Journey of a Lovetime
Note: Thanks to Elizabeth for her wonderful betaing and to Cira for her helpful ideas. I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has reviewed my story so far. Your feedback really makes my day, and though I don't say it often enough, I appreciate everyone who takes time out of their day to read and review my stuff.
Chapter 4: "All That Jazz"
After dinner, Emily and Richard strolled along the promenade deck, her hand linked to the crook of his arm. The February air was chilly but the night was pleasant and clear and the moonlight shimmered gently upon the slight ripples on the river. "I love this place," she spoke, breaking their relaxed silence.
"I do, too," he replied, looking down at her. "I'm glad we discovered it."
"You mean you're glad I discovered it," she corrected him, smiling playfully at her husband.
"Absolutely correct, my Dear," he conceded, nodding in agreement. "It has certainly become a wonderful place for our romantic evenings the last several years." He took a slow, deep breath, enjoying the night air and the company of his wife.
"Yes, it has," Emily agreed. After sauntering contentedly with him for a few minutes longer, she squeezed his arm gently and looked up at him. "So, what else do you have planned for our anniversary?"
"Well, next I plan to take you to that little jazz club where we used to go dancing when we were in college." Richard looked down at her, anticipating her reaction.
"Jerry's?! Is that still open?" she asked, incredulous.
"Yes, it is, and they still play the old jazz we used to go there to hear," he replied, smiling.
She laughed lightly. "Well, how nice!"
"Shall we?" he asked, turning toward her.
"Oh, but Richard, I'm not dressed to go out dancing!" she protested.
"You look fine, Dear," he stated.
"No, this outfit is not appropriate for a jazz club," Emily replied, shaking her head. "I should go home and change," she announced, stalking toward the nearby parking lot. "Where are you parked?"
Taking her hand, Richard stopped her and looked her in the eyes. "You will not go home and change! You look beautiful," he urged. "Let's just go to the club and enjoy the rest of our evening together."
"Well," she answered hesitantly, "all right. But in the future, I would like to be better prepared for this kind of evening." She looked at him pointedly, continuing, "That's what I hate about surprises. I'm never prepared for them. Just like tonight, I wasn't ready to go out dancing with my husband."
"Yes, Dear. I will keep that in mind in the future," he promised. "So … shall we?" he asked, motioning toward the parking lot.
"All right," she replied, smiling up at him. Despite how she felt about surprises and feeling unprepared for tonight's activities, she was overjoyed to be with her husband. This was definitely turning out to be a nice anniversary, after all.
-/-/-
Richard helped Emily into the car. When he got in behind the wheel, she leaned over and grasped his face between her hands, kissing him greedily. She pulled him closer and pressed her body against his, wanting to be as close to him as possible. Richard wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her even closer. Breaking the kiss, Emily uttered in a deep voice, "I have been wanting to do that since I first saw you at the restaurant."
He inhaled sharply, smiling. "Mmm," he replied, his voice a low rumble. "Good thing I didn't know that then, or dinner would have been very short." She chuckled, and he grinned as he turned toward the front and started the car.
When they arrived at the club, Richard got out, took the ticket from the valet, and walked around the car to open the door for Emily. "My Dear," he said, holding his hand out to her. As she stepped out of the car, he put his arm around her, guiding her inside.
The club had changed somewhat since their college days, but the atmosphere was much the same. Lively music, dim light, and loud conversation greeted them as they walked to a table near where they used to sit years ago. The club was still frequented by college students, but there were older couples there as well. Perhaps they too came to relive treasured memories. Richard took Emily's coat as they sat next to each other at a table a short distance from the band. He leaned over to her, grinning. "Do you remember the first band we ever heard here?" he whispered.
"Yes, I remember them. Benny and the Starlighters," she replied with a reflective tone.
"Yes, they were the ones." He nodded, looking back toward the stage. "The band playing now reminds me of them. Similar music."
"Yes, it is," she answered. "Their female singer reminds me a lot of the Starlighters' lead singer, too."
"I hope they play a slow piece as nice as the one the Starlighters played that night. Do you remember that?" he asked, grinning slyly.
"You mean 'At Last'? How can I forget it? It's the first time you kissed me," she responded, matching his sly grin.
"Exactly why I hope this group plays a song similar to that," he stated, raising his eyebrow playfully. Emily smiled only slightly, but the sparkle in her eyes conveyed her delight clearly.
Their server came up to the table for their drink order. "I will have a scotch, neat," Richard ordered.
"I'll have a rum and coke," Emily said. The server nodded and left.
"A rum and coke?" Richard asked.
"Yes, I had a few of them at my bachelorette party at Lorelai's house three years ago. I liked them," Emily responded.
"Huh!" he replied. "I never knew you liked those."
"Well, I guess you don't know everything about me," she teased, raising one eyebrow.
He laughed. "I guess not. You are still a mystery to me in so many ways," he declared, grinning playfully at her. "Shall we dance, my Dear?" he asked, holding his hand out to her. Emily took it and they walked onto the dance floor.
As they moved along the floor enjoying the lively music, Richard glanced down at his wife. She had dressed for a relaxed night out with her daughter, not for a romantic date with her husband. And yet he couldn't help but notice how lovely she looked in her tasteful blue skirt and top with black hose and shoes. It certainly wasn't her idea of an appropriate outfit for a jazz club, but he liked her in it. Then again, no matter what she wore, she'd be beautiful. Besides, it brought back memories of the blue dress she had worn to his fraternity party back in college. That was the night he had really fallen in love with her. It had happened gradually, but after that there was no turning back. Though he didn't admit it to himself for months, he had become irrevocably hers that night.
The song ending, Richard guided Emily back to their table. He was slightly winded but very content. "Ah," he said, catching his breath, "we haven't done that in years."
"Well, we're a little older now than we were back then," she teased.
Richard chuckled. "True." He sighed, looking contentedly at his wife. "We certainly spent a lot of time here during college and the first couple of years of our marriage." He paused, tilting his head toward her. "Why did we stop coming?"
Emily sighed. "You got busy with work and we stopped going out as often. And then we had Lorelai." She looked down slightly as the mood became a little more serious.
"That is something I regret," Richard said wistfully. Emily furrowed her brow and looked over at him, startled. "That is, becoming so involved in work that I didn't spend enough time with you," he clarified.
Emily looked away slightly, took a breath, and then looked back at Richard, the sadness still visible in her eyes. Wanting to change the subject, she smiled slightly and asked, "Do you remember that time we came here with Sweetie and Davis on a double date?"
He laughed lightly. "Yes, I remember that.
"Davis got so drunk he became sick," Emily recalled.
Richard nodded. "Yes, he wasn't used to drinking sweet drinks."
"Melinda was so embarrassed by it she wouldn't date him again for two weeks." Emily smiled, shaking her head.
"She was mad," Richard agreed.
"At least it got me off the hook with her for dating you," Emily stated.
"What do you mean?" Richard looked at her warily.
"Just that Melinda didn't trust you," she explained.
"That's not true!" Richard protested.
"Oh, yes, it is." Emily looked at him slyly. "She thought you were a ladies man and would break my heart."
"I don't remember that!" he retorted as Emily smiled knowingly. He continued, "Well, I guess we showed her." He leaned in closer, turning toward her. "And after forty-five years of being with only one woman, I wouldn't change a thing." She closed her eyes dreamily as he kissed her. Breaking the kiss, they held their gaze for a moment, lost in each other's eyes.
Moments later, Richard's head snapped up. "Do you hear that?"
She cocked her head to listen. "Oh, it's 'At Last'! They're playing that song!" She looked at him in surprise and then narrowed her eyes. "Did you arrange this?"
He smiled slyly at her but didn't answer. "Well, now you have to dance with me again." Richard held his hand out to her, and Emily took it, the joy evident in her face. Gracefully guiding her onto the floor, Richard slid his arm around her and pulled her close. She readily slid into his arms and glided with him, enjoying the dance and their closeness. They had been dancing silently for a few moments when he bent down to kiss her. "After forty-five years, it still feels as wonderful as the first time," he muttered.
She inhaled deeply and pulled him gently closer. "I wish we could come here more often," she stated.
"Who says we can't?" he responded and she smiled contently in return.
-/-/-
Exiting the club with Emily on his arm, Richard stated, "Well, my Dear, I hope you've been having a nice night."
She squeezed his arm slightly. "It's been wonderful, Richard. I love it." Sighing in disappointment, she added, "but it's getting late. I think we should be getting home now."
"We're not going home tonight," he replied, watching for her reaction.
"What do you mean we're not going home? Are you saying we're going to stay out all night?" Emily raised her eyebrow slyly, grinning playfully at him.
"No, we are not staying out all night," Richard answered, returning her smile. "We're staying someplace special tonight."
"What?!" she gasped, turning to face him. "Where?"
"I told you the celebration was just starting. You didn't think this was all I had planned for you, did you?" he replied mischievously.
"But Richard, I can't stay away from home tonight. I have to get up early tomorrow. I have a very busy day ahead of me," Emily argued, starting to walk off toward the valet station.
"No, you don't," he stated matter-of-factly, hiding his grin.
"What do you mean 'no, I don't'?!" she protested, stopping and turning once again to face him, "Yes, I do. I have to … "
He interrupted, placing his hands on her shoulders, "I cancelled all of your appointments and meetings scheduled for tomorrow."
"I beg your pardon," she responded, raising her eyebrows.
"I found your organizer and called all of the people you were scheduled to meet tomorrow," he stated. "They were all very happy to postpone your meetings so you could have a special anniversary with your husband."
"You what?!" she gasped.
"I called them all. I'm glad you are so organized, Emily. All of the numbers I needed were right there in your planner," he uttered with a boyish grin.
"You called everyone?" she asked, her frustration starting to turn to pleasure at the thought that he had gone to so much trouble to plan this special day for her.
"Yes, I did." Richard smiled smugly.
"Well, there are a lot of things I have to do other than meetings, you know. That library renovation fundraiser isn't going to plan itself!" she asserted, crossing her arms.
"I have every confidence that you will get it done, my Dear … starting Thursday." He looked at her pointedly, but smiling. "But tonight and tomorrow, there's only one thing you'll be doing – and that's allowing your husband to lavish attention on you." He squeezed her gently, turning to walk with her once again.
"Well … if you insist," Emily replied, snaking her arm around him.
Richard chuckled as he led her to the curb to get into their car.
As they drove in the direction of their destination, Emily probed, "So, where are we staying for the night?"
"You'll find out very shortly," he replied.
She sighed, resigned to the fact that she still didn't know what lay ahead, but content nonetheless.