Chapter 18

 

Brie had no more than arrived back home from her doctor's appointment and put the groceries away than the doorbell rang. Not really in the mood for company, she trudged to the door, hoping to send whomever it was strolling down the sidewalk in less than one minute.

She peeked through the hole in the door, found Thelma and Jane standing on her front porch and sighed wearily. As sweet as they were, she wasn't up for another chat-fest and their endless nosiness. Still, she couldn't be rude to her neighbors. Opening the door, she offered up a lukewarm smile. "Thelma. Jane. What brings you by?"

"We wanted to check on you." Jane stepped inside, making way for Thelma to follow. Once she reached the kitchen, she stopped and pointed to the nearby table. "Have a seat."

Brie started to argue, but knew it would be futile. Like the rest of the matrons in her family, Thelma and Jane were a force to be reckoned with. They got what they wanted the greatest majority of the time using all the tricks in the book.

Whatever it is, I'm not doing it. I'm tired. Clinging to her resilient determination, she plopped down and stared at the ladies sitting next to her. "I'm fine. Really."

Thelma tsked. "Dear, we might be old, but we're not blind. That man of yours has been gone for over a week."

"And you've been working at that hospital like a dog," Jane pointed out.

Knowing she couldn't spill the beans, Brie chose her words carefully. "Rye is away on assignment. He should be back soon."

"Uh-huh."

"Has he called?" Jane rested her forearms on the table and leaned forward.

"Well, no. But he can't. He's on a special job and can't be calling home."

"Uh-huh."

Brie frowned at Thelma who seemed to have disbelief down to a couple of syllables. Derision filled her tone each time. "Look. If you're worried about us, we're fine. We love one another. He even said the words." She recalled that moment, which seemed like years ago. "Cops have to do some funky shifts and sometimes their job takes over their lives. It's what he does."

"True enough, dear. But, a man tends to forget about his woman when he's away for a while," Jane said.

"Especially when he's around other women," Thelma added.

Nope. Not going there. Brie bit her lip. "Rye loves me. Absences makes the heart grow fonder, you know."

Jane and Thelma shared a look. "Oh, my. She's got those rose colored glasses on again."

Jane patted Brie's hand. "More like 'out of sight, out of mind'. Those men are a randy bunch. While you're pining away for your love, he's out seeing the world."

Groaning to herself, Brie rubbed her forehead. "Not to be rude, but I'd prefer not to talk about this anymore."

Thelma smiled understandably. "Then let's move on to why we dropped by to begin with."

"You didn't come over here to tell me that Rye's flown the coop?" Brie added plenty of sarcasm to her voice. She struggled with his absence enough without their putting more ideas in her head.

"Oh, no. We happen to like Rye. He's good for you," Thelma replied.

Bewildered, Brie opened her mouth then shut it back. A second ago they were trying to cut Rye out of her life, now they were singing his praises. Go figure.

"He's a looker that one. And, a keeper. There's no denying that."

"Yep."

"We came over here to get you out of this house. To go have some fun. Girls night out."

Brie peered at the women from under her hand that still rested on her forehead. A dozen thoughts filled her mind, all of them downright scary. Maybe it's something tame. She appraised her visitors and her stomach fell. Thelma and Jane didn't know tame. Still, she had to try. "A charity event?"

"Not tonight. Something better." Thelma grinned with anticipation.

Jane nodded. "Much better. So much fun."

"I give. What is it?"

"Disco night at the dance club." Jane clapped her hands.

"No, no. Oh, no. I can't."

Thelma patted Brie's leg. "You have to. Sitting around here staring at these four walls will drive you crazy. Time for you to go out and live a little."

"But…"

"Just because Rye is away doesn't mean you have to turn into an old maid, sitting around on a Friday night cleaning cabinets. Get out there. Have a good time. Shake your booty." Jane stood up and demonstrated.

"We'll pick you up at seven. Got to get there early so we can check the men out as they arrive." Thelma waggled her eyebrows, stood up, and walked to the door.

Jane followed her. "Oh, yeah. Those tight pants…" She fanned herself. "Just the thought gives me palpitations."

"I don't know how to dance." Brie threw out the only excuse that came to mind.

Thelma paused at the front door. "Oh, don't you worry about that, dear. Stick with us. We'll teach you all kinds of things.

That's what I'm afraid of. Luckily, Brie checked that comment before it slipped out. She sighed in resignation. "Just this once." Like I have any choice in the matter.

"Wonderful. Do you have any boots?" Jane asked as she opened the door.

"No."

She waved her free hand dismissively. "No matter. Just wear something comfortable."

With those parting instructions, they left, leaving Brie speechless and less than enthused about tonight's agenda.

 

* * * *

 

"What do you think, dear?" Thelma turned in a circle to show off her outfit.

Brie blinked at the sight. Despite fitting in easily in the over seventy crowd, Thelma donned a bright red, short skirt; knee high, white go-go boots; a loose blouse that proved almost see through; and a matching headband. Her nearly blue hair had been teased to resemble an afro, would have been, if she had more of it to begin with. Maybe some women could pull the look off. Thelma wasn't one of them.

She turned to Jane and stared drolly. Instead of a dress, Jane went with tight spandex pants, complete with bell bottoms, in a rainbow of colors all arranged in dots over a black base. Her oversized shirt covered her bum, but swayed with every movement, almost as if promising a glimpse underneath if she jitterbugged too hard. She sported a wig with long, curly auburn hair.

Obviously the line between hippie and disco dancer is rather blurred.

Both women wore makeup applied with a heavy hand. Certainly, Brie couldn't recall the decade, wasn't around at that time, but bright yellow eye shadow surely wasn't all the rage. They looked gaudy, to be blunt. Not that she would dare tell them that. "Umm. Nice."

"Thank you. We couldn't wait for this night. Ready to boogie down." Thelma plumped her already oversized hair. "Let's get going before the best seats are taken."

Brie stared down at her khaki slacks, matching flats, and white blouse. Mundane compared to the other ladies. She could only hope that would work in her favor.

Thirty minutes later they entered the den of insanity. The last thing Brie wanted to do was boogie. Hiding out from the ladies gained in popularity as her mortification increased with each passing minute. Especially as the women thought she needed a man to hang out with. No matter how unsuitable for her mood.

Despite this being disco night, the club jumped with activity. People old and young alike showed up to remember the good old days as Jane tabbed the decade. The revolving, sparkling globe loomed over a full dance floor, reflecting the lights bright enough to send people into fits of seizures. Underneath, couples shimmied to the music. All fine and good for them. Brie preferred to stick to the outskirts and watch. Much safer that way.

"Brie. Come join us." Thelma waved from the edge of humanity.

Unlikely to be heard over the loud thump of the heavy beat, Brie just shook her head.

That worked for all of fifteen seconds.

Jane skipped over, grabbed Brie's wrist, and tugged her into the middle of the action. Bodies bumped, people laughed, and the smell of perfume mixed with sweat permeated the air.

So not my kind of place. She could be at home chilling with a good book. In the peace and quiet. Instead, she'd arrived at the seventies version of meat market.

Thelma yanked a guy around. "Ted, Brie. She's new to disco."

Ted grinned wide, showing off his pronounced overbite. Body sculpting, gold tights hugged his assets and threatened to split with the smallest stretch. A button-down shirt allowed anyone and everyone a glimpse at his love handles while short black boots finished the outfit. Bushy hair covered his head. Too bushy.

"No time like the present to learn." He held out his hand.

"Umm…"

Thelma leaned over to holler in Brie's ear. "Go have some fun. Ted has the best ass around. Truth in advertising in that one."

A sudden thought struck. "You've checked out that guy's rear?"

Thelma's eyes lit up as she grinned wickedly. "I've done more than that. I've squeezed it like a ripe melon."

Brie's mouth fell open.

"What good is just looking, dear? Much better to grab a hold and give it a pinch. You learn all kinds of things that way."

I bet.

Ted twirled her out on the dance floor. "Let start with the basics." He wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her around in circles.

She tripped, stepped on his toe, and couldn't keep from staring at his head. Each time they spun around, his toupee flapped in the air, threatening to take flight.

He tried, she'd give him that. Reality stated she had two left feet and no matter how hard Ted worked, all he received was bruised toes for his efforts. By the end of two songs, Brie waved the white flag.

"I need a break."

Ted kissed the back of her hand. "Look me up when you're ready to dance again. I have lots more to show you." He waggled his eyebrows.

Nope. Not happening. She saw an empty table in a corner and headed in that direction.

Only to be stopped mere paces from her destination by another man blocking her path. She glared at him.

He beamed in return. "I'm Miles. Wanna know why I'm called Miles?"

"Not really." She glanced over his shoulder, saw someone else occupy the spot she wanted, and frowned harder. Turning her attention to Miles, she raked him with her gaze. Average size, he might have come up an inch or so shorter than her. Long black hair had been pulled into a tight braid hanging down the middle of his back. Not bad except he wore a white suit with the jacket open and the shirt underneath unbuttoned nearly to his waist. A forest of black chest hair, dark and curly, covered his trunk. A hint of some red almost showed through. Almost. Whatever the tattoo might have been was anyone's guess. Brie didn't even bother.

"Wanna dance?"

She opened her mouth only for Jane to whirl by and answer for her. "Of course she does."

Reminding herself that manners mattered, Brie reluctantly took his hand and let him lead her to the center of the dance floor. Where he got down in an all too familiar dance routine. "Is that…"

"Yep. I watched that movie dozens of times. Got every move down pat."

Great. "Can you do any other dances?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Isn't this enough?"

Now that you mention it… "So you just do the same steps over and over again?"

"Yeah. Aren't I hot?"

"Not the word I would have used," Brie muttered to herself. The song couldn't end fast enough.

Just when she breathed a sigh of relief, Thelma trotted up with a white-headed man, thin, with a hooked nose. "Brie. John. He's a sweetie."

John looked at Brie and his eyes lit up. "Now this one's a looker." He slapped Thelma on the rear. "While you're resting up, I'm taking this filly for a ride."

Before Brie could protest, he dragged her back to the dance floor, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close.

"Sammy. Nice name."

Brie blinked at him. "Brie. My name is Brie."

"Huh?" His eyes narrowed as if he tried hard to read her lips.

"Brie. B. R. I. E. Brie."

He led her in a box step, finally turning her around. "Aren't you the pretty one, Bea?"

Brie's eyes crossed. Obviously he forgot his hearing aids, if he had any to begin with. The loud music didn't help. Since communication was out, she was left with dancing. In a square. Over and over again. "Thank you."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Going home."

He grinned up at her. "Want some company?"

"My boyfriend wouldn't like that."

He didn't miss a step. "Bring him along."

She stumbled and nearly fell flat on her face. Righting herself, she stared at John as if he lost his ever loving mind. "I don't think so."

"It'll be fun."

"No." She yelled to make sure he heard her over the crowd.

"More? How many men do you need anyway? Isn't two enough?"

Brie closed her eyes and prayed for patience. "I said no."

John frowned. "Dough? You charge for your services?" He paused for a second, craning his head to look at her legs. "I guess you might be worth it. How much do you charge?"

"Too much." Brie, totally offended, slipped out of his reach and scurried straight to the ladies room. The only safe place around.