Chapter 12
12
“The Lady in Red”
Song written and performed by
Chris de Burgh (1986)
T hey compromised.
Teddy grabbed two boxes and a large trough-like bucket, leaving one box of popcorn for Baylin to carry into the high school gym.
She arranged the clear cellophane snack bags — which she’d tied with skinny strips of fabric matching the colors and prints he’d seen in her quilt — in the galvanized-metal tub. While he carried the empty boxes out to the truck, Baylin went to hang her coat on a temporary rack set out in the gymnasium foyer.
When he returned, he spotted her across the basketball court-turned-dance floor. She had no clue how incredible she looked, no idea how she lit up a room.
Teddy knew. The ever-present warm, thrumming weight in his chest refused to let him ignore or forget the effect Baylin had on him.
The sensation cooled a few degrees when a guy — tall, athletic build —led her to dance under the strobe lights and disco balls hanging from the rafters.
“That youngest Crockett boy is quite a looker,” a none-too-sweet voice scratched in Teddy’s ear. “Been chasing after Baylin since I had them both in the preschool Bible class at church…years and years ago.” She emphasized the years and years .
“Good evening, Judge Roberts,” he said, granting the ol’ biddy his most gracious expression. “Miss Sadie, it’s nice to see you again,” Teddy added, facing the second woman with a genuine smile.
“Doesn’t the gym look festive?” Miss Sadie asked, waving a hand at the massive balloon arches, the twisted crepe streamers, and the umpteen thousand construction paper hearts dangling above their heads.
Before Teddy could comment, Judge Roberts piped in with a sarcastic grunt, followed by, “It’s astonishing how cheap tissue paper jazzes up a place.”
“I think it’s great,” Teddy said. “Reminds me of attending prom at my high school.”
“I can just imagine,” Judge Roberts weighed in, judgmental sarcasm dripping from every word. “Fancy boy like you and all.”
“Ignore her,” Miss Sadie said. “If she’s breathing, she’s instigating,” she added with a dismissing wave toward her friend.
“Just testing the waters,” Judge Roberts muttered under her breath.
Baylin and her dance partner saved Teddy from having to curate a reasonable response. They finished their dance close to Teddy and his two elderly companions as the deejay transitioned into a new song, stepping away from the crowd of kids taking over the dance floor for an überpopular line dance Teddy also remembered from his own high school days.
Some traditions never die.
“Miss Sadie, Judge… You’re both very lovely tonight,” Baylin said, hugging the former and bestowing a beautiful smile upon the latter. Slightly out of breath from the upbeat Texas two-step she’d just danced, a warm flush bloomed across her cheeks. Had exertion caused it…or interest in the man at her side? Did Judge Roberts know more about Baylin’s love life than Teddy did?
Of course she did.
It was a tiny town, and Teddy’d been there for what amounted to the blink of an eye. Everyone in that building knew more about Baylin, her history, and her boyfriends than Teddy did.
The thought soured his stomach.
“Teddy, this is Michael; a friend from— well, forever,” Baylin said. “Michael, this is Teddy; he’s renting the barn apartment while Jax repairs his car.”
The two men sized up one another, each on one side of Baylin, who didn’t seem to notice the ridiculous, testosterone-filled byplay.
Yet another guy, a little shorter than Teddy and Michael approached. He, too, appeared to have a longtime friendship with Baylin.
“Hey, Traise,” she exclaimed.
“Happy almost-Valentine’s Day,” he said, hugging Baylin. “Hi, guys,” he added with happy eyes and a jubilant smile. “Come on, let’s swing,” he said, holding out his hand to Baylin. He didn’t waste time with introductions.
Neither did the constant stream of boys, teens, and men of all ages eager to dance with Baylin.
Teddy growled but managed to keep it quiet and to himself.
“Having fun?” Miss Sadie asked, joining Teddy on the edge of the dance floor where he stood brooding. They’d been there two hours, and Baylin had been cutting a rug the entire time…and not with him.
“A blast,” he replied. His tone implied the extreme opposite of his answer. “Now I understand what Judge Roberts was warning me about yesterday: every male in town is in love with her.”
“Just in like ,” Miss Sadie said. Her kind voice drew his attention away from the object of their discussion, the woman in red from whom he couldn’t seem to look away. “Baylin’s special. But you already know that.”
“And they don’t?”
“Oh, I’m sure they’d each welcome a chance to take her on a date…to dinner or a movie a time or two. Who wouldn’t? Baylin’s smart and funny and strong and independent. And she’s stunningly gorgeous,” she added with a sparkle in her eye. “She could’ve snagged any of those potential suitors anytime she wanted. Baylin’s holding out for someone who wants more than that, for someone who sees more than that when they look her way.”
Miss Sadie let that sink in while the two of them watched Baylin, another nameless fellow, and half of Green Hills twirl and prance to the music.
“What do you see?” she asked. But she didn’t wait for an answer before calling out to a friend and moving on to her next conversation.
One thing Teddy did not want to see for another second was Baylin in that guy’s arms.
He found a trash can for his lemonade cup and made his way to the center of the dancing throng. As he reached Baylin, the deejay took the tempo down several notches.
Her back was to him, so Teddy leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Let’s dance.”
His hand came to the small of her back. As she turned toward him, Baylin twirled into his chest. Teddy lifted her arms to his shoulders and held her close.
They danced just like that, with Baylin’s cheek laying against Teddy’s heart and Teddy’s cheek resting on the crown of her head. He luxuriated in the silky feel of her hair and the intoxicating scent of her perfume.
As that song ended, another began, and Teddy never released Baylin.
The third song— maybe the fourth… Teddy had lost count. Whatever the number, it moved at a quicker pace. He ignored the tempo for a moment, reluctant to loosen their embrace. Then, as the tune reached its chorus, Teddy lifted his head and took one of her hands, adopting a closed partners position typical to ballroom dancing. She giggled at his quick switch to such a formal posture. Then she giggled with glee as Teddy answered with a wink and led her into a traditional foxtrot.
They skipped and swooped and flowed around the floor. Teddy maneuvered them around other couples, maintaining the lock his eyes held with hers.
Yes, Miss Sadie, I see her. And I desire her in every way. I’m pretty certain I already love her.
Instead of making him falter, the acknowledgement bolstered Teddy’s confidence to new heights. Those other guys had been around, wasting time and missing their chances…not Teddy’s problem.
It was his turn to show Baylin what love could be.