Here and Now

by Constance O'Day-Flannery

  “Tonight, Suzanne, I am paying for everything. Allow me this.”

  “All right,” she answered, closing her purse. Laura had brought his check in the morning and together they had gone to the Social Security office and then the bank to establish an account. He really was all set now to take off on his own. Again, she stopped herself from going down that path, yet it seemed that’s all she could think about.

  Charlie paid the toll and pulled onto the bridge as though he’d done it every day in rush-hour traffic. She thought about all he had been through in the last two months and secretly she was very proud of him and the way he had adapted. He was quite a man in any time, and once again realized she was blessed that he had come into her life. It wasn’t a coincidence. She truly believed it all had been meant to happen.

  They rode in silence, enjoying each other’s company, and Suzanne relaxed as they entered the city. It was so nice to be with someone with whom you didn’t have to make conversation. Just being in each other’s presence was enough. She looked at the lighted skyline, the familiar buildings, and told herself to memorize this night. It would have to last a long time.

  The valet parked the car and Charlie held out his arm to her. His smile was devastatingly sexy. His auburn hair was combed back from his forehead. His clothing was impeccable and he looked like he could pose for a Ralph Lauren ad. What a fortunate woman she was to walk in on his arm.

  She looked up at him as they made their way to the entrance. “Thanks for tonight, Charlie.”

  Gazing down at her, he grinned. “No, thank you, Suzanne. You honor me tonight.”

  Yeah. She was going to miss him.

  She watched as Charlie expertly handed the maître d’ money and they were shown to a table by the window, not far from the dance floor. It was obvious in his own time Charlie had been comfortable in social situations, for he now seemed almost like a man of the world. He held out her chair for her and then seated himself. The maître d’ unfolded their napkins for them and then handed them the menus. When they were finally alone, they looked at each other across the crisp white linen and the small crystal vase with cymbidium orchids and grinned like two kids who had finally been set free.

  “I can’t remember the last time I acted so grown-up,” Suzanne said with a giggle. “It feels like I’ve been pregnant or cooped up in the house forever.”

  “You deserve this night, Suz. Let’s order champagne.”

  “Oh, I don’t know if I should.” And then she thought about the previous day, when she had spent hours expressing breast milk for Matty. He wouldn’t drink two bottles in one night. “Okay,” she agreed, unable to hold back her smile. “Let’s celebrate!”

  Looking very pleased, Charlie held up his hand to signal a waiter and then ordered Dom Perignon. When the waiter left, she couldn’t help her expression of surprise.

  “I asked Laura what would be a good champagne in this time,” he said in answer to her unspoken question.

  She was touched that he too wanted this night to be special. A part of her was just sitting back, watching Charles Garrity come alive—not as a time traveler, someone she had to protect and instruct, but as a highly confident man, able to conduct himself with anyone. He was exactly “what she wanted, a man who was honorable, kind, responsible, funny, and sexy—and he was soon going to leave her.

  He looked out the window to the trees that were wrapped in tiny white lights and whispered, “You made a good choice tonight, Suzanne. I like this place.”

  “So do I,” she murmured, just as the waiter came back with their champagne in a bucket of ice.

  Charlie sampled the wine and nodded to the waiter, who then poured it into their glasses. He thanked the man and then picked up his glass as the waiter left their table.

  “I would like to make a toast,” he announced.

  Grinning, Suzanne held up her own glass.

  “To the loveliest woman I have ever known, in any time. Thank you for your kindness, your intelligence, your patience, your humor, and especially your love.”

  She felt tears entering her eyes. “That was beautiful, Charlie. Thank you.” They touched glasses and sipped the delicious wine.

  “I can never repay you for all you’ve done for me,” he said, placing his glass on the table and reaching inside his suit jacket. He brought out a flat box and Suzanne immediately recognized it as being from Bailey, Banks and Biddle. “Please accept this with my gratitude, and my love.”

  Her hand was shaking as he placed the box in it “Charlie, you didn’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, I did. I needed to do it. Please accept it, Suzanne.”

  Biting her bottom lip, she held her breath as she opened the box. “Oh, Charlie,” she breathed. Nestled against black velvet was an exquisite gold necklace with a diamond pendant in the shape of a star. The diamonds were perfect and sparkled brilliantly in the dim lights.

  “I don’t know why, but I was drawn to it. Perhaps because the diamonds reminded me of your eyes—bright, sparkling, the first thing I saw in this time.”

  “Oh, Charlie, it’s absolutely beautiful!” she whispered, taking it out and holding it in her hand. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

  “I love it,” she proclaimed. “As a matter of fact…” She placed the necklace back on the box and reached up to unfasten her pearls. “I think I’ll wear it right now.”

  “Allow me.” He rose from his chair and came to stand in back of her.

  She handed him the necklace and inhaled deeply as his fingers brushed her skin. She felt the weight of the jewelry on her chest, his touch at the back of her neck, and she couldn’t help but reach up to capture his hand when he finished fastening the necklace. She looked up to him as he stood beside her. “Thank you, Charlie… for everything.”

  He smiled tenderly at her and squeezed her hand before sitting back down. “It looks lovely against your skin, Suzanne.”

  “It’s stunning, Charlie,” she said, touching the diamond star and feeling it take on the warmth of her body. “I’ll always treasure it.”

  The waiter came back and recited the specials and then gave them more time to look over the menus. Suzanne’s mind was reeling and she found it hard to concentrate, but finally settled on the salmon al forno. Closing the menu, she leaned back in her chair and gazed at the man sitting across from her.

  After a few moments, he looked up from his menu and smiled. “What?”

  She shook her head. “I’m just looking—and appreciating.”

  His grin widened. “I think I’ll have the chicken abruzzi. Sounds a bit exotic.”

  She nodded her approval. “You’ll be experiencing so many new things now, Charlie. Are you prepared?”

  “As much as I’ll ever be,” he answered.

  She simply nodded as their waiter came back and they gave their selections. Better not to touch on that subject, she again reminded herself. Tonight she could pretend that they had all the time in the world.

  The band started to play music and she watched as the dance floor began to fill. There were couples in their twenties and couples in their sixties and all ages in between. As she was watching them, Charlie asked, “May I have this dance?”

  Grinning back at him, she nodded, and he came around the table to pull out her chair. He followed her to the dance floor and then they faced each other, that moment of indecision as to whether they actually could dance well together. Charlie reached out to hold her waist and Suzanne placed her hand upon his shoulder as he took her right hand in his left.

  And then they moved—slowly, sensuously, gracefully, in an old-fashioned waltz. It was a dance from his time and she was grateful that she could follow as he led her around the dance floor, easily maneuvering the space between the other couples. She stared up into his eyes and he smiled. It was so right, so natural. She sensed his movements and her body followed as they seemed almost to glide across the dance floor.

  She felt very
feminine, being held respectfully yet firmly in his arms. Everything seemed to disappear around her, the other couples, the band, even the tables. There was nothing but Charlie, the way his green eyes were smiling down to her, the way her breasts brushed his jacket, the clean scent of him, the almost tangible sexual tension between them.

  “You’re quite a dancer,” she murmured, with a smile of happiness she couldn’t deny.

  “Why, thank you, madam. And may I say the same for you?” For the first time he looked around him to the others on the dance floor. “We are doing quite well, aren’t we?”

  She laughed. “Yes, we are,” she agreed. “But then you’re easy to follow.”

  “You’re easy to lead,” he whispered back with a sexy grin.

  “We are talking about dancing now, aren’t we?”

  His eyes became a deeper green and he actually moaned as he looked up to the band and tightened his hold on her. “You could tempt a saint, Suzanne,” he muttered, just as the music ended.

  He held her in his arms and she looked up at him. “Neither one of us is a saint, Charlie. We’re just two human beings who love each other in spite of everything.”

  The other couples were moving off the dance floor and still he held her. “Suzanne…”

  She simply nodded. “I know. I feel the same way,” she whispered.

  He broke the embrace and held her hand as they walked back to the table. Neither of them said a word as the waiter brought them their salads. It was as though they didn’t want to continue the conversation that had begun at the end of the dance. And yet, trying to avoid it they couldn’t seem to hold any other conversation.

  “How’s your salad?”

  “Delicious. Yours?”

  “Wonderful.” She watched Charlie nod as he continued to eat. Dear God, it was as though a wall was now erected between them. Desperate to find something to talk about, something neutral, she said, “Isn’t it nice that couples of so many different ages come here? There’s young people and older couples.”

  Charlie looked around the room and again nodded. “It’s a very nice place.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Charlie. Why is it so awkward between us?”

  “You think it’s awkward?”

  She nearly groaned. “Of course it is. We keep avoiding the one conversation we should be having.”

  He was saved from answering as one waiter took away their salads and another placed their dinners in front of them. When they were once more alone, he looked across the table and smiled sadly. “Just for tonight, Suzanne, let’s pretend I’m not leaving tomorrow. Let’s have a good time.”

  Her heart felt like it had dropped six inches right into her stomach. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”

  “Yes, but we have tonight. Didn’t we say we were going to celebrate?”

  “Tomorrow,” she repeated. She shouldn’t be stunned. She had known this was coming. Maybe she thought she could put it off, if she put it out of her mind.

  He reached across the table for her hand. When she felt his warm skin enclose her fingers, she experienced the burning of tears at her eyes.

  “Don’t go to tomorrow yet, Suzie. Stay here with me, right now. Let’s eat and dance and enjoy ourselves. Let’s make memories.”

  And so here it was, the moment when she could decide to remain miserable or accept his invitation to stay right here with him and enjoy their last night together. His fingers tightened on hers, as though to request an answer. Swallowing down her fears, her questions, even her tears, she forced a bright smile and asked, “What kind of memories are we talking about?”

  He laughed and released her hand. “Well, we’ll start off by eating this meal, which, by the way, smells delicious. Then, if you can stand it, I would love to take you back onto the dance floor.”

  The decision was made. Tonight she would make memories with this man who had captured her heart. “Gimme your best shot, Mr. Garrity,” she murmured. “I can stand it.”

  “What a woman,” he said with a chuckle as he picked up his knife and fork.

  “You’ve got that right,” she said, following his suit. “Don’t ever forget it.”

  He looked up from his dinner and stared at her. “I could never forget you.”

  With all her heart, she prayed that was the truth.

  20

  How she wished they didn’t have separate seats. A sports utility vehicle was not exactly a romantic car, and she sure would have liked to sit next to Charlie as he drove them home. Maybe it was the champagne. Maybe it was the dancing, sometimes so slow and so sensual that she could feel his arousal against her belly. She sighed deeply, remembering how she had taught him to slow dance in a more modern style, closing up the space between them. He claimed he liked it, though he wasn’t sure it was truly proper. She loved that about him, being so old-fashioned and worrying about her reputation, as though he always wanted her to appear at her best. He was protective of her, and she found she was old-fashioned enough to enjoy it.

  They were listening to the radio, a soft jazz station, and Suzanne closed her eyes, wanting to memorize each moment, for this night had turned into the best date of her whole life. Again, she sighed deeply with contentment.

  “You sound either sleepy or happy. I can’t decide which.”

  She opened her eyes and looked at the most handsome man she had ever dated. “I’m happy,” she whispered to him.

  “I’m glad,” he answered in a low voice.

  “This is the very best date I have ever had,” she pronounced. “In my whole and entire life,” she added emphatically.

  “It is?”

  “Definitely,” she proclaimed with a nod. “And you are the most handsome man I have ever dated in my whole and entire life.”

  “Well, thank you.”

  Her hand touched the jewelry at her neck. “And this is the best gift I ever received in my whole and entire life!”

  He laughed. “In your whole and entire life?”

  “Yep. My whole and entire life. Tonight was the best of everything.”

  “You don’t think it might be the champagne talking?” he asked.

  She shook her head vigorously and when she stopped she had to wait a moment for her vision to clear. “Okay, I might just have had a tad more champagne than I would usually, but I’m happy. I want to stay happy. Don’t you want to stay happy, Charlie?” she demanded as he turned onto their street.

  “Yes, love. I want to stay happy.”

  When he pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, he turned to her. “You should get some rest.”

  “I don’t want to rest,” she retorted. “I don’t want the best night of my life to end. C’mon, Charlie,” she invited, opening her door and sliding off the seat. “Come down to the river with me. Let’s not go in yet.”

  “Suzanne, wait,” he called out as she closed her door and started walking down the driveway.

  If he said anything else, she didn’t hear him. She was already making her way across the street when he caught up with her. Threading her arm through his, she leaned on his shoulder and said, “Let’s go down to the water.”

  “It’s dark,” he protested. “You’re wearing those high heels and you could turn your ankle or—”

  “I’ll take them off,” she interrupted. “Simple.” Holding the straps of her heels in one hand, she nudged his arm with her shoulder. “C’mon, Charlie.”

  “I definitely think the champagne is talking now.”

  She giggled as they stepped onto the grass. “Oh, don’t sound like a disapproving adult. I just want to walk by the river.” Less than twenty feet farther they were standing at the edge of the embankment. The Delaware River was dark, with only the lights from the city and the stars in the sky adding to the moonlight. “It’s peaceful here,” she whispered, leaning her head against his upper arm.

  “Yes, it is.”

  She stared out to the river. “Water is an important element between us.”

  “You�
�re right,” he said, after a few moments. “It’s what brought us together.”

  Neither of them spoke for the longest time, until Suzanne could feel him, not just his body, but his energy, his thoughts. It was intangible, yet powerful, and she slowly turned to face him.

  “Will you kiss me, Charlie?”

  “Suzanne…”

  “Please. This is our last night together. I know you’re leaving tomorrow. I know all the reasons why you think it would be better if you didn’t. But I’m asking that right here and now we forget all that. Don’t you want to kiss me?”

  He groaned and looked up to the stars for a moment. Gazing down at her, he whispered, “Woman, have you no mercy?”

  “No. Not tonight. I love you, Charlie. I may never again be able to say that to you. I know you love me. Maybe it is the champagne talking right now, or maybe it’s just loosened my tongue. It doesn’t matter. What does is that we have the perfect setting to end a perfect night. And I so want a goodnight kiss.”

  She could see him smiling as he raised his hands to cradle the sides of her face. She dropped her shoes to the grass. He stared into her eyes for the longest time and then slowly, deliberately, he kissed her forehead. His touch was almost reverent, before raising her face and lowering his mouth to hers. His lips barely grazed hers in the softest kiss and then he pulled back slightly and inhaled her, before claiming her lips once again. This time the kiss deepened and passion entered into it. His hands slipped from her face and he held her shoulders, pulling her into him.

  She gladly surrendered. It was what she wanted, what she had been wanting for over two weeks, and she clasped him tighter to her, running her hands over his back, his shoulders, through his hair. His tongue entered her mouth for a quick exploration and then he slowly, gently, pulled back.

  “Lord above, Suzanne, what you can do to a man.”

  “Oh, Charlie,” she breathed, resting her forehead on his chin as she tried to recover. “That kiss—”

  “It was the best? In your whole and entire life?” he supplied with a chuckle.

  She looked up at him and laughed along with him. “Why, yes it was. You’re making fun of me.”