Second chapter. There is no actual tango in this chapter, but reference to it. Enjoy. Please review. Love you guys.
Tango Act
"Roger it is time to go," Mark said.
Mimi smiled sadly.
"Will you be back tomorrow?" she asked.
"Of course, it is Valentine's Day tomorrow."
"Shoot! My gift for you is at home," she cried.
"Tell you what," Mark said. "We will all celebrate this pointless Hallmark holiday when Mimi gets home."
"Deal," Roger said.
"Fine," she said. "That doesn't excuse you from coming back tomorrow."
Roger kissed her and left with Mark. Maureen, Collins, and Maya were standing in the lobby.
"Today has been a long day," Maureen sighed. "I am so tired."
"Poor Mimi has to miss her last day of work," Mark pointed out. Roger shushed him.
"She probably hasn't noticed yet," Roger said. "When she does, I can guarantee all hell will break loose." They all walked out of the hospital.
"Anyone have any cash on them?" Roger asked.
Everyone shook their heads, which made Roger feel even poorer than usual. "Are we walking?" Maya asked, breaking the silence.
The five of them advanced forward. The temperature had dropped dramatically with the sunset. Roger pulled his leather jacket farther around him.
Maureen, whose outfit could barely be counted as "clothing," was as close to Mark as she could possibly get.
Suddenly, a white escalade pulled up next to them. A short, African American lady rolled down the window.
"Maureen? Mark? Roger? Collins?" she asked out into the darkness.
"Joanne?" Maureen shrieked.
"Do you guys want a ride?" she asked. Joanne wasn't in the mood for their lame explanations and she didn't want to be seen on the East side of town.
Roger opened the door, without another word. A small girl was sitting in a car seat. They all pushed into the car, while Collins sat in the front, with Maya on his lap.
"Where were you guys coming from?" she said to Collins.
"The hospital," he said. "Mimi is in there."
"Oh my god! What happened?" she said swerving around a pothole.
"Long story, short, she was poisoned by Roger's medication," he laughed. "She is fine, though."
"Music," the little girl, who looked to be about 3, spoke up.
"Sorry Rosie," Joanne mumbled, turning on a tape that sounded very similar to The Lion King.
"So what have you been up to," she said, looking at Maya.
"This is my new daughter, Maya," he said. Maya stuck out her hand.
"Hi," she said. "I am-"
"Joanne," Maya said cutting her off.
"I see you have heard about me," Joanne said, looking in the rearview mirror and giving Maureen a dirty look. Maureen was looking out the window however.
"I adopted her from one of my co-workers who passed away," Collins said sadly.
"I am sorry to here about your dad, but you are lucky to have Collins," Joanne said.
"Oh he wasn't my dad," Maya laughed. "He was my adopted father." Joanne just smiled and looked forward.
"Who is this?" Roger asked, after he felt the tension continue to rise in the car.
"Rosaline Nicole Hans-Dawson, my boyfriend's daughter."
"You have a boyfriend?" Collins asked surprised.
"Yes," she said defensively. "We have been dating since Christmas. I have never been happier. We started the Hans & Jefferson firm around January. We were both the top of our class. We are a perfect match." She stopped and smiled. "I have never been happier," she repeated, as Maureen's words rang through her head, "You're not happy Joanne. I can tell"
"Well then I guess that is good news," Mark laughed nervously. Joanne simply stared at him and nodded.
"How dare he act that way," Joanne thought. "He knows that the fact that him and Maur are together, is tearing me apart. Maybe he likes to see me squirm. He likes to feel stronger than someone. I just can't believe after all the horrible things he said about her, the first time I met him, he took her back. He was probably just saying it to make me dump her. Well, are you happy Mark? It worked. Your fucking tango act worked. Hooray for you. Hooray for"-
"Joanne?" Collins said, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you going to pull over?"
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you just passed the loft," Roger said.
Joanne blushed and turned the car around. She pulled up in front of the dirty apartment buildings and stopped the car.
"Mark," she said as they got out of the car. "Don't forget to come by so you can film the conference. Dave wants a commercial soon. He likes a tight schedule."
"Wow," Maureen whispered, turning to her. "You two really are perfect for each other. I am really happy for you Jo."
"Thanks Mo," Joanne said out of habit. "I mean Maureen." With that, she pulled away.
Perfect. Fucking perfect.
"Marcus Cohen," said Maureen once they got into the house. "What is that about filming her?"
"I am going to film a piece of their conference for their commercial," Mark said, looking through the lens of his camera.
"Why?" she said.
"Money," he laughed.
"Are you kidding me?" Maureen sniffed. "Why are you going to help her? I thought you were on my side."
"Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Mark said looking at her.
"Shut up!" she cried. "Of course not. I just don't want you to see her. You know what happened the last time. You tangoed with her."
"How do you know?" he asked.
"I had spent the night in the lot across the street and he said he saw Joanne tangoing in the building."
"Who was it you were staying with?" Mark said stopping.
"A bartender I had met the night before," she said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, so it is okay for you to sleep with a total stranger, but I cannot harmlessly dance with a fellow tango-er?"
"Yes!" she cried.
"You're impossible," he said, sitting down. Maureen snatched the camera out of his hand.
"Maureen," he said seriously.
"I will drop this baby out the window if you don't stop!" she cried.
"STOP WHAT?" he yelled.
"Stop……….stop……………." Maureen couldn't even remember her original point. She looked at Mark and began feeling very angry.
She dropped the camera on his lap and lightly slapped him across the cheek. Tears were forming in her eyes and she stormed into the bedroom.