"All right. A week next Saturday at the Stork Club."
"You've got it."
"Eight o'clock on the dot. Don't you dare be late. Understood?"
"You know, I still don't know how to dance."
"I'll show you how. Just be there."
Peggy arrives early, though the Stork Club is already packed. The person she wants to see isn't inside. But that's okay, because she's early, and there's still a half hour until he'll arrive. She walks inside and takes a seat by herself.
Peggy waits.
The minutes tick by. She realises she forgot to wear her watch.
The band starts to play a slow song, and there's a twinge at her heartstrings as a couple waltzes past her. The man has blonde hair, and brilliant blue eyes, and-
And he isn't Steve.
Peggy takes a deep breath and waits.
She orders two drinks from the bar, and though she finishes her glass in two swallows, she leaves the other untouched.
This seat is reserved, she says to a girl not much younger than herself. My apologies.
The sky outside darkens, night stealing across the sky in the exact way Steve has stolen her heart. The full glass on the table is whisked away by a waiter. Peggy orders another.
She smoothes out the creases on her skirt. She wore it especially for Steve, because she knew they'd be dancing tonight. She even wore her red heels, but they're hidden under the table and no-one notices.
Peggy wonders whether it is eight o'clock yet. Probably not.
She jumps when a hand comes to rest on her shoulder. Smiling, she swivels, already asking Steve if he'd like a turn about the room-
But it isn't Steve standing before her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we're closing now." Peggy stares.
"It's a bit early for that, isn't it?"
The barkeep bites his lip. "No, ma'am," he says gently. "It's well past midnight."
Peggy looks at him in confusion. "You must be mistaken."
"I'm not."
"Well, would you mind if you waited until my friend arrived? We're going to dance, you see."
"Ma'am…" The barkeep trails off, and Peggy wonders why he looks so uncomfortable. "Whoever you're waiting for, ma'am, he ain't coming tonight. Now, please. I need to close up."
Peggy lets herself be ushered out the door. She stands on the pavement, watching as the lights in the Stork Club go out, one by one, until there is only darkness before her. She swallows, breathes in deeply, and sinks down to the ground.
She will wait for Steve. She knows he won't be late.
"You gonna be okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I just... I had a date."