Member-only story
The Mens Dance Social
Marlene could hear the music wafting through the hallway and into the corridor as soon as she reached the center of the hotel’s lobby. The Galt Ocean Mile Hotel was more beautiful than she had remembered it, with an elegance that was downright breathtaking, though it had been more than three years ago now.
It was her Aunt Audrey who had insisted she drive up from Miami and spend the night here… her treat. She brushed her right hand through her hair while fishing for a hairbrush in her purse with the other hand. This was an awkward movement and she dismissed the idea altogether as she approached the front desk.
The girl behind the counter couldn’t be long out of high school, Marlene thought as she watched her search through a small file box for the reservation. She produced her driver’s license and the girl smiled widely and handed her the key to the room.
“The big restaurant is still open, I think because there’s a dance down that hallway.” She motioned off to her right, but Marlene kept her eyes focused on the room key and nodded to show she was paying attention.
She took two steps back, away from the counter and closer to where the music was coming from. Then she took a seat in the lobby to find her hairbrush and decide what she should do next.
