Dancing Cheek to Cheek

The beep of the cardiac monitor was a sign that Yvonne need knowing her husband of 65 years was still alive, it gave her hope that he was still fighting with her. They had been together for 75 years, their entire adult life, life with Malcolm was all she knew, she didn’t know how to exist without him. Now after all that time, he lay lifeless in the ICU of John Hunter hospital, after having a massive heart attack this morning.

Yvonne had not moved from his side in eight hours, she held tight to his hand, afraid that if she let it go, she would let him go, and she just wasn’t ready for that. She had asked her three great nieces who were more like their own children since they never had children of their own, to their house to collect a few things for her. She wanted to be alone with husband for a while.

The door opens and the three women walk in, Ebony is holding a large black leather notebook, the leather was cracked and worn in place, it was old 75 years old. It was a gift from Yvonne’s parents on her 18th birthday.

“Here Aunty.” Ebony hands her the book, as she does a black and white photo falls out from one of the pages, landing gently at Ebony’s feet. She bends down and picks it up, examining the black and white photo of a young man and women in ballroom dancing costumes holding a massive trophy with massive grins across their faces.

“How is he?” Charlotte the oldest of her three nieces asks.

“No, change.” Yvonne doesn’t take her eyes off him.

“What’s this?” Ebony asks, handing the photo to her Aunty.

Yvonne looks up at Ebony who was standing next to her chair, she was the middle sister, and then Ivy was the youngest. Ivy and Charlotte walk around the bed, taking their seats next to their uncle.

Yvonne takes the photo, looking at it, she gives them a sad smile. Ebony takes her seat next to her Aunty. “This was the night of Australia National Ballroom Dancing competition.”

“You competed in a national competition for ballroom dancing?” Ivy who hadn’t said much since her uncle was bought in asks.

“Yes, we didn’t only compete we actually won it.” She smiles thinking back to that night, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We were so surprised when they called out our numbers as the winners. We were this young couple from Newcastle, it was out first time in a competition like that, it was our first time in Sydney, we competed against couples who were professional, and we won. We won $20000, it was lot of money back then, it would be like $200000 today.”

“What did you do with the money?” Ebony asked.

“Well, that night after we had won, your uncle took me for a walk down to the harbour, my parents and your nan were in the hotel.”

“Your parents came? Why?” Ebony asked

“Because they wouldn’t have let me go without a chaperone.” Yvonne started to explain.

“How old were you?”

“27 and unmarried and in those days, unmarried women regardless of age never accompanied young men anywhere without a chaperone.”

“Tell is about that night?” Ivy gushed.

“We arrived in Sydney after driving from Newcastle late on a Friday afternoon in May. My parents were tired, so they went to their room for a rest. But Malcolm, Elizabeth and I were excited to see the city. Mine and your grandmother’s hotel room had a view of the bridge which only made me more anxious to see it up close.” She ran her fingers over the black leather cover of her notebook which sat on her lap, “I never went anywhere with out my notebook. With my notebook and my pens, I was all ready to go. We walked the five hundred metres down to the harbour.” Yvonne closes her eyes, and she is taken back to that afternoon in May of 1950.

It was if it happened yesterday, sitting in that hospital room, she is taken back to that brisk afternoon in May.

They walked down to the harbour, where they took a ferry over to Luna Park. They walked along the break wall, not really saying anything just taking in the city. They found a bench which faced the bridge, the three of them take a seat, Elizabeth, and Malcolm, watch the harbour, looking at the boats as they sail by.

Yvonne took her notebook and pencil from her bag, flipping through the few pages to the first blank one. She gently draws a curved line on the page, the starting of the harbour bridge. She sat for an hour drawing the bridge.

It was almost 6pm when the three of them returned back to the hotel, they had an early dinner in the hotel restaurant before Albert and Mini went back up to their room, it was a long drive, and they were tired. Elizabeth excused herself she had papers to mark.

"Can I interest you in a walk?" Malcolm asked Yvonne as they walked through the main foyer.

"Yes, that would be nice. But we can't go far, I really should be getting to bed at a reasonable hour." Yvonne hooks her arm around Malcolm's, clinging tightly to him.

They walk a hundred or so metres in silence, "Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Yvonne asked.

"No."

"But what if we don't win?"

"But what if we do?" He asked bumping his shoulder with hers.

"I'm serious."

"So am I." He says looking down at her, "It really doesn't matter Yvonne. It will still the best day of my life because I'll be with you." Yvonne couldn't help but smile. They walked for the next hour, chatting away.

The next day dragged on until the competition, Yvonne was so nervous she couldn't eat, worried that if she did, she would be sick. When they arrived at Town Hall they were checked in and sent to the men's and women's changing rooms. They were briefed on the rules and how the competition would work. There were four heats, teams would be eliminated at each heat, leaving only two teams in the final.

All teams participated for the first heat; each team was identified by a different number. Yvonne wore a bright yellow gown, with feather trim on the hem and a sequinned bodice. Malcolm wore tuxedo. To their surprise they made it through to the final, beating all other couples except one.

When they were called Malcolm took Yvonne's small slender hand in his and lead her onto the dance floor. Holding her hands, he placed one on his shoulder and gripped the other in his.

"Ready?" He asked, Yvonne nodded.

Dancing Cheek to Cheek starts to play. Malcolm starts leads Yvonne around the dance floor. Yvonne never felt safer then when she was in Malcolm’s arms, every time they danced it was magic. The next two minutes went by too fast; their movements were so in-sync Yvonne couldn’t tell where she stopped and where Malcolm began. Yvonne was so in-love with him, it scared her, she was scared that she would lose herself if in him, but that night even though she couldn’t distinguish where each of them finished and the other began she knew that she would never lose herself, Malcolm wouldn’t let her. Right there listen to Fred Aster in Malcolm’s arms she decided that finally after ten years she would marry him.

Once the music stopped, they stand breathless, Yvonne was smiling the biggest smile she had ever smiled, not because of the dance, but because she had finally decided to marry the love of her life, her soulmate. They stand silently looking at each other, the room erupts into applause. They were announced as the winners, but all the money in the world didn’t matter to Yvonne, seeing the world and doing all the things that she had always wanted to do, the reason she had refused to marry Malcolm for the past ten years which were now possible because of the $20000 they had just won, no longer mattered. All that mattered was that her and Malcolm would spend the rest of their lives together, they would share their lives and have dreams together not only her dreams. Yvonne couldn’t wait another second to tell him, but she would have to wait until the formalities of the competition were completed.

For the next hour they went through the motions of winning they were presented with a huge trophy and a check for $20000

Malcolm took Yvonne down to the harbour, giving her his jacket to wear. They stood next to the break wall looking up at the bridge. “Malcolm.” Yvonne says looking up at her blond hair blue eyed man, her angle. “There is something I need to tell you.”

"Before you do Yvonne there is something I have to say, and I can’t wait a second longer.” He takes her hand, taking a knee. “You are the love of my life. I have been in love with you ever since I met you. There will be no one else for me but you. An I am asking you one last time Yvonne Gwen Moore, would you please marry me."

Tears start to trickle down Yvonne's cheek. "Yes, Malcolm I will marry you." Without a word Malcolm leaps up pulling Yvonne into his arms.

The sound of the cardiac monitor alarming brings Yvonne back to the room. Nurses and doctors rush in, pulling a trolly behind them. Charlotte races to Yvonne's side wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"What's going on?" Yvonne asks.

"His heart has stopped." Charlotte tries pulling Yvonne out of the room.

"Please Malcolm don't go. Don't leave me." She sobs as Charlotte pulls her from the room, following her sisters out the door. The door is closed behind them as the medical staff work on their uncle. After 40 minutes a doctor emerges from the room finding them sitting in a waiting room off to the side.

They all stand and walk over to him, "Mrs McLeod." He takes her hand in his, "We worked on Malcolm for 40 minutes but unfortunately there was too much damage done to his heart and we were unable to revive him."

Yvonne was allowed in to say her goodbyes, she walked up to the bed where her husband lay, looking as if he was only sleeping, tears streaming down her face she leans over, “Until we meet again my love. I will not be complete until I am back in your arms dancing cheek to cheek.” She kisses him one last time, before leaving the room,

It was late when the girls dropped Yvonne home, she insisted she would be alright she wanted to be alone. Yvonne climbed into the bed she had shared with Malcolm for the past 65 years. She picked up her black leather notebook from where it lay on the nightstand, opening she turns over every page, a lifetime of memories. The drawing of them dancing in the competition, the Eiffel Tower she had painted on their honeymoon, pages, and pages of their magical life together, a life full of love. Her eyes were sore and felt heavy with sleep. She put the notebook back on her nightstand, turning off the lamp, before souchong down the bed, pulling the blankets up her chin. She reached over putting her hand on Malcolm's pillow, closing her eyes she felt herself start to drift into sleep.

"Hi my Angel." Malcolm's voice said to her.

"You said you would come back for me." Yvonne sobbed.

"I know. And I am. Are you ready to go?" He reached out his hand for hers, she clasped it tightly.

"Yes, I'm ready to leave now." Yvonne took one last breath and drifted away.