The Last Valentine's Dance

The Valentine’s Dance


    Sticking his key into the lock, his gnarled fingers shakily turned the small device before slowly opening his door. Stepping inside he was greeted by darkness, unadulterated darkness, and silence. Darkness, darkness and memories were all that greeted him on this cold wintry evening. Memories of a time when there was light and laughter, shouts and even a few tears. But all this seemed a lifetime ago when in all reality it was only a few short years. A few short years when his children were young and at home, when his wife would greet him with a smile and a kiss and an eagerness to know how his day went.
    The children were all grown now and scattered about the country, jobs and spouses calling them away from home, jobs and family making it difficult for them to visit home.  He didn’t begrudge them their active lives, but he did miss them, more so now that he was alone.
   
    Walking into the living room, his fingers automatically found the light switch, bringing a small amount of protection against the all consuming darkness.  Picking up the remote, he flipped the television set on, turned the volume up and not really caring what was on, just wanting to hear voices other than his own he quickly tuned into a station before shuffling his way to the kitchen.
    Remnants of last night’s dinner greeted him on the counter. Dried beans in a bowl that he had forgotten to put away, the pot he had cooked them in still sitting on the burner. This morning’s cereal bowl seemed to mock him from the table. A table big enough for a family and yet only he sat at anymore. Opening cabinets and peering inside he couldn’t see anything that tempted his appetite. Finally he closed the cabinet doors and grabbed a soft apple from the fruit bowl that was set in the center of the large table.

    Returning to the living room, he sat on the sofa, seemingly becoming lost in the soft floral design and laid back eating his apple while listening to some program that had the live audience in laughter. It was here that he fell asleep, here that he spent his night as he spent most nights.

    The shrilled sound of the phone on the end table jarred him from his sleep. Fumbling around, he managed to find the receiver and punched in the talk button before holding it to his ear. Forgetting to greet the caller, he listened to the silence before the voice on the other end broke it.
    “Hello? Hello, Dad? Are you there?”
    “Who is this?” Still half asleep he was confused as to the identity of his early morning caller.
    “Dad it’s me, it’s been a while and I wanted to check in on you to see if everything was ok, is there anything that you need?”
    “Who is this? I’m sorry but I didn’t hear your name.”
    “Dad its Robert, your son. Are you all right?”
    “Oh Bobby, how are you son? Are you being a big boy and taking care of your mother for me?”
    “Uhmmm Dad?”
    “Don’t worry Bobby; I haven’t forgotten that I promised to bring back a gift back for you. I should be home in time for your birthday party; do you know what you want?”
    “Dad I’m going to call Sharon and see if she can stop by and see you before she goes to work.”
    “Now don’t you go picking on your sister while I’m away. You be a good boy and do everything your mother tell you to do. I have to go now son, I will see you tomorrow and if you are good I will have a special gift for you.” he slowly hung up the phone.


    Across town from him, a phone rang interrupting Sharon as she tried to gather her things together for an important meeting she had to attend in less than an hour. Hurriedly she snatched up the phone. “Hello?”
    “When was the last time you visited Dad, talked to him?”
    “I love you too. What’s up Robert?”
    “Sorry Sis, I just got off the phone with Dad and I’m worried about him. Could you run over there today before going into work?”
    “I’m late now. After work I have to pick up the kids and try to get something in them before meeting Chris for dinner.”
    “Come on Sis, I am really worried about him.”
    “I’m sure he’s ok, maybe you just woke him up and he wasn’t all there yet.”
    “No, it’s more than that. Listen tomorrow is Valentines Day. Why don’t I take the day off and drive up there? You know Dad has never been alone for Valentines Day and it was always his and Mom’s favorite holiday.”
    “Sure, it will be great seeing you again. Will you be bringing the family?”
    “Macy will be coming with me but I think it would be best if we try to get her mother to take the kids for the weekend.”
    “Well I’ll see you when you get here. Listen I really need to run now, give the kids a hug from Auntie S and you and Macy drive carefully.”


    After hanging up the telephone, he looked around the room. There was something he was doing but he couldn’t remember what it was. It mustn’t have been too important or he would have remembered.
    He was hungry, that’s it, and he was going to fix something to eat but got distracted by something else. Well never mind that now, he would fix some dinner before bed. It had been a long day. He couldn’t even remember what all he had done during the day but the bone weariness he felt told him that it had been a long day.
    Going to the kitchen he turned the oven on and went to the refrigerator, opened the freezer and grabbed a frozen pizza. Placing the pizza on the counter he stopped at the sink looking out the window over it. It was still pretty light outside so it must be earlier than he thought. His day was really long if he felt this tired this early.
    “Oh Sara if only you were still here with me. I miss you something awful. I need you.”
    Crying silently to his dear wife, he forgot his hunger and went to bed, feeling even more alone than before.

    It was late that evening before Robert and Macy stood outside his door. They tried knocking and weren’t getting any response. Robert looked at Macy and the worried lines were etched deep in his furrows.
    “Maybe he is just down the street buying some milk.” Macy tried to soothe his worries. “There are several places he could be and he didn’t know we were coming.”
    “Not this late. He is usually home at this hour watching the nightly news. I’m calling Sharon.”

    Twenty minutes later Sharon was standing outside the door with them. “You know he’s probably in bed asleep, he’s not young anymore.”
    “Just open the door will you?”
    Sharon unlocked the front door and they all went inside, scared of what they would find. The room was in total darkness and there was a smell of decay that premeditated the room. Sharon quickly forgot being called away from dinner with her husband as she drew closer to her brother. There was something about the room, the quietness, the darkness and the odor that really scared her for the first time. She was scared to turn the lights on, scared what they would see.
    Robert brushed past his sister and wife and went across the room to the lamp, turning it on. The three were silent as their eyes took in the mess that met them. Towels, dishes, and soiled clothes were scattered all over the living room. On the couch were magazines, mail and discarded pieces of fruit buried in the rumpled blanket. Thick layers of dust blanketed the coffee table and other various items in the room. The room was neglected and looked unlived in.
    “Dad? Dad, are you here?” Robert headed towards the bedrooms.
    Coming to what was his father’s room; Robert hesitated for a brief second before turning the doorknob. The room was in darkness and it was hard to make out the outline of the bed with just the light peeking in behind him from the living room. Opening the door further, he could see the outline of his father lying on the bed, no movement, no anything to indicate that he was still breathing.
    “Is he still alive?” his wife’s voice sounded strained to his ears.
    Not indicating that he even heard her, he pushed into the room and went to stand beside his father’s bed. Reaching out a hand, he grasped his father’s shoulder lightly and gave a gentle tug. “Dad, wake up.”
    His father stirred in his sleep.
    Seeing that his father was still alive, Robert shook him a bit harder to wake him up. “Come on Dad, Sharon and I are here.”
    His father woke up, gave a frightened cry at the strangers by his bedside. “Wha, what is going on here, who are you, what do you want? Get out now; go on leave before I call the police.”
    “Dad, it’s us.”
    “Bobby? Is that you? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at school?”
    “Schools out for the day Dad, we just came in here to tell you good night.”
    “Who is that with you? Why are you here in my bedroom, where’s your mother?”
    “It’s me Dad, Sharon. Mom said we should tell you good night and for you to get more rest since you aren’t feeling good.”
    “Oh Sharon, yes my little Sharon, you run off now and be a good girl. Daddy is sleepy now. I have had a hard day at work. Daddy will play Tiddlywinks with you later.” He turned over and went back to sleep.

    Back in the mess that was the living room they stood around looking at each other. Macy was the first to move, picking up some of the trash from the couch making room for them to sit down on.
    Sharon was the first to speak, “What are we going to do? Did you see him? He looked so… .” she choked on her words.
    “How long has he been like this?”
    “I don’t know. I always assumed he would call if he needed anything. I haven’t had much time lately to look in on him. Work has been stressful and with Chris and the kids, I never have time to come here.”
    “Well he can’t go on long like this. We need to do something.”
    “I can’t see him going into a home. He would hate it there. He won’t agree to go to one.”
    “Unless you are willing to take him in, I don’t see much choice. We don’t have room for him and I doubt if Jena or Lance will either.”
    “We have to call them. He is their father too.”
    “We can call them tomorrow.”
    For the first time Macy spoke up, “We can decide what to do tomorrow or Sunday. We don’t have to decide right now. It’s late and look at this mess. I would say that we should start cleaning and see what we can get done tonight. It looks like it will take a few hours to get everything as it should be.”
    “You’re right Hun, besides there’s nothing else we can do tonight, maybe not even tomorrow with it being the weekend. Do you think your mother would mind keeping the kids a few more days? I can’t go back yet. Monday I will try to get him in to see his doctor and we can move from there.”
    “I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her what is going on. I am sure she wouldn’t mind.”
    “I’ll call Chris and tell him I will be here for the night.”

    The next morning dawned cold with traces of snow in the air. Light streaked through the windows on a freshly cleaned room. Macy and Robert were sleeping on opposite ends of the couch and Sharon was curled up in an easy chair.
    The bedroom door opened slowly and he came out of his room dressed and freshly shaven to start his day. He stopped when he saw his children sleeping in the living room. Even in his sleep Robert looked worried; he was born looking worried, their little old man is what his mother used to call him. They had despaired of him ever taking his head out of his accounting books long enough to find a wife and settle down. Macy was good for him. They were excited the first time he brought Macy home and introduced her as his fiancé. Even though Robert still worked too hard, too many long hours as far as he was concerned, he couldn’t deny that Robert’s marriage was strong and that he was a good husband and father to his children. He briefly wondered why they didn’t bring his grandkids to visit as well.
    Aww now Sharon, looking at her in her sleep, he was always amazed at her beauty. She was in her mid forties now but looked as if she barely flirted with thirty.  He was concerned over her working long and hard hours but knew that she was trying to set up a business with her husband, setting up a clothing line if he remembered right. Their kids were always a delight to be around and he wondered if Chris would bring them over later today. It would be good to see Chris and the kids, he very seldom saw them anymore, he very seldom saw any of his kids and grandkids anymore.
    They looked so peaceful sleeping there that he didn’t want to disturb them. He would find out later why they were there.  It was a surprise to have them around, a pleasant surprise.
    He went to the kitchen and started making breakfast for all of them. He had just flipped the last pancake when Sharon popped her head into the kitchen.
    “Something smells good in here. Hey Dad.” Sharon crossed the room and gave her father a hug. “Did you sleep well?”
    Returning his daughter’s hug, he stepped back and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “Sharon. When did you guys come in?”
    “Late last night. Robert wanted to surprise you and I wanted to be here when he did. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Mind? Why would I mind? I always enjoy having you guys around. How about some hot breakfast?”
    “That sounds good and if they don’t wake up soon I think I may be able to eat theirs.”
    “Oh no you don’t, you leave your brother’s food alone young lady.”
    Laughing, Sharon grabbed a fork from the drawer and made a face at her father as she advanced towards the food, “It’s been a long time since anyone called me a young lady, I think I rather like it.”
    “In my eyes you will always be young.”

    By mid afternoon the weather seemed to warm up enough that Macy suggested a walk with her father-in-law to the store. After they had left the house, Sharon and Robert sat in the living room together, mugs of hot coffee before them on the coffee table.
    “He seems clearer today. Maybe last night and your phone call to him was just a case of him being wakened from his sleep. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with Dad.”
    “I hope you’re right Sharon but I really doubt it. You saw the mess the place was in when we got here. And every time I have called him in the past few months, he was confused as to who I was, always referring to things that have happened in the past as if it was only recently. I think we need to call Lance and Jena. They have a right to know what is going on.”
    “But what if nothing is going on? Then what? He will be pissed if we talk to him about moving into senior home.”
    “Lets see how the weekend goes and what Lance and Jena says. If we can get him into his doctors we will have more of an idea what we are dealing with here. It may be just a case of him needing some sort of medication. I really don’t know. Just don’t cross out the home idea for him. It may be our only option.”

    When Macy returned back to the house with her father-in-law they brought the cold from outdoors in with them. Shaking the snow off her jacket before hanging it up, she suggested that maybe her father-in-law would enjoy watching the news with Robert while she and Sharon got dinner started.
    “You go ahead and make dinner, but I need to get ready for tonight.”
    “But tonight Sharon and Macy are making a special dinner Dad. What do you need to get ready for?” Robert asked as he took the bags of groceries from Macy.
    “It’s Valentines Robert. You know your mother and I always have our special valentines date. I need to get ready for her; you know how your mother is. Cantankerous old lady, always fussing if I am late, or my tie’s not done right. After fifty five years of marriage you would think she would give me some lee way.”
    “But Dad…” Robert started to protest but was cut off by his wife.
    “You go ahead Dad; get ready for your night. Sharon and I can get dinner together and if you’re hungry you can join us before meeting Mom at your special place.”
    “I don’t know if I will have time to eat, Old Woman is fussy about being on time too.”
    “I know but Mom will understand if you have a bite before going out in this weather. Maybe she will be running late too since it may be hard to get a cab tonight.”
    “We’ll see.” He turned and left the room heading towards his bedroom to get his things together for his shower.

    “What was that all about Macy? You are setting him up to be hurt. You know if he goes to their restaurant he will be hurt and confused when Mom doesn’t show up. What are you thinking?”
    “If I remember right, Mom always met him after she got off work. She would take a cab there right? Well if we can get him to sit down and eat, maybe we can convinced him its too dangerous to go out and that Mom wouldn’t want him to risk it. We have to try. Maybe he will grow tire during dinner and will forget and go to bed. I don’t know but we couldn’t tell him he couldn’t go nor could we say hey Mom is gone Dad, there’s no date waiting for you. I’m trying Robert, you don’t have the answers and I’m just trying.”
    Going over to Macy and taking her in his arms, he kissed her tenderly on the lips, “I know you are sweetheart, we are all lost right now. Maybe you are right, I hope you are right.”

    Dinner table set with flowers and candles, dishes in their place, everyone agreed that they had done a nice job in trying to make this dinner special for their father. Sharon was bringing out the bowl of salad as their father entered the room.
    “Hey Dad, you look hot tonight. I bet there will ladies all over the place swooning once they get a look at you.”
    Laughing at his daughter, he went over, pecked her cheek with a kiss and took the bowl from her, setting it on the table. “You guys did a terrific job here. This looks great. I hope you enjoy your dinner as much as I enjoy my night.”
    “Do you want me to call the cab for you?”
    “Please do Sharon, tell them I need to be at the restaurant in forty-five minutes.”
    “Will do.” Sharon walked away from them and entered the living room. There she picked up the phone and dialed the number she wanted.
    After a few rings Sharon told the person who answered on the other end to call her back in three minutes and then hung up the phone. She joined the rest of the family in the dining room.
    “The cab will be here in twenty-five minutes Dad, the weather is bad and they are running a bit slow. Why don’t you sit for a few minutes and try some of the steak that Macy made. You know how she is cooking food. I bet it melts in your mouth.”

    They were just settling down on their chairs when the shrillness of the phone interrupted their dinner. Ignoring her brothers offer to go answer the phone, Sharon pushed him aside as she left the room, hearing Macy asking Robert to go get something she had left in the kitchen instead.
    Answering the phone, Sharon heard her husband’s anxious voice, wanting to know what was going on and when she would be home.
    “I’ll try to be home soon after dinner, hopefully Dad will fall asleep. He is missing Mom now and we are trying to make it special but Chris it is so hard. Dad thinks Mom is still alive and is planning on meeting her for their special Valentines date.”
    “I miss you Honey, but stay as long as you need to. The kids are doing fine and when you get home I will run a nice hot bath for you to relax in and we can talk.”
    “That sounds lovely. I wish I was home right now. I have to go but I will see you tonight.”
    Hanging up the phone Sharon rejoined the family at the table. Her father was just getting up to go wait for the cab when Sharon entered the room.
    “Dad that was Mom. She said the weather is too bad to make it tonight and to tell you that she would be staying in town at the hotel across the street from her office. She said tomorrow night you guys can have your date.” Ignoring her brothers surprised look, she went to her place at the table and sat down watching as her father hesitated before reclaiming his seat.

    As he was reaching for a bite of the mashed potatoes on his plate, his head became light; everyone around him became fuzzy, as if they were at a distant. Closing his eyes in order to clear his vision, he saw her.
    Standing a few feet in front of him, she looked lovely, prettier than the first time he met her. Her hair no longer silver with ate was once again red, long and hanging loose, framing her face. She had on the same dress she wore on their first date, the Valentine’s dance at his high school.  Looking down at himself, he realized for the first time that he was no longer dressed in the suit that he had donned before dinner, but instead was in the tuxedo that his family had rented for him to wear to the dance. Amazingly it still fitted.
    Without a word to him, she held out her arms for him to join in with her as she slowly danced to the light music that was playing somewhere in the background. She swayed effortlessly amid the dancing couples that were on the dance floor around her. Moving to the edge of the floor, she stood, swaying in her slow dance, waiting for him.
    Hearing his children in the background calling him back, he decided to ignore their pleas to come back as he moved towards her, toward the vision of loveliness that he had married so long ago. She was still his and she didn’t forget their date.
    Taking her into his arms, he inhaled the fragrance that was distinctly hers, and moving with her steps to the music he joined her in their dance.
    “You made it, Sharon said you wouldn’t be able to make it tonight.”
    “I will always be here for you. Nothing could keep me away, but as usual you are late.”
    “You will never change will you?” Laughing he looked into her sparkling eyes, the mischief he saw dancing in them lighting up his soul as never before.
    “You wouldn’t want me any other way would you?”
    “No I wouldn’t. Never change.”
    “For you Darling, I will always be the same; my love for you will always be true.”
    “Shall we dance so I can show off the beautiful woman in my arms?”
    “Yes kind Sir, tonight and every night for the rest of eternity this dance belongs to you.”

    No longer hearing the cries of his children, no longer feeling old and tired, he took his sweet Sara into his arms, and led her to the dance floor where they would glide together forever in their dance of love.