Free The Dance by Barbara Steiner

light blue knit skirt suited Nicol perfectly. Her medallion with its jet black stone seemed perfectly matched to the dress.
    Melanie used the sudden, heavy silence that hung between Nicol and Hank to feign embarrassment at not having her medallion on the outside of her sweater. She pulled it out, let it drop between her breasts. “Hannah, love, you are quick. This is Madame Leona’s. Since we wear the same size, she let me have it for the evening.” Nicol turned to Melanie. “We’ve traveled a lot together, myself and Madame Leona. All over the world. We borrow from each other frequently. She lives in the opposite building, you know.”
    â€œOh, right,” Melanie said. “I knew that.” Melanie didn’t, but she was glad for the information. She wondered how she could get into Leona’s apartment and look around.
    â€œTonight, though, the party is just for us girls. I’m going to turn up the lights a bit so you two can see to get some snacks and something to drink. There’s hot mulled cider, fruit punch, or Perrier. Soft drinks are in the fridge. Come on, Melanie.” Nicol gestured as if to lead them to the fireplace. “Let’s join the others. Oh, you too, Hannah.”
    Anne joined Nicol, letting Hank and Melanie hold back for a moment. Melanie whispered, “Hank, that was kind of a cheap shot.” Melanie felt a little embarrassed by Hank’s remark.
    Hank tilted her head, looked Melanie right in the eyes, and smiled. “To know her is to love her, Mel.” Hank looked toward Nicol, who was brightening the lights in the living and dining room area with a dimmer switch on a wall by the closest hallway.
    â€œShe is awfully pretty,” Melanie said, searching her memory. Nicol looked familiar for some reason. And it wasn’t from seeing her at the studio.
    Hank crossed her arms. “And she moves with such a natural rhythm.” She joked as she almost unconsciously pulled her medallion from under her navy blue, hooded sailor’s sweater.
    Melanie gave her a friendly punch on the arm. “Don’t forget, your jeans are designer jeans. Let’s get some food.”
    Nicol introduced Melanie to Janell. Janell was also expensively dressed, wearing a white jacket, matching vest, and white slacks. Her medallion had a dark, green stone. Probably jade, Melanie guessed.
    Hank had plopped down in a leather chair with an ottoman on the second tier of the room. She balanced a cup of cider and a plate of sliced cheese, dark rye, and sliced fruit. Anne and Laurie joined her. The three seemed to Melanie to be laughing about something they were trying to keep discreet.
    Melanie looked around on her own. With additional light, the living room was even more impressive. Expensive accent lamps were set in groupings with glass tables, creating intimate conversation nooks. Nothing out of the ordinary, though, unless expensive was considered unusual.
    Melanie helped herself to food, then chose part of an immense, white sectional sofa that wrapped around the lowest level, nearly surrounding the fireplace. The entire living room was circled by tall, arched windows—about a dozen of them. Ferns and other potted plants hung from the ceiling or spread out and upward from large, decorative pots and clay urns. Multicolored throw pillows were everywhere. All the floor was covered with thick, beige carpet. Paintings, statuary, and nicknacks were scattered, carefully and perfectly, accenting the non-colors.
    â€œWell, Mel, we’re certainly not in Kansas anymore.” Hank moved to sit by Melanie.
    Melanie realized she was glad to have Hank next to her. She needed Hank as an anchor in reality. She nodded and sipped at a cup of hot chocolate that Nicol had made for her. “I guess this is the ‘lap of luxury’ we’ve heard so much about.”
    Melanie heard music. The fire had been crackling but she hadn’t tuned in to it until now.