Sharon took it from her and smiled sweetly. "Someone will be with you right away."
When Linda sat back down and waited for "someone," she realized for the first time there was no music in the dance studio. No music in the dance studio! And it was also completely empty. Part of it had to do with the dinner hour, she supposed. After seven p.m., they would probably pick up. As she waited she heard muffled sounds of talking coming from the other side of the studio and the click-clack of Sharon typing quietly. Linda guessed that she must be using one of the new CRT terminals.
Her heart started to beat faster. This was the moment of truth! Maybe that mysterious man from her dream would come to life and lead her in a glorious waltz! His face came to mind immediately; she would never forget it.
She sat for a few minutes longer, as the light washing in from the tall windows over the trellis started to dim. It occurred to her to ask Sharon if it was okay if she left her umbrella in the lobby. "Oh fine, fine," Sharon said.
Light footsteps on the hard wood floor sounded, the volume increasing as the person making them drew nearer and nearer. She heard the voice before she turned around to meet the man. With a rich tenor, he said "Linda! Hi it's so nice to meet you! I'm Ron Dartez." When she turned around, he had already extended a hand for her to shake. He was smiling warmly, a man about thirty years old or so, with a thick mane of black hair, a clean-shaven face, a wide, friendly smile and sparkling, friendly eyes.
"Hi Ron," she replied, meekly shaking his hand. "It's nice to meet you, too."
"Come on back," he said, indicating the large, high-ceilinged room beyond the archway. "Let me give you the fifty cent tour of our place."
Linda realized the reason that the landing for the fourth floor elevator was so small. The entire fourth floor belonged to The Next Step dance studio. He showed her the main ballroom.
In some ways it reminded her of a scaled-down version of the palace where she'd danced with the mysterious gentleman so many years earlier. A gleaming, shellacked wood floor stretched out before them. It was as big as a high school gymnasium but with much better décor. The far wall contained archways over the windows with pillars molded in them.
Ron stepped quickly, floating on air with enthusiasm as he showed her the music alcove, the bar and the practice room where a couple of students were practicing a routine. As they stepped by, the man lifted the woman above his shoulders and she pointed her toes out in front of and behind her. Though it was a dark, rainy day, light still spilled in from the high windows, bathing the floor in a warm glow.