"Awww, mom…," Helen whined in disappointment. She popped the last bite of pork chop in her mouth. "Why can't I come along?"
It had been three days since their little family had reunited and most of that time had been spent with Helen or discussing what would be best for her. Even that early evening had been spent out to dinner with Tragg and Perry's crew after court. But it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Hamilton and Alexandra were itching to spend some time alone together.
Della gave Helen a sympathetic glance. It was plain to see how much young Helen yearned to spend more time getting to know her father, but she empathized with Hamilton and Alexandra as well. A second chance at love was rare and if Helen's parents could stoke up the old flames once more, Helen could only benefit.
"You'll have all of Saturday and Sunday to spend with us, Helen, I promise. Your father and I want to spend some time together. Alone," Alexandra in that tone she used when she was done discussing something.
"But you're going dancing, which is fun!"
"You'll get no argument from me there," Alexandra smiled over the rim of her coffee mug, though her light blue eyes were ice with warning about being pressed further.
"You can ballroom dance, but can dad?" Helen asked curiously. Her mind seized on the possibility that maybe they were just headed out somewhere to sway in each other's arms kind of dance as opposed to the ballroom, latin, and swing dancing her mother used to teach in the evenings back in Idaho. Without a significant other of her own to hold onto the former wouldn't have been fun after all and she reconsidered her plea to tag along.
That possibility that Hamilton could dance got the attention of the entire group as all eyes focused on the district attorney expectantly. Dancing was popular, but not everyone knew how to ballroom dance and not a one at that table would have pegged Hamilton Burger as someone who could seriously "cut a rug."
Della caught the amused, but fond sideways glance that Alexandra gave Hamilton though and her eyes widened in amused surprise. "Hamilton?" the hazel eyed beauty prodded.
Hamilton leaned back in his chair, his face coloring to nearly the same hue as his hair at the unexpected attention and he glanced down, not quite sure how to admit to it without seeming arrogant or something else he couldn't quite pinpoint. Even though he did know how to dance, he didn't consider himself all that worth watching and less still, an attractive figure on the dance floor.
"Alexandra taught me some when we were in college. I suppose I can dance a little," he reluctantly admitted. "It's been ages though so I'm sure I've forgotten most of it."
Alexandra swatted him on the arm. "He's being modest. He was a quick learner and we actually entered in a few local dance competitions believe it or not."
Burger groaned. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" He asked Alexandra, knowing full well what her answer was going to be.
She confirmed it with her biggest Cheshire cat grin.
"Now this I have to see," Mason teased. He was only partly joking though for part of him really, really wanted to tag along with the couple now for the sole purpose of seeing this with his own two eyes.
Burger's already large eyes widened in horror at the implication that he and Alexandra might indeed wind up with an audience of friends watching them. He sighed in resignation at the table full of curious expressions.
"Did you win?" Della asked, curious about the aforementioned dance competitions.
Alexandra shook her head. "We didn't win, though we placed a few times. We were just competing at the amateur level anyway. We did it for fun mostly. And Hamilton was naturally competitive anyway."
Perry smirked at Hamilton knowingly. "We've uh… come up against his competitive streak a few times anyway."
"Alright, fine. You can all come along, but Helen, we're serious. Your mom and I need some time alone together so you can't hang out with us all night," Burger said with finality.
Helen visibly brightened. This was an aspect of her parents' relationship that she hadn't known about and excitement bubbled up inside of her at the opportunity to see them dance together.
"How do I let myself get talked into this stuff, huh?" Burger shook his head, but looked over to Alexandra and grinned. Audience or not, he was looking forward to dancing with Alexandra in his arms again.
"So who all's coming?" Paul asked, putting out his cigarette.
"I really should go home, being old and needing my beauty sleep and all that, but I wouldn't miss this for the world," Tragg said with more than a little more sadistic glee.
"Well in that case…" Perry began with a smirk, noting all the affirmative nods at the table. "Hamilton, you lead."