Dance with Me Again

By Dian Phillips Shelton

Seeking to resolve unsettled issues of betrayal and trust, Deidra Sullivan returns to the place that has always settled her soul. When she is sought out by her first love, Michael Ryan, she finds herself caught up in a tornadic upheaval of emotions. Throwing caution to the wind, Deidra decides to risk her heart again but unknowingly she is also risking her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465388964

Dian Phillips Shelton

Dian Shelton lives in West Texas with her husband and two dogs. She is currently working on her next novel.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Deidra Sullivan slowly treaded across the slightly worn carpet to the sliding-glass doors that opened out to the turbulence of the pounding waves. The beach. Oh, how she loved the beach. All her life it had been a soft place to land. A place to go when her world was off-kilter. Her world simply righted itself when she took the time to stroll along the wet sand and breathe in the salty, cleansing air. However, this time was different. Sand between her toes, soaring gulls, racing sand crabs, none of those things assuaged the pain that was so deeply bedded in her heart. Tom was gone, so she had to move on. In spite of all the unanswered questions.

Deidra opened the sliding-glass door and stepped out. Leaning on the rail of the patio, she took a deep cleansing breath of the salty air. She repeated the simple action with deliberate effort. As she released her held breath for the second time, she knew, perhaps an epiphany that she would be whole again. With more animation than she had shown in three months, she made her way to the shore. Walking slowly through the edge of the water, she audibly thanked God that she had surely crossed a major hurdle. Picking up pace, she felt the stretch and pull of her muscles. Ahh, it hurt so good.

After a brisk walk through the wet sand, she made her way back to the beach house. Lifting the phone to her ear, she called Hannah. Hi sister, it’s me, back from the black hole of despair.

Deidra, wow. It’s so good to hear from you.

Oh, come on, I just talked to you yesterday.

Yeah, but this is the first time since you’ve been at the Gulf that you have called me. Deidra, you’ve been there three months, holed up by yourself. I’m not kidding. We all have been worried about you.

I know, I didn’t mean to cause worry. I just had to have some private time for healing. Besides, I’ve talked to the kids almost every day. I think they understand.

They do, but they were still concerned about their mom.

Now, why I called. Deidra paused as if she had a great mystery in store. Is Dickey Do home?

Chuckling over the nickname Deidra gave Richard the first year they were married, she said, Yeah, he’s home. He took a few days’ vacation.

How about I call Sarah and the four of us meet for lunch at Edd’s? I’ve got a ferocious appetite for crab claws. Deidra silently hoped that Hannah was at least dressed because lord, it did take that woman forever to get ready.

Sure, let me check with Richard. Covering the mouthpiece, Deidra could hear the exchange between her baby sister and her husband of almost nine years.

He said only if you let him buy, Hannah replied, giggling like a schoolgirl.

Great, how close are you to ready? Deidra inquired.

Hey, I’m almost there. Just need to put on mascara and lipstick. What about you?

You’re ahead of me, for a change. I still have to shower and call Sarah. Let’s meet at Edd’s about eleven thirty and beat the lunch crowd. How does that sound?

Sounds great. See you in a bit. Hannah hung up the phone and tearfully stepped into Richard’s arms. Oh, Rich, Deidra is going to be okay.

Of course she is, babe. Deidra is much stronger than you or Sarah gave her credit for. Richard drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, gently rubbing his wife’s back. You know, Hannah, I am so sorry about Tom. I know that Dee has had a very difficult time with the loss, but it seems to have served as a wake-up call for us. I don’t think we’ve been this close since our first year of marriage. To be honest with you, there were times I didn’t think we would make it.

Hannah leaned back and looked deeply into the beautiful blue eyes of the man she had so underloved and underappreciated. I know, there were times I didn’t really care if we made it or not. Oh, Rich, how did we let that happen? I think that is what happened between Dee and Tom, except he turned to someone else.

Probably so. I always thought Tom was such a fool for that. But I knew the first time I met him he had a roving eye.

Hannah, biting her lip in thought, replied, Now how did you know that? I just thought he was an outlandish flirt.

Ever heard the expression Where there’s smoke, there’s fire? That applies here, Richard said sagely.

Richard, do you think there had been others before this Beatrice person? Hannah inquired.

I think there might have been. But there is no use in trying to dig up bones at this point. Richard grinned. No pun intended.

Well, regardless, that hurt went so deep for her. I don’t think she completely got over the betrayal. Nor the trust issue. After all, that was a long-term affair we are talking about. And so convenient, a fellow realtor working for the same real estate agency. Sighing deeply, she continued, But what matters now is that she is on the mend. And I know that, Rich, in my spirit. I know that. So yet again, God has answered our prayers. Turning around, Hannah reached for the ringing telephone. Hello, she said in her normal chipper voice.

Hannah, our Dee is going to be okay, Sarah said between tears.

Deidra rounded the corner of the rural farm road, road dust billowing around the new BMW SUV. She listened to the sweet hum of the engine. She loved her new car. Tom would have never approved of such luxury. He would have considered it wasteful, even ostentatious. Maybe it was, but all the kids seemed to think it was okay to indulge, so she had. She pulled into the neat little country home with the pretty manicured lawn. Pine trees that had to be three stories high dotted the lot. She opened the car door just as Sarah came bursting from the screened-in porch.

Their tearful embrace lasted long enough for both sisters to gather their composure. Sara said at length, I was worried about you, Sissy.

Deidra smiled at the childhood nickname that her sisters called her during emotional moments. I’m sorry, Rah Rah. I just needed time. Now get in, I’m starved. Richard and Hannah are supposed to meet us across the Bay Way at eleven thirty.

We going to Edd’s? Sarah inquired.

You ready for crab claws, or do you want oysters? Deidra chuckled, knowing her sister’s affinity for raw oysters.

I don’t know yet. I’ll decide when I get there. Hey, are we going to get dessert since brother-in-law is buying? Sarah knew it was an ongoing tug-of-war over who would get the check. She also knew that Hannah and Richard would have it no other way today because this was a day of celebration of sorts.

Deidra cocked her head, as was her habit, and looked straight into the eyes of her younger sister. Now, tell me about what is going on in your world. Did I hear rumblings about a new man in your life?

Grinning from ear to ear, Sarah nodded her head. Oh, Dee, he is a great guy. We have a lot in common. Most of all, we both have a past of bad choices. But we both want a future that is brighter than our pasts. It’s too early to tell where the relationship is going, but for the first time in a long time, there is a possibility.

My hope and prayer is that this is a God thing for you. You deserve it, Sarah. Life has beaten you up pretty good. Now it’s your turn to be on top. Deidra reached over and squeezed Sarah’s hand as they rode in silence.

As they pulled out of the sleepy town of Robertsdale and onto the stretch of Highway 59, Deidra felt a nostalgia that she had not allowed herself to feel in many years. She wondered what had happened to some of her high school friends. Whatever happened to Dewayne Logan? Do you ever see him? Deidra asked.

I have not seen Dewayne in years. I do see Daniel Stanley from time to time. He always asked about you. As a matter of fact, I ran into him about two weeks ago. I told him about Tom and that you were staying at the Gulf for a while. Of course, he expressed his sympathy and sends his thoughts and prayers.

That’s a funny thing, really. I have run into him probably three times over the years. He always acts like I’m a long-lost friend, but the fact of the matter is I don’t remember knowing him in school. Of course, his brother David and I were good friends, but I don’t recall meeting him until after I left this area. He is a nice guy though.

Casting an inquiring look, Sarah asked, So do you ever hear from David or Michael?

Actually, I haven’t heard from David in several years. At one point we e-mailed back and forth, but that was several years ago. I’ve never heard from Michael. I know that his wife was killed in an automobile accident. I’m sure that was very hard on him. That’s about all I know about either of them.

Dee, do you have any plans for the future? Are you going back to Texas to work, or are you going to hang around here for a while? Sarah inquired, hoping that she was not being too nosy at this point.

Deidra took a deep breath before answering, I don’t know yet. I’m leaning toward staying if you and Hannah can tolerate me. She looked with teary eyes at the sister she had always loved but not always understood.

Sarah laughed through her own tears and let out an old Texas yahoo. Look out, Baldwin County, the Fitzpatrick sisters are back!

CHAPTER 2

Richard, party of four, the bubbly hostess announced. As the four were seated on the patio overlooking Mobile Bay, Deidra inhaled the salty smell of the water, one of her favorite smells. She realized for the first time in so many weeks, or had it been months, she was actually hungry. Okay, Rah Rah, what will it be? Crab claws or oysters? Deidra inquired with a chuckle.

Sarah leaned back with a deep sigh and replied, "Well, it is October and October has an r, so I think I’ll have oysters. Cocking her head, she continued quizzically, Wonder how true that saying is, or is it just an old wives’ tale?"

I think it has something to do with the oysters’ breeding time, Richard commented. But there couldn’t be a whole lot of truth to it, or the restaurants wouldn’t sell oysters May through August. Besides, I’m almost sure I’ve eaten oysters during those months and they didn’t hurt me. So I’m thinking it was probably an old tale made up to give the fishermen a break.

Either way, y’all can have them any day of any month because they’re always poisonous to me, inserted Hannah with a shudder.

Surely, you’re a communist, down here on the Gulf and not appreciating such fine cuisine. That’s as bad as not liking grits. Deidra put in with a mock serious tone. That reminds me of an e-mail I got. It was one of those short quizzes entitled How Southern are you? Never being one to pass up a chance to prove my intelligence, I took the quiz. It asked all kinds of questions, but mostly on pronunciation. Questions like Do you call your daddy’s sister aunt or ant? Anyway, at the end of the twenty or so questions, my results were ‘Are you sure you’re not Robert E. Lee’s granddaughter?’ Now I ask you, do I look that old? After all, the Northern Aggression was at least 150 years ago. She finished with flair and a charming, exaggerated Southern drawl.

Why, Sissy—Richard pierced her with a blue stare—I would say you’re not a day over eighty. And by my calculation, that could very well land you as Lee’s granddaughter. Throwing back his head, Richard let out a belly laugh that drew stares from all over the restaurant.

Thanks, Dickey Do, I knew there was a reason that you were always my favorite brother-in-law.

Excuse me, are y’all ready to order? asked the cute little waitress. It seems to me y’all are having an awful lot of fun over here.

I know what I want, chirped Sarah. Bring me oysters on the half shell, lots of horseradish sauce, extra Tabasco.

No wonder you so saucy, girl, Richard quipped. Honey, what do you want?

Hannah, looking across the table at Deidra, said, You want to split a platter of crab claws with me?

You bet. Do you want to get the platter for two or just the large platter? What about you, Richard?

I’m good. I’ve already told Hannah I’m getting gumbo and fried shrimp.

Dee, let’s get it for two.

Platter for two then? the waitress asked.

Sure, why not? Deidra shrugged.

Sweet tea for everybody, the server continued.

Unsweet for me, Deidra responded.

Now that’s not Southern. Hannah giggled.

They sat in companionable silence as they each feasted on the meal that was distinctly southeastern Gulf cuisine. Do you want that last claw? Deidra asked, grinning, with her fork held for a ready jab.

No, big sister, I’ll defer to age.

I won’t, Richard quipped as he snatched the last crab claw off the platter and poked it in his mouth, shell and all.

You, my friend, better be glad that I’m as full as a tick, or I would have to take you down. Deidra laughed at her brother-in-law’s antics. She did love this man. In many ways she was so much closer to him than she was to her own brother. True, they did not have the history that’s shared by siblings, but they had eight years of wonderful memories. When Richard and Hannah married, he brought so much positive into the family, especially to Hannah. Deidra sat observing two of her favorite people and knew that the drift between them had been healed. She said a silent Thank you, God.

Excuse me, aren’t you Deidra Fitzpatrick? Deidra turned and looked up into gray eyes and a grinning face that really had not changed so much over the years.

Oh my god. David! David Stanley! Oh my god! Deidra fairly screeched as she jumped up and grabbed a laughing David around the neck. His arms encircled her waist, returning her exuberant hug.

Leaning back, she looked him square in the face and flashed him a brilliant smile that he remembered so well.

It is so good to see you, David responded, rocking her gently back and forth. Looking over his shoulder, he motioned with his head. Hey, Michael, look who I found.

David, stepping aside put Deidra in full view of Michael Ryan. Her first love. As his smile began to broaden, he stretched out his arms. Deidra, as if on cue, walked into his welcoming embrace, put her head on his shoulder, and broke down in tears.

Promising to be in touch, Deidra and Sarah said their good-byes to Hannah and Richard in the parking lot of Edd’s Seafood by the Sea. Reaching the car, both women got in, buckled up, and sat silently. Shaking her head, Deidra started the engine and looked over at her sister. Sarah, what did I just do? I mean, I haven’t seen the man in decades and I start bawling on his shoulder. Is that not a way to greet a long-lost love? I know he’s in there now laughing over his shrimp cocktail. Well, damn it, so I had a meltdown. I’ve had a hell of a year, and if he can’t understand that, well, he’s certainly not the man I thought he would be. She took a deep breath and