Slipping her hand gently around Charlie's elbow, Addie walked beside her husband into the Stork Club.  It was their first outing since their moved to New York and Addie was actually giddy with delight.  In New York social circles it was well known that anyone who was anyone eventually found themselves frequenting this club.  It was a hotspot for elites who came to see and be seen.  Many a business deals were haggled and arranged within this establishment.  It's main floor was a dinning room with a dance floor and in its VIP Cub Room a few poker games could always be found.

Over the last decade, Addie had left behind the star-eyed wonder of an out-going youth in favor of being a settled, married woman and mother of two.  She use to dream of exploring the country and the world, but that had all changed when she met Charlie Bryant.  After the death of her twin brother and the fall of Philly, the Bryant's had agreed to leave "the life" behind to start a family in Columbus, Ohio where his family lived.  Motherhood had suited Addie and she had been very happy.  She loved her husband and her children.  However, now that Mirella and Giovanni were both of age to go to school, she found herself yearn for something more.  

As always, Charlie was very supportive of her.  He had given up his stable job in Ohio and agreed to move their family to New York so that Addie could once again re-enter the mob life.  Neither of them denied the danger that such a move could present to their family, but it was foolish to think that danger could not find them in Columbus now that Billy was bringing his family back to the US and setting himself up to take over New York.  After all, Gio had been on a remote farm in Italy and they had found and taken him from her.

Looking up into her husband's eyes she smiled, "Thank you for getting all gussied up for me.  I know you are not fond of black tie affairs."

The fact of the matter was that Addie had heard the owner of this place was looking for financial backers and she wanted to check it out before making the decision.  It would be a silent partnership that stood to be very lucrative if done right.  Not only did a lot of money flow through this place, but the information that could be gathered in such an establishment represented a golden egg.

Charlie smiled and nodded to his wife, the dutiful husband role suited him well once, and it suited him well again. Truth be told it was easier to do this than to work every day and provide for his family. Sure, he still did things around the city for Billy, but he could keep an eye on his wife more, he could spend more time with his children, and most importantly, on a normal day at least, he could think about his poker games and where he was going to take the boat next.

"Anything for you my darling. You know, this place is even fancier than I imagined it when you told me. I guess being in the middle of Ohio for a few years really brought my expectations back to earth."

He chuckled then and nodded to the doorman as he and Addie made their way inside.

"So, I know we're not just here to dance, but I would like to get at least one in when your business is done. Is that alright?"

He was not a great dancer, not like Billy or Aurora, hell he couldn't even keep up with his own wife most of the time. But it wasn't about the dancing, it was about being able to hold Addie and move with her to the sound of music.

Addie grinned and hugged his arm as she laid her head against his shoulder for a moment, "To be honest I will be disappointed if we only dance once."

Lifting her head she introduced themselves to the hostess who confirmed their reservation and showed them back to their table.  It wasn't the best table in the place, but it wasn't the worst either.  They were seated several layers of table away from the dance floor, but still they had a good view of who was in the place.  Sitting down the waiter took their drink and meal orders.  The menu was simple with a choice between beef, lamb, or chicken.  Addie ordered the lamb and then took a moment to take in her surroundings.  When the waiter left, she reached out to take Charlie's hand.

"We are here for business, but tonight business is experiencing all that this club has to offer.  I thought we could have dinner, do some dancing and then head back and check out the VIP Cub room.  I have heard that there is suppose to be a fairly high-stake game of poker to take place tonight."  She grinned and added, "I submitted your buy-in this afternoon."

Charlie's eyebrow climbed as Addie mentioned a poker game and a buy in.

"You know, just because a man wins more often than not in Columbus doesn't mean he has any right being at a table in New York city."

He picked up her hand and kissed it then. "Thank you though. That will be something to look forward to. But first, I think dinner and dancing. Maybe a drink if you're up for it. After all it IS supposed to be a date right?"

He turned to the waiter and made sure to order the beef and asked for some bread for the table before the waiter popped off. Within a minute he could feel his own foot tapping to the beat of the music. The band was damned fine, better than he had heard in years. Even better that it was a real band and not just the radio.

"Music is good at least huh?"

"Better than good."  Addie stood up and invited Charlie to join her with a bit of a pull.  "Come on let's take a swing while we wait for our food."

Charlie eagerly lead her to the floor where a few others couples were also taking advantage of the big band music that filled the dining room.  It was a soft, slow melody that would be easy to dance to and it was not long before they had claimed their spot on the floor with Charlie pulling Addie against him.  Addie glowed with delight as she looked up into Charlie's eyes.  She loved having his hand at the small of her back as they swayed from one foot to the other.  Lightly Addie allowed her finger tip to stroke the back of his neck softly.

"Did you get to spend a little time with Billy?  I know how much you missed having him around and I am sure he missed you too."

Both families had been busy getting moved in, making new homes, enrolling children into schools, and setting up shop so to speak.  Even though they both lived in the same neighborhood, they had yet to spend much time together.  However that would be changing soon as the families had agreed to start sharing Sunday dinners together.  

Charlie shrugged.

"He's a bit busy right now, but I made him promise to come fishing with me on Monday. He cleared his schedule right then and there, just like old times when we made a plan." He struggled for a second but caught his own breathing again. It was a difficult life without your best friend. Addie was wonderful, but Billy had been his rock when he hit the bottom after the boy got killed. Billy pulled him him up out of that bottle and he never asked for anything in return.

"What about you? You spend any time with your cousin yet? Or his wife maybe? I know you two would love to get to gossiping and exchanging recipes right?" The corner of his mouth perked upward as he said the last. They both knew full well that neither Addie, nor Aurora, were typical housewives. That's what made it all the funnier to Charlie. There were times he thought he might be more domestic than Addie was, though not lately.

"No I have been to busy to spend any real time with either one, but Mirella did ask to go over to their place this afternoon to hang out with the twins.  I think she really likes having them around.  It is helping her to adjust to a new school and new friends."

The song ended and Charlie led her back to their table where their drinks awaited them.  As she normally did, Addie had chosen a red Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with her lamb.  She enjoyed the rich fruity taste.

Picking up the glass she began to examine the wine for quality; first by looking at it in a variety of ways and then by smell.  Finally she gave the wine a bit of a swirl before lifting the glass to her lips.  It wasn't the most idea setting to do a proper taste testing.  The crowded, the cologne, the perfume, not to mention all the fresh flowers that were everywhere, would undoubtedly interfere, but it would do for her purposes tonight.  After a small sip she allowed the taste to settle on her tongue before she smiled and looked at Charlie.  He was always so indulgent with her and never interrupted a tasting.

"It's very good.  It will go well with the lamb when our meal arrives.  How is your drink?"

Charlie smirked and shrugged. "You know me, it's wine. Some are good, some aren't. This one's good." He looked toward the dance floor.

"So what do you think so far? Like the place? Love the place? Hate the place? If you want my two cents I'll give it, but I'd rather wait to see what the poker room looks like first."

He lifted his glass again and then gestured toward the band. "Bet they cost a pretty penny though, considering how good they are. Think they are only here for now, or they a house band?"

He had noticed that they all were wearing the same colors, they had impeccable shoes, all shined up. Charlie was willing to put money on house band. He had never met a band that had looked so coordinated in his life. Then again, he really only had met a handful of bands.

"So far I am impressed with what I have seen and heard, but I want to also reserve a final judgement until the end of the night."  She smiled and looked loving at him.  "Just like tasting a wine is more than just the actual act of drinking it, I want to encounter the entire experience."

It wasn't long before both of their meals were brought to them and as they ate the couple talked about the various on goings in their lives -- the children's new school, the re-modeling that was occurring in their new home, and the plans that they had in the works for the upcoming week.  Addie also took the opportunity to point various persons of power that were at the club that night.  There were politicians, celebrities, businessmen and other known mobsters.  

It was a rather nice evening and after a few more dances, they made their way back to the Cub room.  At the door, Addie spoke with the 'head waiter' who granted them access after referencing a paper with a list of names.  Once inside Addie noted the odd, uneven, oval-shape that the room had.  It was decorated in pink tones, wood paneling  and there were no windows.  On the walls were paintings of beautiful women, some of whom Addie recognized and some she did not.

Men were already beginning to assemble at one of the poker tables in the room and Addie turned to face Charlie.  She took a moment to straighten his tie a bit.  "Do me a favor and have fun.  These guys are not profession poker players.  I believe you can hold your own with this group."  Leaning up she kissed him and moved to whisper into his ear, "And while you are playing I will be working the room and listening to conversations."  

Pulling back she smiled at him and patted his arm before moving towards the bar to get herself a drink, "Good luck."

It had been four hours and most of the other men in the room had left. Charlie had lost track of where his wife was until very recently when she decided to come and sit on his lap to distract the other men by playing at having him explain the game to her. She was strategic about it, she did it when she knew he had a hand that was easily going to beat the table and forced him to calm himself rather than run men out of the pot. Charlie and two other men were left in the game now because of her moves. One of them kept looking at Addie too as she would pass by to get Charlie a drink. It did not go unnoticed.

"Alright boys, I'm done for the evening, I want to take my wife home, so unless you're going to force me to play till we drop I say we call it where we are."

The man who had been looking at his wife shook his head.

"Not how it works slowpoke. You're either gonna forfeit what you've got there, or you're going to play till you're done. If you need a break, you can ask for yours. Everyone at the table gets a chance to call for a break every hour. That what you're doing?"

Charlie shook his head. "No, guess not, alright then I'll raise you to the end here." He pushed in enough chips to force both men to go all in if they were to call. And they both did. Charlie glanced up at Addie and winked. "Well gentlemen, four Aces take the night?"

The sighs around the room told Charlie all he needed to know, and both men stood up. The quieter of the two shook Charlie's hand, which the bastard wife-stealer made his way out without a word. As soon as the room was clear, Charlie made to kiss his wife on the neck.

"Well my love? What did you learn from the rabble tonight?" He let his hand fall to the lock on the door and slip it closed.