Cindy kept her word. As soon as we were finished breakfast, and the dishes were done, we left for the mall. She had made an appointment for me at her favourite salon for later that morning. As she told Anthony, her favourite hairdresser, "Don't cut her hair at all, just give her a nice new hairdo." Her theory was maybe after the game Billy and I could go to out to celebrate at a real nice restaurant. So she wanted me to look special for Billy.
After we got my hair done, we went back to the house to find a suitable dress for me among my clothes. She and I finally decided on a really nice long red dress with lots of lace. What she did was put it in a plastic wrap that she had never bothered to throw out from the cleaners. Then when we left for the game, she carefully put it in the car. We parked the car at one of the Toronto Transit subway stations and took the subway down to the Gardnes.
We had arranged to meet Paul in front of the Gardens. Cindy, who had brought the dress, kissed her husband. Paul took one look at me and gave me a wolfish whistle, "Wow! Sherri, you sure look great."
Paul opened the front door and let Cindy and me through before he entered. We went to the left past the great hall that had many portraits of past Maple Leaf greats on it. We climbed the stairs to the topn of the building. Our seats were in the gold section, behind the Sabres players' bench.
Unfortunately, even though the Leafs put in a great effort, they managed to lose the game by one goal - 4-3 - an empty net goal with only 30 seconds left, by Gilbert Perreault.
After the game, we waited until the crowd was gone before we even attempted to go near the dressing room. Because Paul was a former Maple Leaf, he was able to get into the dressing room. So he took advantage of the privilege to inform Billy that I was waiting for him. Cindy and I just waited outside in the corridor.
Paul was only gone a few minutes when he returned to us. He had a message from Billy - "He is anxious to see you. As soon as he is finished with the guys from the press and he has a shower and changes, he is all yours. He will probably be 15 or 20 minutes."
Billy was as good as his word. While I was waiting for him, I got a Diet Tab from one of the pop machines. I had no sooner started to sip it, when he appeared from behind the door with the sign TORONTO MAPLE LEAF DRESSING ROOM. NO UNAUTHORIZED ADMITTANCE." I watched him look around in the nearly emply corridor. When he spotted me, he gave me one of his biggest grins, which I learned later was just reserved for me. He hurried over to me. I put my Tab down on the counter. He gave me an affectionate hug.
I began to sob joyfully.
He brushed away the hair from my right ear. He put his mouth next to my right ear and whispered so only I could hear him, "I missed you so much. You were on my mind all day. The only time you were not occupying it was when I was playing the game. I just have one thing to say to you right now. I love you and I want to marry you as soon as possible."
I gave a fake sniffle and said in a little girl's pouting voice, "I went to the beauty parlour and spend all day under a hot dryer. And what thanks do I get? You didn't even notice."
"I sure did notice. You look great. I just wanted to say the other stuff before I told you. I thought of what I wanted to say to you all day. Paul made some reservations at the Old Mill restaurant."
"Well, I guess brilliant minds think alike. That is what Cindy had in mind. I brought a dress picked out that I brought to change into in case you got the idea Cindy got."
"Good idea. You should be able to change in the ladies' washroom down the hall. In the meantime, give me a kiss to show you how much you missed me."
I did exactly I was told. After all, I had waited well over twenty-four hours to be with him, and didn't desire to disappoint him. Cindy, my mentor, and I went into the ladies' room. She helped me put on a touch of make-up.
Billy and Paul were waiting for Cindy and me outside the washroom. After Billy gave me a huge hello hug, we were off. Cindy took my change of clothes back to their house. She and Paul had promised that sometime the next week that we would get together so that I could get the rest of my belongings.
Meanwhile. she had packed a small suitcase for me because, after dinner, he had arranged no matter what time, we had finished we were going to Sunset where Billy's mother and sister, Estelle, lived.
Billy had his own keys and we could get in the house. It would probably be well over 3 a.m. when we would finally arrive.
After kissing Paul and Cindy good-bye, and thanking them for their hospitality, I was in Billy's care. He took my hand. Quickly we made our way to his Firebird convertible which was parked outside the back of the Gardens. He gave me a very quick passionate embrace when we finally reached the car. "Alone at last", he commented "I thought I would never see this moment. Ready to go?"
I answered, "I sure am."
He used his key to open the door on the passenger's side for me and closed it after I had gotten into the car. He went around to the back of the car, opened the trunk and put my suitcase in it. He went to his side of the car. He used his key to unlock his side of the car. He slipped into the seat behind the steering wheel. Before he put the key into the ignition to start it, he leaned over and kissed me tenderly on the lips. "You do look fabulous." I was looking forward to being in his arms as I knew he would want to have at least one dance with me after dinner.
Dinner was all I had hoped it would be. I had never been to a really fancy restaurant before and being with Billy made it even more special.
Billy ordered his usual steak - medium rare - and I decided to be daring and try some scallops. We decided to order a bottle of wine.
I can still remember every detail of the evening, even after almost thirty years. It was one of the most romantic nights of my life. Billy knew that I love that type of thing. Even now, we still sometimes slip away, just the two of us for a night to ourselves.
He took me in his arms after the slow dance and told me again, "I want every day to be as special as tonight has been. So if I forget to tell you at least one hundred times a day that I love you, I want you to remind me." He leaned over and kissed me. We went back to the table to pay the check. Then it was time to get our things and be on our way to Sunset.
I re-inforced my commitment to the relationship and informed Billy, "I had a terrific time tonight and I am looking forward to a life with you. "
After we left The Old Mill Restaurant. we headed to the parking lot. Billy opened the passanger side door for me and held it once again until I got in safely. He rushed over to the other side of the car and unlocked the door.
It was well after 3 by the time we reached the house where the Dukes lived. It was upstairs above the general store where they lived. When the Dukes had bought the store, it did not have the complete upstairs and the family build a few rooms on it so they could just live there. Billy had a key to the structure, so we tried to be as quiet as possible when we got there. We both got dressed in the dark. Billy's sister was bunking in with Billy's mother so I could have Estelle's room. We quietly whispered good night to each other before getting into our separate beds.
