Wednesday, December 16, 2009

#2 - Plan B

Last time: Tatiana chats up Jessica at La Fortuna Milonga until Jessica’s husband, David, comes along.  Opportunity meets preparedness and Tatiana’s luck wins her a dance.


Jessica flung her coat over her arm and strode for the door.  The fortunes at La Fortuna milonga had turned south.  She nodded at her friends, her mouth drawn tight.  No kisses, no goodbyes, no nonsense.

Unaware of Jessica’s retreat, her husband David attended his dance partner.  Tatiana wasn’t his first choice for a dance.  In fact, she wasn’t even his last choice.  She didn’t figure as one of his choices at all, but there was no way to avoid her because there were so many of her, at least six or seven.  That was the only way David could explain how Tatiana managed to be at every milonga every single night no matter where he and Jessica went.

David embraced Tatiana firmly and led a rock step.  His shoulder was starting to hurt.  He tried to adjust their embrace and glimpsed his wife on her way out with her coat.  He stopped dancing and said, “Tatiana, I’m really sorry, but I need to stop for a minute.”

“Why, David?” Tatiana asked.  “Is something wrong?”

David guided Tatiana off the dance floor and said, “Excuse me.”  He bolted for the door.  He caught up with Jessica and took her by the arm.

“Jessica, please,” he said.

Jessica whirled, eyes flaring.  “Finish your dance.  It isn’t nice to leave your partner on the floor.”

“What about leaving your spouse at the club?” David replied.  “Would you hold on a minute?”

Jessica pulled her arm free.  “No, I won’t.  I’m going home.  You stay here.  You have work to do.  Obviously I’m done dancing unless I want to book a taxi dancer.  What’s your rate?”

“Jessica, that is uncalled for.  I don’t want to argue in public.”

“So don’t.  I was on my way out anyway.”  Jessica turned and left the club.  David headed back to the coatroom to get his coat and tried to catch up with Jessica before she could hail a cab.  Tatiana met him by the door.

“Do you think I should say something to her?” Tatiana said.  “Jessica is so sweet.”

“No, Tatiana.  Don’t worry.  Good night.”

“Good night.  Maybe I’ll see you at Gloria’s party next week.”

“I don’t know,” David said.  “See you.”  David rushed outside.  Jessica was climbing into a cab.  She saw David and slammed the door.

David ran in front of the cab, held up his hand, and shouted to the driver.  “Wait!  I’m getting in, too.”  He ran to the door, yanked it open, and got in.  He gave the driver the address, turned to Jessica, and took her hand.  She looked out the window of the cab.

“Jessica, I’m sorry.  What did you expect me to do?  She put me on the spot and shamed me into dancing with her.  That’s no reason for you to humiliate me like that.  It’s appalling for married people to argue in public.”

Jessica looked at David.  “Yes, what will they think?” she mocked.  “I’m glad you’re so concerned about what everybody thinks.  You have quite a list of people you’re really concerned about.  What does your wife have to do to get on that list?”

“Jessica, would you please keep your voice down?”

“Even the cab driver is on the list!  Hey, driver.”  Jessica rapped on the partition.  “Taking us home isn’t getting in the way of all those phone calls you have to make with your Bluetooth, is it?”

David held her hand.  They rode in silence.  Eventually Jessica pulled her hand away.

#

Tatiana looked around to see if anyone was watching her.  She bit her lip.  Did the whole world just see her get ditched on the dancefloor?  She felt aware of her arms.  She didn’t know whether to cross them or clasp her hands behind her back.  She leaned against the wall in affected casualness and listened to the music.

None of the good dancers came to this milonga anymore.  The only one worth dancing with just beat it.  It was still early enough to head over to Crane Edwards Dance Studio.  La Mariposa milonga was probably just heating up.  There might be some new guys to talk to.  Maybe some of them would eventually be able to manage an eight-count basic before she was due for her first chin-tuck.

Damn that Jessica.  Why does she have to be so sensitive?  She has everything.  That was such a pretty necklace she was wearing.  David gave it to her just because he saw she had wanted it.  Tatiana caressed her bare neck.

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