Caroline by Adrian Spratt

Author:Adrian Spratt [Spratt, Adrian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adrian Spratt
Published: 2021-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

40

For their wedding ceremony, Jack and Elaine had invited their immediate families and only a few friends. Taking in Judge Nathan’s chambers, I realized they’d been wise. The room, while not stifling, was crowded.

In few words, the judge conveyed the depth of the moment. Elaine’s father almost choked when he spoke, and Caroline told me afterwards that there were tears in Jack’s eyes as the judge pronounced them man and wife. Even I felt a tug at my chest. Then the judge made a light remark, and relaxation flowed through the room as soft laughter.

Most family members and friends were waiting at the upstairs room of a restaurant in the West Village that Jack and Elaine had rented for the reception. Caroline and I planned on getting there by subway, but Jack maneuvered us into a cab with his favorite uncle and aunt.

As Jack and Elaine headed the informal procession into the reception room, the assembled multitudes burst out into applause and loud cheers. For two modest and quiet people, Jack and Elaine were gloriously popular. I hadn’t realized.

Caroline directed us to the bar, where she asked for a vodka sour and I my gin and tonic. A band struck up. Now I’d have a hard time hearing people talk. And . . . yes, here it was.

“Come dance with me,” she said.

“I can’t dance to save my life.”

“If Doreen were here, you could.”

I shook my head at her bringing up the memory.

Putting our glasses on the bar, she drew me into the dance space, took my hand and gyrated. I tried to let go into the music, a sickening—others would say eclectic—rhythmic mix of disco and Motown. I kept my left hand near her body, initially to ensure I didn’t drift away from her, but soon to feel her kinetic female energy. I loosened up, my performance less than graceful but short of spastic.

Then I stepped on her foot. Her fault for being as tall as me. The second time I did it, she got annoyed. Apparently, it was my fault.

We headed back to the bar, where Jack came up to us.

“Let me show you how a real man dances,” he said to Caroline, loud enough for me to hear even over the music.

No doubt he thought he was being funny. And also egalitarian. After all, if I insisted on being treated equally, I should get the condemnation wretched dancers deserved. But I wasn’t amused.

Caroline handed me her glass. “Mind?” She didn’t wait for an answer before stepping away with Jack.

Okay, I was amused. But it didn’t stop me from entertaining revenge fantasies.

“Hi, Nick, it’s Wendy.” She stood before me.

I hadn’t spoken to her since the lunch when she’d shown me her knitting. I became aware of my preoccupied expression transforming into a social smile.

She said, “Jack’s leaving is going to make it even harder to stay, isn’t it? I just don’t know where to go. This was the job I’d set my heart on.”

“Me, too.”

“He told you about

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