by Ken Locke

Created on: November 30, 2008

The Last dance

"Wake up, Jimmy! We've got to go," she urged.

She bounced on the edge of the bed, jostling him through the thick, white comforter.

"It's a beautiful morning, I feel great, and we've got to go dancing on the pier Come on, we've got to get going!"

Jimmy rose from the fog of sleep quickly, because it was so rare that Dion was up before him, let alone cheery and motivated. He looked up at her, still bouncing the bed, and him, with a bubbly rhythm.

"Wow, I love the dress! Where's that from?" he asked.

"Oh, JJ, you wouldn't believe what I found in the upstairs closet of this place! There are tons of dresses, furs, hats, parasols, even shoes to match! I just borrowed this one; just for today. I won't get it dirty, and it was just too good to pass up! Seriously, GET UP! I've already got Nathan working on a picnic lunch, and we've got to beat the rain that the radio says is on its way."

"OK, I give up. Where are we going again?"
"TO THE PIER. FOR DANCING. BEFORE THE RAIN. Come on" she begged.

"Right, here I go, then. What's my dress-up outfit for the day? Ah, I'll bet this is it. The tuxedo, right? And the shoes Wow, calfskin from another age, aren't they? Where did you find all THIS?" he questioned.

"Oh, couldn't you just die? The men's clothes are right across the hall from all the women's clothes, and I just knew these things would fit you. Weird, isn't it?"

"Yes, quite odd Now, what is this silk thing and how do I attach it?" he joked. She moved towards him, hands outstretched, and gently, happily tied his bowtie.

As she tied, he remembered the last formal affair they'd been to with the bank executives. It'd ended poorly, at the emergency room, after Dion fainted in front of the caviar. The doctors had no good news. Her health had been failing her for some months now, and she had reluctantly found out from her doctor that she was, indeed, very sick, and would get even sicker in the coming months. This knowledge, mostly shoved into the recesses of the brain that didn't get much use, colored her drive to enjoy life, seek passion, and soak up her husband while she could. The doctors had said she would be normal for a while longer, but eventually she would be unable to dance, walk the dog, cook, or even hold hands.

Adrift, Jimmy took a leave of absence from the bank. He owned it after all, and found a lovely old beachside home to let for the fall. It still had that lived-in feel, and, by the clothes and furniture still present, had never been formally

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