THE COCKTAIL PARTY

(Deyse)

John and Reilly were sitting at the living room and he was helping the little girl to colour some of her drawings while Roma was finishing to get ready for the party that would celebrate the beginning of Touched by an angel’s new album. It would be a small party, for the cast and some members of the crew and the singers who took part in the project but the press would surely be there too. Due to this, the couple of actors had in mind they had to be very careful with their feelings, as they had been secretly dating for some weeks and didn’t want to make their romance public until they had spoken to little Reilly about it.

"Wow! That one is great!" John exclaimed, admiring one of Reilly’s drawings. She had made a big house, with lots of flowers around it and a big sun in a bright blue sky, and there were 3 people at the door, holding their hands.

"Thanks uncle Johnny! I made it for you!" she pointed to the people, "These are mommy, you and me!"

Lost for words with the girl’s sweet attitude, he ruffled her curly hair, "For me? Really?"

"Yes!"

"Thank you, sweetie! I love it and I’m honoured! Could you give me your autograph too, so that I can put it on the wall?"

"Sure!" she wrote her name on the paper, drawing each letter carefully, and then gave it to him, "Now it’s ready. But... I wish you could live here with us, like in the picture..."

The blond angel took the drawing in his hands and smiled, "You do?"

"Yes. It would be so good! And mommy wishes the same too!" she lowered her voice and whispered into his ear, "She loves you!"

Chuckling, he nodded his head, "Well... whether I come to live here with you or not, one thing you can be sure, honey: I love you and your mom too! I love you girls very, very much!"

A broad smile appeared on her meek face and her hazel brown eyes shone with happiness to hear that, "Really?"

"Yes!" he spoke, placing a kiss on the back of her tiny little hand. It was then that they heard Roma’s voice from the stairs.

"Ok, I’m ready!"

She was wearing a beautiful dress and high heel shoes and had a cheerful smile upon her face, as the 2 people she loved most in the entire world were gathered together in the living room.

"Isn’t mommy pretty?" Reilly asked, waiting with mischievous eyes for her ‘uncle’s’ answer.

John tried to control all the excitement he felt when he saw his secret girlfriend so beautifully dressed, "Yes, she is, sweetie! She is very, very beautiful!"

"Well, thanks you two! Now, Johnny we have to go... I guess we’re a wee bit late already!"

"Ok... And I’ll take my present with me!" he said, showing her the drawing her daughter had just made. The actress looked at it and then at him, with a loving and tender smile, as if completely agreeing with the little girl’s intentions. They both kissed Reilly goodbye and left the house in John’s car.

"I guess I won’t be able to do that!" the actress complained, sitting next to him on the passenger’s seat.

He didn’t understand her words, "Do what?"

"Stay with you all this time without hugging or kissing you!" she finally said, with some dissatisfaction.

Chuckling at her annoyance, he stroked her cheek for a second, "Well, secret dating has some disadvantages, sweetie!"

"I’m sorry I’m making you go through this..."

He quickly became serious and held a finger to her lips, "Hey, hey... I don’t want you to feel bad about it, I told you already; it’s ok for me, honey!"

She looked at him with her brown eyes full of love, "I love you!"

"I love you too, Roma. For the rest of my life."

Smiling, she couldn’t resist and leaned over to place a kiss on his cheek, as he was driving and couldn’t turn to her.

"You know... I guess I can solve this little problem..."

The actress looked at him with intrigued eyes and they stopped at a red traffic light. Then, he bent to the side and, cupping her chin, placed a sweet kiss on her lips, "Let’s make a deal?"

"Yes... but... what deal?" she was all too confused, but unable to think properly whenever he kissed her.

"Every time the traffic light is red, you will owe me a kiss, Ms Downey!"

Now smiling broadly (and loving his idea) she nodded her head, "Ok, I guess we have a deal, Mr Dye!"

They kissed again for some more seconds until the lights were green. And then, whenever they stopped at a red light, they would repeat the same ritual; which turned to be a good idea as the windshields in John’s car weren’t totally transparent and nobody would see who was inside the vehicle.

"You’re always thinking of new ‘kissing ideas’!" Roma exclaimed, as he gently stroked her cheek.

"Consequences of being completely in love with you, sweetie..."

She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck for some seconds, placing tiny kisses on his lips, "You’re not the only one who is completely in love around here!"

They shared one more kiss when they heard an impatient horn behind them and, although they hated it, the couple had to move away.

*

But as soon as they arrived at the party, their little game had to finish and sadly the two actors had to go on separate ways. Della was there too, as well as Martha