FYI-i own none of these characters except my OC, I guess-
**thank you for all who have read and reviewed. i appreciate you taking the time to do so.**
"You ok?" came a voice behind her.
"John." Evie said spinning around. "You startled me."
"Would you like to dance?" he asked.
"Like? No, I don't like dancing." she said to him.
"Would you do me the honor then?" he said extending his hand.
She looked at him. He was serious. She reluctantly took his hand. He led her to the dance floor. He wrapped an arm around her and gently held her hand with the other.
"I don't know how to dance." she said feeling awkward.
"Neither do I." he said smiling.
She watched as he surveyed the room around them. She glanced around also. There were few others dancing. She saw a few men at the bar watching them. She noticed a woman watching them intently at a table.
"Evie?" John asked as he saw her looking around and felt her grip tighten on him.
"John." Said Evie snapping from the gaze of the woman at the table.
He looked at her noticing something was bothering her.
"Addy told me your wife died." She said.
"Yes." He said solemnly.
"I'm not sure what to say." She said. They continued to slow dance to the soft tune. She could tell it wasn't a subject he favored. She understood that, after all, who would favor it.
He eventually broke the silence. "I didn't say anything because there is nothing to say."
She just looked up at him staring into his eyes. She searched them trying to see beyond the stoic pain. She second guessed herself in telling him. Maybe he wasn't ready for her to know. Maybe they shouldn't be dancing.
"Maybe we should sit down." she said as the thought ran through her head.
He looked at her, "Why?" he asked.
Evie decided to just throw it out, "Would she be ok that I am dancing with you? Are you ok with it?"
He stared at her. Her words made him realize he had been avoiding the thought of Helen in the moment. He felt a guilt that he had not thought in those terms about his actions yet there was a peace that she had.
"I know I never met her, but I just want to honor her memory." Said Evie. "You aren't obligated to help me with this-"
"She would've liked you." He said interrupting her. "And thank you. I think we are both ok with a dance."
Evie felt relief. She did not want to push him on the subject. She felt they were both ready for a change of topic.
"Who was that man you were talking to?" she asked looking over to see him watching them.
"Management. He thinks he knows your father." Said John.
"What?" she asked. "How?"
"He knows your mother or he knew her." He said.
"So, does he think the letter is a threat?" she asked.
"Your father had some debts." Said John.
"Ok, so, how is that my problem?" she asked. John was silent as he looked at her. "John, what?"
"He offered you as payment for his debts." He said.
Evie just stared at him in disbelief. The father she never knew gave her life in exchange for his debts. "Ok, so, those men you killed were attempting to kidnap me and you took care of them so I'm good."
"It's not that simple, Evie." He said.
"Then I go to the police." She said.
"The police can't help you." He said.
"But you can?" she asked. She wasn't irritated at him but the situation. Her father walked away from her life and now, he acted as if he had some claim to it. She took a deep breath. "So, I have to stay here with you?" she asked. She was starting to have more questions than answers about him and all of this. It was not sitting well. "I have to ask. When I was at the bar a man ask who I was here with and when I said your name he all but ran. Why?" he asked.
"I have a reputation." he said.
"I think that may be an understatement." she said.
"I will find who is collecting on the debt." he said.
"And then what?" she asked.
"I'll clear it." he said.
She looked into his eyes. "John, I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not. I'm offering." he said. "Management would like to speak to both of us." He said.
"What is management's name?" she asked.
"Winston." He said. "He will let us know when he's ready."
"So there's time for another drink? I think I'll need it." She said.
John nodded and walked her to a small table. Addy saw them take a seat and brought some drinks to them.
"The usual for you, John." She said setting down a glass. "And for you, Evie, I brought the bottle as well as a glass to let you decide." She smiled patting her arm.
"Thanks, Addy." Said John. John took a drink. He watched Evie. He could see she was distracted.
She took a drink from the bottle as she mindlessly stared at the stage.
"Evie." He said. He could see she was shaken from their conversation.
Evie turned to him just as a man approached their table.