Chapter 2

Armando's

Stacy and Jim arrived in separate cars. Jim arrived first, and pulled the owner aside. "Look, Armando. Tonight is going to be a big night for me. I'm going to ask Stacy to marry me. Hooker, Stacy and her father are joining me here. We're going to turn it into a party. Any way you can help me out?"

"Sure, Jim. I've got a great table. How do you want to pop the question? Do you want to put the ring in Stacy's drink?"

Jim laughs. "You know, I haven't even thought that far. What would you suggest?"

"Jim you have to be romantic about it. Hmm… leave it to me. Give me the ring. I promise, I'm not going to take off with it."

Jim dug the ring box out of his pocket. The ring was a one caret engagement ring. "Guard it with your life, will you, Armando?"

"Nice. Perfect for Stacy. You can count on me, Jim. This ring will not leave my sight." Armando put the ring in her pocket. He had a perfect idea on how to present the ring to Stacy. He sent one of his bus boys out to find one of the flower street vendors. The owner gave him the money to buy a single red rose. Armando then showed Jim to the table she had in mind.

As Jim sat down, Stacy walked in. Jim quickly stood up, as Stacy approached the table. "Right on time. Hooker and your father are going to join us tonight."

"My father? Why him? He has never joined us for dinner." Stacy said as Jim pulled out a chair for Stacy, and she sat down.

"Yes, your father. I don't know why he wants to join us." He said with a sly grin as he pushed Stacy's chair back in. Jim sat down at the table as the waitress approached.

"What may I get you, tonight?" She asked as she laid down napkins in front of them.

Stacy responded first. "I'll have a glass of Pepsi. I still have to drive home tonight."

"Bring a pitcher of beer, as well. We'll have two more joining us, shortly."

"A glass of Pepsi and a pitcher of beer. Will you folks be eating, tonight?"

"Yes, but we'll wait until the others arrive, to order."

"Very well, I'll be back with your drink orders, shortly." The waitress said before strolling off.

"Excuse me, a moment, Stace. I'm going to go wash up while we wait."

"Ok, Jim. I'll stay here and wait for dad and Hooker. They shouldn't be too long."

"I won't be long either." Jim stood and hurried towards the bathrooms, but detoured once he was out of Stacy's sight. Catching up with Armando, Jim pulled him aside. "Hey, listen. Whatever you have planned, it needs to wait, until Stacy's father arrives. Watch for my signal."

"What will your signal be, Jim?"

"I will get up and propose a toast. When I do, bring out the ring."

"You might want to hurry back. Hooker has joined your table."

"I need to wash my hands, first. That's what I told Stacy I was doing."

"Well, hop to it, buddy. You can't keep Stacy waiting, you know."

Jim hurried to the bathroom and washed up, before returning to Stacy.

Meanwhile, back at the table, Hooker joined Stacy. "Where's Jim? I thought he was meeting us here, too."

"Oh, he's here. He went to the men's room. Hooker, he's acting strange. Do you know why? Is there something wrong?" Stacy asked nervously.

"I don't know why he's acting strange. He may just have a lot on his mind. I'm certain it's nothing. I'm certain there's nothing wrong. He gets moody at times, you know that."

"You're right, Hooker. I need to stop worrying so much."

While they waited for Jim and Stacy's father, the waitress brought the drinks to the table, along with three beer mugs.

"Put it on my tab. I'm buying, tonight." Hooker said.

"Certainly, Sir." The waitress was a new waitress. So, she didn't know Hooker and the rest of the group. "May I have your name, Sir, so that I might put it on your tab?"

"Hooker. Armando knows me."

As she walks away, Stacy asked. "You're buying, Hooker? Are you sick?"

"Nope, I'm just in a good mood, that's all. Ah… Jim's back. He can keep you company, while I go wash up."

The waitress walked back to her station, and placed Hooker's tab in the slot for Jim's table. Then she found Armando. "That older gentleman, sitting at table twenty, said to place the ticket on his tab."

"That's fine, Heather. I know them. They are cops. Tonight's a special night for the young lady."

"Oh, really? When's it supposed to happen?"

"Don't worry about it. I've got it taken care of."

"Yes, Sir."

"Jim are you, ok? You're acting awfully jittery, right now."

"It's nothing, Stace. Maybe too much caffeine. Who knows?"

Just as Hooker rejoined them, Stacy's dad walked in. Dennis gave a pointed stare at Jim. Jim shook his head slightly, indicating he had not asked, yet.

Armando had been watching Jim's table, and saw an older man, whom he assumed was Stacy's father, walk in and join them. Armando looked towards the back of the restaurant, for her bus boy. The owner hoped he'd arrive soon.

Just as Armando started to worry, the bus boy walked in. "I'm sorry, sir. There wasn't a vendor nearby. I had to go to a couple of blocks over to get a rose. Here it is, I hope this is the one you wanted."

"This will work. It's beautiful."

"Here's your change, sir."

"Keep it. You did more than you had to, tonight. You will make a certain young lady happy." Armando placed the ring inside the bud.

"How about a toast? To a great team." Jim said as he raised his glass.

That was Armando's cue. He walked over to the table and handed Stacy the rose.

"Who is this from?" Stacy asked Armando, as Hooker and Dennis raised their glass in toast.

"I don't know. All he said was, that he was a secret admirer."

Stacy looked at her father and Hooker, questioningly.

"Don't look at us. We didn't send it." Hooker said, with a grin.

Stacy started to bring the rose up to her nose, as Jim walked over to Stacy's side. Jim got down on one knee just as Stacy saw the ring.

"Stacy Sheridan…"

Stacy gasped as she realized what Jim was doing. She brought a hand to her mouth.

"Will you do me the honor and be my wife?"

Stacy looked at her father and Hooker, who were grinning from ear to ear, before answering. "Yes, Jim, yes. I will marry you." She knocked him over as she jumped from her chair to hug him.

"Whoa!" Cried Jim. As he caught her.

Tears of joy were shimmering in her eyes. "You two knew, didn't you? That's why you're here."

"Of course, Stace. Jim came and asked my permission, before he asked you." Dennis said as he helped the two of them up off the floor. He gathered Stacy into his arms in a hug. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm happy for you. I love you." He whispered.

"He asked my permission, as well. How could I say no, to a man whom I know and respect. I know you love him very much." Hooker said as he shook Jim's hand. "Congratulations, Jim. Treat her right, or you'll have more than her dad to deal with."

Jim grinned. "I always have and I always will."

Stacy hugged Hooker, "Thank you." She turned to her father. "Thank you, both."

Armando walked over their table. "Well this calls for a celebration. May I hug the bride to be?"

Stacy grinned at Armando. "Well of course. You were in on this, too? Weren't you?"

Giving Stacy a hug. "Not from the beginning. I was brought in to assist with the proposal. A round of drinks, for everybody, on the house." He called to everyone in the restaurant.

As everyone cheered and offered their congratulations, Stacy turned to Jim. "It was beautiful, Jim."

"I couldn't have done it, without Armando's help."

"It doesn't matter how you did it. It was still beautiful. I love you, very much."

"I love you, too." He leaned down and kissed her. "Let's join the party. After all, it's for us."

Stacy leaned into his kiss. Once he released her, she responded. "Lets. I'm hungry, by the way. Are we going to eat or just drink?"

Everyone at the table laughed. "We're here to eat, as well." Hooker said.

"I'll have a steak, medium well." Stacy quipped back.

"Uggghhhh… What happened to a medium rare steak?" Asked Hooker.

"Order what you want." Stacy's father spoke up. "Hooker and I are paying."

"Sounds good to me." Jim added. He had wrapped an arm around Stacy's waist.

The waitress returned to their table and took their order. "When you are ready for more drinks, I'll bring them to you. I'll have your food out, shortly." Turning to Stacy and Jim. "Congratulations. May you have a happy marriage?"

"Dad, what about the rule of husband and wife not working together. Does it apply to fiancés, too?

Dennis sat his beer down, before replying. "Well you two have placed me in a fine pickle. I don't know if it applies to fiancés, as well. However, Jim has requested a transfer, so you two would not have to work on different watches. So, that problem is solved. Now, I have to find you a new partner, Stacy."

Hooker cocked his head. "Why can't we be partners? I'm not Stacy's training officer. Stacy is no longer a rookie. I don't see a conflict of interest, anymore."

"That might just work, Hooker. What do you think, Stacy?"

"I like it. Even though, I suspect he'll be as tough on me, now. As when I was a cadet and a rookie."

"Me? Tough? Never." Hooker responded.

"Oh, yeah, Hooker, I forgot. Underneath all of that gruffness is a big old teddy bear."

Everyone at the table laughed.

Pointing his beer mug at Stacy. "And don't you forget it, young lady. Just don't let it get out."

Stacy threw a napkin at Hooker.

Jim stood up as a new song came over the speaker. He offered his hand to Stacy. "Shall we dance?"

Stacy took his hand and stood. "I thought you'd never ask."

While they danced, their food arrived. They returned to the table, and ate. There was a lot of friendly banter going on around the table. Stacy, however looked deep in thought.

Dennis thought he knew the reason why. He'd have to talk to Stacy, later. Now was not the time.