Dancing at Daybreak

by Valerie Comer

  Mom bustled back to the table with two plates of food.

  Really? She’d kept some warm? “Thanks. You didn’t need to.”

  She glanced at Linnea. “Sure, I did. You just eat up now, and then we’ll have pie.”

  Mom might not be a gourmet cook, but the spread was definitely better than anything Dan could come up with, especially with three hungry kids clinging to his legs. He shifted Mandy to his left knee so they could both eat.

  “We waited for you to go around the table and say what we’re thankful for,” Linnea said.

  Dan’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. He remembered his sister had introduced this concept last year. They’d sure never done it growing up. And he had more to be thankful for than ever in his life. Even with Dixie’s volatility? Yeah, he didn’t much want to be vulnerable in front of his family, but what else was new? They all knew his business, anyway. “Sure. Want me to start?”

  “Uh...” Beyond Linnea, he caught Logan’s thumbs-up.

  “I’m thankful for a lot of things.” Dan cradled Mandy. “These amazing kids. A good year in the landscaping business. Meeting Jesus.”

  Dave Junior snorted.

  Dan turned to his brother. “What’re you thankful for, Junior?”

  “Money.”

  Figured.

  “Dad?” asked Linnea.

  “Thankful to have a son who makes me proud.”

  Why did Linnea persist in giving their parents a venue for praising their firstborn? Because Dave Junior was about to pop his buttons, and it wasn’t all because of the amount of turkey he’d no doubt put away.

  “Anything else?”

  Dad’s gaze shifted around the table, lingering on Dan then Linnea before settling on Mom. “Thankful for your mother. And I guess I’m glad my ticker is doing better.”

  “Aw, thanks, Dave.” Mom smiled at him. “We’re glad you’re back to health after that heart attack, too. I’m thankful to have all my chicks in the nest for Thanksgiving, and I’m glad everyone’s getting along better than they used to.”

  Dan was so not going there. “How ’bout you, Mandy? What are you thankful for?”

  The little girl chewed on her lip for a second before her eyes brightened. “Dancing. I’m going to be a Christmas angel!”

  “You’re all invited.” Dan looked between his parents.

  “Is it a school concert?” asked Mom.

  “No, it’s at Bridgeview Bible Church. Seven o’clock on the Sunday just before Christmas.”

  Dave Junior crossed his arms over his chest. “Not a chance.”

  Wasn’t asking you. In earlier times, those words would have been verbal. Today, Dan managed to bottle them inside unspoken.

  “Please, Grandma.” Mandy batted her eyelashes.

  “We’ll see.” Mom darted a glance at Dad then looked back at Mandy. “It sounds like you’re having fun. That’s good.”

  Mandy nodded before leaning over and poking Buddy. “What’s your thank you?”

  Buddy leaned against Dan’s elbow. “My burfday. Daddy got me cars and a track. Cars go zoom.” He demonstrated the speed around the loop, nearly toppling his water glass.

  Mandy pivoted and pointed at Henry. “Say thank you.”

  “Ta Dadadada.” He grinned as he splatted his pudgy hand into the potatoes. The kid had smeared gravy and sweet potatoes in his hair. Bath tonight. Maybe even before they left Mom and Dad’s.

  “Aw.” Linnea sniffled. “He’s so cute.” She turned to Logan. “Your turn.”

  Logan slid his arm across the back of Linnea’s chair and kissed her cheek. “Thankful for you, my love.”

  Dave Junior mimed a chokehold.

  Logan grinned at him. “You’re just jealous. Marriage to a great woman is a blessing not to be taken lightly. I’m thankful for new life in Jesus. For His forgiveness and love.”

  “Enough with the sermon, Dermott.” Junior again.

  “Your turn, Linnea.” Logan’s hand rubbed her shoulder, and she leaned against him.

  Would Dixie ever trust Dan that much? Trust the Lord? His heart ached.

  “I’m thankful there’s only one more semester of college. It’s been good, but I’ll be glad to be done. And I’m thankful for each of you. My family.” Her gaze traveled around the table, lingering on each of them. Even Junior. “And I’m super thankful for the joy and peace I have in Jesus. I wish you all knew it. It’s amazing.”

  Mom shot another quick look at Dad.

  Dan narrowed his gaze for a second. Were their parents starting to think about the Lord? Dan spent too much time wallowing in his own problems with Dixie and not time enough praying for others. Sharing with others. Memories of Al Santoro trickled through him. The fiftyish man had never wasted a moment he could share Jesus with anyone around him. His memorial service last year had been one of Dan’s steppingstones. The man’s entire life and death had nudged Dan toward faith.

  Mom got up and began to clear the plates. Linnea and Logan retrieved serving dishes and glasses.

  Dan ate the rest of his dinner, barely tasting it. He squeezed Mandy. “Eat up. Grandma made apple pie.”

  She swiveled on his knee and looked at him, tears puddling in her blue eyes. “Mama likes apple pie.”

  “I know, baby.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “I don’t know, but we’ll find out later, okay?”

  “I’m not hungry, Daddy. Mama made me a sandwich.” She nestled against his chest.

  His heart squeezed at the little girl’s love. He was the only father figure she’d ever known, and he wasn’t going to give Dixie another opportunity to take one of the children from him. That meant he had to fire her from childcare. Change the locks. Turn her loose.

  No. He couldn’t do that.

  But this had been too close a call, with her taking Mandy then abandoning her. She’d obviously thought better of the responsibility, of the handicap a kid would present if she went back to her old lifestyle. Would she do that?

  The churning in his gut said she would.

  How could he pin her down long enough to get her to sign the kids over to him? Dan eyed his brother. Dave Junior was an attorney, but in criminal justice, not family matters. For this situation, Dan would need Peter Santoro’s girlfriend, Sadie, a family lawyer. Dan had consulted with Sadie a few times before, so she had a pretty good grasp of the situation. This time, he needed to figure out what he could to become the children’s legal guardian.

  Would Dixie fight him on it or enable him? What about her unstable mother?

  He’d give Sadie a call over the weekend and find out what his odds of success looked like. And check his phone in his jacket pocket in the front entry to see if Dixie had answered his last text.

  Where had she gone?

  8

  Dixie had only thought she’d missed partying with her friends until she awoke on a carpeted corner of Billie and Jared’s living room, anvils pounding her head and nausea spiraling her stomach. The sound of someone retching in the bathroom down the hall didn’t help. Whoever that was would need to move over right quick.

  She pushed herself to sitting and waited a few seconds for the dizziness to subside then tried to pick her way around the bodies sprawled on the floor. Oops. Tripped over Tanisha, but the other woman only shuffled over. Dixie made it to the bathroom as a big guy whose name she couldn’t remember staggered out.

  “Worst part of drinking,” he mumbled as he shuffled past her.

  Dixie cleared her own stomach. The guy was right. She was out of practice binging like this, thanks to trying to be a responsible mother for the past few months. Blast Dan and his stupid religion anyway. He’d driven her to this.

  Someone pounded on the bathroom door as Dixie splashed cold water on her face. She winced at her disheveled image in the mirror. Finger-combing her hair, she exited the small space and made her way to the kitchen, where the guy filled a mug from a giant urn. Someone had been thinking ahead.

  He held
it out to her. “Coffee?”

  Dixie hated the stuff, but she needed the caffeine enough to drink it when required. She nodded, her skull pounding at the slight movement, as she slid into a chair at the dinette.

  “Missed your name last night. I’m Seth.” He dropped to the seat across from her, another mug in hand.

  “Dixie.” She took a sip of the vile liquid. The cure was as nasty as the hangover. That alone should be enough to keep her sober.

  “Who invited you?”

  What was with the twenty questions? “Tanisha. We go way back.”

  “Haven’t seen you around the gang before.”

  She tried to focus on his tanned skin and dark hair. She didn’t remember him any more than he seemed to remember her. “We moved across the city last year.”

  Seth’s eyebrows peaked. “We?”

  “My boyfriend and me. We split, though.”

  “Maybe his loss is my gain.”

  She rolled her eyes, even that motion painful. Who hit on someone with bedhead, bloodshot eyes, and puke-tainted breath? Dixie winced, remembering she’d been that desperate a time or two. Never again. She took a long sip of the thick brew then met the guy’s gaze. “Don’t think so. I’m gonna be single for a while.”

  Seth shrugged. “Can’t blame a guy for asking.”

  If her brain wasn’t misfiring, she probably could, but it took too much effort to think.

  Billie entered the kitchen in sweats, went straight to the urn, and poured a coffee. She glanced between them before settling on Dixie. “Hey, hon. Haven’t seen you in ages. How’s Dan? The kids?”

  From the corner of Dixie’s eye, she caught Seth shifting away. Just as well, really. “We split. Dan’s got the kids.”

  “Huh. Thought you guys were in it for the long haul.”

  Whatever that meant in their crowd. “Nearly three years.”

  “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking? He didn’t beat you, did he? Never thought he was the sort.”

  Dixie shook her head. “No. He’s on a Jesus kick.”

  Sympathy flooded Billie’s eyes. “I’m sorry, hon. Religion can really mess things up.”

  “You’re telling me.” Except Dan had turned into a nicer version of himself since his conversion. A man she was even more attracted to. If only he hadn’t decided sleeping with her was a sin.

  “Don’t even start with me about religion,” Seth muttered.

  Dixie’s eyebrows raised as she stared at the guy. “Been burned?”

  “It’s all great while you’re in it. It’s kind of a high, with all that love, joy, peace.”

  She’d seen that in Dan.

  “But then when you realize it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, it’s an ugly crash.” He slammed the table, and Dixie jumped. “Euphoria’s gone. The world is nastier than it ever was before.” Seth lurched to his feet. “I need a drink. You?”

  Dixie shook her head. She’d definitely had enough for now. Maybe forever, if she could hold onto how grim she’d felt half an hour ago. An occasional beer or drink with dinner? No problem. She’d been doing that for years — minimally while pregnant. But she hadn’t gotten this soused in eons. She didn’t even want to think about how much she’d guzzled last night.

  Yeah, she’d arrived well after the party had started, but Billie had still met her at the door, told her where to hang her keys, and informed her no driving, no exceptions. A good hostess, right down to having the huge coffee urn prepped for the morning after.

  Billie slid into Seth’s vacated seat as Tanisha wandered into the kitchen. “Dan’s got the kids? How’d that happen? Only the baby is his, right?”

  “Yeah. Henry’s eighteen months now.” Dixie sighed. “It’s a long story, but he’s good with the kids, and they love him.”

  Tanisha glanced over from the urn. “Aren’t you going to fight for them?”

  “Why should I?” Dixie met her friend’s gaze.

  “Because...?” Billie lifted both hands.

  “Look at me. I’m a mess. The kids are better off without me. He can give them everything I can’t. A real home. Stability. Regular food.”

  Tanisha snorted. “He can’t give them a mother’s love.”

  “Not that I can.” Dixie rolled her eyes. “Not really. Did you miss the part where I’m a mess?”

  Billie eyed her over the rim of her coffee cup. “Do you love your kids, Dixie?”

  “Of course, I do. That’s why I know leaving them with Dan is best for them.”

  “My mom abandoned me when I was a baby.” Tanisha sipped her coffee, closing her eyes for a second as she leaned back against the counter. “I don’t think anything can mess up a kid more.”

  “But I’m not good for them. I know it. They’ll forget about me in time. Maybe Dan will marry someone who’ll take my place.” Just the thought tightened a new band around her skull.

  “They won’t forget,” Tanisha said quietly. “No one can take your place.”

  “But—”

  “She’s right, you know,” Billie put in. “I was shuffled around in foster care, too. Had some decent placements, all things considered, but the only thing I really wanted was my mom. Even after I couldn’t remember her face.”

  Dixie sighed. “You haven’t convinced me. My mom kept me, but I didn’t feel safe or loved considering the parade of men through our apartment.”

  “Hit on?” asked Billie.

  “Not the way you’re thinking. Just felt vulnerable. Afraid.” And determined to control her own sexual destiny, not be taken advantage of by some leering jerk three times her age.

  “You say you love your kids.” Billie took a sip. “Why?”

  “That’s a dumb question.”

  Tanisha shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  Of course, they’d stick together. “Because they’re my kids.”

  “Not because they’re cute, or talented, or something else?”

  “Of course not. I don’t need more reasons.”

  “How can another woman ever give them that?”

  “But—” Dixie snapped her mouth shut.

  “Yeah, I agree.” Billie nodded. “You need to either get back with Dan, or take the kids with you. I’m not even kidding when I say they need you more than anything else.”

  Dixie sliced her hand through the air. “Enough. I’m not going back. Did you miss the part about him finding religion? He figures we need to get married, or we can’t live in the same house. Definitely no hanky-panky.”

  “He asked you to marry him?” Tanisha asked incredulously.

  “A dozen times.”

  “And you turned him down?”

  Dixie rolled her eyes. “A dozen times.”

  “I don’t get you, hon.” Billie eyed her. “He’s a good guy. The kids are safe with him. He’s got a good job. He wants to marry you. Don’t let a little religion get in your way.”

  “Yeah, I thought you meant he’d decided you weren’t good enough for him.”

  “I’m not. Don’t you get it?”

  Her friends exchanged glances then Billie shook her head. “You’ve got everything you ever wanted offered to you on a silver platter. Just take it.”

  Dixie gulped the now-lukewarm coffee and pushed to her feet. “It’s not that easy.” Not when it came with an extra — Dan’s newfound faith.

  Dan held the door for his friends. “Come on in. Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee? Tea? Pop?”

  Peter ushered his girlfriend in with a touch to her lower back.

  Sadie shrugged off her coat into Peter’s hands and grimaced. “I’d better stick with water. I’m off sugar, and I hate coffee without loads of flavored creamer.”

  She’d lost a lot of weight since Dan had given her a landscaping quote last spring. If ditching sugar had made the difference, he sure didn’t want to be responsible for sabotaging her.

  Peter chuckled. “I’ll take a cola. I’ve cut back a lot, but I’ll still indulge.”

  �
��So long as you keep your boyish figure.” His girlfriend patted his flat belly.

  A diamond glistened on Sadie’s hand. Dan swallowed hard. “Looks like congratulations are in order.”

  Sadie wiggled her fingers, a soft smile on her face. “Yep. He finally got around to asking me.”

  “Hey, it’s not like that!” Peter protested. “And you’re the one who insists the wedding won’t be until Thanksgiving. Which happened to be two days ago, so you mean an entire year.”

  “You’re the one who’s got a super busy job from spring through fall and can’t take time off.”

  Peter kissed her cheek.

  Dan turned away, heading for the kitchen. Let the lovebirds come when they were ready. Yeah, their engagement wasn’t a huge shock, but on the heels of Dixie’s disappearance, it only twisted the knife in his own gut. Last week he could have pretended he’d win Dixie over any day. Now? Not so much.

  He dumped ice into three glasses and filled one with water. By the time he’d poured cola into the other two, the happy couple stood hand-in-hand beside the counter. Dan passed over their drinks then picked up his own.

  Understanding flickered in Sadie’s eyes. “You had some questions?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go have a seat in the living room.” Dan glanced up the staircase as he passed it. He hadn’t heard a peep from the three of them for nearly an hour. He’d just as soon they didn’t overhear. Mandy, especially. She was still a clingy wreck from Thursday.

  Sadie took a sip of water then set her glass down. “Tell me what’s happening.”

  The visit between friends had just turned into a client’s consult with his family attorney. “I can’t expect you to keep handling my affairs for free, Sadie. Would you please send me a bill?”

  She quirked a grin. “You can’t afford me. Don’t worry about it. If we incur any filing fees, I’ll bill you, but advice? That stays pro bono.”

  “Thanks. I don’t deserve friends like you.” His gaze toggled between the couple then sighed. “Everything’s a mess.”