Then she hopped forward with the line but started laughing at Stephanie—who was sliding left instead of right—and missed the cha-cha part.
They quarter-turned again, and Charley felt herself getting the hang of it. Her moves more fluid, she put some flavor in the hops and stomps—and got to try the cha-cha.
“I see you!” Stephanie called over. “Shake what your mama gave you, girl!”
Charley laughed again but kept moving so she wouldn’t fall out of rhythm. Two quarter turns later, they added new moves—a crisscross, a “Charlie Brown” thing, which she skipped, and a hand clap. Then she heard the guy say, “How low can you go; can you go down low; all the way to the floor . . .”
She didn’t know what got into her, but she had to try it. What she didn’t know was that she’d be one of few who would. Most stopped midway and cheered as she made her way down “to the floor.”
“Look at you,” Marcus said. He did a double-time clap to the beat to urge her on.
“This is fun!” Charley said—then her knee locked as she tried to come back up.
She almost keeled over, but Marcus grabbed her hand and pulled her upward. She clung to his arm, off balance still, mostly because she couldn’t stop laughing.
“I think I’m done,” she said. “But I gave it a try!”
He walked her off the floor. “You more than gave it a try. You get mad props from me, Coach Willoughby.” He smiled at her. “Thought you said you couldn’t dance.”
“I said I didn’t know that dance.”
They sat at the nearest table, which was empty at the moment, and continued to watch the dance floor.
Marcus looked at her. “Glad you came tonight. I was beginning to think you changed your mind.”
Charley could feel her heart racing. “I didn’t think I’d be this late, but . . . I kind of had a date tonight.”
Marcus’s brows knit. “How do you kind of have a date?”
“When you go as a favor to your family and can’t wait for it to be over.”
“Ahh, okay.” He sat back, crossed a leg onto his knee. “So, you haven’t been seeing anyone seriously since your breakup?”
“No. What about you?”
“Nah.” He glanced down, fingered a program on the table.
“Sounds like there’s more to it.”
“It’s just . . . ironic.” He shrugged. “I tended to date a couple women at a time—”
“Oh, only a couple?”
He glanced at her. “Not proud of it. Just being honest.” He continued, “But now that I’m getting serious about my relationship with God and thinking differently about relationships with women, I find myself in Hope Springs . . . with no single women.”
“No single women?” She hoped she didn’t sound presumptuous. She quickly added, “Aren’t there plenty at New Jerusalem?”
“Okay. No single women might’ve been a slight exaggeration.” He smiled. “Maybe it’s just part of the new thing happening with me right now—I’m not really looking. I’m enjoying this season of just . . . learning. The discipleship I’m getting from Travis is incredible.”
Charley nodded. “I can imagine.” She glanced around. “Where is Travis, anyway?”
“He was here earlier.” He looked around too. “Guess he left. Probably getting ready for service tomorrow.”
Another cheer went up when the music changed. The younger set was flocking to the floor, starting a different line dance.
“What’s this one called?” Charley said.
“The Wobble.” Marcus grinned at the sight, then cupped his hands around his mouth. “I see you, Cedric! You and Cyd show the young folk how it’s done!”
Cedric waved at him, not missing a beat.
Stephanie came off the floor and collapsed in a seat next to Charley. “Don’t encourage him, Marcus,” she said. “Cedric doesn’t seem to realize he’s in his forties. Basketball this morning, dancing all night . . . he’s gonna have a heart attack out there.”
Charley smiled. “Stephanie, you seem really close with Cyd and Cedric.”
Stephanie watched them on the floor. “Definitely. I hate they’ll be leaving first thing Monday morning.”
“Yep,” Marcus said. “When the family reunion’s over, everybody’s gone, and you and Lindell are still here, that’s when it’ll hit you—you live here.”
“Everybody won’t be gone,” Charley said. “She lives with Janelle and the kids, and you’re right up the street.”
Marcus nodded agreement. “True.”
“Yeah, but it’ll still hit me,” Stephanie said, “and I’ll be wondering what’s next.” She grew thoughtful. “I talked to Lindell about your proposition, Marcus. And I am praying. I know you need an answer soon.”
“I’m praying too.” Charley looked at Stephanie. “Have to admit it’s