Hearts In Rhythm by Angel Wheeler

popped his head up.
    “There is hope,” he said smiling.
    Allie smiled back, noticing for the first time the dimple in his left cheek. She wondered why she hadn’t noticed yet. His eyes usually held her attention. Boldness got the better of her and the words came out before she could stop herself.
    “What a great smile you have. You should show it more often.”
    The waiter cleared his throat. “Will there be anything else?”
    Brandon turned to the waiter, remembering he was there. “No, I think that will be all.”
    “Very well,” he said, “We’ll have it right out.”
    Brandon turned back to Allie.
    “So, let’s talk business. What do you think about playing Fallen Sky at this next gig? Do you think we can get it down by then?”
          “Okay, time to embarrass myself again , but I’m not familiar with Fallen Sky. Who sings it?”
    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and took a sip of her soda from the straw.
    “Actually, Brandon said, “me.”
    Allie raised her eyebrows. “You wrote it?”
    Brandon nodded, “I’m pretty proud of it, too. I’ve got a recording at the house, I’d like for you to hear it soon.”
    The waiter arrived with the pizza and sat it on the table. Allie turned it to where the pepperoni was facing her.
    “I’m sure it’s great, and I’d love to hear it,” she said.
    He smiled again revealing his dimple and reached for a piece of pizza.
    Allie felt something stir inside her. This was serious. Yet, she still didn’t know what had happened between he and Simone tonight. She figured if he wanted her to know, he would tell her. Besides, she was enjoying herself too much to risk ruining it with talk of her.
    * * * *
    Sunday morning came too early. Allie couldn’t keep from yawning. She scanned the bag of potato chips and put her hand up as a sign of politeness. She finished ringing up the elderly ladies groceries.
    “Excuse me. Anything else?” she asked.
    “No, honey, that’s all.”
          “$56.24”
    The lady began pilfering through her purse, digging loose change from the bottom. She handed her $56.25 and said, “You know, honey, you wouldn’t be so tired if you went to bed at a decent hour. You young kids today stay up too late. Listening to music, talking on your cordless phones, doing all that computer stuff. Why, back in my day it was early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy,” the lady paused. She looked at the ceiling tiles, as if in a vain attempt to remember. “And , something, something else.”
    Allie handed her a penny along with her receipt.
    “Yes ma’am,” she said. “I’ll be sure and remember that. Have a nice afternoon.”
    Allie suppressed another yawn. She was burning the candles at both ends. She couldn’t afford to take off work while Samuel was in the hospital, and she certainly couldn’t depend on Dylan to be any help.
    She actually called him when Samuel got hurt. She knew she was opening a can of worms but she needed some support, financially and emotionally. And she thought there might be a slim chance he might care. She was exhausted from spending her nights at the hospital, staying with Samuel most of the day, and then working. If only that old woman accusing her of being a kid really knew why she was so tired. It’s not like sleep is a common occurrence on a sofa in a hospital room.
    It was a low moment when she’d called Dylan. He hadn’t answered and Allie had hung up without leaving a message. She was thankful now that he ignored her. In the meantime, Maureen had stepped in and offered to help out by staying with Samuel while Allie got some rest after her shift today. Maureen was great. She was a 35-year-old single mom, except her kids were well into their teenage years and really wanted nothing to do with her anymore. They’d hit the stage where friends outweighed family. Allie could relate. It wasn’t that long ago when she was their age.
    Maureen wore her hair in an early 90’s style; big and