She knocked twice. Then once again for good measure. The door made a satisfying reverberation upon being struck by her hand. A solid slab of mahogany hung years before.
She heard muffled footsteps padding across the parquet floor of the interior. Slowly the door opened and there stood Red. White shirtsleeves rolled up his forearms and charcoal vest unbuttoned but still in place. He didn't say a word. Just raised his glass of amber liquid to her and moved aside.
The room was dark, the only light coming from a streetlamp outside the partially shrouded window and a green Tiffany lamp sitting on an end table. Miniscule dust fragments floated lazily through the air cutting the only light.
She still wore the red dress from earlier in the evening. A little worse for wear but still beautifully flowing along her slight frame. Her soft hair had begun to fall down slightly from its earlier chignon.
"Teach me to waltz Red", she said.
Xxx
She approached him cautiously but with an uncontrollable smile on her face. She held his level gaze, noticing the momentary clearing in his eyes. An ephemeral spark of surprise tempered with caution. Then the curtains closed and the façade returned. Wary.
Wordlessly setting his cut class tumbler on the table at his side, he took her right hand in his left and brought it slightly upward while placing his left hand on the small of her back and ever so gently guiding her towards him. Touching him. She felt the muscles of his arms and upper chest flinch and then contract and hold. So slight was the movement she wondered if it was real or just a product of her imagination. Lizzie sighed.
He held her ever so gently, like she might break, his hands almost steady.
He guided her to the dimly lit open space between the leather seating and the heavily filled bookshelves. "Follow me", he said. With that a slow step then a slow step then a turn.
Guiding her he turned towards the window. Toward the gilt framed portraits on the wall. Then back to the interior of the room. To the yellow globe sitting stationary on its brass axis. His left hand encircled her a bit more now, bringing her in. To him.
Her satin heels clicked softly across the pocked floor. The leather soles of his shoes made an accompanying scuffing sound. In the background the soft sounds of a Bach concerto rose and fell out of the darkness.
She felt herself relax into him. Felt him move. Felt the air stir around them in the quiet room.
She laid her head softly against his chest. Tentatively at first and then, upon his exhale, peacefully, her breath coming in and out. She felt the slightly scratchy wool of his vest. She inhaled the cold and the wood smoke. Heard his heartbeat. Steady. Steady.
Xxx
Red felt Lizzie against him. Felt the moment she relaxed and sighed into his chest. Felt the warmth of her belly through the fine material of her dress. Felt it through the starched cotton of his dress shirt. Warm. Skin on skin. Almost.
And the spark that had flickered barely noticeable in his heart began to burn.
And Red felt fear.
Xxx
Somewhere in the darkness the grandfather clock struck half past five with a single echoing bong. The unexpected sound caused her to startle. Shaking her from her reverie.
Red stepped back from the embrace. "I have to stop now. I have to go. Please sit. Please stay and make yourself comfortable. I'll have Marta bring some pie."
"Why, what?" He saw her look of confusion.
"Lizzie, I am not able to do this with you right now.
Not able to stay in check. With you. Anymore.
You make me want…things…that are not possible. And though I can withstand a lot. I am not…strong enough…to withstand…this."
Turning, Red walked out the door.
Xxx
Sinking down into the leather chair behind her Lizzie covered her eyes with her hands to keep the tears not yet materialized at bay. The pendulum of the grandfather clock made a steady sound from somewhere out of view. In the distance the smooth growl of an engine permeated the quiet night and with that the slow sun began to rise.