Been In Love Before: A Novel by Bryan Mooney Read Free Book Online

makeup, and just being there for me.” The strong-willed Scottish woman stopped, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and looked at all of them. Today she was the true head of the household. A glass of Scottish milk would go down good, she thought to herself. This was tougher than she had thought it would be. She pressed on.
    “We miss them all and always will, but we know that each and every one of them would have wanted us to get on with our lives, and that’s what we are going to do, starting now. I have some things that I am going to need all of you to do for me. I’m getting married in two weeks, and you all promised me months ago you would learn to dance so you could dance with me at my wedding.” She looked at each of them and gave them all the evil stare. “And that hasn’t happened. So . . . I’ve bought dance lessons for each and every one of you.” She could hear them grumble.
    “I can dance, Graw,” said Robert. “You know that. Hell, I been dancing since I was little up at the Scottish-American Club down the road in Lake Worth. The three of us just went two weeks ago to the Scottish Highlands Club and wore our dress kilts and all.”
    “Uncle Robert, that’s Scottish swing. That’s not dancing.”
    “I dance a bit too,” said Eian.
    “Yeah, I know, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. You probably dance the best of the clan, except for Daddy—and he hasn’t danced in years.”
    “I’m not taking any lessons, nor dancing with another woman. I only danced with your mother, nobody else. Never have and never will,” said her belligerent father.
    “You will now! You’ll take lessons and you’ll dance or . . . ,” she said with her hands on her hips, glaring at her father. “I have bought all three of you dance lessons starting this Tuesday night. I set the first one up for five p.m.—sharp! You only need to learn a few dance patterns for the wedding, and don’t worry, I’ll lead. You will all go together on Tuesday and then arrange your next classes with the dance instructor. Her name is Alexi Cassini. Here’s her card. She’s a champion professional dancer and dance instructor from Argentina, and I told her not to take any guff from any of you.” She let her gaze settle on each one to tell them she meant business.
    “She has also been instructed that if you don’t show up, or if you give her any problems”—she turned to look each of them in the eye—“she’s to call me, and I will personally take care of it. Do you understand?” She stood looking at them. She was serious.
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” they grumbled.
    “My dream was to dance the foxtrot with my two uncles and”—she turned to her father, pointing at him—“I want to dance the traditional Tatusiu Waltz , Daddy’s waltz, with my father. It has always been my dream. So don’t screw around with my dreams—do you hear me? All of you.” She spoke it like a command.
    “What’s this Tatusiu waltz?” Eian asked Ryan.
    “It’s a father-and-daughter first dance,” he whispered. “Polish tradition. Remember, Gracie was Polish?”
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” they rumbled again.
    “And finally, guys, can you please—” Her cell phone rang, and they jumped from their seats. “Hold on, I’m not finished yet. Keep your seats.”
    She looked at the caller ID, and a smile lit her face. “Hiya, Mickey!” She turned away to talk to her fiancé.
    “Hey, girl. How’s it going with the gang there?”
    “Oh, just some grumbling and such, but they took it well. I’ll be leaving here soon. Call me at home, all right? Love ya.”
    “Love ya too, bye.”
    Turning back to them on the sofa, she said, “Where was I?”
    “Wait a minute, when do we get to know this Mickey of yours better?” asked Robert. “We only met him that one time at the Thanksgiving party. Is he a ghost or something?”
    “No, he’s not. He just travels a lot for business.”
    Theirs had been a whirlwind courtship. He had