Our Last Dance

4.

In the midst of making a cup of tea, Stevie pressed the button near next to the red flashing light on her machine.

"Hey, mom, bringing Ireland over---can you take her home with you today? I have a shift and Annelle had a class. Sorry for the last minute, but call me and let me know," her son asked.

Letting off the tiniest of sighs, she picked up the phone and dialed her son back.

"Hey, mom."

"Yep, just make sure she has all of her stuff. The last time, she was running around shirtless and it's cold. All the clothes I had for her, you guys took when you spent the night."

"Ah, shit... Okay," he agreed. "I'll bring her some extra stuff. Okay, bye."

"Bye," she hung up the phone.

As soon as she poured a hot water into her mug, the phone rang once again.

Picking up after the first ring, she brought it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Stevie? Hi, it's me, Shelly," she said softly.

"Oh, good morning, sweetheart---what's going on?" she asked.

"I just wanted to let you know we'll be a tad bit late today. My dad will be there, but I have to get Leo from the airport and he couldn't get an earlier flight."

"That's alright, honey... I'll have a couple classes today and then after, it'll just be my granddaughter with me."

"Okay, thanks. I just wanted to let you know..."

"My pleasure, have a good day," she then hung up and went straight into drinking her tea. Though, setting it on the coffee table, she decided to sit on the floor to stretch her legs out, just to get a head start for her day to come.

Within the silence of the room and her deep breathing, there was a knock at the door.

She picked her head up, wondering who it was at that hour; not that it was incredibly early, but it was nine in the morning on a Monday.

Opening the door, she was a little taken aback.

"Oh, hi..." she lingered.

"I can promise, I'm still not stalking you," he first assured, showing mercy.

She giggled a little as she let her head hang a moment. Lifting it, "How can I be so sure?" she asked.

"Ya left this in my car the other day... I didn't see it till this morning---I'm assuming it's yours," he handed her a very small booklet that was full of phone numbers and dates.

"Oh, my God, I've been looking for this all over. It must have fallen out of my purse," she grasped it, ever so relieved. "Thank you---I knew it couldn't have been lost forever. This phone book is literally my lifeline."

"Yeah, no worries. I was just vacuuming my car and I found it on the side of the seat."

"I appreciate it," she sighed. "Uh, would you like to join me? I'm just drinking some tea, waiting for my son and granddaughter."

"If it's no trouble," he shrugged.

"No, not at all," she smiled, stepping aside to allow him entry.

"Thanks," he took off his overcoat.

"Here," she grasped it and hung it in her front closet. "It's so chilly out there," she added.

"Yeah, a storm, supposedly is coming. I'm really hoping Shelly just stays here for the while. She loves the back and forth stuff."