The World According to Vince - Jane Harvey-Berrick Page 0,70
the history of the world, but he was real and he was loving, and after his trial was over, I hoped he’d be mine.
Rick and Cady stood together and thanked Rabbi Lisa and all their guests, then the MC announced the father/daughter and mother/son dance.
The beautiful lyrics of Carole King’s Child of Mine rang out from the band at the other end of the room.
Fascinating Factoid: The most popular wedding song is Christina Perri’s ‘A Thousand Years’, bumping Elvis’ ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ off of the top spot.
My heart started to gallop as I realized that the maid of honor/best man dance came next, but we still hadn’t discussed what we were going to do. Well, I’d tried to discuss it with Vince, but each time he’d told me not to worry and that it would be easier than falling off a log. I did not want to fall in front of all these people. I tried not to panic even though I always planned things in advance. Always.
But then Vince took my hand, squeezing it reassuringly, so I forced myself to focus on the dancers. Cady smiled lovingly at her father when his eyes became damp, and Rick held his tiny mother in his arms as she laughed softly at something he said. The two couples swayed to the music, and tears came to my eyes. I wasn’t the only one.
“I’m nobody’s child,” Vince sighed as he watched our friends circle the room, Rick smiling down at his mom, and Cady leaning her head against her dad’s shoulder. “I haven’t been since Mum died last year.” Then he turned to look at me. “You’re lucky.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I’m a very lucky woman,” and I hoped that my words conveyed several layers of meaning.
Vince smiled sadly and turned his eyes back to the two couples on the dancefloor.
“Fook me,” he sighed. “Half the guests are in tears. We’re really going to have to work to bring the fun back.”
My eye twitched.
“Are you going to tell me what you have in mind?” I asked nervously.
He turned and grinned at me. “Nope!”
“But Vince!” I gasped. “I’m not joking about—I really can’t dance!”
He kissed my cheek, trying to soothe me. It wasn’t working.
“It’ll be fine,” he said. “Just follow my lead.”
“Please don’t humiliate me in front of all these people,” I whispered, with desperate tears pricking my eyes. “I couldn’t take it.”
His expression softened. “Never, Gracie. I’d never do that to you. I promise it’ll be fine.”
And that was going to have to be good enough because Rick and Cady were walking towards us expectantly.
Vince led me onto the dancefloor as all eyes turned to us. Cold sweat broke out across my skin, and my face was frozen in a rictus grin of fear. Then Vince nodded at the band and took my right hand, pulling me in firmly so his arm was around my waist.
“Smile,” he whispered against my cheek. “It’s going to be brilliant. Hold on tight!”
I closed my eyes and licked my dry lips.
“Okay,” I croaked as I clamped my left hand to his shoulder in a classic ballroom hold. “I trust you.”
But then I nearly puked as the famous opening violin and accordion notes rang out for La Cumparista, ta-ram pam pam pa…
“Let’s tango!” Vince grinned.
He started to promenade me across the dancefloor in long, smooth steps, dragging me with him, my stiff body working in my favor for once. As the music dipped and dived, ebbed and flowed, Vince matched it step for step. I shuffled along with him, doing my best not to tread on his toes: left foot, right foot, left foot right foot—I could do that. Was I dancing?
We strode around with Vince dominating the room and me doing my best to keep up, but I didn’t look too awful. I didn’t fall, I didn’t trip, and you know what? I started to thoroughly enjoy myself. I was dancing!
Vince dipped me low to the floor then pulled me up slowly, staring into my eyes with stark passion. Holy cow, it was hot on this dancefloor! Then he swooped past the chocolate fountain, dipped his finger into the flow of melted chocolate and offered it to me. My cheeks flaming, I sucked his finger into my mouth and watched his pupils dilate with desire.
The wedding guests whistled and clapped and stamped their feet, and some smart alec plucked a red rose out of a vase and tossed it onto the dancefloor. Vince scooped it