Dirty Dancing

9

We're on our way to the main house when I see my father with Gemma and Robbie. I act instinctively and pull Louis with me to hide behind some bushes. We wait for them to pass. I look at Louis.
"I don't think they saw us."

He looks hurt.
"Fight harder, huh? I don't see you fightin' so hard, tellin' daddy I'm your guy."

"I will. With my father, it's complicated." I reply.

He doesn't look convinced.
"I will tell him."

He sighs. Runs a hand through his hair.
"I don't believe you, Baby. I don't think that you ever had any intention of telling him. Ever."

I try to hug him but he brushes me off and walk away.

When I manage to collect myself I go looking for him. He's not in his cabin so I try Eleanor's. I knock on the door and she opens it.
"Hi, have you seen Louis?"

She opens the door wider and there he is, sitting on her sofa. He walks out on the porch and I hug him from behind and kiss his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."

Robbie walks by and sees us.
"Looks like I picked the wrong sister.
That's okay, Baby. I went slummin' too." He smirks.

That sets Louis off. He jumps over the porch rail and grabs Robbie and pushes him against the porch before he hits him in the stomach. Eleanor comes running out of her cabin. We both stare.
"Louis!" I shout, trying to calm him down.

He ignores me. Points at his chin.
"Hit me."

Robbie takes a swing and Louis hits him back. Robbie falls to the ground and he leans over him and grabs his collar, ready to punch him again but he changes his mind.
"Get out of here. You're not worth it."

Louis walks over to me and buries his face against my chest. I comfort him.

I head to the main house later for the final rehearsal for the show. My sister is practicing the song she's singing. It sounds terrible but I smile anyway. Bless her. I'm busy putting the finishing touch on a palm tree but I'm very aware of Louis a couple of feet away.

Vivian, the woman Louis danced with before walks in.
"Win big, Moe. As always." She kisses her husband's bold head.

She walks up to Louis. I can hear her perfectly.
"This is our last night together, lover.
I've got something worked out for us."

I pretend that I'm not eavesdropping. My stomach is in knots. Louis glances at me but I look away. He grabs a pirate hat and walks up to Moe.
"Excuse me, sir. The pirate number's next."

"Oh, thanks. Hey, kid. I've been playing cards all weekend and I've got an all-night game tonight. Why don't you give my wife some extra dance lessons?" Moe says and hands him a big pile of cash.

Louis looks at the money and then he glances at Vivian. I hold my breath.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Pressman but I'm booked up for the whole weekend with the show. I won't have time for anything else. I don't think it'd be fair to take the money." He says and hands it back. I can't hide my smile.

My sister squats beside me.
"I've decided tonight's the night with Robbie. He doesn't even know yet."

I open my mouth to protest but she runs off. She heads to Robbie's cabin and knocks on the door and opens it.
"Robbie, it's me."

Robbie is in bed with another woman.
"Holy shit!"

Gemma just closes the door and walks away.

In the meantime I'm in Louis' bed, cuddling post-sex.
"You wanna hear somethin' crazy? Last night I dreamt we were walking along and we met your father. He said, Come on, and he put his arm around me. Just like he did with Robbie." Louis says quietly while he caresses my arm. I hold him closer.

When I have to leave he walks me out and kisses me. I melt in his arm, totally unaware that someone sees us.

I join my family for our last dinner. Max and Zayn sit with us.
"You know how you feel when you see a patient and you think he's all right, then you look at the X-rays and it's nothing like you thought?" Max says to my father.

"What happened?" My father wonders.

"It's exactly what it's like when you find out one of your staff's a thief." Max sighs.

"Moe Pressman's wallet was stolen when he was playing pinochle last night. It was in his jacket hanging on the back of his chair. He had it at 1:30 and when he checked again at quarter of 4:00 it was missing." Zayn says, making sure that all eyes are on him.

"Vivian thinks she remembers this dance kid Louis walking by." Max continues and that gets my attention.

"So we ask him, You have an alibi for last night? He says he was alone in his room reading." Max says.

Zayn laughs.
"There are no books in Louis' room!"

I turn to Zayn by my side.
"There's been a mistake. I know Louis didn't do it."

"There's been similar thefts at the Sheldrake. It's happened here before.
Three other wallets." Zayn chuckles.

"I know he didn't do it." I argue upset.

"Stay out of it, Baby." Zayn brushes me off.

Max gets up and leaves so I take his seat to talk to my father.
"Daddy, I need your help. I know Louis didn't take Moe's wallet."

"Oh? How do you know?" My father wonders.

"I can't tell you. Just please trust me, daddy." I stress.

He gives me a long look and sighs.
"I'm sorry, Baby. I can't."

Max returns to the table and I turn to him.
"Men Kellerman, look. Maybe Louis didn't do it. Anyone could've taken it. Maybe it was, uh... It could've been that little, old couple, the Schumachers. I saw her with a couple of wallets." I say, getting more desperate.

"Sylvia and Sidney?" Max smiles in amusement.

"Baby, you don't go around accusing innocent people." My dad reprimands me.

"I even saw them at the Sheldrake. You said something was stolen from there." I continue, ignoring my father's warning.

"I got an eyewitness and the kid has no alibi. Come on, Zayn. You'll learn
what it's like to fire an employee." Max says, looking at his grandson.

I panic.
"Wait a minute. I know Louis
didn't take the wallet. I know because he was in his room all night.
And the reason I know... is because I was with him."

No one says anything. I look at my dad. He's furious.