Tiffany had been busy working on some new dance moves for the past few hours. She was hot, sweaty and tired. It was almost five o'clock so she headed upstairs to get cleaned up for Pat. He would be home by about 5:30 and they had plans to go out and celebrate their one year anniversary of being a couple.

It was hard to believe that a whole year had already gone by since the night of the dance competition. It had been a really good year. Individually, they had both been basket cases at that point in their lives but together they seemed to make each other stronger and better.

Pat had gotten a job teaching history at the local junior college. It was only part time for now but he was hoping that it would lead to a full time position. Finding a job had been tough for him. He had the whole situation with Nikki following him around like a black cloud. Tiffany had also gotten part time work as an assistant to the dance teacher at the neighborhood rec center. It didn't pay much but she loved it.

Tiffany was humming a Bruno Mars tune as she soaped her hair so she didn't hear Pat arriving home. She didn't know he was there until she felt him step into the shower with her. She opened one eye, squinting up at him through the shampoo bubbles, "God, what's a girl got to do to get a little privacy?" she teased.

He was smiling that sweet, lazy smile that always made her crazy. "Oh, did you want to be alone? Sorry, I'll just wait my turn," he said as he turned away. She grabbed playfully at his arm, "Well since you're already here and all wet and everything." She pulled him under the spray with her and pressed her body against his. It was like an electric shock.

The chemistry between them was like that. All he had to do was look at her and smile that sweet goofy grin and they'd end up tangled in a naked heap on the nearest spot of bare floor or piece of furniture. Sex with Pat was beyond anything she'd ever had before. It satisfied her in a way that wasn't only physical, although the physical part was most definitely satisfying.

Their little shower session ended up lasting until all the hot water ran out and then he carried her to the next room so they could finish up on the bed. Then he lay down next to her and closed his eyes. She reached up pulling one of his eyes open with her fingers, "Hey, you promised to take me out. No sleeping." He took her hand in his and pulled it to his lips, kissing her outstretched fingers, "I'm not asleep, just sort of savoring the last few minutes before we have to get up and put clothes on." She was already reacting to the nearness of him and his kisses again, "No, no, no. You are not doing that to me again. I got a new dress. Which, by the way, makes me look totally hot. We're going out!" He opened his eyes looking directly into hers, "Totally hot, huh? Okay, you convinced me."

They both got up and dressed. Tiffany took a couple of extra minutes to arrange her hair, put on a little makeup, and dot on Pat's favorite perfume. A quick look in the mirror told her that she hadn't lied to him. She looked good. He walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He looked completely delicious in a light blue shirt and navy blazer which made the blue in his eyes look like some Photoshop trick. But they were real. He was real. And he was all hers. He looked at her reflection and said, "Totally hot was an understatement." She smiled and leaned her head back against his shoulder, "I love you Pat Solitano." He kissed her cheek, "I love you, too."

Their destination for the night was a surprise for Tiffany. Pat had planned the whole thing and been able to keep the secret for the past two weeks. That fact alone was a surprise to Tiffany. They borrowed Tiffany's parents' car for the night and Pat drove. He headed towards downtown and she tried to figure where they might be going.

"You're taking me to Antonelli's, right? That's got to be it," she guessed.

He just smiled, "Can't tell you."

She kept coming up with guesses until he reached over and rested his hand on her knee, "I'm not going to tell you. Do I have to find a way to keep you occupied until we get there so you'll stop talking about it?" His hand was slowly sliding up her thigh as he talked. Her skin was burning under his touch. Her breath was coming faster. Oh, no! No, no. She wasn't going to look a wrinkled mess when they arrived no matter how much she wanted that hand to continue its travels. "Okay, okay, I'll be good," she answered. He grinned mischievously over at her. "I certainly hope not!" he said in his best Groucho Marx voice.

They finally arrived at a parking garage. She still had not seen a restaurant sign or anything hinting at their eventual destination. As they walked down the sidewalk, she looked around at the lights and the Christmas decorations. She remembered last year when they were heading into the hotel for the dance competition, how nervous she had been and how guilty she felt for lying to Pat. Somehow, it had all worked out, though, and now here they were again and she was completely happy.

The turned a corner and Pat stopped and pointed, "This is it." Tiffany looked. There was a sign that looked like it dated back to the 1960's blinking outside a rundown old brick building. The neon sign showed a group of blue stars surrounding the name of the place "The Starlight Room" in red letters. Tiffany had never heard of the place, "What is it?" she asked him. He just took her hand and pulled her forward, "Come on, you'll see."

They walked in the door and Tiffany could hear a live band playing a Tommy Dorsey tune, then a husky voiced torch singer joined in. They checked their coats and walked into the most magical place that Tiff had ever seen. The entire ceiling was covered in tiny white lights like a sky full of stars. There were small tables around the perimeter of the floor with flickering candles adorning each one. The large central space was all dance floor and couples of every age were on the floor doing the rumba, the foxtrot, the waltz and more. They were all really good dancers.

Pat leaned down to whisper in her ear as they were shown to a table, "This is where the professional dancers come for a night out. I hope you like it."

She was speechless. "It's amazing. You're amazing," she told him with tears shining in her eyes, "It's so beautiful and romantic." He was all smiles, "I hoped you'd think so."

They ordered drinks and sat and watched as the musicians played a big band tune and several of the couples on the floor launched into a swing dance routine that included flips and lifts. It was like watching a floor show in Vegas. Pat excused himself for a moment but Tiffany was so enthralled by the dancers that she hardly missed him. When he returned the music slowed down and he asked her to dance. She instantly agreed and they were soon out of the floor.

Pat still had some good moves that she'd taught him last year and he was showing off a little doing some dips and twirls with her. She loved every second of it. The song ended to a round of applause and the singer dressed in a silvery evening gown stepped to the microphone, "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. We have a request now and we'd like to ask that you all clear the floor for our special couple." Tiffany looked around and started to walk back to their table but Pat took her hand and said "Wait". The singer continued, "This is a special number from Pat to Tiffany on their first anniversary."

Tiffany looked at him in shock, "What? Are you crazy?" He grinned and said, "Yep" then he pulled her close and told her, "Come on, we got this." The music started. Tiffany knew instantly what the song was before the sultry singer even uttered a word, "Someday when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight." As the song played, Pat led her effortlessly through classic waltz steps that they hadn't practiced for months. Their bodies were working in unison. She felt like she could fly.

The singer continued, "With each word, your tenderness grows, Tearing my fear apart, and that laugh that wrinkles your nose touches my foolish heart." Pat leaned down to sing softly into her ear as the song finished, "Lovely, don't you ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it? Cause I love you and the way you look tonight." The song ended and Pat kissed her so softly and gently that it brought tears to her eyes. The crowd that had been watching erupted in applause and cheers but she didn't hear any of them. The only sound she could hear was the wild, erratic beating of her own heart as she looked into the eyes of the man that she loved. She pulled his face to hers and kissed him.

The pair was obviously so in love that it kindled romantic feelings throughout the ballroom. Couples were all dancing a little closer and a few were kissing. The romance, it seemed, was contagious.

When Pat and Tiffany returned to their table, the waiter had delivered a bottle of champagne. He opened it for them and poured two glasses. They celebrated with toasts. "To a magical night and a future full of silver linings," Pat said as their glasses clinked. She chimed in, "Excelsior!" They sat quietly drinking their champagne for a bit and then shared another dance or two.

After a few hours had passed, Pat asked if Tiffany was hungry and she agreed that she was starved. "Well then it's off to your next surprise," he told her.

"Next surprise? What?! I don't think I can take more," she pleaded.

"This is a smaller one, but you'll like it. I promise," he told her.

They walked to the car and then headed back towards home. Tiffany was getting a bit sleepy from all the champagne. She wasn't really paying attention to where he was driving until he pulled into a small gravel parking lot next to the tiny diner where they'd had their first, disastrous "date".

"Oh, God, no way. I acted fucking crazy the last time we were here. They probably won't even let me in," she told him. "You are fucking crazy and so am I and they will let you in. I checked before I brought you. Come on," he said pulling her out of the car. "Unnnh! Okay, I'm coming," she grunted.

Before they went around the corner to the front of the diner, Pat made her close her eyes. He took her hands and led her down the sidewalk and up to the door. When he told her she could open her eyes, they were standing in the doorway of the diner. The whole place was lit with candles. The other tables were all empty and a violinist was playing next to the counter. Pat must have rented out the whole place. He walked her back towards the middle of the space. Sitting there on a table waiting for them was a cup of hot tea and a tiny box of raisin bran.

"I figured this meal worked out okay for us one time so why not now?" he explained. She was touched by his quirky thoughtfulness but she was also really hungry. "If that is all you're planning to feed me, we'd better be hitting a Burger King on the way home," she told him. He handed her the box of cereal, "You go ahead and start on this. I'll order us a burger," he promised. Tiffany wasn't really in the mood for raisin bran but after skipping lunch and all the dancing they'd just done, she couldn't help it. She tore open the top of the box and dumped it into the adjacent bowl. There was an unusual metallic clink as the box emptied. Tiffany looked down trying to figure out what the noise was. Had she bumped the spoon?

But no, lying there glittering amid the dark brown bran flakes was a sparkling antique platinum and diamond engagement ring. Tiffany gasped and looked up in astonishment at Pat. He was beaming. "It was my grandmother's ring," he whispered to her. She gulped and said jokingly "And the box didn't even say prize inside!"

Pat, however, wasn't laughing. He had a very serious look on his face.

"Pat, what, what is this?" she asked. She felt like her head was spinning. He was suddenly down on one knee beside her, "Tiff, I want us to always be together. Will you marry me?"

Tiffany was overwhelmed. She felt like she couldn't breathe. For the first time in her life, she was absolutely speechless. Pat's face had fallen into a look of panic. She wanted to reassure him but nothing would come out of her mouth. "I, I don't…I can't…," she tried to form a coherent sentence but couldn't put the words together. She felt trapped. All that she could think was "I have to get out of here." She pushed past Pat and ran out into the cold night air.

She could hear Pat running out behind her. She didn't know what was happening. She loved Pat so much, but right now, she couldn't talk to him. She took off her heels and started running for their garage apartment. "Tiffany!" he yelled behind her. "Tiffany, stop! What's wrong? Please just stop!" But she couldn't, she had to get away, to run away.

Her feet were freezing and her tights were getting ripped to shreds but she kept going. Pat had gone back for the car and would be catching up to her so she darted down first one alley and then another to stay out of his sight. She stopped for a second in the shadow of a neighbor's garage. She didn't know what to do. Her cell phone was back in her purse which she'd left in the diner. She didn't know where to go. If she went home, Pat would probably already be there. She just couldn't face him right now. She had seen the look on his face. She was breaking his heart. Oh, God, what was she doing? Was she losing it again?

Then she saw that Mr. and Mrs. Manzo's house had a light still on and took a chance that they'd be up. Mrs. Manzo always complained that her husband's snoring kept her up at all hours. Tiffany knocked quietly on their front door. Mrs. Manzo peeked through the living room curtains and was quick to open the front door for her.

"Tiffany Maxwell, what on earth are you doing out in the freezing cold and no shoes on?" Mrs. Manzo sounded like she was scolding a five year old. Tiffany couldn't explain so she just said she'd gotten locked out and needed to call her sister. Mrs. Manzo took her to the phone and then gave her some slippers to wear and made her a cup of chamomile tea.

Thankfully, Mrs. Manzo didn't try to grill her about what had happened. They sat quietly while waiting for Veronica. Tiffany knew, however, that the rumor mill would be in high gear tomorrow morning. Everyone would be talking about Tommy's widow again, thinking she was off the rails. And she wasn't sure that they would be wrong. She didn't understand her reaction to Pat's proposal.

Within about 15-20 minutes, Veronica drove up in front of the house. Tiffany slipped out, thanking Mrs. Manzo for her help and ran straight to the car. Veronica was wearing her coat over her pajamas and had on a pair of fuzzy animal slippers. She looked ridiculous and Tiffany almost started laughing but knew she'd probably sound hysterical if she did.

Veronica was obviously not happy. She was trying her best to be supportive though. "Are you okay, sweetie? What happened? Did something happen with Pat?" Veronica quizzed. Tiffany couldn't even look at her sister. She turned to stare out the passenger window.

"Tiffany, come on, you owe me an explanation. I came out at 2 in the morning to pick you up," Veronica chastised. It never took long for her sister's self righteous, judgmental attitude to make its presence known when the two of them were anywhere near each other. "I don't owe you anything, Veronica, except a thank you for picking me up. I'm a little upset right now but I don't want to talk about it so no more third degree, okay? And, don't take me home right now. If you don't want me to stay with you, just drop me off at a motel or something."

Veronica looked shocked, "No, of course you can stay with us. Just tell me, Tiffany, are you sure you're okay? We don't need to call your doctor or anything, do we?"

Tiffany knew that Veronica meant well but it made her furious. She glared back at her sister, "I'm not completely flipping out if that's what you're worried about. I'm not about to jump off a bridge. You don't need to lock up your knives. I'm just, I don't know, confused I guess. I need some time to think." Veronica reached over and patted her arm, "Okay, no problem. I won't ask any more questions."

Ronnie was waiting anxiously at home for them. He had the front door open before the car had even stopped. He hugged Tiffany as they came in. "Everything okay?" he asked.

Veronica stepped in, "We aren't going to talk about it right now. Tiff just needs some rest and she's going to stay in our guest room tonight."

Tiffany quickly replied, "Don't speak for me like I'm a child." She realized what a bitch she was being. After all, her sister had just done her a favor. She decided the best thing to do was just try and get some rest. She shrugged her shoulders as she told them both, "Look I'm just going to go to bed. I'm tired."

She walked upstairs to the guest bedroom and crawled under the covers. She could hear Ronnie and Veronica talking downstairs. She could just imagine what they were saying. It didn't matter. Her mind went back to the diner, Pat proposing. He proposed to her! He wanted to marry her! Just thinking about it made her feel like all the air was being pressed out of her lungs. Right now, she needed sleep. She was exhausted. She would figure all this out later. Hopefully Pat would understand.