by Gayla Twist
“Oh,” I stammered. I had been so busy convincing myself that I wasn’t attending the dance that I had forgotten about tickets.
The tough guy at the door gave me a steady look. “You can’t get in without a ticket.”
I gazed right back at him, fixing him with my eyes. “I’ve already given you my ticket,” I told him. “You were just about to tell me that I could go inside.”
The man blinked twice and then said, “You can go on inside.”
I liked the Mansfield Country Club. It was a nice, open space with a band shell at the far end of a well-lit ballroom. The floor was already filling up by the time I arrived. There were lots of attractive females present, all dressed in varying levels of finery. But I only had eyes for one girl.
My timing was perfect because it was only about ten minutes before I caught a glimpse of Colette Gibson entering the dance. Her escort noticed me first, for some reason, saying something derogatory about my attire. But then Colette and I locked eyes. She immediately blushed and put a hand to her cheek. A new song started and I had to resist the impulse to take her in my arms and twirl her across the dance floor.
Her date must have noticed my longing gaze, because he flashed a warning look in my direction and then led Colette to another section of the room. I tracked him with my eyes. Setting aside my instant jealously, I observed that he was obviously a man up to no good. I could see the faded marks of a fight on his cheeks and smell the coagulated blood under his skin. I noticed his knuckles were covered in plasters as he hooked a possessive hand through Colette’s arm. I had to wonder why Colette’s parents would allow her to go out with such a brute.
Colette’s eyes lingered on me as her date dragged her off to be introduced to some older gentlemen and their wives. I was immediately glad that I had ignored every argument I’d made against going to the dance. I didn’t trust Miss Gibson’s date. He had an air about him that smelled like trouble. While I stood at a discreet distance from the couple, I began to pay more attention to the crowd. There were a lot more older people at the dance than I had expected. And some of them were quite garishly dressed. Several of the younger men were concealing recent wounds, which told me that perhaps there had been some kind of brawl. Tables ringed the room, out of the way of the dance floor, and I took a moment to glance at the cover of a dance card someone had set down next to her purse. The dance was apparently for members of the Fifteenth Chapter of the Lenox Avenue Corporation. The name meant nothing to me, but I had my suspicions about their business. I doubted they were part of a pipefitters union or some other legal operation.
When the next song started, Colette was led by her date onto the dance floor. I could tell she was reluctant to go. Her eyes kept darting around the room and I wondered if she was looking for me. It wasn’t fair of me to show up and throw a wrench in her evening, so I concealed myself in the crowd, but where I could still keep a watchful eye.
Much to my distaste, her brute of a date was a rather good dancer. He was much smoother than I would have been on the floor. Colette did an admirable job keeping up with him, but it was obvious the fellow was a bit of a showoff.
Colette’s sister seemed much happier with her date, even though the fellow wasn’t nearly as light on his feet. They were hanging onto each other in a manner that bordered on immodest. Lettie frowned a few times while looking in her sister’s direction. But besides too high of spirits, Lilly and her date weren’t actually doing anything inappropriate.
After an hour of dancing non-stop, Colette begged to be allowed to catch her breath. Her face was pink and she was breathing heavy. I could smell the perfume of her sweat and it was sweet. I sent up a silent thank you to the good people of Tiburon who had been consistently donating their blood to help poor Arthur. It kept our family well supplied. We even had enough to help out some of the regional hospitals. We were too isolated in Tiburon to share the wealth with any of the other vampire families, but I was grateful that my belly was full and I had a flask in my breast pocket in case of emergency. I felt completely under control.
Colette’s date excused himself and headed off in the direction of the men’s room. I fought the urge to go over and ask her to dance. It would have been heaven to hold Colette in my arms, if only for the length of one song. But I knew it was wrong. I knew I couldn’t ask her. She more than likely only thought of me as one of her employers. I’d probably ruined her evening by showing up to the dance.
A middle-aged man with a big belly and a pronounced scar across his cheek approached Colette. It was obvious from his stagger that he’d been spending most of his time at the bar. “Hey there, cutie,” he slurred.
Colette appeared a little startled to be addressed by the man. “Hello,” she said, rather hesitantly. Then she quickly scanned the dance floor for her sister.
“What do you say you and I twinkle our toes a little out on the floor?” he asked, swaying slightly to the left and then straightening up again.
“No thank you,” was her reply.
“What’s the matter?” the guy asked, immediately taking offense. “You think you’re too good for me or something?”
“No,” she assured him. “It’s just that I’m waiting for my escort. He said he’d be right back and that I should wait here.”
“Awe, he won’t mind,” the man assured her. “Not when he sees who you’re dancing with. I’m a big name in these parts.”
“Thank you, but I think I’d rather wait,” Colette told him, still trying to be gracious.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me properly,” the man snarled, turning quite red in the face. “I asked you to dance.” And then he grabbed her arm.
“Hello, darling,” I said, immediately appearing at Colette’s side. “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“Oh,” Colette said, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“Who’s your friend?” I asked, smiling at the drunk.
“My name is something you don’t need to know,” the man slurred. “Now, excuse me, we were just about to hit the dance floor.”
I frowned a little. “There must be some confusion. I’m afraid the young lady promised me the next dance.”
The man’s face puckered up like he’d just licked a lemon. “Do you know who I am?” he demanded.
I looked him dead in the eye. “I think you are a very nice gentleman who was kind enough to converse with my date. But now you are feeling tired and you’d like to go home. You no longer wish to dance.”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t want to dance. Not anymore,” the man said after digesting my words. “I’m tired. To hell with this shindig. I’m going home.” And then he staggered off.
“Shall we?” I asked, extending my elbow toward Colette so that I could lead her onto the floor. The orchestra was just starting a slow song. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
As I put my arms around her, I could feel Colette tremble. If I was being honest, I was trembling slightly, too. Not from the confrontation, but just from being so close to her. “I’m sorry if that man frightened you,” I said.
“No, I…” Colette stammered. After a moment she tried again. “I’m fine,” she assured me. “But what are you doing here?”
I swirled her across the floor and it was like dancing on air. “I wanted to hear the band,” I said. “They’re quite good. Don’t you think?”
Colette looked at my feet for a moment. “Your ankle,” she said. “Is it quite better?”
“It troubled me for a day or two, but it’s all healed now,” I told her. She was so very close, I felt like I could get lost in her emerald green eyes.
“I just can’t believe you’re here,” she said in a very quiet voice. “It’s like something out of a dream.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. This beautiful creature in my arms couldn’t possibly feel the same way about me as I felt about her. It was my turn to stammer. “You mean to tell me…”
“Hey, buddy.” I felt someone slap me aggressively on the arm.
“You’re dancing with my girl.”
I knew without looking that it was Colette’s brute of a date. “We’d just like to finish this song,” I told him, never letting my eyes leave Colette. I had to have misunderstood her. I just couldn’t believe there was any chance that all the feelings I had for her were mutual. I had to find out.
Unfortunately, it was right then that the song drew to a close. “Before you go back to your escort,” I began as I reluctantly removed my hand from her waist. “I just wanted to ask you if…”
But it was too late. The brute was right there, glaring at me like he’d caught me stealing from his father’s store. I could smell the liquor on his breath. Colette’s eyes flicked nervously to her date and then back to me. “Thank you for the lovely dance,” she said.
I made a small bow. “It was my pleasure.”
And then the brute took her roughly by the arm and pulled her through the crowd. I wanted to go after him and explain to him in detail the proper way to treat a lady, but I knew that was unwise. He thought he was a tough-guy and that probably meant he was always spoiling for a fight. If he took a swing at me, then I doubted I would be able to stop myself from shattering his spine. But I decided to follow them at a discrete distance, anyway. Drink was causing the young man’s temper to flare. I didn’t want him to take his bad mood out on Miss Gibson.
Chapter 31
Colette
Lev goose-stepped me outside like I was a recalcitrant toddler. “You’re hurting my arm,” I told him, but I wasn’t sure if he was listening. There was fury in his eyes. I desperately scanned the crowd, looking for my sister or Walter. Where had they gone?
Once we were at some distance from the crowd, Lev shoved me a little away from him and said, “Let’s you and me get something straight.” We were around to the left side of the country club where no other guests had strayed. “When you’re out with me, I don’t expect to find you in the arms of some other guy. Got it?”
“We were just dancing,” I said, not sure why he suddenly thought he owned me. “It’s not like it’s any of your business anyway. Just because we came to the dance together doesn’t mean I’m your property for the evening.”
“I paid for that flower,” he said, jabbing a finger at my wrist. “I paid for the tickets. I paid for the gas to drive you here.” He took a step closer to me. “Maybe that means I feel like you owe me a little something.”
“Here,” I said, shucking the corsage off my arm and trying to hand it to him. “Tell me how much all of that cost you and I’ll pay you back,” I told him. I didn’t feel like I should have to be beholden to a man just because he’d spent a few dollars. “Just so you know,” I said, “I’m only on this date because my sister begged me. So if you spent two dollars, or three dollars, or even five dollars, then that’s fine. I have a job. I will pay you back.”
Lev’s face turned dark and I immediately regretted my words. My goal shouldn’t have been to throw the fact that I didn’t like him in his face. My goal should have been to return to where there were other people, find my sister, and get out of there. “You’re going to pay me back,” he said, grabbing my arm. “But it’s not going to be with money. You’re going to have to earn it.”
“Let go of me or I’ll scream,” I told him, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.
“Go ahead and scream,” he said with a laugh. “No man at this dance is going to come running, just because he hears some broad scream.”
So I kicked him in the shin, and when he bent forward because of the pain, I socked him in the nose. It wasn’t a solid punch, but it was enough to make him let go of my arm. Seizing my moment, I started running back toward the front of the country club. Lev lunged for me, catching my dress. I didn’t stop, even after my dress tore.
I ran without looking back. I expected that Lev would tackle me at any moment, but instead all I heard was a sharp “yipe” like someone had kicked a dog.
Once I was back among the crowd, I slowed down. I knew what Lev had said about the other guests, but I couldn’t imagine he could drag me off into the bushes kicking and screaming with nobody saying anything.
I had thought that Lev was going to come blundering around the corner in a matter of seconds, but he didn’t. I didn’t know why, but I sure as heck wasn’t going to go back and look for him. I moved deeper into the crowd of people chatting on the lawn and waited, never looking away from where I assumed Lev was going to appear.
It couldn’t have been more than a minute or two before a figure did appear from around the corner of the building. But it wasn’t Lev. It was Jessie Vanderlind, discretely straightening his bowtie and dusting dirt off of his tux. I was dumbfounded, but slipped inside the club before he could see me.
After several minutes of searching, I finally found my sister and Walter canoodling at a small table in a cozy corner by the bar. “What happened to your dress?” was the first thing out of my sister’s mouth when I finally caught her attention.
“Lev tore it,” I said, fighting back tears.
“What?” Lilly jumped to her feet. “What happened?”
“Lev got angry because I danced with another man,” I said. “He dragged me outside and said I owed him because he bought me a flower and got us these tickets. I told him I’d pay him back but…” My voice caught for a second. “But he said he didn’t want my money. I had to earn it.”
“What?” Lilly exclaimed, gripping both of my hands.
“So then I kicked him, but he still wouldn’t let go of my arm. So then I had to punch him in the nose.” I half considered telling them about seeing Jessie slinking around the corner of the building, but then changed my mind.
Walter slammed his hands down on the table. “I can’t believe it,” he all but yelled. “What is wrong with that guy? Has he lost his mind?” He got to his feet. “You two stay here. I’m going to find us a different ride home.” Spinning on his heel, Walter ran straight into Lev’s chest.
Lev was a much bigger man, but anger had blinded my sister’s beau to this obstacle. “We’re going outside,” Walter informed his former friend. “You need to be taught a lesson on how to treat a lady.”
I expected Lev to get right back in Walter’s face, or may let the fists start flying right there in the bar of the Mansfield Country Club. But Lev didn’t react in any way that I expected. Instead, he just stood there, swaying slightly on his feet. His skin looked clammy and his eyes were darting around the room.
“I came here to apologize,” he said to me in a small voice. “I realize that my actions were wrong and I really want to say I’m sorry.”
We all just stared at him, our mouths practically hanging open. Walter was the first to find his voice. “I’m glad to hear you’re sorry, but your behavior is still unforgivable. I hope you understand that I am going to find a different way to get the girls home.”
“Please don’t do that,” Lev said, his voice trembling. He scanned the room as if he was afraid there was a wild panther hiding in the corner and he didn’t want to draw its attention. “Please allow me to drive the three of you home as a way of making amends.”
“No.” Walter shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s impossible.”
Lev began to quake and tears started streaming down his cheeks. “Can’t you at least go in my car? Walter, you can drive. Lettie and Lilly can sit in the back seat. I’ll sit up front with you.” He looked at me, beseechingly. “I won’t say a word. I promise. I’ll keep my mouth shut the whole time. But please just let me see you home safely.”
He was a total wreck. It was as if we were talking to a completely different man. The Lev Wilson who was standing before us was somehow broken, like he had looked into the abyss and it had scared the fight out of him.
“I think it will be okay if Walter drives,” I said. Lev was so altered, it was shocking. I actually found myself feeling sorry for him.
“Okay, good,” Lev said, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “I really appreciate that. And I’
m so sorry for…” His voice started trembling again and he had no more words.
“I think maybe we’d better just get going,” Walter said after several seconds of watching Lev cry. “Why don’t I fetch the car and the three of you can meet me at the side entrance?” I knew he was worried about Lev being humiliated in front of his boss. But then Walter remembered he didn’t want to leave us alone with him. “Or maybe…” Walter tried to think of another option.
“It’s probably best if you go get the car,” Lilly said. She obviously was thinking the same thing I was thinking; there was no need for us to fear Lev Wilson. He was a broken man.
Chapter 32
Jessie
I have never been so close to murdering someone in my life. It took every ounce of self control I possessed not to snap the brute’s spine and toss his body into the river. I was so disgusted by him that I didn’t even want to drink his blood; I just wanted to make him disappear off of the face of the planet.
But I knew killing Colette’s date would be a mistake. Violence is rarely the solution to stop violence. Instead I decided to acquaint the brute with his own mortality, just to let him know how insignificant he really was in this world.
It turned out he frightened quite easily. I was surprised how quickly he crumbled. But I suppose bullies aren’t really known for their bravery.
After giving the young man a new perspective on life, I considered borrowing a car and offering Colette and her sister a ride home. But I decided that was just me wanting to play the hero. Besides, I wanted Colette to know that she had nothing more to fear from her date. He would never harass her again. So I instructed him to find his companions and to drive them home with the greatest of care. I explained that if I ever found out he was bullying or threatening anyone ever again, I would find him. But I wasn’t too worried on that score. I had a feeling that he was going to do everything with the greatest of care for the rest of his life.