the top of her bra when she removed the pin.
Jenny returned with an empty tray where the jello shooters had been. Satisfied she’d avoided further scandal to her family, she sat down on the other side of Sarah and leaned in, as if she had a secret to share. “Looks like all the town drunks are smugglin’ free drinks in from the parkin’ lot,” she glared. “Better keep our eyes peeled for trouble.”
Craning his neck back, Lee observed Reggie Maxwell, Ruben and Tom Johnson and a few others standing in a huddle at the back of the room. He made eye contact with Alan and his wife Nellie chatting with them, too. “I don’t think we need to worry. It looks like Alan’s got it under control for now.”
Sherry couldn’t help but watch Lee’s muscular body as he turned to look. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his crisp, white shirt and the top two buttons had been undone, revealing a small tuft of curly hair just below his throat. The bottom of his hairline, at the nape, was damp from sweat; his hair was in soft curls. Trying to avert her glance and avoid thinking about what it would be like to touch the hair at his neckline, she took another sip of beer.
“It’s not like we’re at a town meetin’ or anything,” Sarah scoffed.
Mark, Sarah’s husband chimed in. “Next one’s comin’ up in a week.”
Focusing on the conversation instead of on the sexy, sweaty fireman sitting next to her, Sherry said, “Already?”
“Yep. Need to discuss where the hell this damn hospital’s gonna go,” Mark answered.
“I figured Greg Groves woulda learnt the story on that one by now,” Sarah commented, scanning the room. “Say, where’s Lina and Greg tonight?”
Jenny smirked. “They’re not the charitable type.”
“Speak of the devil.” Sherry noticed Lina and Greg walk in. “Figures they’d show up after all the tickets are gone.”
“Well, ya know she has to make an entrance, right?” Sarah murmured. “Let’s bet on what she brags about first. I say her dress…she probably went outta town to buy it. Who’s in?”
Sherry’s brow furrowed guiltily. “I’ll take that bet.”
“Me, too,” Leon added a little too emphatically.
“Hey, no fair!” Sarah argued. “Y’all have prolly seen her lookin’ at dresses already.”
Sherry and Leon exchanged a glance.
“Shhh!” Jenny whispered a little too loudly. “Here they come!”
“What’re we shushing?” Lina swayed her plump hips toward the table, frowning as though bored and unimpressed. “Have we missed anything or is this as dull as it was to begin with?”
“Na, y’all missed some good dancin’ and a line-dancin’ competition,” Sherry volunteered.
Lina scoffed. “Who won?”
“We did,” Lee answered, shooting her a look.
Lina craned her neck at him. “Who’s we?”
“Me and Sherry.”
Lina snorted as though that was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard. “Geez, ‘cause that’s the way to get to a man, makin’ him dance!”
Sarah glared at Lina. “She didn’t make him dance, you cow!” She rose defensively. “And she ain’t tryin’ to get to him, neither!” Sarah took a step closer to Lina. “And at least she ain’t stuffin’ her one-size-too-big fat ass into no whorey dress to get a man, neither!”
Mark rose quickly, nearly knocking the table over. He placed his arm around Sarah. “Darlin’, calm down,” he said, his voice quivering nervously.
Lina’s mouth was agape and a vein had popped out of her neck. Greg placed his hand at the small of Lina’s back, cautiously stealing a glance at Sherry. “Now she didn’t mean no harm, love. It’s the hormones talkin’.”
“To hell it ain’t!” Sarah shouted. “You got a lotta nerve, pickin’ on her so damn
much!”
Sherry interrupted, lifting herself from the table slowly. One hand was on her forehead as her face paled. “I’m gonna go to the ladies room.” Lee’s eyes widened as he rose and cautiously followed her. Sherry didn’t notice he was just two steps behind. Reluctantly, he waited in the hallway, giving her privacy while she did her business.
Five minutes later she exited the washroom, finding Lee leaning against the wall with one foot over the other and his arms crossed. He tried for nonchalant. “Are ya okay?”
“I’m fine. Lina’s hated me forever, I’m used to it.”
Her face had more color but she still appeared unsettled.
“That Sarah’s a spitfire.” Lee tried to read the unreadable expression on her face.
“Been my best friend for many years, but yes, ‘specially with the pregnancy, you can’t pull one over on her.”
Lee dipped his head out, giving a quick survey of the room. “Looks like Lina’s over talkin’ to Alan now. I think it’s safe.”
“I need a drink,” Sherry said, wanting to forget the heated exchange. All she wanted was to forget all her troubles and have fun, and up until Lina arrived, there was promise.
“What would ya like?”
“Whatever I had last. Not sure what it was.”
Lee followed her back to the table, pulling a chair out for her. Sherry watched him walk to the bar from the corner of her eye. His behind was tight and firm in the dress pants. Sarah interrupted her gaze.
“Are ya alright?” Sarah asked, glaring towards Lina.
“I’m fine. You should cool it, though. You got a baby in there, ya know.” She patted Sarah’s belly. While Sherry appreciated her friend’s protection, she didn’t want her compromising hers or the baby’s health for something she could’ve handled herself.
“I know. Believe me I’d a been worse off if I held it in.” Sarah popped a chip into her mouth, raising her brow.
“That’s true, ya know,” Jenny intervened. “It’s best to get things off yer chest. Pregnant or not. And that big-mouthed bitch needs a lesson or two anyhow.”
She Only Speaks to Butterflies Page 13