A Night to Remember
Tom Davis sat back on the bed listening to Alana sing as she took her shower before getting ready for the surprise evening he had planned for her. He closed his eyes as the soft notes of her voice danced on the air. Tonight he would make a dream come true for Alana after ten years of the couple over coming the struggle of building a life together.
It had taken both of them working long hours and double shifts to afford the home they were living in. They had finally built up their savings so that they could cut back on their hours giving them more time to share together. Tom knew it was the time both of them had planned for so long ago. When they could start living the life they desired and achieve their repspective dreams.
As the memories flashed back through his thoughts, Tom saw the 18 year old Alana as she placed his drink on the table, the night he visited the Jazz Club where Alana's grandmother, Dixie Lee, was performing. Even in the smoky dimly lit club, he felt drawn to the beautiful young black woman and his eyes followed her the rest of the evening. He watched as she moved gracefully from table to table greeting the guest of the club and laughing softly as one or the other of her customers made comments that brought a smiles to her beautiful face. He knew he wanted this woman in his life forever.
At the end of the evening he pulled her to the side to introduce himself and let her know he wanted to get to know her better. Alana seemed hesitant to agree to meet Tom for a lunch date. She was flattered that this young good looking white man was interested but she had seen friends going through tough times with the whole interracial couple scenario and she wasn't sure she wanted to enter that type of issue at this point in her life. But Tom was persistent as he returned to the club nightly for two weeks before she finally agreed to have lunch with him.
Over the noise of the small diner, Tom learned Alana was going to school to become a nurse and waiting tables was her way of paying for her education. She had a dream of performing on stage as her grandmother did but she wanted more than the world her grandmother had. She knew with hard work she could have a home, family and a degree in nursing before considering performing on stage. Her wistfulness when she described her wishes for her future made Tom determined that he would someday make her wish to perform on stage a reality.
After that lunch Tom and Alana were inseparable. They both were working on their careers and planning a future together. They found a beautiful home in the suburbs and both were continuing their education to better themselves before starting a family. Their families and friends were always asking when they were going to tie the knot. Tom was ready but Alana wanted to wait. She would simply tell them when the time was right they would be the first to know. After ten years together, Tom knew the time was right, hence the special evening he had planned included those who had been waiting to be the first to know.
Alana hardly mentioned her dream of performing on stage. With working evenings at the local hospital and still waiting tables at the club, there just didn't seem to be time and the dream no longer seemed important. Tom noticed she sang only when the two of them were alone but tonight that was all about to change. Tom was going to make Alana's dream come true on the night he planned to propose. Besides he had his own well kept secret to reveal at the same time.
With Dixie Lee"s help he had arranged to get the club reserved for a private party. Dixie Lee was a force to be reckoned with and it had taken Tom a long time to prove he was good enough for her granddaughter. She had her reservations when they had first started their relationship and his motives behind dating Alana, but as the years had passed and she saw Tom wanted nothing but the best for her granddaughter, Dixie Lee became their strongest supporter. She had even arranged for Alana's dress to be delivered to the club for her first performance on stage. Tom had left the choice of dress up to Dixie after he gave her Alana's dress size. He knew, based on Dixie's sense of style, that Alana would be beautiful in any dress Dixie chose.
Tom had contacted family and friends with the invitations to share in their special night. He made each person aware this was to be a total surprise and Alana was not to be informed of the occasion. They were to be at the club and seated before he brought Alana to the club.
Tom had worked for weeks to find an agent to invite to the club who would be watching Alana perform. He got his list from Dixie and interviewed each person to make sure they would treat her fairly should she decide to persue a career she had dreamed of since she was a little girl. He decided on Maxwell Fox to draw up a contract for Alana to sign should she want to continue her career on stage that evening.
The shower had been shut off and Tom came back to the present. It was time to get the evening on it's way. Alana had questioned him on where they were going and what the night would entail but he would only comment that it was going to be a night to remember. He had ordered the limosine to arrive at their front door at 7 p.m. that evening and it was parked outside in their driveway.
As they arrived at the club, Alana seemed a little disappointed that their special night included a place she worked nightly. She commented on how full the parking lot was as they pulled up to the front entrance. Tom simply nodded his head in agreement trying to hide the smile he had on his face as he assured himself that he was actually about to make the love of his life's dream become a reality.
Upon entering the club, Tom guided Alana beyond the closed door to the main room of the club and steered her to the entrance to the dressing rooms where Dixie waited to help her get ready for her appearance on stage. Alana looked surprised to see her grandmother holding a dress out to her as she entered the room. Alana looked at Tom and then again at her grandmother before realizing she was meant to don the garment. After breaking the news that she would indeed be performing for the first time in the club that evening Tom excused himself to check on the details of the music he had chosen for the evening. He left Dixie to explain that Tom wanted to help Alana realize her dream because he loved her so much. Dixie also informed Alana that Tom chose Josh Hoge's song "Ain't No Sunshine" and the song "Until the End of Time" as the music she would perform that evening. Alana had no problem accepting Tom's first choice as she had been singing that song around the house for years. The latter choice had her totally confused as this particular song was a duet performed by Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. She concentrated on calming the butterflies in her stomach as Dixie helped her dress before going on stage.
Tom returned to the dressing room to escort Alana to the stage just as the music began. He stood for a couple of seconds to take in the beautiful woman he had met in this same club ten years prior. He offered his arm and led her to the stage. Alana was unable to find her voice as she stared out at all the familiar faces in the audience. She looked at Tom and he nodded as the first stands of "Ain't No Sunshine" began to play from the sound system.
After her performance met with a standing ovation from friends and family, Alana turned to look at Tom as the song "Until the End of Time" began to play. He step onto the stage and started to sing. Alana simply stood and stared as in all the years they had been together she was unaware of the wonderful voice Tom had. She joined him in the duet and their voices blended beautifully. As the song ended Tom had one last surprise for Alana. He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and brought out a ring box. Alana simply stared as he opened the box and knelt on one knee. All she could manage was to do was shake her head whisper the word "Yes".
Alana signed a contract that evening with Maxwell Fox to see over her performances in the future. She agreed to sing on weekends in the club where she had waited tables for the last ten years. Her grandmother beamed as her granddaughter decided to follow in her footsteps.
Alana had a surprise of her own for Tom. As they returned home after their night to remember, she told him she was ready to start a family. Once they were married she wanted to have their child. They knew there would be challenges ahead with both of them working and Alana's new adventure in music but together they could face their future with enthusiasm. Tom was shocked that so much had changed in such a short time and this truly would be a night to remember.