Free Dancing in the Dark by Maureen Lee

legs crossed nonchalantly at the ankles. Without doubt he was the best-looking man there—and he was with her! Flo gasped at the sheer magic of it all, just as Tommy turned round and winked.
    Her eyes flickered as she tried to wink back, but couldn’t quite manage it. Tommy laughed at her efforts as he came over with the drinks. “You know,” he whispered, “you’re the most beautiful girl here, Flo Clancy, perhaps the most beautiful in the whole of Liverpool.
    There’s something special between us, isn’t there? I recognised it the minute I set eyes on you. It’s something that doesn’t happen often between a man and a woman, but it’s happened between you and me.”
    Flo felt as if she wanted to cry. She also wanted to say something meaningful, but all she could think of was, “I suppose it has.”
    Tommy swallowed half his beer in one go, then returned the pint glass to the table with a thump. He took a tin of tobacco from his pocket and deftly rolled a ciggie out of the thick dark shreds that smelt of tar. He shoved the tin in Flo’s direction, but she shook her head.
    “It’s time I explained about Nancy,” he said grandly.
    “Nancy?”
    The wife. It’s not a genuine marriage, Flo, not in any respects.” He looked at her knowingly. “I met Nancy in Spain when I was fighting in the Civil War. She’s a gypsy. I won’t deny I fell for her hook, line and sinker. I would have married her proper, given the opportunity, but “stead, I did it Nancy’s way.” The way he told it it sounded like the most romantic novel ever written. He and Nancy had “plighted their troth”, as he put it, at a gypsy ceremony in a wood near Barcelona. “It means nowt in the eyes of British law or the Roman Catholic Church,” he said contemptuously. He’d been meaning to leave for a long time, and as soon as Nancy got better he’d be off like a shot. “Then I’ll be free to marry an English girl, proper, like, this time.” He clasped Flo’s hand and gazed deep into her eyes. “And you know who that’ll be, don’t you?”
    Flo felt the blood run hot through her body. She gulped. “What’s wrong with Nancy?”
    Tommy sighed. “It’s a bit embarrassing to explain, luv.
    It’s what’s called a woman’s complaint. She’s been to Smithdown Road ozzie and the doctors said it’ll all be cleared up in about six months. I don’t like to leave till she gets better,” he added virtuously.
    The guilt that had been lurking in a little corner of Flo’s mind about going out with a married man disappeared, along with the suspicion that he’d only told her about Nancy in case someone else did. Why, he was almost single! It seemed wise, though, not to mention him and his peculiar circumstances to her family. Martha, in particular, would never understand. She’d say nothing until they got engaged.
    “I trust you’ll keep what I’ve just said under your hat for now, luv,” Tommy said conspiratorially. “I don’t want people knowing me private business, like, till the time comes to tell them.”
    “I won’t breathe a word,” Flo assured him. “I’d already decided to keep you a secret.”
    “A secret! I like the idea of being the secret man in Flo Clancy’s life.” His brown eyes sparkled. “How about another drink before we go?”
    “No, ta.” The port and lemon had already gone to her head.
    “I’ll just have another quick pint, then we’ll be oft.”
    It was dark when they went outside. The sky glowed hazy orange where the sun had set, but was otherwise dark blue, almost black. They wandered hand in hand through the Mystery, the noise of the traffic behind growing fainter, until nothing could be heard except their feet on the grass, the slight rustle of the trees, and Tommy’s musical whistle.
    “What’s that tune?” Flo enquired. “I can’t quite place it.”
    “ ‘Dancing in the Dark.’ Have you never heard it before?”
    “I couldn’t remember what it was called.”
    He began to sing.