Elaine slammed down the phone on the holder, her eyes burning with tears as she choked them back with a deep breath in, trying to tell herself that it wasn't worth the anger. She was going to be disappointed and that much was okay, but she refused to be upset that Jane had, once again, let her down. Elaine didn't think she asked much of her children, in fact she rarely even bothered them to come visit her because she knew how busy they were – and part of her knew they had trouble coming to visit now that their father had passed away, it brought back too many hard memories. But for goodness sakes, Elaine thought, she was still alive and deserved to have her children come to support her every so often. This dance recital meant so much to Elaine, especially since she had started to feel stronger ever since she began taking the dance classes and wasn't having as much difficulty with managing her pain. Sure, the fall from the shower hadn't helped her case much, but she tried to imagine what the damage would have been like before she started exercising regularly from dancing. For all she knew her dancing could have saved her from multiple broken bones. But Jane couldn't see that, she couldn't understand how much good the dancing had done because Jane had not been around to see it with her own two eyes.
Elaine refused to be upset tonight, it was her big night and she was going to enjoy every minute of it. She would just find someone else to pick her up, or maybe she would even walk to Madame Lenore's studio – because that was something she was comfortable with doing these days. Frankly she didn't need to rely on Jane anymore, she didn't need anyone – she was a changed woman. She had come so far and was beginning to feel like herself again, in fact she was beginning to feel like a brand new woman. She admired her beautiful navy blue dress in the mirror, adjusting the hair pin at the front of her hair – she looked just like the woman from the movie except that there was only one thing missing. She had the confidence, she had the dress, she even had the dance moves – now all she needed was the shoes.
Without another thought, Elaine trotted into her bedroom and flung open the closet doors, reaching for the lavender box to pull it down. She placed the box on her bed and removed the lid, eyeing the ruby red T-strap heels that beckoned to be worn. She wasn't going to wait any longer, there was nothing stopping her tonight. For the first time in many decades Elaine would wear a pair of high heels as she danced in front of a crowd to a smooth jazz number. Without wasting another second, Elaine perched herself on the side of her bed and slipped each foot carefully into the heels, taking a moment to stare down at them on her feet. She felt invigorated and ready to take on anything the world had to throw at her. There was nothing that could stop her tonight and that much she knew.
Her first few steps were careful, getting used to how the heels felt on her feet before finally strutting into the dining room with confidence. She spun around once, almost losing her balance but reaching out to steady herself on the dresser nearby. Elaine had to laugh, telling herself that everything was going to be okay and if that was the only fault that she would have tonight – then she would take it. She was unstoppable – renewed.
~~~
Gordon hadn't worn a suit since Charlie Ferguson's funeral almost three years ago, and he didn't figure that he would have lived long enough to buy a new one. With only one somewhat fitting suit in his closet, Gordon readied himself for the recital. He looked good, though his stomach extended against the buttons of his suit jacket, squeezing the near life out of them. Apparently he had eaten a few too many of Mama Jack's pies from the bakery downtown, which he swore he wasn't going to buy anymore but he loved supporting local businesses, especially ones run by the same people he had grown up with all of his life here in Harrow Hall. He knew a lot of people didn't care much for him, not that they didn't like him, he was often too shy to allow people to really get to know him. They all said hello and would smile at him when they passed him on the street or in the grocery store, but not many of them knew personal things about him like his favourite food or that he loved to paint with watercolours. He wished he was more open like other people, but he also thought about how much work it must have been to know everyone in town personally and how easy it would be to forget very important information. But now that he knew Elaine Baker, his life had changed. He had a very good friend that he loved to spend time with, and he figured it was just about time to bring her home to introduce to his cats Spangles and Knickers. Not only that, Gordon was sure that he was in love with Elaine, desperately wanting to tell her that. But when would be the appropriate time to tell a woman you loved them? After a long walk in the park – or maybe just before dessert after eating at a fancy restaurant? Gordon sighed. He hadn't dated anyone in so long that he had forgotten the etiquette entirely.
The door bell chimed out, breaking Gordon from his thoughts as he adjusted his tie while heading over to the door. He opened the door to a very strange looking woman with long knotted hair pulled all on top of her head like some strange hat, but her attire looked quite presentable – she was dressed in a nice fitting tan pant suit and holding a brochure that proclaimed GOD IS THE POWER. Gordon didn't consider himself much of a good Christian, but he did attend church every Sunday morning and had done so ever since he was little when he would go to church with his parents. He decided not to judge her strange gangly hair, instead he smiled at her politely and asked how she was.
"I'm fantastic, sir. I'm going door to door talking to people about Jesus Christ and wondered if I could borrow a moment of your time?" The woman asked, donning a smile that revealed she had no upper teeth. How strange, Gordon thought, that someone could go without teeth especially when dentures were so well-fitted these days.
At first Gordon didn't think he wanted to talk much about faith, but he saw a look in the woman's eyes that spoke to him – they said that they needed to spread the good word and Gordon could not deny her that pleasure. He checked his wristwatch to make sure he had enough time to walk to Madame Lenore's, but the recital wasn't for another forty-five minutes and he wouldn't have to leave until half an hour before. He could spare a few minutes for the woman, finally inviting her to come inside. He apologized for the mess – though there wasn't much of one to speak of, he just figured that's what good hosts do when someone comes to visit them. The woman sat herself down on his couch, eyeing all of the figurines that he had shelved on his walls.
"What a lovely home you have," The woman said, again her smile appeared. "What's your name, sir?"
"Gordon Barnard Zachariah," He said confidently, extending his hand to hers to shake. "And yours?"
"People call me Mahala," She said, shaking his hand firmly, "it means to mend in my language. Gordon is a very powerful name, it's roots are deep in God's love – did you know that?"
"Oh, I didn't know that at all – go on," Gordon said, sitting down on the chair opposite of her.
Mahala came up with a story about how Gordon was some sort of saint that God had personally blessed to do His work and that he played a very important role in a patchwork of God's miracles. Gordon was enamoured by this, immediately smitten with the idea that he, too, could be in God's ever flowing plans.
"Tell me, Gordon, what is something you feel that you should do? It doesn't matter if you think it's from a divine source, just tell me what lingers deep in your soul at this moment," Mahala asked, folding her hands neatly on her lap.
Gordon thought about making something up, saying that perhaps he needed to give back to people that were homeless or sick, but instead his mind came back to what it always did. "I need to tell someone that I love them," Gordon blurted out.
Mahala smiled even bigger, nodding as she closed her eyes for a moment and raised her palms up towards the ceiling, calling out a few things about God before lowering her tone again and meeting Gordon's gaze. "Oh, God's love showers all of us, Mister Zachariah! He works in mysterious ways and wants us to love one another. Tell me that you will tell this person you love them?" Mahala said, her face seeping with joy, almost as though she was going to begin crying with happiness.
At first Gordon wasn't sure he could tell Elaine that he loved her, but realized that Mahala was right – he needed to. He finally sat up straight and nodded. "I should, shouldn't I?" He said, mostly to himself.
Mahala jumped up with joy. "Yes! You should. Tell me about this person you want to tell."
"She's a friend of mine, Elaine ---"
"Oh, Elaine! What another biblical name!"
Gordon didn't like that Mahala had interrupted him, but he brushed it off as he continued. "We met at a dance class, she is quite the dancer. I have seen her most every day for the last few weeks, I have been bringing her coffee and flowers every morning and we like to go on walks together when the weather permits."
"Praise God!"
"She is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen."
"Oh, the Lord creates everything in His image!"
"She might even be the best friend I have ever had."
Mahala clapped excitedly, praising God left and right as she danced around Gordon's living room. He didn't like that she didn't fix the arm protector for the sofa, eyeing it as it now lay on the floor. He cleared his throat and checked his watch, wanting to get this very nice but strange woman out of his house. He tapped his finger against the face of his watch. "It was lovely talking to you, but I should finish getting ready. We have a dance recital tonight," Gordon said, getting ready to stand up from his chair.
Mahala stopped in her place, looking over to him with excitement flashing in her eyes. "You mean you're going to tell her tonight?"
"Well, no, maybe not tonight," Gordon stammered.
"But why not? If you're seeing her, you should! God would want you to."
Gordon thought it through for a moment, scratching his chin. "You think so?"
Mahala clasped her hands together and nodded excitedly. "Yes, yes, yes! You have to tell her tonight – now!"
"Now?"
"Yes!"
That didn't sit well with Gordon at first, but Mahala's energy was starting to wash over him and he did really want to tell Elaine that he loved her. There was nothing stopping him from saying it tonight, it was a lovely occasion for everyone and they would be dressed properly for it – so why shouldn't he? Finally, he nodded, feeling the excitement pass over from Mahala and into him. "You're right, I should tell her tonight."
"Yes, you should! You should walk right up to her house and proclaim your love to her right this very second!" Mahala said, following Gordon as he ushered her toward the front door. She stopped before stepping through, placing her hand on top of Gordon's. "May God bless you, Gordon Zachariah, you're doing His will."
Gordon thanked the woman, watching her walk away. As she descended the stairs, he realized that she hadn't been wearing shoes the entire time. Had he completely overlooked that – did she forget her shoes inside? He checked, but there was nothing. Very strange indeed, Gordon thought, not putting much more into it. He knew what he had to do now, he had to walk over to Elaine's house. With that thought in mind, he grabbed his house keys and began the trek over to proclaim his undying affections for the woman of his dreams.