Waltz of Her Life

"We have?"

"We just foxtrotted across the floor so I can put on some music and we can have a really good time!" Ron let go of Linda for a moment and rushed over to the music alcove. They had three turntables stacked on shelves, on over the other. He pressed a button on one of them.

Classic, big band music filled the room and Linda recognized the song "String of Pearls."

When Ron straightened himself and returned to her, he smiled mischievously, and Linda could see the little boy he must have been. "Now that we know that you can foxtrot so well, we need to get into the best dance position so you can look extra pretty." At that moment, Linda glanced across the room and blanched: One entire wall had been covered by a series of mural windows. To distract herself, she paid extra attention to Ron.

He worked her around so that they stood across from each other and could look at each other in the mirror across the floor. "My god, I don't know if I can do this," Linda said as she tried to smile. To herself, she looked like a pear next to the trim and v-shaped Ron.

"Aw, you're beautiful," Ron said. "But we do have to get you into the perfect dance position." He gently nudged her around the shoulders and the small of her back to get her to stand up straight, with an arch tilted away. When her posture was to his liking, he lifted both of her arms and positioned them in mid air.

"I feel like a mannequin," Linda said. She felt better when Ron eased herself into the position he had created.

"Now give me some resistance," he said. "Like you're pushing away from me."

The moment she pushed back against him he lifted her and they breezed together along the floor, in perfect time to the woodwinds and brass of the Nelson Riddle orchestra. When they neared the corner, Ron gently steered her so that they danced by the tall windows over there. As they reached the other side of the room, a tall blond woman in her forties, wearing a smart skirted suit emerged from one of the offices. "Rondo!" she said, with breathy enthusiasm. "Having a great time, I see." She approached them with her arm extended and Ron stopped for her.

"This is Magdalene, the studio manager," Ron said. "And this is Linda Serafina."