‘Why did I come out tonight? Why am I out here with people I haven’t seen in over two decades? Why did I think I would still fit in?’
My husband let me out for a night, solo. He’s at home with the kiddos. This is my first night in years being away from my little ones. My old tennis team was having a reunion, and I desperately wanted to go. But now that I’m here I’m confused why I desperately wanted to be here.
The venue was chosen as Roberta’s. A line dancing club and bar. I always wanted to come here again. I used to love the dancing, the atmosphere, and the social time.
Well the dancing is different to me, or maybe I’ve become too domesticated. It was just people getting as close as possible without getting intimate.
The atmosphere was fine, except the music was so loud. Like too loud!! I didn’t realize I had become such a prude; but I guess I am. Also I’m not used to the type of music. With my kiddos I’ve had to be careful what kind of music I listen to, because my kids mimic. Answering questions like, “what does this song mean?” And the song is about getting in the backseat of car…I don’t want to explain that to a seven year old. So I try and stick to Christian music, clean country, and crooners. The opposite of tonight.
Then there’s the socializing. For the past eight years I’ve been with my kids and husband. But the people who were once my good friends are drowning themselves in alcohol. Some of the married couples are off dancing close to other people. While the single friends were trying to hit on everyone in the bar.
“Come on, Sarah. You should come out and dance!” Jared slurred out while pulling me towards the dance floor.
“You go on without me. I’m not feeling too good.” Which wasn’t a lie. I was starting to feel dizzy. Maybe it was the air. I had only been drinking sparkling water all night, so I can’t be feeling dizzy due to drinking.
Jared shook his head and mumbled under his breath, “waste” before walking off.
I saw Chelsea and Katherine walking over in my direction, but instead I gathered up my jacket and purse and headed to side door. I needed some air. The cold air, burned my cheeks instantly, but it felt amazing. ‘What is this feeling?’ I was stumbling and fumbling trying to make it to the outside gazebo. Only a few people were there.
Safety. I felt safe as I stumbled onto a bench. It felt sturdy.
“Miss, do you need some water? You don’t look so good.”
Someone was handing me a water, and without thinking I took it and started chugging it down. It tasted like clean water. It was pure. Telling me that my drink must have been spiked tonight. “Thank you.”
“No need to worry about me miss, but you need to be careful accepting water from strangers.” The elderly man sat down beside me.
‘That’s true. I should have been more careful. I miss Charles. I miss my little darlings. My youngest is only two; how could I leave her at home?’
“Oh please miss, don’t cry. Here,” a handkerchief was handed to me.
I accepted it. I didn’t realize I was crying. I dried my face and finished the water. I felt better. Looking up I saw the gentleman beside me. He was an elderly gentleman; maybe seventy. He was nicely dressed, and he seemed calm and content.
“Is there a restroom nearby?” I wanted to wash my face and become a little less disheveled in front of my helper.
“Off to your right. Are you coming back or heading back inside?”
“I’ll be back. I think I’m done for tonight. Thank you.”
Looking in the mirror, a crazy looking person was looking back at me. I hadn’t seen this girl since my early twenty days. Not my best side. I washed my face and I felt much better. I tried to think back over the night; trying to figure out who and when my drink was spiked. Must have been Jared. He had been trying to get to me all night. Good thing Charles is not here, or Jared would be waking up in a hospital.
Finally seeing my normal self in the mirror I heading back to the gazebo. The gentleman was still sitting there waiting for me. “Sorry for my crying display earlier, someone from my company spiked my drink and I haven’t had alcohol in about ten years.”
Shock then anger was on the elderly man’s face. “Your drink was spiked. How could anyone do this? I’ll ask the bartender if someone from your party did it at the bar.” He waved over a man and whispered into his ear. The other man went off, back to the inside.
‘Who was this man?’ My face must have revealed my thoughts.
“Haha, sorry miss. I’m the owner here. I just want to know if a bartender saw anything. And if so I want them to be more aware and report these types of situations.”
The owner? The owner! Oh. “Strange. You don’t seem to look like the owner of this place?”
He raised an eyebrow, “what does that mean?”
“No offense. You just seem so classy.”
He chuckled. “I understand. No harm done. But you would be surprised that this place was once a classy place. We would dance the foxtrot, waltz, and even the east coast swing. We would have a live band and everything. My wife and I would host every night. The people who came would be there to dance and have fun with friends. We were all a big family back then.”
That sounded wonderful! I wish there was a place like that nowadays. I would go all the time. “That sounds wonderful, why did you…” looking at his face I knew why. “Where is your wife now?”
“She passed about thirty years ago. About that time the world started to change. People didn’t want to dress up and dance the night away; they wanted a louder atmosphere. You know, what it was like in there. Not something my Annie would have enjoyed. I’m happy she isn’t here to see what this place has become.”
I could see the true sadness on his face. He was missing her. Which is comforting to know that true love still exists after passing.
“I’m not quite a fan of this type of place, no offense. I was. But now that I’m a wife and mama I don’t really fit in to this place. Before it never bothered me; but now that I know someone is waiting for me at home, it’s hard to not think of them. Especially my little Lily. She’s only two years old, and I’m not with her. It feels weird to be away from my kids. I’m always with them. Everyday…”
“You remind me of my Annie. She always wanted to be home with our children too. I was the one who always wanted to be here dancing.”
“I would say I’m the one always wanting to be out dancing, whereas my husband is happy just being home. Every once in a while I want to go out ballroom dancing. I enjoyed learning to dance when I was younger. That now when I want to dance, I scoop up my son and dance the waltz with him in the living room. So coming out tonight has cured me of my desire to be out dancing. I’ll just dance with my son. Unless there was a family friendly classy place to go, I don’t think I will be coming out again.” I stood from the bench. Gathering up my jacket and purse. “Thank you again Mister,”
“Wesley.”
“Thank you Mr, Wesley. You saved me tonight.”
“Could you do me a favor? Since I saved you.”
“Sure.”
“Could you dance a quick waltz with me. I can’t do all the crazy tricks like before, but I would like to feel that feeling again.”
I smiled. I knew he wanted to feel close to his wife again. “Of course. And don’t worry about dancing fancy, I’ve not danced with a partner in a long time.”
“Ma’am, may I have this dance?” Wesley held out his hand.
“You may.”
…
Mr. Wesley had taken me back inside the establishment. “Are you off my dear?”
“Yes. Thank you for everything.” Wesley nodded and walked off.
The bartender stopped me before walking out, “Miss. You need to pay your bill?”
“My bill? I didn’t realize sparkling water cost money. How much do I owe? Ten dollars?”
The bartender coughed and handed me the bill…
“Two thousand dollars!?! That’s impossible. I don’t have that kind of money. Also I didn’t order anything. Is there some kind of mistake?”
“No mistake miss. Your party said that you were covering the bill. They all left about an hour ago.”
‘My party? What party? Oh. Them.’ “I never said I would pay the bill. Especially since I’m the one that ordered only sparkling water. Why would I offer to pay? This is all a mistake. I can’t pay this.”
“I’m sorry miss, but I will have to detain you and call the police, then. Please step aside.”
“But…” I was devastated. This was probably Jared’s idea. Since his plan of spiking my drink didn’t work for him, he thought leaving me here holding the bill was probably his retaliation. Never again. This really sealed the deal of me never hanging out with this lot ever again. “Fine.”
“Mrs. Dawely, why are you still here?”
I looked up to see Mr. Wesley standing beside me. “Mr. Wesley, my so called friends left me with the bill. I can’t afford to pay it. The police are being called. I’m sorry, but I can’t pay the bill. It’s probably Jared’s fault. He’s the one who spiked my drink. And since his plan foiled he probably leaving me with the bill would be a great revenge. I’m so sorry, Mr. Wesley.” I was holding back the tears.
Wesley walked over to the bartender. They discussed something. Mr. Wesley was just nodding while listening.
“Well my dear. You have been put into a bit of a pickle. I want you to tell the police everything when they show up. Also if you have a picture of the people who were here tonight. They will be banned from this place forever. I’m sorry that this had to happen to you. But now you know what kind of people they are. I would suggest getting new friends.”
“But Mr. Wesley. The bill. I can’t just let you loose two thousand dollars. I could help to pay it off if you would like?”
“No problem at all, my dear. I’ll settle it with the police. But if you could pay for your portion. You owe six dollars and thirty-eight cents.”
The tears came down in a gushing waterfall. “Thank you…Mr…” I couldn’t get the words out but I paid the bill. Just as Charles ran through the door.
“You have a keeper there son,” Mr. Wesley told Charles. “Keep her close.”
…2 Years Later…
I was holding my little Jeffery Wesley in my arms. We actually got to have another baby! I never forgot Mr. Wesley after that day. So much so that when this little guy grows up I will tell him who he is named after; and honorable gentleman. A man who saved Jeffery’s mama.
“Hey hon. You got a letter in the mail. More like a package.” Charles called from the kitchen.
Before I could even get to the kitchen all the kids were zooming there. Wesley didn’t just save me that night, he saved my family too. ‘Thank you Mr. Wesley.’ I don’t think I would ever stop saying thank you to him.
I handed Jeffery off to Charles. ‘Who would have sent me something?’ “Hey Hon. Do you know Hawthorne Attorneys?”
“Never heard of them.”
‘Huh.’ Probably a wrong address. Or a misspelled name. I’ll open it to find a mail back address. “Wesley! Wait what? Charles what does this mean?” I handed the paper to Charles and sat down on the chair beside me. ‘Did I read that right?’
“Mr. Wesley left you a large sum of money. This is part of his will. So it means that Mr. Wesley has passed away.”
‘He was gone. I had been planning a surprise visit to see him next month. I wanted him to meet little Jeffery. I wanted Mr. Wesley to know his help that day saved more than just me. He’s gone.’
“Hon? Hon?”
I didn’t speak but I looked to Charles.
“He left you thirty million dollars. What are you going to do?”
I wasn’t thinking about the money. A man that I had hoped would be an honorary member of my family is gone. I scooped up little Jeffery out of Charles’ arms and walked out of the kitchen. I needed some time.
…
It took some time, but I figured out what to do. I opened up a dancing place called Wesley’s. There was a dress code. The dancing was ballroom or swing only. The music was always a live band. It was always a swinging place. Full of families having fun, also laughter and smiles. This place was for Mr. Wesley and his wife Annie. They deserved a legacy they would be proud of.
