Can It Last?
It was New Year's Eve and a very nervous Amy stood in front of Bobby, adjusting the bow tie on his tuxedo.
"Amy, it's fine," Bobby reassured her. She had been fussing over his suit for a good five minutes now and he was getting impatient. He was ready for her to take off her robe and show him her dress.
"Your turn," he wheeled her around by the shoulders and gave her a little shove.
Amy took a few steps away from him.
"Turn around," he commanded softly.
Amy undid the sash of her robe, turned and shrugged, letting the large terry robe fall away from her to the floor.
His eyes widened and he gasped. Amy smiled; she loved taking his breath away.
"Oh, my God," he breathed.
She was a stunning vision in liquid sapphire. The dress was a simple sheath that floated over her body, gently caressing her in all the right places. Amy gave him a sly smile and began a slow turn, revealing the back of the dress. Knowing how much Bobby loved her bare back, she had had the gown designed special for him; the thin spaghetti straps that held up the front criss-crossed her upper back, reattaching to the dress at the bottom of the bust line, leaving her back open all the way down to just above her hips.
As she turned back around, she noticed the desire his eyes now held for her.
"Don't look at me like that, or we'll be late," she chided gently. She walked away from him to the closet, and he noticed the long slit up the side of the skirt; hidden in the gentle folds of fabric, it revealed a long expanse of her leg.
"Very sexy," he said.
When she returned from the closet with her coat draped over her arm, Bobby was still standing in the middle of the room. This time, he was holding a velvet box in his hands.
"Come here. You're not completely dressed yet."
Amy walked towards him, a curious expression on her face. He just smiled.
"Turn around."
Amy turned. Bobby positioned her so she was facing her dressing table mirror. He stood behind her and opened the box.
"Close your eyes."
Amy could feel his fingers brush her neck as she stood with her eyes closed. The cold weight of metal fell gently against her neck and she shifted her weight in anticipation.
"Be still, woman," Bobby laughed. "I need to hook this…there. Open your eyes."
Amy gasped. She was wearing the most beautiful diamond necklace she had ever seen. A large blue topaz stone rested perfectly above her cleavage; it was suspended from the most ornate network of silver metal and diamonds that defied imagination.
"Andre said it would work with your dress," Bobby said proudly.
"YOU picked this out," Amy breathed in wonder as she tentatively fingered the gorgeous piece.
Bobby nodded.
"It's perfect. Thank you!" She turned to kiss him.
As soon as her lips touched as, Bobby groaned and pulled her tightly to him, deepening the kiss and inhaling her. Amy moaned in response and felt herself beginning to tingle. She dropped her coat and wrapped her arms around him; she shivered as his hands roamed over her back, setting her skin on fire. She tangled her fingers into soft curls of hair at the nape of his neck.
Bobby finally pushed her slightly away with a sigh. They needed to leave, or they would be late.
"If this is how you thank me for a borrowed piece of jewelry, I'll have to bring you jewelry more often!"
Amy laughed.
Bobby picked her coat up off the floor. Amy snatched her clutch off the bed and allowed him to guide her out the door.
A lot had happened in the short time since Christmas. Bobby had been released from the hospital and was still recovering from injuries he received when a bomb exploded in the tunnels below the City Centre theatre. His nephew, Donny Carlson, had been killed in the blast, so he was recovering emotionally as well. He still kept a lot of his belongings in the apartment on the third floor of Trey's home, but was spending his nights with Amy. Soon, he would need to also consider moving completely out of his Brooklyn walk-up, but he wasn't quite ready to let go of it just yet. He wasn't really sure why, but knowing he had that place to get away to gave him peace of mind. It was beginning to trouble him and he knew he would need to talk to Amy about it soon.
Amy. Never in a million years had he imagined he would ever see her again, much less discover they had a son together. The magical summer they had spent together in Germany was a lifetime ago, and so much had happened, yet being with her seemed as natural as breathing. She was the missing piece in his life.
Now they were on their way to celebrate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of her parents, Patty and AJ Wainwright. It was to be a grand affair, with dinner and dancing, yet Amy assured him it would be a lot of fun as well.
He had been surprised to learn that she had rented the New York Central Library for the occasion. They had stopped there earlier in the day to drop off more wine, and the large atrium had been transformed into a wonderland of white and gold. Elegantly dressed round tables graced three sides of a large dance floor; there was a stage on the fourth side. A band was warming up, and several back-up singers were doing vocal exercises around a grand piano. The room was stunning.
"I think Mom and Dad will like it," Amy said as they left the hall.
"Like it? They'll love it," Bobby had exclaimed.
"Hey, Amy!" A man's voice called out from the band. "Do you need to practice again?"
Bobby looked askance at her.
"No thanks, Jerry; I'll be fine."
"Okay, see you tonight." The band leader went back to marking his music.
"You're singing tonight," Bobby asked her as he held open the door.
"Mm-hmm," Amy said distractedly as she looked at the list she was carrying in her hand. "So is Trey."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Amy looked at him and saw his exaggerated pout. She laughed.
"And risk you telling Mom? She's been trying to bribe details out of me with mint chocolate chip ice cream; I can only imagine what she's been feeding you."
"Veal parmesan; and since I know very little, there hasn't been much for me to tell her." He joined her laughter.
Amy was nervous and distracted the entire ride to the library. Bobby pulled her in tight next to him and was holding one of her hands, but she still fidgeted.
"It's going to be perfect," Bobby told her as the limo pulled up in front of the library. He took both her hands in his and looked directly into her eyes. God, she's gorgeous, he thought with a smile.
"Relax," he instructed. "Everything will be fine. Your parents are going to love tonight, no matter what. Okay?"
"I know," Amy nodded, biting her lower lip. She squeezed his hands. "Thank you."
"Let's do this," Bobby said, as the driver opened the door.
The room was filled with family and friends. Patty and AJ were known for their New Year's Eve parties, and with it being their wedding anniversary, always had something special planned for each other. Since this year was their 50th anniversary, Amy and Trey had insisted on planning the evening for them. They had enlisted the help of Samantha and the employees of the winery and the gallery to help them. Bobby was amazed that they had pulled it all together in spite of the explosion that had brought the Gala to an abrupt halt earlier in the month.
He put all those thoughts aside as he and Amy entered the atrium. Many faces surrounded him; some he knew personally, like his partner from the NYPD Alex Eames and his boss, Captain Ross. Others were friends of the Wainwrights.
He was grateful when Jack Andersen appeared at his side with bottle of beer in his hand. Jack was married to Amy's best friend, Susan, and was one of the doctors who had aided Bobby in his recovery.
"How you holding up," Jack asked.
"I could use one of those," Bobby indicated the bottle of beer.
"Follow me, then," Jack said with a laugh.
Tucked into the corner was an open bar. Trey joined them there a few minutes later, requesting a beer as well.
"Never would have thought there'd be beer at a soiree like this," Bobby mused, taking a swig.
"You kidding? Grandpa loves his beer," Trey exclaimed. "Wouldn't be a party for him without it."
"I thought he was a Scotch man," Bobby said.
"He is, but he has to have beer, too. How you doing, Dr. Andersen?" Trey reached out to shake the man's hand.
"Fine, Trey. Just fine." Jack scanned the room. "There's my wife," he said, spotting Susan across the room. "If I don't tap her on the shoulder every once in a while, she thinks I've run off with another woman," he joked.
Several musicians began to take the stage, a string quartet that would provide soft music during the dinner service.
"Well, that's our cue," Bobby said. "Amy insisted I be by her side when dinner starts. Catch you later, Jack."
Dinner was prime rib with bacon-wrapped asparagus, buttery baby carrots, and a salad of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette. Bottles of various Wainwright wines sat in glass ice buckets on every table, and diners could choose from tea and water as well. A well-trained wait-staff moved smoothly in and out among the tables, tending to the diners' needs.
Dessert was a lavish affair. Patty loved Baked Alaska, so the lights were dimmed, the drums rolled and the wait-staff paraded out with flaming trays of the dessert, to the delight of everyone.
Once dinner was finished, more musicians came out onto the stage. They were a "cover band" popular among New Yorkers. The bandleader for this group announced that they would take requests before starting to play. A few people approached the stage and began scanning the band's playlist, while the band's leader had them start off with some of the music Amy and Trey had preselected.
After the third song with no one on the dance floor, Amy excused herself from Bobby and turned to Trey.
"Come on, son, time for 'Plan B'", she smiled and extended her hand to him. Laughing, he stood, took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. They urged several friends to join them on the dance floor. Soon, a small crowd was gyrating and laughing to music from the '70's and '80's.
After a few more songs, Amy walked over to the stage and got the band leader's attention; he nodded, and cued the band to change music. Trey and Amy went over to the table where Patty and AJ were seated, and pulled them out onto the dance floor as the band leader introduced the "happy couple" to the crowd. Applause rippled through the room as Amy and Trey encouraged AJ and Patty to dance to the song played for their first dance at their wedding reception fifty years ago.
When the song ended, Trey was standing on the stage, holding the microphone.
"I'd like to welcome all of you to our annual New Year's Eve Party and anniversary bash. This year is Patty and AJ's FIFTIETH wedding anniversary!"
He paused as cheers and applause erupted.
"This year, Mom and I took care of planning the details and lining up the entertainment. I'd like to call Miss Connerly Andersen to the stage, please."
Trey turned his attention to his grandparents as Connerly made her way to the stage.
"Grandpa, I asked Grandma to tell me what your song was back when you were dating. One that best described your relationship and meant the most to you. Here's what she picked."
The music changed, and Connerly's beautiful voice filled the room with "I Can't Help Falling in Love (With You)".
AJ put his arms around Patty's waist, pulling her back against his chest. They swayed together until the last note faded away, then clapped loudly with the crowd as Connerly smiled and bowed. She blew a kiss to them, then handed Trey the mic and walked off the stage.
"Grandma, I also asked Grandpa the same questions. Here's how he answered."
A chord was played, and Trey's strong, clear tenor voice began to sing. "Only you…can make the bells ring out."
Out on the dance floor, Patty squealed, turned and hugged AJ. He laughed, then took a step back and began to dance around the floor with her. When the song ended, Patty hugged him again, then turned to applaud Trey. "Thank you," she mouthed to him. He smiled and nodded in return.
The band started back up again and this time more people took the dance floor. Bobby made sure he snagged Amy for several dances. Now, he was sitting at their table, watching her as she danced with her father.
When the music ended, Bobby was surprised to see AJ take the stage. He watched as AJ picked up a guitar, and began to strum softly.
"My wife tells me she fell in love with me because I could play the guitar, and she had a "thing" for guitar players."
Everyone chuckled. Bobby looked for Amy; suddenly, she materialized at his elbow and sat next to him. He put his arm around her shoulder, and they watched and listened as AJ played.
"Look at Mom," Amy said softly, pointing at Patty.
Bobby looked, and saw Patty standing next to Trey, gazing at AJ, her face glowing and her eyes beaming with love. I wonder what it would take for Amy to look at me like that, he thought.
AJ finished, and the crowd applauded. He handed the guitar to one of the band members, took a slight bow towards the crowd, then left the stage. Patty met him on the dance floor and thanked him with a warm hug. The crowd cheered when he dipped her back over his arm and kissed her deeply. AJ turned, waved his arm and nodded at the band leader; a slow romantic tune began to play. AJ took Patty in his arms and began to dance with her.
"May I have this dance," Bobby asked Amy.
"I'd love to." She smiled. They moved onto the dance floor and she slipped into his arms. Bobby placed his hand on the small of her back and pulled her in close.
"Mmm," Bobby hummed into her ear as he smoothly moved her around the floor.
Amy leaned her head on his shoulder. "Yeah," she sighed.
They danced together for several more songs, enjoying the closeness. Amy loved the way Bobby's hand felt on her bare back; Bobby loved the way Amy's body felt pressed up against his. They were lost together in the music and the moment.
A tap on Bobby's shoulder had him turning to see Jack, smiling and asking if he could cut in. Reluctantly, Bobby let her go. He felt naked and alone as he watched her dance off with her best friend's husband.
A hand touched his arm softly.
"Bobby?" Patty's warm blue eyes were full of concern. "Are you all right?"
He smiled. "I'm better now. Dance with me?"
"I'd love to," Patty beamed at him as he whisked her off around the floor.
When the song ended, he passed her off to Trey, and asked Jack where Amy was.
"She muttered something about needing the bathroom and Susan went with her," Jack answered. "You look like you could use another beer."
"Lead on," Bobby said, gesturing towards the back of the room.
Bobby found himself caught up in conversation with several of Jack's friends. They discussed sports teams, groused about their wives and girlfriends and griped about work. While they were all professionals of various sorts, none of them looked down on Bobby's being a police detective. In fact, several thanked him for being so willing to put his life on the line for the safety and security of the city every day. Bobby was humbled and sheepishly accepted their thanks and praise; he liked these men and realized that these were not the same type of rich and powerful men that he normally came across in his line of work.
Suddenly, the band played a brief musical fanfare and the band leader asked for everyone's attention.
"As is customary at a Wainwright New Year's Eve party, Miss Amy will lead us in singing in the New Year. But this year, in honor of her parent's anniversary, she'd like to sing a special song, just for them. So, Patty and AJ, if you two would come to the center of the dance floor, and if everyone would spread out around the edge, leaving the stage end open, please?"
He paused as the crowd shifted and muttered in anticipation. Patty and AJ moved to the center of the floor, and the lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight illuminating the couple.
Bobby excused himself and moved away from the bar. He positioned himself in the front of the crowd, opposite the stage. From this vantage point, he had a clear view of both the stage and the Wainwrights.
There was movement on the stage as bodies shuffled and got into position. A chord was played, and a rich, warm voice began to sing accapella.
"I'm gonna love you…..like nobody's loved you…..come rain or come shine."
There was a smattering of applause as the audience murmured its approval at the singer's choice of song. The band came in with the next line and together voice and music began to rise and fall, dip and swell as the song continued.
"Happy together…so happy together…..come rain or come shine."
A second spotlight began to rise on the singer and Bobby felt his heart stop beating. He was transfixed at the sight of Amy, in a gorgeous, figure-hugging black strapless gown, swaying with the music and singing to her parents. Time stood still as he watched her sing.
As AJ and Patty began to dance together, Bobby continued to gaze at Amy. Their eyes met, and suddenly Amy was singing to him. The world melted away as Bobby felt her words fill his soul with peace and happiness and love. In that moment, he knew.
The song swelled and Amy's powerful voice ended the song in a long, strong, final note. The crowd cheered and applauded; their magical connection was broken as the world intruded once more. Amy smiled and bowed, slightly embarrassed at the acclaim.
"I love you, Mom and Dad," she said as the applause died down. "Thank you for raising me in a marriage full of love, respect and admiration. Here's to many more happy years together."
The crowd cheered again.
"Now, the waiters are coming around with glasses of champagne for everyone, so be sure to grab a glass and we'll all salute the New Year together in just a few minutes."
Bobby found the nearest waiter and snagged a glass as he made his way across the room. He had a desperate need to be with Amy right now. As he neared the stage, Patty grabbed his elbow.
"Oh, good; you're here. Come on; we all join Amy on stage for the countdown to midnight, then sing "Auld Lang Syne." Patty led him up the steps, where he found himself standing next to Amy.
"You look absolutely beautiful," he told her softly, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Oh," was all she could say. The intensity of his gaze held her captive.
Trey, Connerly, Patty and AJ were around them on the stage. Trey cleared his throat to get his mother's attention.
"Wha? Ohh! I'm sorry. Yes…well." A very embarrassed Amy sputtered and struggled to regain her calm. She turned to the crowd.
"Okay, everyone! The big clock in the back has been counting down all evening, and now the time is finally here. Does everyone have a glass?" She raised hers and focused on the bright red numbers flashing from the back of the room.
"Here we go! 10…9…"
Everyone joined in. Amy was acutely aware of Bobby's nearness and his low voice in her ear. Her heart began to pound as she realized he was probably going to kiss her right there on that stage. Everyone knew they were friends, but they had kept private the fact that there was a whole lot more going on between them than just friendship. Amy wanted to shield their relationship from the harsh public scrutiny given to people of their social status. There would be no privacy here.
"5…4…" Amy felt Bobby's hand on the small of her back and her heart began to race.
"3…2…1….Happy New Year," she cried loudly into the microphone as the room erupted in cheers and balloons, confetti and streamers began to rain down from the ceiling.
Amy lowered the microphone and looked over the crowd, taking in their enjoyment and celebration. Kisses and hugs were occurring all over the place. She looked to her right and saw Trey and Connerly give each other a hug and a chaste kiss. Trey turned and hugged his mom, planting a big kiss on her cheek.
"Someone is very eager to wish you a happy new year," Trey murmured in her ear and took the microphone from her hand. She pulled back and looked questioningly at him. He nodded and grinned. "Go for it, Mom."
Amy turned around to face Bobby. She met his eyes full on as she raised her glass. "Cheers to 2009," she said, touching her glass to his before taking a sip.
Bobby followed suit. He then took both their glasses and set them on the floor. Straightening, he took her in his arms and pulled her close.
Amy shoved away her apprehension and wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled broadly. "Happy New Year, Bobby."
She had intended to merely kiss him firmly then pull away, as they were in public, but Bobby had other plans. His hand moved up to gently cup the back of her head, effectively pinning her to him. He pressed his lips back against hers. Seemingly of their own volition, her lips began to part and Bobby deepened the kiss. She tightened her hold on his neck as her knees went weak at the realization that he was publically staking his claim, telling everyone present that she was his.