Chapter 11 Dancing and Daisies
Chapter Eleven: Dancing and Daisies
Hannah let her body slide along his, just to tempt him.
He couldn’t keep his eyes off her and she loved it.
Cindy had been right about the dress. It was a bright red satin sleeveless sheath that just skimmed her knees, and she liked the way the little red sequinned jacket she was wearing accentuated the curves of her body.
The effect she had on the man she was now acknowledging as her date made her feel sexy and powerful.
“We’d better make our entrance before I toss you back into my truck,” he growled.
“Patience, remember?”
He tipped his head back and stepped away. “Like I said, I’m going to deserve canonization after tonight.”
Principal Miller’s eyes lit up when they entered. “I knew I made the right choice.”
“How did you know we’d stay away from sharp objects in each other’s company?”
The principal nodded in the direction of their still joined hands.
“Energy like that is never just loathing, and I hoped I’d get to witness an enemies to lovers story in the making.
” She leaned closer. “The cookies are a hit, by the way, and so are the board games. I can’t wait to see who’s going to be entertaining us. ”
Graham squeezed her hand. “We had fun planning it, which was a surprise to both of us,” he said.
“I expected nothing less,” Mrs. Miller preened.
“Come on, Pi,” her date coaxed as he led her in the direction of the table filled with food.
“The party’s barely started and the cupcake tower’s almost gone,” Hannah observed in disbelief.
“Then we’d better make sure we get ours now. What flavor do you want?”
“You already know the answer to that question. And if they’re gone, I’ll take a chocolate one with buttercream frosting.”
He held up a cupcake slathered in a swirl of pink frosting. “The very last red velvet one,” he said and proffered it with a bow.
Two hours later, after a lost game of chess, a game of Battleship they’d paired up to win, and six cupcakes between them, the band made its way to the stage.
The music teacher was standing beside them and when she saw Joan she gasped. “You got The Dreamers to play at our holiday party? They’re amazing.”
Joannie gave Hannah a salute as she passed.
The first set was made up entirely of Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits, but after that Joan informed the audience that she was open to requests. There was a flurry of people bustling into a line and the next half hour consisted of everything from Bread to Stevie Wonder to Nirvana.
After the line died down, Hannah handed her water to Graham. “I’m going to request a song.”
Joan met her at the edge of the stage and when Hannah whispered her song choice in her friend’s ear, her friend drew back with a troubled expression. “You’re requesting that song?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Come on, Hannah. Won’t it make you sad? I know what it was to you and Wagner.”
Hannah understood why her friend would assume the song was upsetting.
“No, I haven’t listened to it since I buried him, but I think I’m ready to listen to it again.
” She and Wagner had considered it theirs because it was about a long distance relationship and when she closed her eyes she could hear his raspy falsetto singing the chorus. “I think it’ll be cathartic.”
Joan pulled her in for a hug. “If you need us to stop singing, if it’s too much, just raise your hands in the air. I’ll be watching you.”
Hannah hugged her oldest friend back. “I’ll let you know if I need rescuing.”
Graham was waiting for her at the bottom of the dais and led her to the dance floor as the first notes skirled around them like a bagpipe. Hannah closed her eyes, bracing herself for the stripped down version Joan was known for singing.
The first verse washed over them and Graham started humming.
He cupped her nape and nudged her head onto his shoulder.
She burrowed her nose against his chest when he wrapped her tighter.
Joan’s voice crooned the chorus and something in Hannah’s chest broke into a thousand pieces.
As the words wove around them, she could hear Wagner singing them to her from his deployment thousands of miles away.
Close your eyes. Listen to my voice, it's my disguise, I'm by your side. Oh, it's what you do to me, Oh, it's what you do to me, Oh, it's what you do to me, Oh, it's what you do to me, what you do to me.
“I don’t care if you cry on my shoulder, Pi. This song means something to you and I want you to have the freedom to feel whatever it’s making you feel.”
She silently let the tears slide down her cheeks as she swayed against him. When the last notes faded, she took his hand, not caring who saw them now, and led him off the dance floor. “I’m ready to leave,” she whispered hoarsely.
“Then let’s go.” He grabbed their coats from their chairs as they passed and stopped her in front of the doors so he could bundle her up.
Hannah felt raw, like the scorched earth she’d been living with for so long had suddenly transformed itself into a field of sunflowers.
She let him bundle her up and take her hand and lift her into his truck.
There were definitely mascara tracks on her cheeks, but she didn’t care and she knew he didn’t either. When he stretched his hand in her direction, she grabbed it and held on like it was a lifeline. Hannah’s throat was sore from crying, and her eyes felt heavy.
The truck rolling to a stop jolted her awake and she floundered for a moment, trying to get her bearings.
“It’s okay, Pi. I’ve got you,” Graham’s voice wrapped around her as he lifted her into his arms and nudged the door shut. “Do you have keys?”
“Didn’t bring them. The garage code is my birthday. We can go in through the mudroom.”
“Got it. 0915.”
The lethargy she felt didn’t dim the realization that he’d memorized her birthday. She wondered how many other facts about her life he’d memorized.
He chuckled as he punched in the code and ducked under the door. “I can hear the wheels turning, Pi. Yes I know your birthday. I said I’ve been patiently waiting, remember? Hopefully I can celebrate the next one with you.”
Hannah wanted that too.
Once they were inside, he set her on her feet. “Lead the way to your bedroom. And before you get any ideas, I’m taking you there so you can sleep. I’ll stay if you want me to, but as much as I want to see your scandalous lingerie, I’m not going to touch you tonight. You need your rest.”
She made a sound of protest and he placed his finger in the middle of her lips. “No arguing.”