Page 31 of Dance Dirty With Me

“I wish you’d told me sooner,” she says, pausing in applying a layer of blue to her eyelids. “We could’ve had so much fun.” She grins at me, and I know with her I’m going to be okay. I try not to let anxiety overwhelm me that it’s a different matter with my dad.

I sit in the shadows, watching the magic show and the singing contest. I take note that my mum tries to cheer me up, and I’m grateful to her, but I’m not feeling anything but a hollow emptiness.

Lisa looks stunning in the beauty contest, elegant and beautiful in a light blue gown. She outshines the competition and it’s no surprise that she’s crowned Miss Poplins 1968. I’m proud of her even if I don’t feel the joy of her win right now.

But I can’t wait for this awful night to end. I want to get it over and done with so I can go home and try to forget everything, as it feels like the best way to move on.

Robbie passes our table and my dad stands up and stops him.

“I’m impressed with you, young man. I think you’ll go far,” he says, holding out his hand for Robbie to shake. Robbie smiles and takes his hand, and my dad hands Robbie an envelope. “Here’s a little something to help towards your studies.”

Robbie looks down at the envelope and smiles, then accepts it.

“Thank you, Mr Houseman. Also for that trouble with Penny.”

My father’s face forms into a puzzled frown and Robbie continues.

“She says it was mine but you know how these girls are.” He gives a little shrug.

My dad swipes the envelope back from Robbie and sits back down at the table. He gives me a thoughtful look before turning his attention back to the front of the room.

Performers and staff start congregating on the stage and the band starts up. They begin an anthem, a song about the resort. Some of the guests join in on the chorus, so I suppose it’s one they sing every year.

A shadow falls across the table. I look up and see it’s Johnny. My breath catches in surprise and my heart starts hammering on the inside of my ribcage. Dressed all in black, he looks as gorgeous as ever. He gives my dad a challenging look, and then he turns to me.

“Baby should never be put in a corner.”

When I stand in front of Baby, it feels right, unlike anything ever has before. I offer him my hand, and my heart soars when he takes it. I pull him to his feet and walk with him to the front of the room. I can hear whispering but I don’t care.

When we step up onto the stage the singing dies out.

The whole room falls silent as we reach the front, and I stand before the microphone and look out across the hall full of people. Guests as well as staff, many of whom I’ve known since I started at Poplins and who I consider friends. I’m sure some of them will judge me, may already have done so, but I want them to understand. I owe it to Baby.

“For the last few seasons, my staff and I have always led the final dance. I wasn’t supposed to this year, but I’m going to do it anyway. So I’m going to dance, my kind of dance, with a special person who’s taught me a lot about life. They’ve taught me that there are people who care about others and are willing to stand up for those who need it, no matter thecost. They’ve shown me the sort of person I want to be. Mr Francis Houseman.”

I carry the microphone to the side of the stage and pass a disc to Billy who’s waiting to load the record player. I look back at Francis and give him a smile, which I hope is reassuring. He breaks out into a stunning smile, one which lights up his whole face. He’s the most beautiful person in the world.

As the opening bars of the music start, I take my place behind him, in the same way as when we started our show dance.

“You came back,” he whispers as I reach for his hand.

“I can’t stay away from you,” I say, as he spins away from me and then twirls back into my arms. I grip him by the hips and grind him into me a little. From the back of the room I hear a few whistles and hollers, most likely from the dance staff. We begin to dance, stepping and turning across the stage. I can see that chairs are being removed from the dance floor and other people are getting up to dance too. The entertainment staff, mostly my dance crew, are helping people to their feet and dancing with them.

After a few more steps, I turn and step backwards from Francis, releasing his hands. I turn and then leap off the stage, into the middle of the dancers, then I dance my way down the room. My staff fall into step with our formation dance, but with a few more raunchy moves we’ve been practicing. We advance back down the room towards the stage.

Francis is standing proudly, still up on the stage, still smiling. I catch his eye and he nods at me; he understands.

He leaps off the stage, and when he lands, he dances a few steps and turns, mirroring what I did, then the dance staff part, leaving a clear path. Then he’s running towards me, and I grab him as he launches himself into the lift—it’s perfect.

I stare up at him. Joy is etched on his face and I match his elation. He wraps his arms around my neck as I slowly lower him, and I pull him close. He lightly touches his lips to mine, never taking his eyes off me.

“I love you, Francis,” I say, and he kisses me again, this time deeper but with a tenderness that makes my knees weaken. I cling on to him for a few seconds before I can hold my own weight again.

We continue to dance, aware that the whole room has joined in. He tips his head to the side and I see a couple of old ladies dancing together. I’ve seen them here for a few seasons now, always as companions. It’s great to see them dancing as well. I notice a few other same-sex couples dancing, and feel proud that we may have managed to help other people feel confident to be themselves too.

I want some time alone with Francis, so I grasp him by the hand and I lead him towards the door. His dad stands in front of us, blocking our way.

“I know about Robbie and I’m sorry,” he says.

---