December 1974

"Oh Rhoda, he's perfect. He's absolutely, positively perfect," Mary gushed about her latest beau, Tom Darling.

"You kids hit second base yet?" Rhoda asked with a hint of disdain as she reached up and took her curlers out. She was always a little skeptical of Mary's boyfriends, mainly because she cared about her so much and to see her best friend hurting was one thing she couldn't bear.

"Oh Rhoda," Mary laughed. "You don't have to be so bitter."

"Are you kidding me? My best friend has been on two dates with a guy and now you're practically walking down the aisle. Pardon me if I'm a little bit skeptical."

"I'm sorry, Rho. I know that this is really sudden, but I do think that he's the one," Mary couldn't keep the twinkle out of her eyes.

It's not that Rhoda didn't trust her friend's judgement, but Mary had been serious before, and then there was always some major flaw with the guy.

"Well, if you're happy, then I'm happy. When do I get to meet this Prince Charming?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh uh soon," Mary insisted. "Now I have to run or I'll be late," she threw a bag over her shoulder and left in a hurry.

What kind of a guy didn't pick a girl like Mary up at her apartment? Rhoda decided that she was just being silly because she would never admit that she was really incredibly jealous.

Later that night, after Rhoda came back from her bummer of a date, having kicked her heels off, terribly dejected, she received a phone call from Mary asking her if she wanted to meet Tom. Of course she did and invited them over for coffee at her place. She secretly hoped that the guy was as much of a jerk as she thought he was because she really wanted to lay into someone after the crummy evening she had.

A knock on the door prompted her to say, "come on in, kids!"

"Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Thomas Darling," a tall muscular looking man said as he extended his hand out for Rhoda's.

"Well, I see what Mare sees in you," she said, eyes wide, clearly not about to go out of her way to make this man feel welcome.

"Oh, Rhoda's just a big kidder," Mary shot her friend a look.

"No, she has a point. I don't know what you could possibly see because you're far too good for me."

Rhoda liked this confession and decided to give this man a chance.

"Would you care for some cheesecake?" She asked, her voice much warmer than before.

Tom looked over at Mary for a moment, no doubt taking in her encouraging, slightly pleading expression. She knew that a sure way Rhoda would warm up to a person was if she saw that they had a hearty appetite.

"Yeah, we'll stay for dessert, why not?"

Rhoda laughed when her friend let out a sigh of relief. "Mare, you're way too high strung. Help me with the cake?" She asked, motioning to the corner of her small apartment. They turned their back to Mary's date and began to whisper.

"He seems like a real keeper. Now try to relax, alright? I'm not gonna pester him with questions just because my date ended badly," she whispered, and her friend reached out to squeeze her hand.

"Oh, Rhoda," she breathed and smiled before going over and sitting down on the couch next to Tom.

The feisty New Yorker took her time getting the sweets and coffee ready so she could watch the couple interact. Tom seemed to be in awe of Mary and never interrupted, only nodded his head or smiled when it seemed appropriate. His smile seemed to reach his eyes, and he never tried to grab Mary's hand or put an arm around her which Rhoda found refreshing.

"Are you about ready, Rho?" Mary asked, and her friend snapped out of it.

"Yeah, yeah of course, this stupid coffee maker is slower than my mother at an antique store," Rhoda offered by way of apology.

"One of these days you'll have to meet Ida," Mary laughed and glanced at Tom as she took her plate and mug from Rhoda.

"Your mother I assume?" He directed his question at Rhoda.

"Yeah, Ma is...Ma is wonderful until you get to know her."

"Oh come on, you love her," Mary insisted.

"That's true, but then she always has loved you after you helped out at my sister's wedding."

Rhoda thought she saw a certain change come over Tom, but then she decided that she must just be seeing things.

The women laughed and regaled for a bit before Thomas thanked Rhoda, but insisted that they had to get going.

Rhoda frowned at this but saw that Mary seemed eager to leave as well so she just wished them well with the rest of their evening and closed the door behind them.

He didn't seem too bad, she thought. Of course Rhoda didn't think he was just perfect for Mary, but then again any guy who was good enough for Mary probably didn't exist.

The next morning before she went in to WJM, Mary called Rhoda up and told her to have breakfast at her place. Rhoda would never turn down a free meal, and she knew that breakfast was just a cover.

"So did you like him?" Mary asked as soon as her friend sat down to her eggs and bacon.

"Yes, kid," Rhoda laughed. "You seem to make a good couple."

"But do you really really like him?"

"Since when has my opinion mattered so much?"

"Since you're the best friend I have, and I love you."

This tugged at Rhoda's heartstrings. She loved Mary too.

"Yes, I like him, but I would have to see more of him before I just fell in love like you," she teased.

"Oh, you will. I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot of each other."

This was a fairly short chapter just sort of setting the scene. I hope you like it so far. Reviews are my encouragement xx