9

Changes

A/N: What's a romance without some machinations involved? Happy Valentine's Day!

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Chapter 21

Throughout dinner people interrupted the meal to say a few words to Bobby to express their pleasure at his recovery and condolences about Darcy's untimely passing. Each time when he thought he couldn't take any more, he would feel the comforting touch of Sue's hand and see her warm smile. She made the evening bearable.

A few of the visitors had even asked when he would be ready to go back to work.

"I found another photographer," stated one woman, "but frankly, the results are just not the same."

"Nonsense," said Bobby. ""In your case, Bernadette, all that needs to be done is point and shoot. I have yet to see a bad photograph of you."

"That's why I love you!" said Bernadette patting his cheek. "You are so good for my ego! Let me know when you're back in New York to work…not play. Nice meeting all of you," she smiled at the group.

When the woman walked away, Myles leaned forward. "She seems rather fond of you."

"The feeling is mutual. She's wonderful to work with."

"Is she really that easy to photograph?" Tara asked curiously. "She always looks so fabulous in her pictures."

Bobby nodded. "Pretty much. She's incredibly photogenic and she has a terrific sense of humor. It comes through in every picture you take of her. There are others that require a bit more effort to make them look presentable."

The reporter in D was itching for the opportunity to interview some of the people he saw in the restaurant. He wouldn't admit it, but he was impressed with the ease Bobby mingled with his celebrity clientele.

"I am having just the best time," Lucy declared, after the latest well-known personality had stopped by to say hi. "Thank you Bobby for bringing us here."

"My pleasure," he smiled. "It's little enough to do after all the dinners I've had at your place."

"Oooo!" cooed Lucy. "I love this song!" She turned to her fiancée, a questioning look in her eyes.

"I can take a hint," said D. "Honey, would you like to dance?"

"Why, sweetheart, what a surprise! I thought you'd never ask," she said in mock surprise as she extended her hand towards D. The duo joined the couples on the floor.

"I guess that's my cue," Myles declared as he stood up. He bowed and held out his hand. "Would you do me the honor of allowing me to be your dance partner? Let us show the world our skills in terpsichorean choreography that will have them favorably comparing us to the greatest of dancing duos, none other than Astaire and Rogers."

The corner of her mouth pulled up in a slight grimace. "Well, I don't know about Fred and Ginger but I'm pretty sure we could be compared to Fred and Wilma Flintstone." She looked at Bobby and Sue. "It's not him—it's me. Even after eight years of ballet lessons, I'm still pretty klutzy," she confided.

Myles smiled. "Ah, but I love her still. Come, my love and let us trip the light fantastic."

"I hope that's not a prophetic statement!" she muttered as she stood up. She placed her hand in her husband's and smiled pertly, "I'd love to."

Bobby and Sue laughed softly when they saw Tara's fingers were crossed as they swept past them. He nodded towards the dance floor. "What do you think my physical therapist would say if I asked her opinion about the benefits of dancing for my leg?"

Her expression grave, eyes twinkling, she answered, "Depends on what kind of dancing you're planning to do."

"I gather break dancing is out."

"Only if you want to break that leg again."

"Would slow dancing qualify as acceptable?"

"It would."

"Then they're playing our song," he smiled as he rose to pull out her chair. The first song had flowed into another, couples drifting back to their tables, others drifting to the dance floor. He held her in his arms feeling at ease for the first time that night.

"As it so happens, this is precisely the kind of dancing I had in mind. Something where you can put your arm around a beautiful woman and hold her close."

"Thank you for the compliment but you do realize I can't hear the music, at least not most of it, You may need more therapy after dancing with me," she warned.

"Let me be the judge of that." They moved in perfect unison for several measures. "You dance beautifully," praised Bobby.

"It must be my dancing partner," she smiled.

"You don't need any help," he assured her. "And may I say we are dancing to a most appropriate song."

"What is it?"

"You're lovely, with your smile so warm,

And your cheeks so soft,

There is nothing for me but to love you

And the way you look tonight," he crooned softly to her.

Her cheeks flushed at the words. "Were you singing to me?"

He nodded.

"I've never been serenaded before," she confessed.

"I'm glad I'm the first. And I meant every word," he said sincerely. He kissed her gently and pulled away to smile at her. They danced a few more steps when he asked, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes," she answered promptly. "Lucy and Tara are thrilled to be here. I know it's brought back a lot of memories for you but you picked the perfect place for dinner." She looked at him thoughtfully. "How are you doing?"

His response was a little longer in coming. "Much better than I expected."

"That's good."

"People have talked about her tonight and every time I thought I couldn't take any more, you were there to help me through the moment."

"I'm glad I could help," Sue said sincerely.

"You've always helped me, Sue, even from the very beginning when we met, when I was wallowing in my misery. You were one of the few people telling me what I needed to hear." He smiled at the memories. "I'm grateful, Sue, very grateful."

"Bobby?"

He looked at her.

"Is that what you feel for me—gratitude?"

His eyes searched her face and saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "Don't you remember this morning? Or the words to the song? 'There is nothing for me but to love you.' You…Sue Thomas. You've taught me that it's possible to love again even when I thought it wasn't."

"You always knew that, Bobby," she said seriously. "You just had to work through your grief."

"And found you waiting," he smiled warmly as he marveled at his good luck in meeting this woman.

-----

Tara sighed.

"What?" asked Myles, his arm draped over the back of his wife's chair as they sat out this dance. Lucy and D were still going strong. "Tired? It's been a busy day."

"No, I'm not tired," she denied. "Just look at them."

"Them who?" he asked forgetting his grammar.

"Bobby and Sue."

His eyes settled on the couple. Tara was right—there was a glow about them that was undeniable. He had never seen Sue so lovely. Although there was no other woman for him but his wife, he still appreciated the attractive picture Sue made,

As for Bobby…no one would believe it was the same person that first came to the clinic. His twice-weekly dose of Sue's sunshine had changed him from the most prickly of patients to the smitten man on the dance floor.

"Ain't love grand?" he said with a trace of acerbic wit.

"Don't you remember those days, Myles?" she asked slightly annoyed with his flippancy.

"I recall those days very clearly because I still am very much in love with my wife," he told her. "Each and every day I'm with you reminds me of how much I love you," he declared.

She looked at him in surprise. "Why, Myles! I didn't know you had such a romantic streak in you."

"I've always had this romantic streak," he stated. "However, it may have been dormant recently due to the increased responsibilities of home and work. I do plan to rectify the situation and this little jaunt is but a step."

"I like the sound of that," she said appreciatively.

-----

Tara and Myles weren't the only ones watching the couple. Cindy had been keeping a surreptitious eye on the pair throughout the evening. She was not pleased.

That woman was ruining her plans, she frowned. She had planned to wait until she was sure Bobby would make a full and complete recovery. Then, she was going to pop back into his life and take over Darcy's place in his affections. However, she hadn't counted on competition in that hick town Bobby had moved to.

She had met Bobby first…before Darcy. She had been interested in him from the get go and believed he could have been interested in her given time.

And he had been, she'd convinced herself, until…until Darcy had been introduced to him and like everything else she really wanted, Darcy had stolen him away from her. It wasn't fair…it just wasn't fair! She was just as attractive as Darcy…some people said she was even prettier. As a successful ad exec, she had connections that would be helpful to Bobby. Why couldn't he see she was perfect for him?

Well, she would just make sure that Bobby was made aware of her desirability. It shouldn't take much effort to oust that blonde from his arms and affections. That woman was attractive if you liked the type but how could she possibly compare to a sophisticated New Yorker like herself? That's the kind of woman Bobby fell in love with once and he would do so again. She would make him fall in love with her. A little plan began to percolate in her mind.

"Alec darling," she purred to her escort, "why don't you ask that pretty blonde with Bobby to dance with you? I'd like to have a few moments with him. I haven't seen him since Darcy's funeral."

"Sure," agreed her genial companion. "Why not?"

They walked over to the couple on the floor.

"Darling," interrupted Cindy as she laid her hand on Bobby arm. "You've monopolized this woman all evening," she gently chided him "Why don't you let someone else have a turn? Alec would love to dance with your friend."

"It would be my pleasure," smiled Alec.

Sue's eyes darted from Alec to Cindy then Bobby. "Bobby?"

When he didn't answer immediately, Cindy cajoled, "I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes…please."

Bobby looked at Cindy. She had something up her sleeve. Better to find out than be unpleasantly surprised.

"Do you mind?" he asked Sue apologetically.

She shook her head briefly. "No."

"One dance and one dance only," he told Cindy. "I promised Sue this would be our evening." He flashed Sue a dimpled smile and reluctantly let her go.

As Cindy slipped her arms around Bobby and whisked him away, his eyes followed Sue and her temporary dance partner.

Alec smiled and held out his hand. "May I have the pleasure?"

Sue placed her hand in his. "I'm not a very good dancer," she told him as he wrapped his arm around her.

"You could've fooled me," he answered with a smile. "From what I've seen, you're a wonderful dancer," he flattered.

She chuckled. "Then you must have seen very little. When I step on your toes, don't say you weren't warned."

Alec laughed. He liked this woman who could poke fun at herself. "I consider myself warned." They moved a few steps. "You are a wonderful dancer!"

"I bet the women say the same thing to you."

"Well," he began feigning modesty, "I don't mean to brag but yes, I'm considered a pretty fair dancer."

"I like a man who's humble," she teased.

"Oh, I'm as humble as they come," he agreed cheerfully.

Beneath his sophisticated facade, Alec was a genuinely nice person and appreciated the same quality in others. He recognized it in Sue.

"You can ask anyone here so you'll probably like me a lot…maybe better than Bobby."

For a moment, the slight flirtation was forgotten as Sue replied softly, "I don't think that's possible."

Although he hid it, he was startled that this woman whom he barely knew would be so open with him—no pretense where her feelings were concerned. He found himself experiencing mild regret that he hadn't met this woman before Bobby. He smiled at Sue.

"Bobby is a very lucky guy."

------

"She's lovely," said Cindy breaking the stony silence.

"She is."

"What was her name?"

"Sue."

"How did you meet?"

Bobby looked at Cindy. "Are you really interested?" he asked bluntly.

"I'm always interested in anything that concerns you, Bobby. You know that," she replied with false sincerity.

He did not answer.

Cindy's lips tightened for a second, then relaxed. "You're looking well,"' she said trying another tack.

"Thanks."

"Moving to that town must have been just the thing you needed to get better."

His face softened slightly. Moving had been a good idea—he met Sue. "Yes, it was."

"Now that you're better, when are you planning to move back to New York?"

"I don't know and frankly, Cindy, I don't care."

His response startled her. Bobby was more infatuated with that woman than she originally thought. She would have her work cut out for her but she would do it. Bobby would soon be hers.

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