Dovetail: A Novel(76)

“Nope. It doesn’t count,” Kathleen said firmly. “It wasn’t a real smile, just an amused look.”

“I saw her lips move upward. It was a definite smile. I agree that it was quick, but it was there.”

“Nice try. I know what a smile looks like, and I didn’t see one on Doris. You’ll have to keep trying.”

He sighed. “Want to go to the Barn Dance with me?”

“I would love to go to the Barn Dance with you, Joe Arneson. Thank you very much.” And she gave him a smile, a real smile. This time he could clearly see the difference.





CHAPTER FORTY-NINE





1983


The night of the Barn Dance, Joe picked Kathleen up at her house. On the way out, he apologized for having to take her in a truck. “I know it’s not the best vehicle for a date,” he said, emphasizing the word date and then waiting for her reaction.

“It’s not a problem,” she assured him as he opened the door and helped her inside.

Joe shut the door with a smile. Well, well, well. So he’d graduated from friend to someone she’d date. One more step, and there was a good possibility he could be upgraded to boyfriend, something that had definite appeal, but he knew enough not to push the subject. All in good time.

Joe drove around to the other side of the lake, following the makeshift signs directing them to the dance. Even without the signs, he could have found it. All traffic was going in that direction. He kept glancing her way, distracted by her appearance.

“What are you looking at?”

“You, Miss Dinsmore. You are looking pretty fine. What era is that dress, if I can ask?”

She laughed. “I’m not entirely sure. Maybe 1920s, or even earlier? It’s an antique. I think at some point someone took the sleeves off and shortened it, but otherwise, it’s all original. Do you like it?” It was gorgeous, cream and blue with a cinched waist and flowing skirt. The back was cut provocatively low, considering the time period. Her hair was pulled away from her face, falling in curls in the back. The combination of a modern woman in an old-fashioned dress was bewitching.

He gave her a slow grin. “Most definitely. You look stunning.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

He was glad to have found some fancy vintage clothing of his own. Kathleen had helped him select the whole outfit from the store. The clothing she’d set aside for him—high-collared shirt and pleated trousers with leather suspenders—fit perfectly.

When they reached the barn, a volunteer wearing an orange vest waved them off the road and into a parking lot. Another volunteer directed them to a space under an oak tree.

At the entrance, Joe paid, and they each got their hand stamped with the image of a purple star. Judging from the size of the crowd, most of the town was in attendance.

The dance floor was in the center of the barn’s open space below a large disco ball. On one side was a table with snacks and coolers filled with cans of soda, and next to that table, a bar was set up with wine and beer. Behind each table stood an attendant with a cash box, ready to make change.

On the opposite side of the hall, chairs were lined up, most of them empty. According to the signs, soda was a quarter, beer was seventy-five cents, and a glass of wine was a buck. A DJ stood over a record player while Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” blared from the speakers. The dance floor was crowded.

“Do you suppose this is what the barn looked like when Alice and John were here?” Kathleen asked, talking over the music.

He shook his head. “It’s hard to say, but it must have been at least somewhat different. The disco ball is a fairly recent invention, and I’m guessing that pay phone wasn’t here then.”

“I know it’s different, and yet they were here. They walked through the same door we did and came to socialize and dance. They were so looking forward to this evening. But Alice never made it home.” She looked about to cry. “It’s so sad.”

“It is sad.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t seem to help myself.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” Joe leaned close. “Do you want to dance?”

She shook her head. “Not just yet. Let’s get something to drink and watch for a bit.”

After they got their clear plastic cups of wine, they found a table. Kathleen set down her purse and they sipped their wine, surveying the crowd. Even with air-conditioning, it was warm inside, not nearly as conducive for romance as Joe had hoped, but the organizers had really tried. He’d give them that much. The hall was adorned with white twinkly Christmas lights, and banners hung above the refreshments urging the crowd to “Party On” and “Get Down Tonight.”

He and Kathleen were dressed conspicuously different from the rest of the crowd, most of whom wore more casual clothing. Some of the young women wore halters or crop tops. The guys all wore T-shirts, and nearly all of them wore shorts or jeans.

Kathleen pointed out some small children spinning in circles and then gestured toward a teenage girl in leg warmers with her shirt open over one shoulder. “She’s got the Flashdance look down pat.”

Joe puzzled it out for a second before answering. “I have no idea what that means.”

“Like Jennifer Beals in the movie Flashdance? She’s got that look. The leg warmers and the ripped neckline?” Seeing his bemused expression, she said, “I take it you didn’t see the movie?”