Free Dancing With Velvet by Judy Nickles

anyway.”
    “Cece, don’t be that way.”
    “Kent would know something was wrong the minute he saw me. We were just getting acquainted, and now I don’t even know who I am.”
    “You’re my baby sister, and I love you.”
    “But he wouldn’t, if he knew about me.”
    “Then he’s not worth your time. Real love doesn’t have anything to do with circumstances.”
    “Would Ben have married you if things had been turned around?”
    “He said so right out when I told him that you knew.”
    “Why did you even tell me?”
    “I don’t know. I wish I hadn’t. But Pearl always said you needed to know when you grew up, and maybe she was right. The point is, now you know, and you have to deal with it. Frankly, if it loosens the hold Daddy seems to have on you, it’s a good thing.”
    “He doesn’t have a hold on me.”
    “Look, sweetie, go to the dance. Wear the silver sandals I bought you for Christmas. Hold up your head and be the same person you’ve always been. Think about the dress and Kent. Think about all the positive things that will make you feel better.”
    Celeste didn’t say that nothing could make her feel better right now. After Christmas Eve, she’d even stopped dreaming about the blue velvet curtain.
    ****
    The January dance fell near the end of the month, about the time Celeste calculated Kent should be back in San Angelo. When Paula and Veda invited her to dress at their place again, she almost said no. How can I look at Kent and wonder what he’d think of me? Maybe Ben wouldn’t have cared if it had been Coralee, but Kent would. He’s not like the men Mamma went out with, the ones who… How could Mamma let someone do that to her when she was already married and had Coralee? Kent said I was young and sweet, but now he might think I was like Mamma. I look like her. Maybe all those feelings I’ve been having means I’m like her in other ways, too. Kent wouldn’t want anybody like that. Never in a million years.
    But when Saturday came, with hope welling up from deep inside, she got on the bus carrying the box with her blue velvet dress and the new silver sandals.
    ****
    The Roof Garden was as beautiful as she remembered it, but Kent was nowhere in sight. When the band took a break, she wandered down to the lobby to get a soft drink.
    “Hey, Miss. You in the blue dress.”
    Celeste followed the sound of the voice to the desk clerk. “Are you talking to me?”
    “You wearing a blue velvet dress?”
    Yes, and silver slippers , she thought unhappily, much good they’re doing me.
    “Your name Celeste?”
    She nodded.
    “Have a letter for you. Just saw it in the box.” He held out an envelope. “Yeah, it’s for you.”
    Celeste turned the envelope over in her hands. It was addressed to the hotel, but just below the address were the words, “For Celeste, the girl in the blue velvet dress.”
    Retreating to a secluded corner behind a potted palm, she tore open the letter with trembling fingers and unfolded the paper.
    Dear Miss Celeste,
    My route has changed, so I won’t be back in San Angelo again. I can’t complain, since it’s a promotion and more money, but I was counting on seeing you.
    Like I told you, I have responsibilities yet, and I can’t even think about what I want right now, but if I could, I’d want you to be part of my dreams. Maybe someday our paths will cross again.
    You take good care of yourself, and don’t stop going dancing or wearing that blue velvet dress. I’m sure somebody else will ask you to dance. A lot of somebodies. I just wish one of them could be me.
    Sincerely,
    Kent
    Veda and Paula found her curled in the deep leather chair, weeping quietly, and got the story out of her. Though she protested she didn’t want to ruin their good time, they insisted on walking her home, where they hugged her and told her everything would be all right. She’d meet somebody else next month. At least Kent had been gentleman enough to write and explain why he didn’t