Chapter20
Five weeks later
Olivia clapped as Aunt Bea and Uncle Bill finished their showcase dance. Harper stood up and wolf whistled, and soon her friends and their husbands were urging a standing ovation. The rest of the audience obliged with gusto.
After the applause ended and everyone sat back down, Olivia glanced around the community center again as they waited for the next pair of dancers to appear. As always Karen had outdone herself, and the center was perfectly decorated for the recital. White lights twinkled everywhere, making the ladies’ sparkly dresses shimmer even more. Everyone sat at round tables on the perimeter, giving the audience a good view of the dancers.
Olivia was proud of her aunt and uncle, who’d had the courage to dance in front of a crowd. Olivia herself had tried one more dance lesson, but despite copious amounts ofencouragement from Sunny and everyone else in the class, she was hopelessly inept. Ballroom dancing wasn’t for her. She had more fun watching the dancers than she did actually dancing.
A few minutes later, Jared and Karen took their place on the floor. The sound of fifties-era music started to play, and they danced an East Coast swing. Olivia could tell how much Jared had improved since his first lesson, and Karen was light on her feet, not missing a step.
The rest of the couples were fun to watch too. Myrtle had gone to the Florida Keys for vacation, so Senior danced with both Peg and Viola. He was totally in his element, hamming it up and working the crowd. Bubba and Sunny were the spotlight dance, and while their tango wasn’t perfect, he’d given his all, wearing a powder-blue suit and putting a long-stemmed rose between his teeth. The crowd loved it.
The final couple, Erma and Jasper, danced a rather sweet waltz. When they finished their dance, everyone erupted into applause.
With the showcase over, the DJ Karen had hired urged everyone onto the dance floor. Soon the room was filled with couples, some who had taken lessons and some who were just there to watch the showcase.
Olivia sat at a table with the Chick Clique and their husbands. Yes, Chick Clique. When her friends had offered to come up with something else, she’d declined. The name was growing on her.
Harper gestured to Erma and Jasper, who were sitting close together at a nearby table. “They’re so cute, Riley.”
“Nauseatingly so, sometimes.” Riley grinned. “I love it, though. Mimi always said she’d be single for the rest of her life. And she didn’t mind if she was. But ever since she and Jasper started dating, she’s been giddy.”
“So has Jasper,” Hayden added. “Even at work he’s got a new pep in his step.”
“Do you think they’ll make things official?” Anita asked. Everyone at the table looked to Riley.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m positive it will happen. They were both happy being alone, but they’re even happier together.”
Olivia looked at the elderly couple again and smiled. Erma was brushing something off Jasper’s tie. He batted her hand away, but he was grinning. Harper was right. They were cute, and Olivia was glad they’d found each other.
As for herself, it still hurt to think about Kingston, so as usual she’d thrown herself into her work. But she’d also done a few spontaneous things, like dropping her literature class. For the first time in almost her entire life, she didn’t have an impending deadline, and it was wonderful. She’d also taken an afternoon off to go shopping with Harper. She’d even let her friend do her makeup tonight. Normally she didn’t wear any, but Harper had used a light touch when she applied the cosmetics. The effect was subtle, and Olivia liked the neutral pink lipstick Harper had chosen.
During their spree, she’d purchased a modest, hip-flattering swimsuit from the clearance rack at one of the department stores. She’d even investigated swim lessons at the Hot Springs Aquatic Center but hadn’t signed up yet. The idea of taking swim lessons made her think of Kingston.But she needed to move on, despite knowing it would take a long time for her to get over him.
But even though her heart was still aching, her friends and family eased some of the pain.
She put Kingston out of her mind and speared one of the bacon-wrapped dates on the small plate in front of her. This was her second one, and they were delicious. She wondered if Tanner, who had catered the event, would consider adding them to the diner menu.
She’d started to take a bite when Karen, still dressed in her elegant dance costume, appeared. “This is for you.” She slipped a folded piece of paper into Olivia’s hand, then went back to circulating around the room.
Olivia opened the note.
Sunset Cinema. Eight p.m.
She frowned at the cryptic words. The note was typed, so she didn’t know the sender... or did she? She glanced at Karen, who was at the next table. When she winked at Olivia, her suspicion was confirmed. Her heart danced in her chest.
“Sorry, y’all. I gotta go,” she said, popping up from her seat.
None of her friends looked surprised, and no one questioned why she was making a hasty exit. They were all smiling, though, and that made her think they were up to something. For once, she didn’t care.
Grabbing her shawl and the sparkly rose-pink wrist purse Riley had crocheted for her and the other Chicks, she headedout the door to the parking lot. She took a quick glance at her watch. Almost 8:00 p.m. She didn’t want to be late.
A few minutes later she pulled into the theater’s empty parking lot and frowned again. The Sunset showed the latest movies on Saturdays, and she’d expected the place to be filled with moviegoers.
When she got out of her car, she wrapped her shawl around her. Fall had arrived, and the mid-October evening air was crisp and dry. She was wearing her fuchsia dress and the high heels Harper had insisted she wear. To her surprise, they didn’t hurt her feet as much as she’d thought they would. Still, although she wanted to run, she had to watch her step in the gravel lot.
The interior of the theater was dark, but when she reached the front door, the lights turned on. She went inside. The scent of freshly popped corn filled the air, but no one was in sight. She rushed through the empty lobby to the screening room. As she slowed her steps, she opened the door and entered the dimly lit theater.
