2

The TPD holiday party was held in the hall of the Elks' Lodge. This year the force had gone all out, had even gotten several private donations to supplement their small budget.

The hall looked terrific, with big sparking snowflakes and oversized glittering red and green ornaments hanging from the ceiling.

The buffet was great, too, with big pans of lasagna and ziti and meatballs in sauce, plus cold cuts with fresh Italian rolls, potato salad, and lots more. There were trays of all kinds of homemade cookies for dessert. Yum. Christmas cookies.

But the pièce de résistance was the open bar. Not only was there just about every type of drink you could imagine, but there were also huge bowls of spiked eggnog and sparking red punch on a table next to the bar, with oversized cups for our drinking pleasure.

Joe almost never took me out anywhere, preferring to sit in front of the TV watching hockey and eating pizza. I'd been looking forward to the opportunity to go out for months. I thought maybe being out at one of Trenton's prime social events would be just what we needed to put a little spice back into what was becoming a rather predictable relationship. About the only thing we had going for us was the sex. Joe was always ready, sometimes even when I wasn't.

After Joe and I ate our fill, we sat at a large table with Eddie and Shirley Gazarra, Carl Costanza and Rosalie Romano, and Big Dog and his wife Letitia. When the band came on and began with a spirited version of the Jingle Bell Rock, the other couples all got up to dance.

"Hey, Joe, dance with me, pleeeease?" I begged. I knew he didn't like to dance, but I thought since it was a special occasion maybe I could talk him into it.

He nuzzled my neck. "Cupcake, you know I hate to dance. Let's head home and you can dance for me later. A nice striptease would be just what the doctor ordered."

I frowned at him. "Joe, we came here to have fun, and I really want to dance. Please?"

He shook his head. "Dancing is not fun."

We sat in silence for a few minutes and then the band launched into White Christmas, a nice slow version. All the older couples got up, joining the younger ones on the dance floor. We were almost the only people left seated.

"How about a nice slow dance, Joe?" I pleaded. "All we really have to do is stand there and sway."

"Cupcake, I told you, I'm ready to go. Get your things and let's get out of here."

"I guess I'll go get a drink. Do you want anything?"

"I want to leave, Cupcake. The Rangers are out west and the game will be starting soon. If you don't want to go home with me, fine. Stay here. I'm sure you can get a ride home with someone."

"Joe…" I began, but he turned and walked toward the coatroom.

Fine.

TBC