Hazards on the Hardwood (Hazards and Hijinks) (4 page)

9

Taffy sat on her soft comfy couch eating some popcorn and watching Covert Affairs. Down somewhere deep inside her being, she wished she was a spy. Annie Walker was one of her favorite role models. It was make-believe but to her, it was as real as the grease spot from her buttered popcorn that appeared on her best pair of capris. “Way to go, Grace!” she said under her breath.

Her thoughts then bounced back to Starbucks and the mysterious man sitting at the back table; talking about something medicinal. What was he up to? Why was he so angry? He was furious at the person he was talking to. What she wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. She would have to ask Ashley, the young blonde barista tomorrow when she came in to work.  She might have heard bits of the conversation that she couldn’t hear from where she was standing.

The next day, Taffy went into Starbucks early, so she could get some coffee, a scone and chat with Ashley about the angry gentleman who had been talking loudly at the rear table.

“Hey Ashley, how’s it going? Got a question for ya.” Taffy didn’t really have an obvious New York accent, but it did come out now and then. “I saw a man yesterday at the back table and he seemed very upset. He was yelling at the person on the other end of the phone. I heard talk about meds or something. Did you hear any of the conversation?” Taffy wasn’t known for her subtlety. There wasn’t really a delicate bone in her body. She called them as she saw them.

“As a matter of fact, that man was very angry and when he realized he was making a scene, he stomped out of the store and left his phone.” Ashley was a much gentler soul than Taffy. She communicated all sugar and spice.

“He came back in as soon as he realized he had left his phone on the table.  I offered to look behind the counter and in the office to see if someone had turned it in. I checked and sure enough someone had recovered the phone. He didn’t even thank me when I gave him the phone. He grabbed it out of my hands rudely and then he just stomped back out the door. I’ve not seen him in the store before. But I did hear him say something strange about meds, too.” Ashley stopped and looked angelic as usual.  She saw the good in most and living and working in New York City, you saw all kinds. And they weren’t all nice!

The detective trait in Taffy went full tilt. Now both she and Ashley had heard the same conversation. What was this man up to? She intended to find out. But how? She didn’t even know his name. “Wait a minute; he had used his credit card. Maybe there was a record of the purchase and that would tell her his name. I’m pretty good at this.” She mused.

She was still imagining patting herself on the back when her phone rang. Ah, the wonderful Francois. “What in the world did he want? He was such a bother sometimes.” She wasn’t in the best of “Francois” talking moods right now. “Yes Francois, what is it? Did someone not smile at you and you’re sad about it? Ah, poor Francois.” She was sarcastic and didn’t give one hoot if he picked up on it or not.

“I have called you to tell you that I will be late to practice tonight. I have to go over to the plant this morning and will be there most of the day. There’s some kind of plant drama going on with some of the women workers. That means trouble all over the shop. Once these ladies get their dander up there’s no telling how it will turn out.” It was almost as though he had an evil smirk in the tone of his voice. She could see where this was going. He was so chauvinistic when he wanted to be. The pig!

“Okay Francois, what time do you think you will make your way to the studio? I really need to plan ahead. I’m here at work until five today because one of the other baristas didn’t show up. I think she’ll be sacked for sure.”

“I will try to make it to the studio by six. Be sure to bring your best moves.  Our choreographer is an impatient one and has zero tolerance for mistakes. She will be looking at us as if we were prized pieces of dancing meat! You catch my drift?” And with that, Francois ended the call.

Taffy fumed and her face turned a lovely shade of crimson. “That man is going to be my ruin!”

After work, she barely had time to make it home, shower, eat and change into her dance clothes. “Bring my best dance moves, my eye! What a pompous behind he is!” She was still a bit riled up as she hailed a cab.

She arrived at six on the dot. “That will show him.” She
thought as she climbed out of the cab and “waltzed” into Dixie’s School of Dance. This neighborhood was a little more upscale than her part of town. She always loved watching the people jaunting down the street with interesting places to go and money to burn. Manhattan was always lively. The stores were dotted with fancy designer gowns and shoes. The biggest names were all there. Michael Kors, Tiffany, and Gucci.

Jogging her brain back to the task at hand, she walked into the studio. “I sure wish they’d change that horrible music,” she thought. It’s the same every time she arrived. “Moon River” was a wonderful number but there had to be other great waltz music. She glanced over to her left and there was Francois talking to the gorgeous Samba instructor, Mandy Miller. Oh how Taffy hated Mandy Miller. She was all legs and no brains. Taffy was proud that she’d attended NYC where she had majored in Political Science, thinking that was what would land her a great teaching job, but it didn’t work out. Her love of dance and coffee won out and that was the way it would continue.
She was ever hopeful of winning that one big dance competition prize.

In the meantime, she loved her job at Starbucks and she proudly put on her apron every day and served customers their espressos and lattes; skinny, tall, grande, foam no foam, whatever made the people happy.

Mandy Miller oozed her way over to Taffy. “Well hello Taffy. How are things? Are you ready to samba tonight? I’ve got some fun moves to teach you and Francois. He said you two were going to be entering the Lakeside Dance Competition this year. Sounds absolutely exciting!” All Taffy heard was “Blah Blah Blah!”

Mandy needed to get a clue. If she was so accomplished where were her trophies? Why was Mandy still teaching in this Manhattan dance studio? She should be teaching at some dance academy near Broadway.

10

After smoothing things over with Sasha once again, Raul was still miffed because Sasha had “found him out.” He would be more careful next time he went on the website. He smirked as he thought about how he had embellished his profile. Would Sasha recognize that some of the things he put on there were untrue. How much did she really know about him? This made him almost laugh out loud.

He went into the kitchen to fix something to eat before tackling the dancing competition issue with Sasha. There were times when she would say one thing and then bounce back to the complete opposite point of view moments later. That could happen with this situation. Sasha was a tough one that was for sure! He had a strategy that always worked in the final moments of the battle. She’d put on her pouty face and her “girly” attitude and all he had to do to wrap her around his finger was use the old “jewelry” ploy. A gift or two from Tiffany; a diamond bracelet or earrings, always seemed to sooth the savage side of Sasha! She was an easy fix! Just smile at her with that confident grin, present her with that dainty little “Tiffany blue” box and she lit up like a Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza!

* * * *

Sasha sat reflecting on what happened between her and Raul, earlier and became angrier after sitting and stewing over her cup of hot tea.

However, she had something else on her mind, as well. When was the last time she had visited her sister, Sophie O’Brien? They were very close but for some reason, after Sophie had married and divorced Willie O’Brien, she and her sister had lost touch. It could have been because Sasha hated to see Sophie paired up with “Wild Willie.” People in the old neighborhood knew him by Wild Willie because of his reckless gambling habits. He threw caution to the wind when it came to poker. He kept company with some very unacceptable and unsavory characters and that riled Sophie. She wanted out of the mismatch but wasn’t sure exactly how to do it. She decided to phone Sasha for some serious advice. Her sister was only too glad to comply and gave her an earful.

“Leave the gutter dweller. Go to Mom’s and leave his behind in Vegas” Sasha was less than sympathetic.

Sophie did as Sasha suggested and moved in with their mom and Willie stayed in “Sin City.” Problem with this situation was that Sophie was pregnant with their first child. She had just found out right before she left, and decided to leave Willie anyway.  Now what would she do? “Auntie Sasha” had a nice ring to it. Maybe Sasha could help her through this. But her sis was always volunteering, shopping or practicing dance routines with her “precious” Raul. Fair weather friend aka sister!

So now days, Sasha rarely heard much from Sophie so she decided to give her poor sis a call. It had been months hadn’t it? Had she had her baby yet? It seemed to Sasha that she should have heard something by now. Babies only take nine months, right? Why hadn’t she heard?

Sasha picked up her phone and called Sophie’s number, no answer. She didn’t like that at all. She would try one more time and if that didn’t work, she would have to find another way to contact her sister. Finally, after the third try, Sophie, sounding very tired, answered, “Hello. Sasha? Is it really you? I’ve tried to contact you several times. I must have had the wrong number.” She didn’t sound too convincing to Sasha, but the comment would slide by for now.

“I am worried about you, Sophie. I don’t even know if you had the baby yet and if so, what is it? A boy or a girl? Am I an aunt yet?” Sasha was full of so many questions.

“I had a little girl and she’s precious. Her name is Zoe.” There was now a more upbeat tone to Sophie’s voice.

“That’s wonderful, Sophie. I’m an aunt! When can I see you and Zoe?” Sasha sounded anxious.

“Not just yet, Sis. There are a few issues that have to be dealt with on this end first. Willie wants visitation and I am firmly against it. He said he’s changed his tune, not gambling any longer. That I don’t believe for one minute. He’s addicted to poker. He’s still in Vegas and hob-knobbing with the high rollers. He’s threatening to come back and sue for joint custody. So I’m planning on taking Zoe somewhere away from here so he won’t be able to find us.”

“Sophie, that’s against the law. He can come after you legally for kidnapping. It’s been done before! He really is a snake! Come and stay with me and at least, you’ll have one person on your side. He won’t dare mess with me.”

“Sasha, you’re the best! Let me get my things together and pick up Zoe from the babysitter tonight and we’ll head over your way. Do you still live in the same place?”

“Yes and watch your back. Don’t trust the snake, he might have caught wind of what you’re doing and could be out there watching you even now. He is a sneak, that’s for sure! Call me once you get close. I’ll buzz you in.”

Sophie was relieved to have contact with her sweet sister, once again. They had been close growing up, but drifted apart several times in adulthood. Sasha was fiery but underneath that hot temper, was a heart of pure gold and kindness.

Willie left Vegas after he caught wind of her moving into her mom’s and had the house watched.  He followed her to her new apartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zoe.

Across the street from Sophie’s apartment, Willie stood in the shadows, watching for movement behind the curtains. He had saved a little of his gambling money and was ready for battle. He would see a family lawyer tomorrow and the fight would be on. What he wasn’t aware of was that his sister-in-law moved in many different circles, she was friends with several ballroom judges who were also lawyers.  Sophie had those people potentially in her corner. Yes, Willie the snake was about to be danced into the slammer if he messed with Sophie.

Willie finally caught a glimpse of Sophie as she moved across the bedroom. She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. A baby’s cry in the distance was heard, probably Zoe, he thought. “I WILL have custody of my daughter!” He said with determination.

Sophie finished packing the baby’s things and started on her own belongings. She would have to leave most of her stuff, at least for now. She just needed to get out of that apartment. It was like she could feel his presence. She was jumpy and thought she saw some movement on the other side of the street as her curtains blew in the wind slightly. Sophie just about jumped out of her skin when her phone rang. She looked at the display and saw that it was Sasha. “Hello sis. I think he’s watching me. I can feel him down there somewhere in the darkness.” Her voice was a little high pitched and nervous.

“I’m ready for you and Zoe. I fixed up the spare room and rented a crib for a couple of months. You will be comfortable and safe for the time being. Just grab what you think you will need and hop in a cab and get over here soon!” There was a hint of urgency in Sasha’s voice as if she could almost feel her sister’s tension.

Sasha then made a few other calls. One call was to her friend and fellow dancer, Dan Newman.  Not only was Dan a lawyer, but also sat on the panel of many competitions.

“Hello.  Dan Newman here, who do I have the pleasure of talking to?” His voice sounded pleasant as always.

“Dan it’s Sasha O’Neill. I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I was in one of the competitions that you judged a few years back. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Quite the contrary, my dear. I’m always glad to hear from my dancer friends. What can I do for you this evening, my pet?” Sasha was taken aback by his flirty tone. “I have a problem and wondered if I could come by tomorrow to your office and talk to you. Off the record, of course.” Remembering after saying that, that Dan was a judge and not a newspaper man, she told him a little about the situation with Sophie and Willie.

“Oh boy, that’s rough. But come by around ten tomorrow and we’ll talk over a cup of coffee. I’m glad you called.”

After ending the call, Sasha heard a buzz and went to the speaker. “Yes?”

“Sasha it’s me. May I come up?” Sophie sounded out of breath.

Buzzing her sister in, she heard Zoe cooing all the way up the stairs. It would be nice having a baby in the apartment. She loved children.

Both of the sisters were unaware that Willie had followed Sophie and Zoe to the apartment. Willie was planning his next move. Tomorrow he would call a lawyer and get things started. He would make Sophie give in no matter what! He had some high roller friends with some unsavory methods of persuading people to see things their way. He might have to call on them to help him with this situation.