“Cover your eyes, Fred. We need some privacy. She’s my girl now.”
He put his hand up as if to cover Fred’s eyes and then kissed me again. And again.
Another song from the movie now provided the perfect backdrop, so we continued to dance. And dance. And dance.
I could still hear the music long after it ended. In Jordan’s arms, I found myself lifted to the heavens, where life truly felt as breezy as a song.
Maybe this was the way Ginger had experienced love too. Some internal rhythm had kept her toes tapping and her heart twirling long after the song ended. And maybe, just maybe, she was smiling down on us now, offering congratulations from above. I had a sneaking suspicion she and Fred were still dancing too.
Three Little Words
I adore the man. I always have adored him. It was the most fortunate thing that ever happened to me, being teamed with Fred: he was everything a little starry-eyed girl from a small town ever dreamed of.
Ginger Rogers
I’d no sooner said yes to Jordan than a sudden fear grabbed hold of my heart.
“Mimi!”
He looked around as if trying to find her. “Your grandmother’s here?”
“No, you don’t understand.” I took a seat in the front row. “You and I are getting married, which means I’m moving out.”
“Right. That’s the idea.”
“Yes, but Mama’s about to flit off from country to country, which means she’s basically moving out too. That leaves Mimi . . . by herself.” Emotion overtook me in that moment. Would Mimi really have to spend her golden years alone? The idea made me feel sick inside.
Jordan took the seat next to mine. At about the same time, Fred and Ginger reached a complication in their romance on the screen.
“God has a plan for all of this, Gabi,” Jordan said. “I know he does. So just rest easy, okay? And trust me, we’ll live close by. You can still spend as much time with your grandmother as you like. Here’s an idea—why not continue to office out of the house?”
My heart felt lighter at this proclamation.
“Now, I hate to cut this moment short, but we have a little party to get to.”
“A party?”
“Yep. Come with me, please.”
I waved goodbye to the usher as he opened the door for us and followed Jordan with my hand tightly clutched in his as we made our way to the car. I quizzed him nonstop, but he wouldn’t give up any information except to say, “You’ll see.”
When we pulled into the driveway at Club Wed, I could see all of the cars in the parking lot and the lights on inside.
“Jordan, what in the world . . . ?”
“A real Fred and Ginger experience awaits. Be prepared to dance your heart out.” He leaned over and kissed me, then got out of the car and came around to my side to open the door. Minutes later, hands tightly clasped, we entered the reception hall at Club Wed to a rousing cheer from the crowd.
The crowd?
Heavens to Betsy! The place was filled top to bottom with friends and family. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but Jordan had acquired a forties swing band, and they played a rousing tune as Jordan hollered, “She said yes!” upon our entry.
Everyone went a little crazy at this point. The bandleader shifted gears and started playing the “Wedding March,” and my BFFs came running my way—all three of them. Well, four if you counted Kitty. Five if you added in Mama. And Mimi Carmen, who stood at a distance, tears tumbling down her face, made six.
I looked around, completely mesmerized, but extended my left hand to show off the ring for so long that I got a cramp in my arm.
I nudged Bella and said, “You arranged all of this?”
“With a little help from some friends.” She gestured to Scarlet and Hannah. “We’ve been waiting on pins and needles for half an hour. I thought you’d never get here.”
“But how did you know I’d say yes?”
“Are you kidding?” Bella laughed.
Scarlet jabbed me in the arm. “Because we know you, goofy. Besides, who could say no to a suave guy like that?”
“True.” I gave Jordan a little wink.
“We even have presents!” Hannah took me by the hand and pulled me to a gift table fully loaded with all sorts of unwrapped Fred and Ginger items. She handed me a poster of my favorite dancing duo, one I’d never seen before. My eyes swept across the beautiful scene—the two of them flitting across the stage—and I was transported back to what had just happened at the theater. What almost escaped my notice, however, was the quote at the bottom.
“Check it out.” Bella pointed to the text and I gasped as I read it:
“Ginger was brilliantly effective. She made everything work for her. Actually she made things very fine for both of us and she deserves most of the credit for our success.”—Fred Astaire
“No way.” I looked at my friends and grinned. “You’re saying Fred actually credited Ginger with their success?”
“Obviously. He thought very highly of her.” Bella leaned in to share the next part privately. “You know, there are really guys out there who think highly of women, right?”
“I do now.”
“Yes, you do. And don’t you love the fact that they aren’t as rare as one might imagine?” She gestured to Jordan, who flashed a great smile.
I reached to slip my arm around his waist, and he drew me close, then cleared his throat. Gesturing to the older couple standing nearby, he said, “Gabi, I want to introduce you to someone.”
He didn’t even have to say the words. I knew the minute I looked into his mother’s tear-filled eyes. She reached over and hugged me and spoke the words, “We’re so thrilled!” into my ear.
Turned out Jordan had his father’s build and his mama’s eyes. And as Mr. Singer—the senior—offered me a rousing “Meet the in-laws!” I realized that Jordan had also acquired his father’s sense of humor.
We dove into a wonderful conversation, but it was soon interrupted by D.J. Neeley, who made an announcement. “The bride-to-be and groom-to-be are going to share a special dance.”
“We—we are?” I jabbed Jordan and lowered my voice. “I thought you weren’t going to make me dance in front of an audience.”
“This isn’t an audience. These are our friends and family.” He took my hand and led me to the dance floor as the music began for “A Fine Romance,” one of my all-time favorite Fred and Ginger tunes.
The crowd cheered as Jordan pulled me into his arms. Before long it didn’t matter that we had sixty or seventy people looking on. I saw only one, and his eyes were glistening with tears.
When the song ended we took a little bow, received a round of applause, and then the party began. The band kicked off the dance portion of the night with some rousing swing music. Turned out the Splendora Sisters were pros at swing. Two of them—Twila and Jolene—danced with their husbands. Bonnie Sue searched the room for a partner, finally setting her sights on Bella’s little boy, Tres, who seemed to have a good time.
Mama seemed to be enjoying herself too. She and Jordan’s parents spent much of the evening chatting and laughing. No doubt they were already planning my big day.
My big day!
I had a wedding to plan. How—and when—would we pull this off with Mama out of the country?
Ah yes. June. She had the month of June free. Looked like we would be hosting an early summer wedding.
As I spun around the dance floor in my sweetheart’s arms, my thoughts shifted to my wedding dress. A thousand images came to mind at once. How would I ever choose just one? Looked like I had my work cut out for me.
Cut out for me. Ha!
When the music ended, Bella insisted that I take another look at the gift table. I loved every single Fred and Ginger item, but the poster still took the cake. From the moment I read Fred’s words about Ginger, I realized he had seen her as a person of value from the get-go.
Thinking about this reminded me of my father. I would have to tell hi
m about the wedding, sure. I might even invite him. But someone else would be walking me down the aisle.
I turned to search out Mimi Carmen and found her wrapped in Daniel’s arms on the dance floor, oblivious to the fact that the music had stopped. Oh well. I would tell her later.
Jordan and I had a blast going through the gifts, and when we were done he looked my way with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Speaking of presents, I have a little pre-wedding present for you.”
“Pre-wedding?” I laughed and looked around at the guests, who all smiled ear to ear. “And again I ask, how did everyone know I’d say yes?”
He grinned. “I had faith, of course. Do you want to see your present?”
I glanced down at the gorgeous ring on my finger—truly the prettiest thing I’d ever owned—and sighed. “How could it possibly be any better than this?”
“It’s not better,” he said. “Just . . . different.”
“Well, I’m ready.”
He took my hand and hollered for everyone to follow us outside.
Outside?
We walked to the front of Club Wed, and an unfamiliar red SUV pulled into the driveway behind Jordan’s car. Armando got out and walked my way with a smile on his face. He handed me the keys.
“What in the world?” I walked toward the SUV with the crowd following behind me. “Are you saying this is mine?”
Jordan nodded. “It’s yours. I couldn’t wait until after we were married to get you the car you need. I want my bride to be safe.”
“And you need a vehicle to haul all of those amazing gowns around in,” Mimi Carmen said. “This one is perfect because you can put a clothing rack right here.” She gestured to the area above the backseat. “See? And there’s plenty of room in the back for a portable sewing machine, and even a little area for your supplies.”
“Wow.” Just one word was all I could manage. I finally got control of my senses long enough to slip my arm around Jordan’s waist. “You really did this for me?”
“Yep.” A look of concern filled his eyes. “I know you love that old Ford Focus.”
“I-I do?”
“Yeah, it’s got a lot of character, I know. But to be honest, every time I saw you drive off in it, I was a nervous wreck. Now I won’t have to worry.” A dazzling smile lit his face. “Sorry this new one doesn’t come with rust built in. And it’s got that annoying little side mirror on the driver’s side. I know how much you hate those.” He gave a little wink.
I hardly knew what to say, so I opted to say . . . nothing. Instead, with my friends and family looking on, I climbed into the driver’s seat and Jordan took the passenger side.
“Let’s take ’er for a spin,” Jordan said.
“Okay.” I closed my eyes for a moment, blinking away the tears that threatened to emerge. As I did, I caught a teensy-tiny glimpse of Fred and Ginger waltzing across the dance floor. I giggled as I pictured Ginger carrying her Academy Award across the stage, all smiles. I now knew just how she felt.
I fumbled around with the keys, my hands shaking, and finally managed to turn on the car, which caused my guests to cheer.
Moments later, as I backed the SUV out of the drive and pulled onto Broadway, I glanced at Jordan, who looked perfectly comfortable in the passenger seat. Well, until I almost ran the first light because I was so distracted by the car’s cool GPS system.
“Sorry!” I hit the brake.
He laughed. “There’s a lot to learn when you make the jump from an older car to a newer one, but you’ll get it.”
“It’s just so . . . advanced.” I laughed. “Hope I can figure it out.”
“You will. If you can figure out that new sewing machine, you’ll get this in no time.”
“New sewing machine?” Now he had me puzzled.
“Man.” He put a hand on his forehead. “And I call myself a reporter. I’m lousy at keeping secrets.” He gestured back to Club Wed, now disappearing from view behind us. “Your friends out there . . . they have another little gift for you. Only, it’s not so little. They all went in together to get you a machine that will go the distance.”
“Are you serious?” I wondered if my heart could possibly handle any more.
“Yep.” He leaned in to whisper, “But please don’t tell them I gave away their little secret, okay? Bella will kill me.”
As if Bella could hurt a flea.
“I won’t tell them.” Oh, but how my mind reeled! A new machine? One of my very own?
In that moment the strangest sensation flooded over me. As much as I needed—and wanted—a state-of-the-art sewing machine, I would miss Mimi Carmen’s old Singer. It had brought Jordan and me together, after all, and deserved a place of honor in my life.
“So, I had this idea,” Jordan said. “You know how you told me that your grandmother’s sewing machine is going to be willed to you one day?”
“Yes. But how did you know I was thinking about that?”
“Because I know you.” He grinned. “I say we put it on display in our home. As soon as we find our own place, we’ll set it up in a place of honor.”
Wow. Great minds really did think alike. But all of this thinking ahead stuff was starting to make me dizzy. In the past few hours I’d acquired a husband-to-be, a home-to-be, a sewing machine, and a brand-new vehicle. And a lot of really cool Fred and Ginger memorabilia. Oh yes, and in-laws-to-be.
I drove around the corner, closing in around the back of the wedding facility. Minutes later, my heart in my throat, I pulled the car into the drive again, and Mimi and the others met me at the door.
We got out of the car and answered a thousand simultaneous questions and then led the way back inside. Before we headed to the reception hall to gather up our gifts, Mimi Carmen took hold of my arm. The anxious expression on her face concerned me a little. Perhaps she’d already started to worry about living alone. I would put her mind at ease with Jordan’s suggestion that I office out of the house.
“Now, Gabi, I know you’re busy and all, but I need to ask a little favor.”
“Anything,” I said.
“Maybe tomorrow or the next day, you could take my measurements?” She lowered her voice for the last few words as Daniel appeared.
“Take your measurements?” I whispered in response. “Why? The dieting thing?”
“Well, that, and . . .” Her cheeks flamed pink as she spoke louder. “Because I need you to make me a dress, and I want it to fit just right.”
“A dress for my wedding?” I asked.
“No.” She chuckled and slipped her arm around Daniel’s waist. “A dress for my wedding.”
“A—what?”
The most delightful smile lit her face and she giggled. “A girl can’t exactly get married in her everyday clothes, now can she?” These words came out in Spanglish, so I thought for a minute I might’ve misunderstood.
“Mimi, are you saying . . .” I looked back and forth between the two of them, just to make sure I had the story right.
“She’s saying that she’s agreed to be my bride,” Daniel said. “Best birthday present I ever got. But you’ll need to hurry up and get that dress done quick-like. At our age, there’s no waiting around to get married.”
“That’s right.” Mimi grinned and nuzzled close to him. Joy bubbled in her laugh and shone in her eyes. “I don’t mean to steal your thunder, Gabi, but we’re in a hurry and some things just can’t wait. We’re not getting any younger, you know. We want to get married pronto.”
“As in weeks, not months.” Daniel gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Think you can handle that, kid?”
“Oh, my Gabi’s a whiz. She can handle anything.” Mimi and Daniel turned back toward the other guests, hand in hand.
In that moment I truly felt my world whirling around, coming loose from its axis.
Mimi Carmen was getting married.
Mama was setting sail.
And I . . .
A giggle arose. I had better get busy desi
gning dresses for my grandmother, a host of brides . . . and myself. Looked like the closet dress designer was out—for good!
Epilogue
Shall We Dance
Oh, there’s no such thing as my favorite performance. I can’t sit here today and look back and say Top Hat was better than Easter Parade or any of the others. I just don’t look back, period. When I finish with a project, I say, “All right, that’s that. What’s next?”
Fred Astaire
On the third Saturday in December, I donned my dance shoes and rehearsed the steps Jordan and I had learned in our most recent class. It felt like I’d never get it right. And on a day like today, a girl really needed to have her steps down.
Jordan arrived at six o’clock, dressed to the nines, and ushered me out to the car. Mimi Carmen and Daniel followed behind, chattering all the way about their honeymoon cruise, which had—according to Mimi—been epic. I only hoped she wouldn’t share the details. I’d heard more than my fair share already.
No, tonight was all about dancing, and not just for fun. Tonight I would meet one of Hollywood’s biggest superstars and watch him dance across the stage at the Grand Opera Society alongside other former Dancing with the Stars contestants. Afterward those who wanted to join the stars on the big stage could do so for an hour of ballroom dancing.
I had butterflies.
Looked like Jordan had butterflies too.
We arrived at the event to find the Rossi family in the foyer, hyped and ready. Bella took me by the hand and gave me a little wink. “Ready to meet you know who?”
I nodded, but my feet wouldn’t cooperate. I couldn’t even walk, let alone dance. Jordan stayed behind to chat with D.J., and I followed behind Bella to the greenroom, a small area off the stage. The security guard gave her a nod, and she entered the room, all smiles.
“Brock? There’s someone I want you to meet.”
The larger-than-life hero took hold of my hand and shook it. “Gabriella. I’ve heard all about you.”
“You—you have?” I stared up into that gorgeous face and found myself unable to speak further.
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