Our Last Dance

14.

Stevie had opted to walk home after brunch with her kids because she wanted to go shopping and just avoid all her neighbors since it was better to get a verbal message by strangers who knew her rather than everybody trying to gather at her house.

Trevor had wanted to spend more time with his mom, but she promised she was all right to be by herself that day and she was.

As she walked around the clothing store she was in, she had spotted a couple things for herself but couldn't help but pass by the babies' clothing section.

Ever since she was young, she had found it mood shifting when she would see all the cute little things; it made her heart throb. And of course, after Trevor was older, it would make her sad that he wasn't little; she couldn't dress him like she used to. She had really missed those days.

She picked out a few things for Shelly's new baby, only because she wanted to get her something after having been involved with the situation of knowing first.

When she finished up---she was happy with her choices; neutral colors for Shelly's baby since it was far too early to know anything about the gender, she had chosen a few things for Ireland, some maxi dresses and skirts for herself and then a few pieces of decor for her house.

Walking up to the register, she grinned at the couple behind the counter.

"Mary, Bill---how are you two doing?" she smiled, settling her things down on the counter.

"We're great," Bill assured, starting to ring up the few things with his calculator.

"Say, Stevie, are Trevor and Annelle having another baby?" the woman beamed, holding up the infant sized clothing.

"No, I wish," she kind of laughed. "No, a friend of mine, his daughter is having a baby and I just wanted to grab her a few things is all."

"You're talking about the Buckinghams, right? Lindsey and Shelly...?" Bill glanced at her over the edge of his readers as he rang up the items and put them in a paper bag for her.

"Bill, why must you be so nosey?" Mary complained. "And they say women are the gossip, you should hear him and his friends at the poker table..."

She kind of smirked to herself. "No, it's alright... It's true," she shrugged.

Mary stayed quiet for a moment and then shook any thoughts she could ponder in that moment. "Well, anyways, that's so nice! How far along is she?"

"About six weeks. Still very early, but she's a doll and she's one of my students..."

"That's wonderful, isn't it, Billy?" the woman clung to his side, also very touched by the idea of little babies running around.

"Mhmm... Wonderful," he mumbled kind of sarcastically.

"Ah, it is wonderful!" she waved him off. "Pay him no attention, anyway, did you see the new yarns that came in? I know you like to crochet..." she pointed, hoping to change the topic.

The dancer turned around to look over. "They're lovely, but I haven't been in the mood to make anything... Maybe later," she shrugged. "I have time and I'm sure I'll be teaching Ireland soon to keep her little hands occupied."

"Best thing to do when they're that age," she grinned. "Bill, give her a discount," she smacked her husband.

"You don't have to do that..." she shook her head as she pulled her wallet out.

"Ah, don't worry about it. Besides, I know how much people are bothering you about today... Would you give Shelly a congratulations for us, please?"

"Sure," she agreed and pulled her debit card out of her wallet. "Thank you so much."