Ch 124 Prom gowns and dancing

            Wes stepped into the unusually quiet house, put his car keys down on the half-moon accent table his mother bought expressly for the purpose and frowned.

          “Dad? Tristan?” he spoke into the apparently empty house. His father’s car was in the driveway, however, so they had to be here somewhere. It was just a matter of finding them. He walked through the house eventually stopping in the kitchen for a drink. As he popped the top on a can of ginger ale, he heard a shout coming from the backyard.

          He grinned. “Shoulda known,” he muttered, leaving through the back door and stepping onto the patio. He looked around and saw no one, so he walked down the gravel path, skirting the perennial bed full of buzzing bees taking advantage of the sprawling, late-blooming asters, short, compact mums and tall, dark purplish-blue monkshoods. Here Wes could hear more distinctly his father’s low baritone and Tristan’s infectious laughter. He finished his drink, set down the can and climbed up the ladder to his old, no-longer abandoned tree house.

          “I come in peace,” Wes said, poking his head in.

          “Hi, Weswe!” Tristan said. “You can come pway wiff us.”

          Wes groaned. “Please don’t call me Wesley,” he said, as he climbed the rest of the way and sat on the floor, his feet still dangling out of the opening.

          “But Mr. Bashan does,” Tristan replied, looking at his best bud for confirmation.

          “Well, I wish he would stop, too, but he’s too old and set in his ways, I guess,” Wes retorted.

          “Hey! Watch that old talk. I can still wipe the floor with you at basketball,” Donny said.

          Wes rolled his eyes. “That’s cuz I let you win, Dad.”

          “Oh, you did not just say that!”

          “He did. I heard him,” Tristan said, most helpfully.

          They laughed and Tristan showed Wes his new collection of cars, naming each one for him.

          “Cool! I think I still have my car collection in a box somewhere in my room…closet probably. I’ll show them to you sometime,” Wes said.

          Tristan’s eyes lit up. “Can I pway wiff dem, too?”

          “Sure. You can even have them. I have a real car now to play with, so I don’t really need these guys,” Wes replied holding up the Model-T Ford. “Although they are cool to look at every once in a while.”

          “I’ll let you look at dem alla time,” Tristan said.

          “Thanks.” Wes smiled at his father, but his smile slowly faded. “You okay, Dad?”

          Donny nodded and swallowed the suddenly-appearing lump in his throat. “Just remembering…when you were little.”

          Wes thought back then as well. He had been so happy…they all had been when his mother was still alive. But then images of a different time intruded. The last time he and his father had been up here in his tree house had not been joyful at all. It was right after his mother died and his father found him hiding in here crying uncontrollably. Instead of leaving him alone or forcing him out of the tree house, Donny joined him, sat next to him and wrapped his arm around Wes’ shoulders. Neither spoke, but tears flowed freely. Their grief was beyond words.

          Wes watched Tristan innocently playing with his cars and somewhat envied him. He still had his mother, after all, but then he recalled he didn’t have a father…didn’t even remember him according to Janet. Wes supposed that would be worse. At least he had great memories of his mother. As much as he missed his mother and wanted her back, he couldn’t imagine not having his father. Which, he vaguely wondered, would be better to lose? Neither was the answer.

          He smiled when Tristan turned to Donny showing him a little red corvette and said something funny. His father laughed and ruffled Tristan’s blond hair. It was good to see his father so happy. Unfortunately, that might change soon...unless....

“I just saw your mom, Tristan,” Wes said, casually.

“You did?” Donny said, then his eyes popped open and he glanced at his watch. “Oh, crap, I was supposed to get Tristan over there by now. Kid, we gotta go!”

“No you don’t, Dad,” Wes said. “I told her we’d watch him for her.”

“Still, we should go over there…shouldn’t leave her all alone,” Donny said.

“Um…she’s not there anymore, Dad. She went to buy a car with…with Tristan’s uncle.”

“Uncle Jeffy?” Tristan asked.

“No, Steve London. He’s your uncle, too. He’s your father’s brother,” Donny said. "Remember the man your mom was talking to across the street when we bought these cars?"

“Oh…’kay,” Tristan said, unconcerned.

“So…you knew?” Wes asked, a little surprised.

“Yes, she told me. I was going to take her to Robbie’s dealership, but… anyway. What kind of car was it?” Donny asked.

“Don’t know,” Wes said, lowering his voice, “Doubt he wants to give her his Escalade. He only just got it a few months ago.”

“Maybe it is the firebird, then,” Donny bitterly muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said. “So, did she say when she wants Tristan home?”

“I dun wanna go yet!” Tristan whined.

Donny put his hand on his tiny shoulder. “No worries, buddy. We’ll stay til your mom tells us to bring you back home. Maybe we can all go out to dinner or…”

“Don’t think so, Dad,” Wes said. “Mr. London will probably take her out. He called it a date.”

Donny’s expression turned stony. “I see,” he said stiffly.

“Kinda weird, don’t ya think?” Wes said, pretending he hadn’t seen the change in his dad. “Dating your brother’s wife. Doesn’t it say in the bible you shouldn’t do that?”

“Since when do people listen to anything in the bible?” Donny retorted.

“I mean, you’d never do that, would you? If…you know, if Uncle Rob died you wouldn’t…like start dating Aunt Beth. Be really weird if you did.”

“Never happen!” Donny adamantly said. “Beth is like a sister for Pete’s sake.”

“Mr. London wasn’t looking at Ms. London like a sister,” Wes mumbled.

“I’ll bet, but then, not many men would. She’s gorgeous after all,” Donny said.

Wes watched his father absently moving with his index finger a thunderbird back and forth across the wooden floor of the tree house. “You like her, don’t you?” he whispered.

Donny shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“You can fight for her, you know. He’s not good enough for her,” Wes said in a fierce whisper, hoping Tristan wasn’t listening nor understood what they were talking about.

“And you know this how?”

“I…I just do. She wasn’t thrilled when I told her he wanted me to fetch her….like she was…”

“A beer?” Donny suggested.

Wes laughed. “Yeah. Dad, you should ask her to the gala, before he does,” he said.

“Too late.”

“What?”

“He already did and she said yes. She told me that too.”

“That sucks,” Wes muttered.

Donny stared at him. “So, you’d be okay with me dating?”

“Of course,” Wes said. “I mean…I know you loved Mom, but she’s gone... forever. She wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your life alone and neither do I and Cindy, too. We want you happy again, Dad.”

Donny smiled and pushed the little corvette making it go the length of the tree house and crash into Tristan’s neat line of cars.

“Hey! Ten car pile-up!” Tristan shouted then giggled as he made them all crash into each other.

“Would be nice to have a little brother, too,” Wes said, smirking. “It’s a shame to have this tree house go to waste, you know.”

“It’s not going to waste now.”

“No, and I’d like it to stay that way,” Wes said. “Ask her out, Dad. The gala isn’t the only place to take a date.”

“We’ll see about that,” Donny said, “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”

“Too late,” Wes replied. “I’ve picked my new step-mom. It’s now up to you to do something about it.” He then grinned and went down the ladder leaving his father with what he hoped would one day be his little brother.

*****

          “What in the world is going on here?” Donny gaped at what looked like the escape of runway models from a prom fashion show. Jasmine, May Lyn and Janet paraded through the foyer in prom gowns, giggling and having a grand old time.

          “Nuttin good,” Tristan said, clutching his tote bag full of toy cars, as if the taffeta, satin and lace might infect and ruin his collection.

          “Joanne finished these dresses and let me bring them home so I can try them on and pick one,” Janet said, striking a pose against the banister. “What do you think, Mr. Sebastian?”

          “I think you look beautiful,” he replied.

          “But how about this one?” Jasmine asked, twirling around making her pale blue gown swish with the movement.

“Lovely,” he said, but his eyes quickly drifted to May Lyn in a white, sleeveless, tight fitting gown which clung to every curve and made her deeply tanned skin shimmer.

“This one okay?” she asked.

“Stunning,” he said. “Your brother-in-law won’t know what hit him.”

May forced a smile. “I meant for Janet. This a bit too tight for me.”

          “Which do you think Wes would like?” Janet asked, passing a hand over the crimson skirt of her gown.

          “What difference does that make?” Jasmine said, “He won’t be there anyway.”

          “Yes, he will. He promised!” Janet retorted.

          “Sure he will,” Jasmine muttered. “Well, I think you should wear this one.”

          “Why?” Janet asked.

          “Because I want to wear that one,” Jasmine said pointing to Janet’s gown.

          “Mommy, are you getting married?” Tristan asked.

          “Married?” she said, involuntarily looking to Donny. “Why would you say that?”

          “Cuz you look like da wady on top a da cake,” Tristan said.

          “Think he means a wedding cake,” Donny said, laughing.

 “Oh…no, honey, this isn’t a wedding dress. It’s just for a party,” May Lyn answered. “Time for you to get in the tub.”

“Kay,” he said, then he turned to Donny, “Can you read me bedtime swory?”

“Haven’t you had enough of me yet?” Donny asked smiling down at the boy.

“Uh-uh.”

Donny laughed. “Well, maybe some other time, buddy. Have to get home. I have some work to do,” he said, casting a furtive glance at May Lyn.

“Come on, Tristan,” Janet said. “I’ll help you into the bathtub.”

“Kay. Bye, Mr. Bashan,” he said hugging him about the knees. Donny picked him up, kissed his forehead and hugged him tight until he squealed with giggles. “I’ll see you soon, Buddy.”

He let the boy down and Tristn took Janet’s hand and started up the stairs.

“You better take that dress off before you go splashing around in the bathroom! I don’t want water spots on my gown,” Jasmine said, following them up the stairs.

“Your gown?” Janet said. “I have first pick."

"As if!”

May Lyn smiled as the girl quarreled all the way up the stairs. She and Donny stared at each other with nothing to say.

“Guess I should be going. I should have those papers ready for you by tomorrow afternoon. I could come pick you up and…” he stopped at the look on her face. “Having second thoughts?”

“No…yes…sort of,” she said, grimacing at her indecision.

He grinned. “It happens all the time, May. Nothing to worry about. This is a big step, so you should be absolutely certain this is what you want. Is it the location? I can show you other places, although, I think this is the best spot for what you want.”

“It’s not that,” she said, taking a deep breath which made her chest nearly pop out of her dress. Donny noticed and she noticed that he noticed, but pretended not to. “Rethinking the direction I want to take with my career.”

“Okay,” he said. “Anything I can help with?”

She stared at him. “Only if you know something about personal trainers.”

“Um…just that I probably wouldn’t be able to tell one from a drill sergeant.”

She laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“It would be, in some ways, easier than your original plan. Wouldn’t need a store front, for one, nor other employees. That’s two expenses and headaches out of the way, but then we’ll need to find you a home.”

“Any negatives that you can think of?” she asked, stepping closer.

“Without a store front, no off the street traffic. People who happen to see it and say, “Hmm, let me stop there and see what that’s about.” You’ll have to find your clientele on your own. Advertising would help, but for that type of work, word of mouth goes a long way and there’s only so many people who can afford a personal trainer or would want one. You may have to travel pretty far to client’s homes. That might get tedious and troublesome, until Tristan is in school.”

She nodded thoughtfully staring at him as he spoke. She vaguely wondered why she instantly believed Donny’s advice superior to Steven’s. He sounded more reliable, trustworthy and reasonable than Steven as well, even though Steven was far richer. Wasn’t wealth, after all, a sure sign of good business acumen? She sighed and realized too late that she had been staring. She looked down at her dress and passed her hand over the smooth satin trying to think of something to say.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go to this gala thing,” she mumbled to herself.

“Trying to get out of dancing with me?” Donny asked, pouting like Tristan had shown him.

She laughed. “Not exactly. A dance with you might be the only good to come from it,” she said.

“Janet’s singing too, remember?”

“Ah, yes, I’m sure that will be lovely.”

“Perhaps you don’t think I can dance? I’ll show you I can!” he said and before she knew it, he took her into his arms and started spinning her around the foyer as he hummed the Blue Danube.

She laughed as they danced and enjoyed it very much.

A minute later he frowned and said, “Wait a minute. Weren’t you taller this morning?”

“I had heels on,” she replied and she went on tip toe. “That better?”

“Yes! That’s how tall I thought you were,” he said, resuming his humming.

“More feminine deception, I suppose,” she remarked.

“You mean like makeup?”

“Yes, the horrid things we do to fool you men into believing we’re perfect beings.”

“I believe it even without all that stuff.”

They stared at each other, the dancing slowing down to where they were barely moving.

“What the heck are you doing?” Stevie asked, startling them.

“Daddy?” Cindy said. “Are you… dancing without music?”

“I was humming,” he said, defensively. "That's sort of like music."

"Still a weird thing to be doing," Stevie said.

"Little strange," Cindy added.

“Oh, your father was helping me,” May Lyn said. “I wanted to see if I could dance in this dress. If I’m to wear it to the gala I should be able to dance in it, don’t you think?”

“Guess you can,” Stevie said, shrugging indifferently.

“Oh, Ms. London, you look so beautiful!” Cindy gushed. “Even if you can’t dancing in it, you should wear it. Doesn’t she look beautiful, Dad?”

“Gorgeous,” he replied, relinquishing his hold on her with undue reluctance. He gave a small bow and kissing her finger tips said, “Madam, I thank you for the dance.”

May laughed and made a small curtsey—as best as she could in the tight dress. “I thank you, Sir. You are most kind.”

“Adults can be so weird,” Stevie muttered.

“I think it’s romantic!” Cindy said. “Are you going to the gala with my dad, Ms. London? That’s awesome!”

“Oh…no, I’m not,” May Lyn said, her disappointment apparent. “My brother-in-law asked me first…not that your dad was going to…ask me, I mean.”

“I was,” he said. “Blast the man for beating me to it.”

Stunned into silence, May Lyn merely smiled.

“We’re done with our homework, Daddy,” Cindy said.

“What?” Donny said. He had been too busy gazing fixedly at May Lyn to listen.

“We can go home now,” Cindy said.

“Right, okay,” he said, still looking at May Lyn. “Well, you let me know if I can show you anything else, May. Commercial space…apartments…whatever.”

She nodded. “I have to do some thinking. Some research, too.”

He nodded, too and turned away. “Bye, Stevie.”

“Yeah, see ya, Mr. Sebastian,” Stevie said and he watched them get into the car and drive away before he closed the door.

“You like Cindy, huh?” May Lyn asked.

“Yeah, but don’t tell Mr. Sebastian. He’d kill me,” Stevie said.

“You’re not doing anything bad, are you?” she asked.

“Is kissing bad?”

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I rather like it myself,” she said.

 Heading up the stairs, she could just imagine what it would be like to kiss Donny. They had been very close before the kids showed up...at least she thought so. Perhaps, she thought as she pulled the zipper down and was able to breathe normally again, she and Wendy could compare notes on that score…if she ever got to kiss him, that is.

There was always the gala. She almost laughed. She was already planning on ditching Steven for the second time.