Excerpt of On Angels\' Wings by Joanne C. Berroa

She was dancing a fox–trot with a young man in a devil's costume when she noticed a pair of crutches leaning against the side wall. They made her think of Johnny again and she sighed.
Just then, a tall Robin Hood tapped the devil she danced with on the shoulder and said, "May I cut in?"He wore a green, half–face mask. The devil shrugged and released Anne.
The green–costumed Robin Hood swept her up into his arms and pulled her close. Anne gasped as she looked into deep blue eyes. "Johnny?" she asked, breathlessly.
"Robin."
She chuckled. "Johnny, you're dancing."
"Uh–huh. I brought my crutches just in case."
"But you're dancing without them. I'm thrilled."
The band signaled it was time for her to return to stage for the next set. Johnny released her then tipped his hat and strode away. She watched him go, noticing a slight limp, but otherwise he was walking without the aid of crutches. A strong sense of pride enveloped her and she almost flew up on stage she was so happy.
She took the microphone and said to the group, "Excuse me, boys, I want to tell you a little story." The commotion in the hall dimmed. "Someone I know has proven to me tonight he could move mountains and his courage is as big as his heart. When he was down and out with no hope, he said, ‘I'm not going to let this get me down,' and today he's accomplished his goal. Fellas, I give you Lieutenant John Morgan."
Clapping filled the room. Johnny sat in the rear of the hall at a table and shook his head, obviously embarrassed.
"Come up on stage, Lieutenant Morgan. I have a song for you," Anne said.
Johnny gave up the ghost, pushed back his chair, and stood up. Slowly he made his way on stage and stood next to her. "I'll get you for this," he said good–naturedly to Anne.
The band struck up the opening notes and moments later she was pouring her heart out to strains of Frank Sinatra's Old Black Magic.
"Sing, Lieutenant," came a few shouts from the crowd.
Johnny chuckled, but surprised Anne by belting out the lyrics to the song flawlessly, as though he'd practiced with her before. His baritone voice was loud and clear and they sounded good together. She sang happily, her eyes locked with his.
He took her hand and held it as he sang, "For you're the lover I have waited for."
"The mate that fate had me created for," she sang.
They finished the remainder of the song in perfect harmony. All during their duet the audience cheered, clapping wildly. Then Burt, on his trumpet, played a slow, romantic ballad called Moonlight Becomes You.
Johnny pulled Anne into his arms. A large mirrored ball suspended from the ceiling rotated slowly as they danced on stage, casting prisms of flickering, bejeweled light cascading around the darkened hall. It shimmered across Johnny's hair and mask like moon kisses.
She closed her eyes and like the flickering of a hummingbird's wings, Johnny's lips brushed her cheek. Her heart beat wildly and she blinked. Though his lips were warm, she shivered.
He pulled her even closer and she felt the heat of his hard, muscular chest wedged against her breasts, the firm pressure of his hands at the small of her back. There was noise and music, song and chatter, but she heard nothing but the excited beating of her own heart in harmony with his.
The song ended and he stepped back. "Thank you, Annie," he said, bowing to her. Without another word, he went back to his table.