Post Party Double – Season 5
The only people in the ballroom were members of the cleaning crew stripping the linens from the tables and sweeping crumbs from the floor. But in the far corner from where she stood, Angela saw an unmistakable lone figure sitting at a table near the stage.
Tony.
As she approached, he swirled the last of his amber whiskey in the glass before taking a final drink.
"Savoring the last waning moments of the evening?" she asked, taking a seat next to him.
"I feel like a teenager on prom night," he said wistfully, "They may have to call the National Guard to get me out of here." A beat, and then, "Did you head downstairs with Mona?"
Angela nodded in affirmation. "There's quite the afterparty going on in the hotel bar, with Mother at the center of activity, as usual."
Tony smiled and remarked, "I thought she'd have left with Frank."
"It seems we finally found the one person on the planet who is out of even Mona Robinson's league."
They sat in silence for a bit, until Tony glanced over and confessed, "I don't think I told you how stunning you look tonight."
Angela smiled and blushed a bit at the compliment. "I suppose it worked out that Mother got the red dress."
"This one definitely suits you in every way."
"Thank you, Tony. And may I say, you're very dashing in your tuxedo."
"You may," he quipped, tipping his empty glass in her direction. "But I'm sorry I put you in an awkward position tonight. I let my excitement get the better of me, and it could have been detrimental for you."
Angela shook her head, "It's alright. I'm really glad we got to be here tonight regardless of how it happened."
"I can't lie – tonight was a dream come true for me. I may never recover from meeting the one and only Frank Sinatra."
How could you not love that irrepressible enthusiasm, Angela thought.
Tony glanced around at the mostly empty ballroom and then extended his hand to Angela. "Do you think you have one more dance in you tonight?"
She didn't even pretend coyness. "Only for you."
His eyebrows raised as she stepped into his arms. With practiced precision, his left hand curled around her waist and pulled her close. While neither seemed bothered by the lack of music, Tony began to hum, giving them a melody as they moved in perfect unison across the floor.
This was familiar and permissible. There were no walls or fears or official roles when they danced. Their guard and inhibitions were down as they shamelessly savored the closeness of their embrace. Cheek to cheek became forehead to forehead as Tony's fingers skimmed along the open back of her dress, venturing lower it seemed, with each pass.
When the tune he was humming became clear, Angela couldn't suppress the butterflies that took flight inside her. Then, softly, just against her ear, he began singing the words ...
Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum
You came along and everything's startin' to hum
Still, it's a real good bet, the best is yet to come
Best is yet to come and babe, won't that be fine?
You think you've seen the sun, but you ain't seen it shine
Wait 'til the warm-up's underway
Wait 'til our lips have met
And wait 'til you see that sunshine day
You ain't seen nothin' yet
The best is yet to come and babe, won't it be fine?
Best is yet to come, come the day you're mine
Come the day you're mine
I'm gonna teach you to fly
We've only tasted the wine
We're gonna drain the cup dry
Wait 'til your charms are right for these arms to surround
You think you've flown before, but baby, you ain't left the ground
Wait 'til you're locked in my embrace
Wait 'til I draw you near
Wait 'til you see that sunshine place
Ain't nothin' like it here
The best is yet to come and babe, won't it be fine?
The best is yet to come, come the day you're mine
Come the day you're mine
And you're gonna be mine
The clock over the door indicated it was one in the morning, and the cleaning crew was ready to take down the last of the tables before clocking out for the night. But no one wanted to break the spell that seemed to encircle the couple on the dance floor. From the wings, they all stood watching the two people, so obviously in love as they stepped and swayed to music only they could hear.