Chapter 2

Margo felt arms reaching around her waist, but remained stark still. She took a slow, deep breath and closed her eyes.

"You've been lured here under false pretenses Lieutenant Hughes," continued the whispering voice.

"Oh really," responded Margo, remaining calm.

"Yes," he went on, "and I suggest you cooperate fully. Otherwise you'll have to answer to me."

Margo suddenly turned to face the man in the dark, "Yeah," she questioned, "and just how will I do that?"

"Like this," said the voice as he pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her tenderly on the neck.

"Tom," Margo gasped, "what are you up to?"

"Happy birthday honey," said Tom as he moved his kisses up her neck to her lips. As their kiss deepened the lights came on and Margo was greeted by a loud, "Surprise!" from a room full of excited party guests.

Taken aback, Margo brought her hands to her mouth and looked around to room. She couldn't believe her eyes. The room was filled with family and friends. She truly didn't know how to react. Being the center of attention wasn't exactly a place that Margo felt comfortable.

"What have you done Tom?" Margo asked her smiling husband.

"Who me?"

"Of course you. Don't even try to deny it Thomas Christopher Hughes."

"I… I really haven't done all that much," smiled Tom, "…yet."

He took her hand and led her deliberately to the center of the dance floor at the far end of the room. As they walked Margo attempted to ask what he meant by his last comment, but her attempt was met with Tom's finger being placed gently on her lips and a shake of his head. "Now," he continued, as he pulled her toward him, "we dance."

"Dance?" Margo questioned, "But there isn't any music my darling."

Just as Margo finished her sentence lights came up on the stage area in front of the dance floor and a previously unnoticed pianist began to play a tune that was once very familiar to her. She smiled and looked into Toms eyes as a very familiar voice sang the opening words to a song that once held very special meaning to them…

"If you say my eyes are beautiful

It's because they're looking at you

And if you could only see yourself

You'd feel the same way too…"

"Tom," Margo's voice cracked with a slight choke, "Mama? That's Mama! How did you… when did she…?"

"Shhh," Tom whispered, "just let her finish her song and dance with me."

Margo grinned from ear to ear as her eyes welled up. She placed her head on Tom's shoulder and as she closed her eyes a tear ran down her cheek. As they danced she thought to herself… it was their song – the song that always brought them together, no matter how harried or difficult their lives got. He remembered… of course he remembered.

There were no words spoken through the remainder of the song, but Tom knew from the way she held him that he had managed to finally make his wife happier than she'd been in quite a while. As the final verse came to an end Margo lifted her head and looked up at Tom. He saw her intense smile looking up at him and couldn't help but pull her into a long and passionate kiss.

The music had stopped a while back and they were still kissing when Bob Hughes finally made deliberate action of clearing his throat in an attempt to break his son and daughter-in-law's concentration.

"Dad," Tom groaned, "why do you always have to do that?"

"Son, I believe you have guests who'd like to feel like part of the party, if you know what I mean." Several in the crowd chuckled at Bob's response to Tom. Then Bob held out his arms and offered Margo a loud, "Happy birthday kid!"

Margo accepted Bob's robust hug and replied, "Thanks Bob. I just don't know what to say to all this."

"You don't have to say anything," said Bob, "just enjoy it."

"I will. I am! I am enjoying it. It's a bit overwhelming at the moment, but I am enjoying it."

While Margo was responding to birthday greetings and well wishes from Bob and Kim, Tom snuck off to greet Lyla, who had just finished singing and he knew was anxious to see Margo.

"Lyla," greeted Tom, "thank you so much for that! Of course you sounded as lovely as ever."

Lyla hugged her son-in-law and thanked him for his kind words. Then she insisted on heading over to greet her daughter.

"Excuse me Bob… Kim… but you get to see my beautiful daughter all the time," interrupted Lyla as she approached Margo, "I think it's about time I got to give the birthday girl a hug."

"Mama!" Margo exclaimed as she embraced her mother tightly. "Oh mama, I've missed you so much."

The two were quickly joined by Margo's sister Katie, who had been standing by patiently waiting to wish Margo a happy birthday and talk to her mother. Katie had helped keep Tom's secret that Lyla was coming to town, and was very eager to finally let Margo know.

Most of the guests had found their way to tables and Tom was talking with Bob when the room was suddenly met with a raucous disturbance. Through the main ballroom entrance came a loud, booming voice, "I can't believe you people!"