Diane Davidson - Sticks & Scones

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you,” I replied.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but keeping secrets can… .

Fearing he might lose his wife, Eliot had kept Mildred’s existence secret from Sukie. Sukie, in turn, had kept her history of cancer secret from Eliot, fearing it would make her look flawed and undesirable. That’s why she never mentioned knowing my ex-husband. Viv had deceived John Richard by blinding him with sex, and Andy Balachek’s attempts to double-cross his partners had cost him his life.

But now Viv was under arrest, and John Richard was in all kinds of trouble with his parole officer. Sukie had told me that she and Eliot were staying together, no matter what. She wanted to have a relationship with Mildred, and Eliot sheepishly admitted that he wanted to get to know his daughter better, too, no matter how it would tarnish his reputation. Still, Michaela was moving out of the castle, Sukie had added, but only when she and Mildred were ready.

Tom and I, unfortunately, had not done much better than these folks in the full-disclosure department. We stood there, bathed in the crimson lights, facing each other. The first test of honesty in our marriage had ended in about a C+. But we’d survived and remained committed to each other. And wasn’t that what counted?

Tom bowed as low as his injury would allow him. “Miss G or should I say, my dear Valentine, would you dance with me?”

I allowed him to tug me gently upright. The music had turned slow and romantic. An unexpected thrill darted up my spine. Then the two of us, looking like wounded veterans, stepped onto the dance floor. With infinite care, I put my hands around Tom’s waist. My burned arm wouldn’t reach to a proper dance position. Tom put his good hand around my waist. We started to move together.

“Sara Beth is on her way back to Vietnam,” he said matter-of-factly. “She doesn’t plan on returning. Her reality is in another part of the world now. Goldy - ” He lifted his hand to touch my cheek. “Thanks for understanding.”

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I understood. Maybe I never would - totally.

I said, “I’ve heard about guys with gunshot wounds. Apparently, if they’re real careful, they can make love after five days of healing.”

Tom pulled me to him with his good arm, then swung me around. He leaned in close to my ear and murmured, “Oh, yeah? Where’d you hear that?”

And so I danced with my husband, my Valentine. After a few blissful moments, I checked the food table. It was unmanned. Scanning the dance floor, I saw Julian dancing with a lovely, dark-haired girl. An Elk Park Prep faculty member? An alum? Why had I never seen her before? Had Julian just met her? Or were they old friends?

“Tom,” I whispered, “who’s that girl dancing with Julian?”

Tom pulled me close. “Goldy,” he murmured in my ear. Tingles again raced up my spine. “Will you never stop?