Page 42 of Supernova

Bill takes Jo's lightweight shrug and she keeps her purse. He nods and gives her a small salute as she goes.

It's easy to get backstage, and Jo realizes immediately that all of their friends have had the very same idea. She walks through the double doors and into the cement hallway only to find Barbie, Jude, and Carrie all there, waiting at the door of Frankie's small dressing room. She throws it open and emerges as the four women start to cheer.

"Bravo!" Carrie says, hugging Frankie tightly. The other women come in close and pile on Frankie, wrapping their arms around one another in a giant group hug.

"You were fabulous," Barbie says. "I had no idea you could dance like that."

"You know," Frankie says, catching her breath as the women release her. Barbie hands her a bouquet of flowers, which she takes in her arms gratefully. "I had kind of forgotten that I could dance like that myself."

"Well, it was a triumph," Carrie says. "A raging success. You'll get a million students signing up for classes after this, and I just want to say...I'm sorry you went through all of that."

Frankie presses her lips together and gives a quiet, sad nod. "I think I'm finally able to take everything that happened and channel it into something--maybe not something positive, but life-affirming. I feel like it all happened to make me stronger, not weaker, and it's thanks to all of you girls that I'm getting back on the horse."

The four women look at her with total admiration. They're standing in a semi-circle around Frankie, and Jo reaches over and takes her hand, holding it tightly.

"We're so proud of you," Jo says. "You've held onto a lot of secrets, and even though you just gave people enough of an idea of what you're living with, we all know you well enough to understand the bigger picture. You're so strong, Frankie."

Frankie's smile spreads across her face and she smiles at them. "Thank you. I finally feel strong. I think having my parents here for a month really helped me to pull myself together, and having all of you as friends has given me something indescribable. And, of course, being lucky enough to find a patient, kind man like Ed has made everything so much better. I'm a lucky lady."

"You're a stunning and talented lady," Ed says, his voice booming as he enters the back hallway. He's carrying more flowers, despite having given Frankie a pre-performance bouquet. This bunch is even bigger, and is full of tropical blooms. He leans in close to his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist and putting his lips to her cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

"We should let you two lovebirds have a moment to yourself," Barbie says, putting her fingers to her lips and blowing Frankie a kiss.

"Will you all come over to our house for drinks?" Frankie asks as she leans into her husband, resting her head on his strong shoulder. "We've got some snacks and Ed is mixing martinis. Your kids are welcome to come as well."

"Wouldn't miss it," Jude says, and Jo's eyes jump over to her. She's always hyper-aware of Jude and worried about her drinking, and she'd even wondered at one of the Spring Fling meetings whether Jude had driven there drunk, she was that woozy on her feet.

By the time everyone is gathered at the Maxwells' house, the kids are all hungry and wild from too much time spent sitting in an auditorium, and Ed moves around the backyard, offering them all hot dogs and bottles of Pepsi. Most of the parents in attendance would normally curb this type of dinner fare, but the mood is festive, and every adult in attendance has a cocktail in hand as they mingle around the pool by the light of the torches that Ed has lit.

"If I could get your attention," Frankie says, tapping a fork against her martini glass. "I'd like to thank you all for coming tonight. You have no idea how much it means to me that you were all in attendance, and I'm thrilled that you would even consider enrolling your kids in my dance classes or recommending my business to your friends. I can't thank you enough." She looks around at the men and women who are standing near the pool or sitting on chairs, and her eyes dance in the light of the torch flames. "Tonight was an important night for me. I didn't go into this hoping to sell tickets or make money, but the fact that so many people turned up has given me the opportunity to do something good with the proceeds."

Jo is standing at one end of the pool, holding her martini glass with both hands as she keeps an eye on her youngest daughter, Kate, and another little girl who are attempting to climb a palm tree in their fancy dresses. She'd like to put a stop to it, but she won't make a move and interrupt Frankie's speech.

"The Cocoa Beach Performing Arts Center has very generously waived their take from tonight's sales and have in fact offered tomatchwhat we made in ticket sales so that I can make an even bigger donation to something that is very close to my heart." Frankie locks eyes with Ed, who is standing just a few feet away. "There is a brand new organization in California called Haven House, and its goal is to help and serve battered women who have experienced any form of abuse." Frankie pauses and holds up a hand; she's clearly trying to gather herself enough to go on. "I'm sure you've gathered that, in my past, I have been through some things myself that have been incredibly hurtful. And through the love of my endlessly devoted husband, Ed, and through the gift of the friendships I've gained here in Stardust Beach, I'm finding my footing again. Not all women are so lucky. So it will be my honor to send a donation of five hundred dollars to Haven House as they get their program off the ground."

Everyone applauds at this, and many of the women look at one another knowingly. While it's not a common topic of discussion, it's nearly impossible to find a group of women who don't know someone who has suffered at the hands of an abuser, and many of them have gone through it themselves. Jo herself knows of two different women with whom she'd grown up in Minnesota who have survived terrible situations, one at the hands of an overly domineering boyfriend, and the other because her stepfather would show up in her bedroom late at night. She shudders at the memory of those stories, feelinggrateful that Frankie has identified a need out there in the world and is working to help in some way.

"So again, thank you, and I am so looking forward to teaching my first dance class next week." Frankie holds her martini in the air as she makes a toast. "Here's to love, friendship, community, and the joy of dancing."

"Hear, hear!" Todd Roman says. He's got one arm around his wife Barbie's shoulders, and Barbie is holding their youngest son, ten-month-old Huck, on one hip as she cheers for Frankie.

Ophelia, the young lady who Frankie had asked to help her at the performance, is there with a woman who appears to be her mother, and she’s holding a bottle of Coke and smiling at the children as they run past. Carrie and Jude are there with their husbands and children, and the women all catch one another’s eye as they drink their toast to Frankie’s triumphant event. Jo is so happy for her—so pleased—and she can’t even put into words what it means to her to see the way Frankie’s entire demeanor has changed. She looks like she’s finally been able to let something go that she’s been hanging on to for far too long.

“Hi,” Bill says, moving closer to Jo and pulling her from her reverie. For a moment, Jo thinks he’s saying hi to her, but when she glances at her husband’s face, he’s looking at a woman to his right. “Didn’t expect to see you here this evening.”

The woman smiles up at Bill; she’s petite and young. “And you as well,” she says, shifting her martini from one hand to the other. “But this event has been advertised all over the office, so I thought I’d buy a ticket and get out for a night of entertainment.” Her eyes move to Jo’s face and she looks at her expectantly as Bill rocks back on his heels.

He says nothing, and Jo realizes that it’s going to be on her to introduce herself. “Hello,” she says, extending a hand. “I’m Josephine Booker, Bill’s wife.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” the woman says, taking Jo’s hand in hers. “I’m Jeanie Florence.”

“I’m sorry,” Bill says with a laugh. “That was rude of me. Jeanie, this is my wife.” The women have already shaken hands by this point, and they both glance at Bill. “Let me refill your drinks,” he offers.

“One more for me, please,” Jo says, handing him her glass.

Jeanie holds up a hand. “No thank you—I need to be up early tomorrow—one is good for me.”

Bill wanders off with his and Jo’s martini glasses, leaving the women alone. In a flash, it hits Jo: Jeanie Florence isJeanetteFlorence!

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