For Joe Antonucci of Grand Rapids, Michigan. We lost Joe “The Dancing Dentist” in July 2015 to cancer. I am now without one of my closest friends and supporter.
May your scotch be smooth, your beer ice cold and your west coast swing partner full of promise.
I miss you every damn day but we will dance again.
Fifteen Years Ago
Hale Cameron looked around the small apartment slowly, trying to memorize every nook and cranny. It was Finn’s apartment, but after their engagement, she’d been there almost every night. She’d moved more of her things into the space that Finn had willingly shared. Then, as the preparations for the Glass trial took more and more of Finn’s time, she’d stayed over less and less.
“Honey, the clock’s ticking. What’s left to do?” her dad asked quietly.
“Everything’s packed and loaded. I think we’re done here,” Hale replied as she circled the living room, touching a book on one of the shelves, straightening the antique hourglass that she had given Finn during their first Christmas together.
“I thought there would be more of your stuff here.” Hale focused on Jasmine Wayne Benton, her best friend since infancy. Jasmine looked like she wanted to make a run for the door.
“You can go. Thanks for all of your help. I know this puts you in a tough position.” Jasmine’s fiancé was Finn’s best friend. She’d have to explain to him, and therefore Finn, why Hale was leaving. How could she explain what she didn’t understand?
Jasmine took a deep breath as she approached Hale. “I just want you to be happy. You could stay, maybe you and Finn could work things out. I don’t want you to leave.”
Hale hugged her friend. “I have to go, Jazz. I need to get away from this town. I need to figure out who I am and I can’t do it here.”
“I would help you.”
“I know you would, but I need to do this on my own.”
“I wish you would wait and talk to Finn. What time is he supposed to get back?”
“The interview with Channel 8 News is being taped at three and after that he has to meet with a reporter from the Indianapolis Star. He’ll be tied up for hours. He might not even miss me until tomorrow.”
“He should never have taken on the job of representing Doug Glass.”
“That was just a part of our many problems. The Glass case will make his career. He’s a media star for winning the case. You know how important that is to him.”
Jasmine pulled Hale’s left hand into hers and gently rubbed the now unadorned ring finger. “He loves you. This is going to kill him.”
“I tried and tried to tell him that I was unhappy. He was either too busy to talk, or told me that I should be happy that he treated me like a princess.” Bitterness crept into her tone. “I don’t want to be that kind of woman.”
“You mean like me?” Jasmine turned defensive.
“No, not like you. You’re doing what you want, right? You love Izzy. You’re going to graduate and teach kids. Have the career you chose. Someday you’ll have some kids of your own, run the PTA, and be a great mom. Finn’s plan for me is to enjoy our engagement, be pretty, smile, and attend dinners, and then after we marry, stay at home and join charity committees. I would be his accessory. That’s not me. I want to be a partner, and I want my voice to be heard. I need to find out who I am so I can have a voice.”
“Can’t the two of you work this out?”
“Finn wants to give that life to his wife. I don’t want it. These past months have been miserable. I can’t live like this.”
Jasmine started to speak but Hale cut her off. “I’m going to miss you, but I have to go somewhere that my family’s name means nothing. Somewhere I’m not judged by my mama’s actions or my daddy’s money. I’ve done nothing to earn my place, everything I have comes from family money. I need to figure out who I am and I can’t do that here. Plus, there’s a part of me that’s broken and the only person that can fix me is me.”
Hale kissed Jasmine’s cheek and gave her one last hug. She watched her best friend walk to the door and leave. She turned to her father.
Joseph Cameron had been very quiet during the girls’ good-bye. “You want a few minutes alone?”