Page 19 of One More Time

Her vivacious energy was exhilarating, as was her crimson tassel-hemmed sequinned dress, kitten heels and red lipstick, so much so that Charlie found himself momentarily flabbergasted.

‘I’ll go any way you want me to, Miss Denver.’ He stepped out and strode around to do the gentlemanly thing. But he didn’t open her door straight away. Instead, he took her hands in his, then stepped back a little to drink her in. ‘You look absolutely captivating.’

‘Why, thank you, Charlie.’ She curtsied playfully then eyed him up and down, her finger trailing a path over his chest. ‘In that white shirt and sexy leather jacket, you’re giving Fonzie a damn good run for his money tonight.’

‘Exactamundo.’ Chuffed Grace had just likened him to the Fonz, Charlie gave his collar a flick as he playfully imitated his favourite Happy Days character. ‘Lightning bolt, right here.’

Her eyes sparkling, Grace laughed at his antics. ‘Look out, I think I might be up for a crazy night, given the playful mood you’re very clearly in.’

Charlie flashed her a charming grin. ‘You have no idea just how crazy, my darling Grace.’ Pretending not to see her questioning glance, he opened the door and grandly gestured her toward it.

As she settled in, Charlie took a fleeting look toward the front porch, which had him meeting the eyes of Victor Denver. The towering man’s thoughtful expression gave way to a smile as he gave Charlie a meaningful nod. Grateful for the magnitude of what any onlookers would see as simple acknowledgment between men, Charlie returned the gesture – Victor’s approval meant the world to him.

Lighter on his feet, he climbed back behind the steering wheel. Grace’s floral perfume had filled the car, along with her vivacious spirit. ‘So, are you ready for a night of dinner and dancing?’

‘Am I ever?’ She jiggled in her seat. ‘I’ve been counting down the minutes all day long.’

‘So have I.’ Charlie revved the growling engine to life and, having chosen Grace’s favourite band to accompany them in the tape player, he backed out and headed toward their customary date-night Italian restaurant.

‘Oh, Charlie, I love this song. Can we turn it up?’

With Grace having converted him into an ABBA fan, Charlie didn’t need to be asked twice. ‘Your wish is my command.’

With unbridled passion and gusto, they sang the lyrics to ‘Dancing Queen’, way out of tune. Charlie felt so happy within this moment, he thought he could almost burst. Grace had shown him a side to life he’d never experienced before, one filled with optimism and hope and so much joy.

Minutes later, they pulled up in one of the only parking spaces left along Romance Avenue – the disco era was in full swing, and Saturday nights were all about food, music and dancing.

‘You wait right there, beautiful.’ After racing around to her side, Charlie opened the door and helped Grace out then, hand-in-hand, they headed into the packed restaurant, where they were ushered past couples gazing lovingly at each other to their usual table, nearest the window, by their usual waiter, Luigi.

The scent of roasted tomatoes, garlic and basil mouth-wateringly lingered, and Dean Martin’s ‘That’s Amore’ played in the background. It was a fitting place to fall even deeper in love with the amazing woman at his side. He felt such pride to be the lucky man accompanying her, to be the man she blushed for, the man she adored, and Charlie couldn’t help but kiss Grace’s cheek right before he pulled her chair out.

‘scuse me, lovebirds.’ Luigi flashed a toothy grin. ‘Will it be the usual drink order tonight?’

‘I might be a little wild this evening, Luigi, and order something different.’ Candlelight flickered over Grace’s features as she ran a dainty finger down the cocktail list then asked the lively waiter for a grasshopper, and a whisky sour for Charlie.

‘Good choice.’ Luigi looked to Charlie. ‘And would the gentleman like to order the meals?’

Charlie looked to Grace, his grin feeling as if it were permanently planted there. ‘Are you going to be a rebel with the meals tonight, too?’

‘No, Charlie.’ She smirked spiritedly. ‘I might stay safe on that one.’

Charlie ordered their standard dinner to share: fettuccini carbonara, a Pavarotti pizza and a garden salad, which they would inevitably share. Luigi scribbled it down and shot off like a bullet toward the back of house. Once they were alone, Charlie took the moment to lean in, take Grace’s hands across the table, and draw in a steadying breath.

He couldn’t wait a second longer.

‘Grace, I … uh …’ He’d rehearsed what he was going to say all day long, but now he was utterly tongue-tied. Why was it so hard for him to tell her the news she’d been praying for?

Her warm smile fading, Grace eyed him warily as her fingers tightened around his. ‘What is it, Charlie?’

Desperate to ease the worry from her eyes, he quickly said, ‘I’m a free man, Grace.’

‘A free man?’ Her head tilted as she momentarily considered his words. Then she sucked in a sharp breath. ‘Oh my, you mean …?’ Her hand went over her beautiful heart. ‘You’ve left the army?’

A lump of emotion suddenly lodged in his throat, robbing Charlie of the ability to speak. Instead, he nodded. ‘Mm-hmm.’

‘I didn’t think you were going to do such a thing, not ever. Oh Charlie.’ Grace shot to her feet. ‘You’ve honestly just made me the happiest woman alive.’

Charlie fought to return Grace’s wide smile, but his lips were quivering and his heart was suddenly galloping like a wild horse’s hoofbeats. Everything around him blurred. And what was the swirling sensation in his stomach, as if he were plummeting to his demise? He blinked faster, but reality seemed to shift, splinter … then shatter. All he could smell was incense, fairy floss and … hospital disinfectant?