Two and a half weeks passed since the wedding. Agatha hoped Grace would be home and calling soon though she wasn't confident. She still couldn't believe that she and Oliver had managed a proper honeymoon with a child along. Even if they were home she figured Grace would be preoccupied for the time being. Yet, she couldn't wait any longer to tell her about Stanley. They'd been out nearly every night since their first date. Her excitement couldn't be contained any longer.

Multiple times she'd picked up the phone to call and every time she hung it back up again. She didn't want to annoy Grace before telling her. She wanted her to share her excitement. She suspected Grace would eat this up. It wasn't every day she felt so animated. The change in her mood was unmistakable. Stanley wasn't perfect. She learned his flaws as quickly as he learned hers. It didn't make a bit of difference. Actually, Agatha was happy to discover he wasn't perfect. It made everything all the more real. He liked things just so — not something she was accustomed to. The first time he stepped foot in her apartment he was preoccupied with the breakfast dishes in the sink and the mish-mosh of shoes she always tossed in the corner. It was both charming and aggravating, but Agatha was glad to know someone who liked to clean. Another thing was he smoked heavily even by her standards. It'd been a while since she'd had a cigarette herself. She hadn't realized the strength of one until now. The major obstacle was the memory of his wife. While Agatha wasn't exactly jealous, she did wonder if he could ever come to truly love her. But this was a question for another day. Both of them agreed to take things slowly. Neither was ready to dive headfirst into a full-blown relationship. All of this proved worth it. He really was a kind man who was able to look past all of her faults and see who she'd become.

A few more days passed before her phone finally rang. It was good timing, too, as Agatha was just about out the door when it did.

"We're back!" Grace said cheerfully on the other line.

With a smile, Agatha asked, "How was Europe?"

"It would have been better had we gone over Annie's summer break. We only spent a few days in England and the rest of the time was spent on the ship. It meant a lot to Oliver, though, taking me and Annie around where he grew up. I was impressed, to tell you the truth, he went to his old neighborhood at all."

Agatha listened as Grace recapped their trip. She felt bad for only half listening. She justified it by reminding herself she managed to keep quiet about Stanley at the wedding. Once Grace was through with her story she'd be free to bask in her news. But to her dismay, Grace kept on talking and was beginning to make her late meeting Stanley.

When she finally came to a pause, Agatha asked, "Hey, you around for lunch or something soon? I actually gotta run…"

"Oh, I'm sorry. You off to work?"

"No, it's my day off. I actually have a lot to tell ya."

"Is something wrong?"

"No," Agatha said, a bit annoyed that she'd assume something was right off the bat. "It's good news. I'm just in a hurry otherwise I'd catch up now. When are you free?"

"Any day this week," Grace answered. "Do you want me to come by the diner?"

"Yeah, maybe. I work all week. I might be able to get a lunch break though. Tuesdays have been pretty slow."

"Tuesday works fine. I'll see you then."

"See ya."

After hanging up, Agatha grabbed her purse and rushed out the door, frustrated that she still hadn't been able to announce her news. But she wanted the moment to be perfect. For her, going steady with Stanley officially put her old life behind her.


"Good morning!" Grace chirped as she entered the diner around 11:30 on Tuesday morning.

"Morning," Agatha smile, surprised to see her an hour earlier than her usual arrival time for their lunches.

When Agatha was finished setting dishes down on one of the tables, Grace came over to hug her. "How have you been?"

Agatha laughed. "Grace, you were on your honeymoon, not trekking the Amazon."

"Can't I be excited to see you?"

"Yeah, but you just came floating in. I see the honeymoon went well?" she winked.

Grace's face turned pink. "Shh, there's people around."

"Oh, that's right," she whispered, "when they saw the wedding announcement they knew when it came time for a baby the stork would be around."

"Knock it off, I just don't want to talk about it. And for your information, I'm in a good mood because I'm excited to hear your news. You said you wanted to tell me something?"

"Yeah, but I can't get a break until after the lunch rush."

"That's all right. I took the day off from work so I figured I'd hang around here, have a cup of coffee, and chat while you can."

"Work? Why are you still working if you're married?"

"I like to work."

"You're worth billions, kid. Enjoy it. You're living the dream."

"I've already discussed it with Oliver. As long as Annie is in school and we don't have a baby around I can keep working. And I want to. Besides, I'm not quite ready to surrender to him having a new, young, and perky secretary around."

"Better now than when you're bloated with a child."

"I'm going to put it off as long as possible. By the time I get too pregnant to work, I feel like I'll have enough other things on my mind that I won't care."

Agatha shrugged. "I still say embrace your role of the billionaire's wife. Don't happen often these days."

"The money isn't important to me."

"Gosh, you're so strange."

"Fine, fine. Just get me a cup of coffee."

"There ya go!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Rich people order poor people around without a please or thank you."

Grace couldn't help but laugh. "They can also withhold their tips when their waitresses are snarky."

With an exaggerated bow, "Can I get you anything else, your highness?"

"Coffee will be fine."

"Very well, madame." Agatha smirked. She was surprised to realize how much she'd missed her. Out of nowhere it seemed as though their friendship and picked up where it left off all those years ago.

. . .

"So," Grace said as she took a bite of her Hot Dog. It was the first really nice day of spring so they opted to take a walk in the park. "What's this thing you want to tell me?"

"Finally," Agatha groaned. "It's been killin' me having to wait."

"Must have been pretty soon after I left."

"Before. I wanted to tell you at the wedding, more or less."

"Wow, what is it?" Grace asked in between another bite.

"I met someone!" Agatha smiled wide, uncaring that she was sounding like… well, Grace.

"A man?"

"Yes, a man."

"Oh, Agatha, that's wonderful! Well, go on, tell me about him."

Setting her mostly untouched food down next to her, she continued. "His name is Stanley Morris. I met him at the wedding."

"Stanley Morris… Wasn't he… oh! The head waiter?"

"That's him."

"That's wonderful! He seems like a nice man."

"Is he ever. I was sure there was a catch but so far so good."

"It must be serious to hear you talking that way."

Agatha tilted her head, picking up her Hot Dog again. "Yes and no. We've been out several times but neither of us is eager to rush into any great commitment. See, his wife died a few years ago and he's only been out with a couple of women since then."

"Oh no," Grace sighed. "I'm so sorry."

"For him or me?"

"For him," she clarified. "Must be rough."

"I already know I can't complete with a dead woman."

"I don't think it's a matter of competing. They're different relationships."

"I'm fine with it. If I have to be the second choice I'd rather be the second choice to a good man."

"Forgive my saying this, but I do hope you're not clinging onto him solely because he's kind and is giving you attention."

"I knew you'd say something like that."

"I don't mean to upset you, I just want to make sure you're happy."

"I am happy," Agatha said. "Happier than I've been in a long time. Believe me, I gave the guy plenty of times to back out. I've been honest with him and he's been honest with me. That's why we're not rushing. Neither of us wants or need something bad."

"I didn't even realize you were really looking for someone."

"I wasn't, that's what makes this all so strange. I was resigned to the fact I was an old maid. Especially standing up there at the wedding. I mean, no offense, but next to Oliver I was the oldest one in the party."

"Leia isn't that much younger than you."

"She sure looks it."

"Come on, let's not get into this now. This is wonderful news!"

"I swear if I knew where you were staying in England I would'a call you."

Grace laughed. "It was a small place with no phones. I think I mentioned before how Oliver took us to where he grew up."

"Yeah," Agatha said, feeling a lot more interested now that she'd been able to talk about Stanley. "How'd that go? Didn't you say you were surprised?"

"Immensely. He hates to speak of his past so it was odd he chose to take us there for our honeymoon of all things. It was more for Annie's sake than mine. The two of them share a bond that way. You know, a broken childhood and losing family."

"Really? I figured that guy was born rich."

"Heavens, no. Quite the opposite. He really struggled. Poor boy was working from the age of twelve. And not easy jobs, either."

An eyebrow raised. For some reason Agatha has pegged him as someone who couldn't relate to the poor man.

Grace continued. "Given all that and his life leading up to it, he keeps a tight lip. But Annie has been saying she wanted to visit and he took her up on it. I had no idea that's what he'd planned for the honeymoon. Truth be told, that was the one thing I didn't have a hand in planning. I would have been just as happy staying in the states."

"I can't believe you spent such a short time there."

"It explains more why Annie came along. He's said we'll take a proper trip in the summer. He wants Annie to go to camp for a couple of weeks."

"I told ya you were gonna need time away from her."

"That wasn't really a problem. She was good about giving us space, especially on the ship. She made a friend on the way there and she ended up sleeping over with her one or two of the nights. She was fine with us having dinners alone once in a while, too."

"I'm impressed."

"In Europe, Oliver was kind of disconnected. He didn't want to admit he was upset by being there."

"Why did he go then if he knew it'd bring up old stuff?" Agatha asked.

Grace shrugged. "For Annie. I think he wanted to get it over with if I'm being honest. I doubt we'll be going back. There's no need, anyway. None of his family is around anymore. I think he figured if we went on our honeymoon he'd at least have a distraction."

Agatha smirked.

"Why are you so fascinated by this?" Grace questioned, not bothering to hide her irritation.

"I guess 'cause I still see you as the gawky twenty-year-old you were when we first met."

"I wasn't gawky…"

Agatha laughed. "Oh, yes you were. I remember you got so jealous and felt so threatened by when I went out with that guy you worked with at one of your jobs. Carl, was it?"

Grace had to think for a moment before she remembered. "Oh… that?"

"You had such a crush on him."

"Okay, so I was naive and unexperienced. I wasn't that long out of my teens, either."

"I know, that's what I mean. I guess I still see you like that girl sometimes. Weird, I know. Especially after everything that happened over the summer. But personally, I think a lot has changed since then. I know you're not still clumsy that way… well, not much."

Mouth open, Grace rebutted. "You seem to be forgetting I recently married the richest man in the world."

"Yeah, you got him all right. A mere ten years and you nabbed him."

"All right, so I'm shy at times."

"Which makes it all the more fun to tease you. I wouldn't call you experienced now, either.

"I'm not saying I am."

"In all seriousness, I'm glad you're happy."

"I really am."

"I hope someday I'll have something with Stanley like you have with Oliver."

Squeezing her hand, Grace said, "I hope so, too."

"You think… ah, never mind."

"What is it?"

"Nothing, forget it."

"Come on, tell me."

"I don't wanna impose."

"You're not an imposition."

Agatha sighed. "I'd like you to meet Stanley. Formally, I mean. I was thinkin' that maybe… if Oliver will allow it… maybe he and I could come to dinner sometime?"

"That's a splendid idea!"

"Yeah?"

"You'll be our first guests as a married couple!"

Playfully, Agatha groaned. "Oh no, what have I gotten poor Stanley into?"

Grace stuck out her tongue.

"I don't want anything fancy and neither will he. Just a simple dinner with simple food. We don't have exquisite tastes. Put on a good sauce and we'll be happy."

"I think that can be arranged."

"Thank you. I mean it, nothing formal."

"You can trust me."

"I know… just being your first official guests worried me."

"Agatha, I can be excited about something without going overboard. You know, I was telling Oliver a few weeks back about that Christmas with the tree that took up half our living room…"

"Yeah… what of it?"

"I'm not the exact same person I was when I was twenty. Of course some of those qualities remained but I can keep it in check."

"What about the wedding? You told me it was going to be small and from where I stood it was not a handful of guests."

"That got out of hand without my trying. The church was going to be the same size no matter the number of people and the house is certainly big enough for any sized part. Believe me, my dream wedding would have consisted of a forth of the people who came and a party more like the latter one where we sat around sipping drinks."

"Guess you gotta get used to that bein' the wife of Oliver Warbucks, huh?"

Grace sighed. "Hasn't been easy. You should have seen the number of cameras pointed at us as we boarded the ship."

"Oh, yeah, I think I saw those pictures in the newspaper."

"Why anyone cares is beyond me."

"You took the single most eligible bachelor on this planet off the market. Believe me, people care."

"Only because I was his secretary."

"Nonsense," Agatha said, getting the feeling this has been an ongoing issue. "If you'd been some rich society dame you would have twice as many people hounding you."

"Perhaps, but with a lot less gossip."

"Since when do you care what people think?"

"I don't think I would as much if it weren't for Annie. Not that I think anything has ever got back to her but I always worry. She shouldn't have to worry about those things. I knew when Oliver and I got involved I'd be faced with questioning. It just grows tiresome, you know?"

"Trust me, I know all about people talking behind people's backs. You don't think I was the topic of some chatter? I mean, I was too drunk to care but now it bothers me some. Hell, take me and Rooster? Even though "

"I don't understand if people knew how you got to keep your job at the orphanage for so long."

"I'm not the first bad matron and I guarantee you I wasn't the last. Just that when the public knows you're rotten they decide it's time to rehire."

"That's terrible…"

"The system sounds good from the outside but it's terrible through and through."

"But with people so eager for jobs, why would they jeopardize it? Or rather, why not let go of people and rehire?"

"Because a bunch of snot-nosed little kids ain't worth the money. Especially when their parents are dumping them at the doorsteps because they can't afford to feed them. After the Depression started the occupancy doubled everywhere. Even if I hadn't swindled the funds the kids wouldn't have been living up to the public's standard. Nothing I could'a done that forced them to double up on beds. Most of the donated foods were scraps anyway. People didn't have money to feed themselves let alone kids that weren't theirs."

"Wow… I knew things were terrible but I didn't realize just how much was going on."

"I ain't trying to justify anything I did."

"I know."

"Good."

Wondering how their conversation had taken this turn, Grace cleared her throat. "I suppose instead of worrying about idle gossip among Oliver's 'friends' and people who have nothing better to do than talk about stranger's lives I should be using my place to try and help. I know Annie and her friends would help out. Maybe I can go to Mr. Donetelli, try and see where things are going wrong. First things first is to get some decent food around, though."

"It's not going to be as simple as all that."

"I know it isn't."

Agatha gave a soft smile. "If anyone can start fixin' things though, it'll be you."

"I sure hope so."

The bell on the clock tower gave a sudden and startling couple of chimes. Looking up, Agatha flew to her feet. "Oh crap, I was supposed to be back at work half an hour ago."

"Go on," Grace said, standing herself. "I'll take care of our mess here."

"Thanks," Agatha said she as picked up her purse and began walking away. "Let me know when you want me and Stanley to be over for dinner. He has an odd schedule."

Shouting back, Grace said, "Don't worry about it right now. I'll call you tomorrow."

Giving a thumbs up, Agatha picked up her speed and soon disappeared around the corner.

Picking up the wrappings and napkins from their lunch, Grace smiled. Things weren't so bad — a welcome relief after the craziness that had ensued since summer. She was thankful to have her best friend back. And seeing her eyes light up as she spoke of Stanley, Grace could tell Agatha was better off now than any of the years she'd known her.