“De nada.”
He started to walk away, then turned back. “I have a question about that mixer. If both of you were determined not to meet anyone, how did you end up dancing with each other?”
She smiled. “He tried to sit out the whole thing but women kept dragging his reluctant ass onto the floor. I was out there a lot, too. I couldn’t bear the sad look whenever I’d say no, so I danced with whoever asked. Obviously that wouldn’t be him. That intrigued me, especially since he kept glancing my way.”
“But you eventually danced together, right?”
“Just once. When they announced the last number, he left his chair, made straight for me, and held out his hand. I took it.”
“And that was that.”
“Not exactly.”
“Wasn’t that the start of the courtship?”
She hesitated, then smiled. “The second we were out on the floor, he said I’m probably going to regret this. And I shot back I’m sure I will, too. We spent the whole dance coming up with reasons we should never see each other again.”
“No kidding. Then what?”
“We said goodbye and went our separate ways.”
“But something had to?—”
“Two weeks later he showed up at my door and asked me to marry him.”
“What? I thought you met at the dance and then dated for several weeks before he asked you.”
“Just because he proposed doesn’t mean I accepted. It was several weeks before he asked again and this time I said yes. He was embarrassed to admit he’d proposed on the basis of a single dance, so we left that out of the story. Doesn’t matter now.”
“How did he know where you lived?”
“Beth secretly tucked my address and phone number in his jacket pocket while we were on the dance floor, just in case. He didn’t find it until two weeks later.”
“Where is Beth now? We all owe her a lot.”
“Sadly, we lost touch. She met somebody that night, too, and they ended up moving to Arizona. We exchanged Christmas cards but then hers stopped coming. People get busy.”
“Well, if you should hear from her, let me know. She changed all our lives for the better.”
“She did.”
“Did you ever regret dancing with Dad? Like when all of us kids were tearing around picking fights with each other?”
“Not for a second. Your father was a gift and I’m grateful every day that he… crossed that dance floor.” Her voice quivered on the last part.
“Aw, Mom.” He started toward her.
“I’m okay.” She held up her hand like a traffic cop and dabbed at her eyes with the other. “Go help Luis with that mustang.”
He hesitated. If she needed to cry, he was there for her.
“I mean it. I’ll always miss him like the devil, but I’m getting stronger every day.” She cleared her throat and blinked her eyes. “Are you coming to lunch?”
“Maybe I’d better not. You could invite the sister. I don’t have to do it.”
“But if you’re here for lunch, you can practice being around her without getting flustered.”
“Alrighty then. I’ll be here.” Lord help him, he was gonna need that practice.
