Free Something Old by Dianne Christner Page B

movements. Katy felt appalled and violated. With a gasp, she reached out to support herself against the glass, unable to resist the bass that pulsated throughout her entire body, invading where it was not welcomed.
    “Are you all right?” the blond asked.
    “No. I don’t feel so good.”
    “You’d better go sit in the waiting room.”
    The blond cast a disappointed look toward the glass as if she’d really wanted to watch every wiggle of her older daughter’s performance, but took Katy’s arm as if to guide her to the waiting room.
    “I’ll be all right.”
    “Well, if you’re sure. Just down the hall to the right. You can’t miss it. There’s a drinking fountain, too.”
    Katy nodded. “Thanks.” She fled for the hall. She would be sure to stay away from the mall on Valentine’s weekend—a glaring reminder of why she shopped at the mart discount store. In the hallway, the music finally waned, but her temples still throbbed to the beat. When she reached the sanctuary of the waiting room, she dropped into a purple vinyl chair with cold metal armrests, feeling spiritually raped.
    As her breathing slowly returned to normal, she kneaded her temple. Long after her heart quieted from its onslaught, her hands still trembled. She closed her eyes. “Lord, forgive me. I didn’t mean to end up here, to witness that. I didn’t mean to impress upon those other women that I even go along with dancing. I don’t belong in this place. Forgive me for my greed for ill-gotten money. Help me get out of this awful mess.”
    Katy determined to confront Tammy Brooks about her duties. Knowing Tammy’s temper, she’d probably lose her job. Good riddance.
    God would provide another job. Unless, of course, He didn’t approve of her to moving into the doddy house.
    Still rubbing her sore temples, she bargained with God. But as she prayed and then tried to regain her peace, she also struggled with what Lil and Megan would think if she backed out of the doddy house arrangement. And truthfully, she hoped God didn’t take it away from her because it wasn’t just their dream. It was hers, too. And if she was a Christian, wouldn’t a lifelong desire be from God? It had initiated at church camp, after all.
    She picked up a magazine and leafed through it. With disgust over a lewd advertisement, she slapped it back down on the side table.

    Back at the Brooks’ home, Katy dropped pasta into boiling water, rehearsing her resignation speech to Tammy, all the while listening for her car to rumble into the garage just off the kitchen. Five minutes later, her employer entered the room.
    Tammy slung her jacket over a bar stool and dropped her briefcase and purse on the counter. “Smells good. How’d your first day go? Any news from school or dance?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    Tammy lifted the lid off the spaghetti. “Something wrong?”
    “Yes.” Folding her arms, Katy lifted her chin. “I didn’t know I’d be taking Addison to her dance lessons. Dancing is against my religion, you know.”
    Tammy’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t even think.… Did you take her?”
    Nodding, Katy kept up her resolve. “I went inside because you wanted me to hear what her instructor said afterward, but the music and the dancing …” She closed her eyes to resist the painful image and shook her head. “I can’t do that anymore.”
    Tammy scooted onto a stool in her short tight skirt. “Wow. They’re just little girls. It teaches them grace and poise. It’s not like they’re strippers or anything.”
    Katy felt her face heat. “That’s what makes it so sad for me. That they’re just little girls being exposed to that kind of music.”
    An angry flush colored Tammy’s cheeks.
    Katy couldn’t believe she’d spoken up to an outsider like that. She remained silent, waiting for Tammy’s explosion.
    But Tammy removed her designer glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose, then replaced them.
    Katy shot up a prayer.
Help me, Jesus. I’m doing