Waiting and Watching by Darcy Darvill Read Free Book Online Page B

enough time with both of them.”
    Connie directed Julio to the old Columbia Parkway, the only way she knew to get downtown. A new freeway had been built that was probably faster and more convenient, but she was going down memory lane and the old Parkway just seemed like the right start to an evening of reminiscing. Within a few short minutes, Julio maneuvered the flashy red sports car into the lot behind the Buckeye Club. Once inside the hallowed old club, they followed signs to the Tilden Park Reunion.
    Now that she’d finally arrived, she felt that same jittery anticipation again. Thank heaven for her brother. In spite of the miles separating them in childhood, Connie had tried to watch over him and protect him as much as possible. However, this trip had reversed their roles. He was now the mature and protective brother, and she the protected one. Someday he would be a loving, caring husband and a wonderful father. Now, he was certainly enjoying the opportunity to play the field and date every good-looking girl that took his fancy. With all his attributes, why not?
    Suddenly, Connie was shocked to realize how much Julio was like her father. Even though he wasn’t his biological son, they were very similar in their charismatic personas and exceptional good looks.
    As soon as they walked into the reunion party, they saw familiar faces from the night before, and Connie relaxed. One of her high school girlfriends, Paulette, grabbed her and pushed her out onto the dance floor. Everyone was doing “The Madison,” an old line-dance from the sixties. Connie had no trouble remembering all the steps. It brought back fond memories of the Friday night dances held after each football game. When the line dance was over, Paulette encouraged several of the women to go up on stage and sing along with the songs the disc jockey was playing.
    â€œWell,” Connie said, “let me get my drink first, then I’ll be up.” She went back to grab her drink and check to see if Julio was holding his own, which of course he was. She joined the girls onstage to do back-up for a non-existent singer near the DJ.
    When the DJ took his break and put some slow background music on, Connie went back to find Julio at the bar. He was in an animated conversation with some men she hadn’t seen last night. They turned out to be two of the football players who had been friends with Andrew. They all talked about what a great guy he was and how no one had seen or heard from him.
    Connie felt a tap on her shoulder and it was Martin asking her to dance again. She couldn’t think of a nice way to turn him down, but thankfully, the song was a fast one. Besides feeling sorry for him, she always felt she owed him a big favor. When Andrew asked her to the prom, she was afraid to tell her parents, because he was black. Martin offered to take her so she could secretly meet Andrew there. As it turned out, her parents loved Andrew and had no problem with them dating.
    Connie’s memory of the prom was that it started out to be the perfect evening. After the dance was over, a group of ten drove to an Italian restaurant that bragged about having the best pizza in the city. When the hostess refused to seat them because Andrew was black, the evening fell apart and the whole group walked out. The humiliation for Andrew dispelled the romantic aura they had enjoyed at the prom. The mood was ruined and it was downhill from there. Connie and Andrew got in a fight and ended up not speaking for the longest time.

Chapter 13
    Connie saw Martin walking in her direction and decided to duck into the ladies' room. After spending time with her friends, gossiping and laughing, she left the restroom to find Julio. As she walked back into the main room, her heart almost stopped. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Andrew strolled into the cocktail party.
    Could it really be him? She knew it had to be. Andrew’s walk and his habit of swinging his hands