A NEW YORK MINUTE

It’s the early morning hours. The apartment in the small building in Greenwich Village stood silent and serene. Everything was in it’s exact place, perfect order. Not a hint of disarray anywhere. Even the kitchen was spotless. Of course, the kitchen was hardly used since the female of the place didn’t know how to cook and the male was too busy with his job of keeping the books for a café not too far from the building, plus his regular gigs at a popular nightclub two blocks away.

Yes, it was a busy life for Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Webber. It’s been a year since they had moved to New York City. A year of living together, love, and a very busy schedule. It’s gotten so busy that their anniversary had gone forgotten. It was the day before and neither Lucky, nor Liz had thought to take time off to do something together. This was what was bugging Elizabeth that morning as she came out of the room she shared with Lucky. It had occurred to her in the middle of the night that their anniversary had passed without even a card.

Glancing at the clock, she saw that her next class started in another hour. Just enough time to grab a muffin and a glass of juice, and rush to the subway and be at the academy on time. Her and Lucky needed to talk she knew, but there wasn’t time. There was never time. By time she got home later tonight, Lucky will be at the club getting ready for his stint on stage. Maybe she could stop by there and…no, she can’t. She had promised Mrs. Rosario down the hall that she’d finish that mural she had begun two weeks ago. By the time she was done the club would be closing, so what would be the poi nt? Sighing, She downed the juice, grabbed the muffin, gathered up her purse and books and was out the door, the need to discuss their anniversary with Lucky on her mind.

Lucky stepped out of his room with a frown. Yesterday was his and Elizabeth’s anniversary and he had forgotten. How could he make it up to her? What could he possibily say that would excuse his recent actions? Suddenly an lightbulb went on in his head. He knew what he could do for everything. He went to the phone and made the necessary calls that he needed to make and the next he went out to purchase the supplies he’d need for that night.

It had been a long and frustrating day for Elizabeth. She was late for her first class and had to stay late to make up a test. She was late for her job as a waitress at the hard rock café and she had to leave early to get back to Mrs. Rosario’s apartment on time, just to be told that the woman had company tonight and there was no way she could finish the mural. Glancing at her watch, she cursed that she wouldn’t have time to catch Lucky’s act at the club. At that moment she was just ready to crawl under her blankets and get the day over with. Unlocking the door, she stepped into the room and gasped.

Lit candles were spread throughout the room. A table sat in the middle of the room, chilled champagne in a bucket of ice sat in the middle of the room and soft music filled the room. Lucky stepped out of the kitchen looking dashing in the outfit he had worn the day they had visited the academy. He held a bouquet of white roses.

“Happy Anniversary Elizabeth,” He nervously smiled.

Her eyes widened in disbelief and tears of joy seeped from her eyes. This was the last thing she was expecting. She had thought he had forgotten and that he had gone on with their normal routine.

“How…I thought…we were so busy…I thought…”

Lucky smiled and went to her, placing a still finger on her lips, silencing her. “I just took a New York Minute and prepared all of this. I thought after the busy year we had, we both deserved it.”

“Oh Lucky!” Elizabeth threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. “I love you Lucky. You have my heart…”

“And that’s a permanent lock,” He lifted her chin so they could look into each other’s eyes. “Now and forever.”

Luke and Laura Spencer peeked out from the kitchen and smiled with satisfaction. Their plan had work. They hadn’t though it would at first when Lucky had first called but now they were glad to see that everything was indeed going as planned.

“They’re so happy Luke,” Laura glanced up at her husband, falling in love with him all over again.

“I know Angel. She’s good for Cowboy, and he’s good for her. Come on. Let’s go back in and wait for them to retire. How do you feel about gin rummy?”

Laura smiled. “I have a better idea then that Mr. Spencer.”

“Oh do you now Mrs. Spencer, do tell,” He took Laura’s hand and led her back into the kitchen, leaving the two lovebirds in the l iving room alone to dance to their song. All in a New York Minute, romance was reintroduced to Liz and Lucky and to the elder Spencer couple as well. Both couples are determined never to let it escape out of their relationships again.

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