The ruby red T-strap heels looked better on Elaine as she danced, practising her routine once more before she was to head over to Madame Lenore's studio. She reserved her thoughts of disappointment about her daughter Jane and focused on how good it was going to feel to finally dance in front of everyone with all the confidence in the world. She imagined that Larry would be sitting there watching and that made the experience all the better. She loved her Larry, and she hoped that it wasn't wrong of her to enjoy spending time with Gordon like she was. She knew that if she had been the one to pass away first that she would have wanted Larry to find happiness with someone else if that was what he wanted, reminding herself that she and Larry shared a similar mindset and that he would have wanted her to be happy. Gordon in his own weird way made Elaine feel like she wasn't so alone anymore, not only that – he made Elaine feel as though she was loved in a way that only a man can.
Elaine's heart fluttered as she twirled around, her feet moving perfectly underneath her like they had when she was nothing but a young woman – it was almost as though no time had passed at all. She was full of life, her shoulders loose and yet her posture was pristine, her hips swung from side to side with the slightest of ease, and her timing was perfect as the song carried throughout the house. The walls came alive like they had when her kids were young, their voices echoing down the hall as she imagined Larry outside cutting the grass, dinner being cooked in the oven sending out the smell of roast pork and steamed vegetables, and there she was – transformed to over sixty years ago when life was as it should have always been. She was blessed.
Tears began to stream from her eyes as she imagined holding her beautiful baby Jane for the first time, hearing the soft coos of her infant daughter as Larry kissed the top of her head the way only a father can. She then remembered the births of Larry and Norm, her two beautiful boys and how they grew to be such perfect gentleman, and how at one point they were inseparable the way that brothers often are. She remembered the mud slinging competitions after a rainy day, how Jane hated getting caught in the middle, and how she would run to her dad to complain about the boys getting dirt in her hair. Larry would comfort his little Janey, he loved her so much, meanwhile he would only go on to play with the boys out in the yard instead of scolding them. Larry could be so sweet, Elaine remembered, he loved with every square inch of his heart. He was a true man, the type of man that only comes around once in a life time and he had been solely Elaine's. She cried, her heart longing to kiss him one more time and thank him for being everything she had ever dreamt of.
"I miss you," She cried out, continuing to dance now only for Larry, as if he was sitting in his old chair like he always had and was watching her. She knew he was proud, that he was glad she had come so far, and that all he wanted to do was kiss her one more time. "I want that, too, Larry, I want it so much."
She danced with so much confidence that everything around her faded and now it was just her and her Larry, dancing one last time for him. This was her goodbye to the love of her life, that it was now time to move on to other things. Nothing would ever be as good as when she had Larry, that much she was sure of, but she knew that she could be happy again. So she danced without a care in the world, her tears a reminder of all the love she still had left to give, until the song came to a slow finish and she did her final sweeping move before pausing in place. She could hear Larry's clapping, his excited cheering as he called out how much he loved Elaine, that he always would – and most importantly, he was proud of her.
~~~
Gordon practised what he was going to say to Elaine, he needed to know the words off by heart so that he wouldn't mess anything up. He was good at getting his words jumbled and refused to have that happen as he proclaimed his love to the woman of his dreams.
"Elaine," He began, walking down the sidewalk and watching his feet as he did, "I wanted you to know how much these last few weeks have meant to me. I know we haven't known each other that long, but there are simply some things in life that are meant to be. When I met you I was content with living my life as a bachelor, I had everything I thought I needed. My two cats were always there for me, they were all the companionship that I needed. But when I took you out for dinner the first time, I realized that something was missing – you. I thought I was better than this, better than all the romance books that I have read over the years. I liked the idea of love, but I never quite thought it was made for me. Was I ever wrong! The moment I danced with you on Main Street I realized that everything had changed, that I no longer wanted to spend my life with just my two cats, but instead I wanted you to be a part of it all. I know I may not be the most romantic of men, and I am sure there are probably hundreds if not thousands of men who are better suited for you, but none of them will ever love as deeply as I will love you. So I came here to tell you, once and for all, that I Gordon Barnard Zachariah am in love with you."
Gordon stopped at the edge of the sidewalk, his heart full of love as he looked across the street and saw Elaine's house. The front window was lit up and he could see inside as Elaine practised her routine, dancing around her dining room in the most graceful way. He wanted to watch her for a moment, to soak in the fact that he was really going to tell Elaine that he loved her. Watching her dance only proved to him more that she was the woman he wanted to be with. He took a deep breath as he saw her come to a halt, crossing Shirley Street without a glance in any other direction, keeping his eyes strictly on Elaine. This was it, this was the moment that he had been waiting for.
He didn't know why he hadn't heard it before, maybe it was that he was too caught up in his speech to realize, but there were sirens blaring down the street. It was too late, a truck swerved around him and nearly took him out, causing him to step backwards. In one flash he looked to his right and a car came crashing into him, clipping his legs and sending him flying over the hood. For a moment he felt nothing, just the air as he swiftly lifted off the ground before coming crashing back down into it.
The cruiser had tried to swerve but instead lost control, driving onto the sidewalk before hitting the hydro pole right in front of Elaine's house, causing her to jump from being scared by the loud bang. She saw the red and blue lights, losing her balance slightly as she reached out to grab the side of the dresser, but her ankle gave way from the heel being stepped on incorrectly, causing her to topple forward until she came down on the edge of the dresser, smacking her head against it.