Disclaimer: See chapter 1
-----------------------------
Reid popped a bite of delicious prime rib that was cooked to perfection into his mouth while Allie was enjoying her tender chicken cordon bleu. "Did I tell you that you look gorgeous tonight?" he said after a bite of baked potato with sour cream.
Allie looked up from her plate and smiled coyly. "Yes you did," she reached over and squeezed his hand that rested on the table, "but a woman can never hear it too much." The restaurant wasn't crowded and they had gotten a very good table. The dim lights and the soft music piped through the establishment added to the romantic ambiance. Allie looked at her husband past the flickering candlelight from tapers on either side of a lovely floral centerpiece. Allie had remarked to the maitre de how beautiful it was and was informed that the flowers had been ordered by her husband. "It's a challenge these days," Reid raised his eyebrows when she spoke. "A lot of the clothes that looked really good on me are tight since I had Joanna. I'm trying but it doesn't seem to want to come off."
"What are you talking about, you look great? I love the way you look. Don't change a thing," he said.
"That's because I'm usually dressed these days," she replied.
"Oh yeah, right, as opposed to the good old days when I actually saw you naked, these days I'm lucky if I happen to get a glimpse of your breast now and then, which I really enjoy, by the way; and we actually had sex." He got a dreamy look in his eye. "Tell me we're going to have sex again someday."
"Of course we are, another month," she squeezed his hand again.
"How can three months seem so long? Will Joanna be sleeping through the night by then, because if she decides she's hungry just when you and I are..."
"We'll stop and feed her, won't we," Allie giggled at her husband.
"Yeah, we will," he said in a matter of fact tone. "Hey, just think, you might not need birth control."
"Yes, I will," she swatted him playfully with her napkin. "Joanna won't be a baby forever."
"Yeah, I know and it scares me to death," he replied as the waitress came to clear their dishes and asked if they'd like dessert.
"No," Allie was saying at the same time as Spencer was saying, "Yes."
"We'll have that deep fried cheesecake with the cherry sauce and lots of whipped cream. It's delicious," he told the waitress.
"Very good sir," she said, ignoring Allie who was continuing to shake her head.
"You're a big help," Allie said. "I've got to go to the ladies' room. I'll be right back."
As soon as he saw Allie turn the corner to the ladies' room Reid pulled out his cell and hit speed dial. "What do you want Reid," was the greeting he got when the phone was answered.
"Hi Garcia, is everything alright? You seemed rather short on the phone. Is everything okay with Joanna?"
"Everything's fine Reid. The little angel woke up and I was going to feed her but the others wanted to as well so we drew straws. JJ got to feed her. Emily got to rock her and I got the dirty diaper. She's sleeping again."
Reid worked hard at suppressing his laughter. "Well that's good Garcia. I have to go, Allie's gone to the ladies' room and she'll be back soon and I don't want her to know I phoned. Bye."
As soon as Allie got out of the ladies room she took out her cell and pressed speed dial. "Hello," said the voice on the other end.
"Hi Emily, it's Allie. Is Joanna okay? I just thought I better check, you know, since we've never left her before."
"She's fine Allie," she said as she looked at the other two who were rolling around on the couch in laughter. "How's the date going?"
"Really good, Spencer got me some lovely flowers and there are candles. It's really nice. I just came to the ladies' room and I thought I'd call. Spencer doesn't know. I don't want him to think I'm some kind of worry wart or something." Emily reassured Allie that Joanna had been fed, changed and rocked back into happy slumber. "Okay, thanks Emily. I have to get back before Spencer misses me. Bye."
-------------------------
Chico and William sat in the lounge. Neither was involved in any of the activities. Chico had told William about his meeting with Lloyd Graham. "What do you think professor?" Chico liked Mr. Graham and he did trust him but he really respected William's opinion. He'd grown up with just his abuella who he loved more than anything and his so called friends in los Guerreros, who he knew weren't really his friends but merely a way to survive. He'd never had a girlfriend. William was the only person besides his grandmother that he really cared about.
"I think it's a good thing Chico." He put his hand on his young friend's back. "It can't turn out any worse than it is now so you've got nothing to lose and possibly a lot to gain. Your lawyer, I'm sure he's a good man and he'll take care of you."
"Thanks professor, I don't know what I was expecting but you're right. It can only be good."
William hoped so. He hoped Lloyd could get whoever was judging Chico to see what a kind and gentle person he was and how he'd worked to improve himself in prison. He believed that he could. He had entrusted someone very precious into the hands of Lloyd Graham. He had to believe he'd made the right choice for once in his life.
--------------------------
Allie had decided that after dinner she'd like to go to a cozy lounge called Smooth, where they played soft jazz and easy listening music. One singer was accompanied by a pianist. Tonight the sign outside said the singer was Maureen Day, a beautiful, plump, black woman with long hair that flowed halfway down the back of her sleeveless gown in gold sateen. She was singing a soulful rendition of God Bless the Child when they entered and found a table near the middle of the room. There was a fair crowd for a weeknight but the place wasn't full. Reid pulled his and Allie's chairs to one side of the table where they could both watch the singer. He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. They both ordered club soda, Reid was driving and Allie didn't want to drink when she was breast feeding.
Maureen Day had started on 'It Had to be You' when Allie said, "Let's dance, pleeeease?" Reid couldn't ignore the pleading in her eyes. It was her night and if she wanted him to dance, he'd dance or whatever his movements on the dance floor could be called, he thought to himself.
There were several other couples on the small dance floor. Reid led Allie to the farthest corner and took her in his arms and they began to sway to the music. "Hmm," Allie moaned as she put her head on his shoulder and he could feel her breath on his neck. Their arms tightened around each other as the songstress lent her sultry voice to an Etta James classic.
At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh yeah yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
At a table at the back of the lounge, Sharon Webb watched Reid and Allie on the dance floor. Look at them, she thought, you couldn't fit a paper clip between them. Enjoy it while you can bitch. He's going to be mine. She began to mouth the words along with the singer.
Oh, yeah yeah you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell is cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last
----------------------------
At Last composed by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon