CHAPTER TWO
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 13, 2000
2:30 PM
Molly Hudson sat on the corner of the bed and watched her best friend, Carol Vessey, pack for her trip to New York. Carol's decision to leave town had come on the heels of the end of her seven year relationship with Nick Stanton, and Molly was concerned for her friend. Carol, dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, was too focused on finishing packing her second suitcase to notice the concern on Molly's face.
Another suitcase, which Carol had just finished packing, stood by the bedroom door.
Sensing that her friend wasn't going to volunteer anything on her own, Molly turned to Carol and said, "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, it's the middle of the school year. It's the middle of winter, and it's ..."
Carol looked at her friend, "It's *what*, Molls?"
"... It's only been a few weeks since you and Nick split up."
"Molly," Carol started, then stopped. She sighed and continued to fold some clothes and put them into the suitcase. "This had nothing to do with Nick - at least not directly. I have to meet with my new publishing agent."
"About that, why do you need a NEW publishing agent, didn't you have one already lined up?"
Carol looked up from her packing, "I already told you. He was Nick's old publishing agent. Apparently, when I broke up with Nick, I also broke up with his publishing agent," she stuffed some socks into the suitcase angrily.
"Oh. Are you sure that's all there is too it?"
"What do you mean?"
Molly looked at her friend questioningly, "Come on, Carol. You and Nick break up and suddenly you are planning this big trip to New York City. I know that you said that this is about getting back to writing, back to the things that you dreamed about since you were a little girl. It just seems too quick, almost as if."
Carol looked at Molly and said, "'As if' what, Molls?"
Molly took a deep breath, then continued, "As if you are running away from everything."
Carol frowned.
Molly raised her hands and said, "Let me finish, Carol. I completely support your desire to start writing again. And I support your desire to get a new agent lined up. I'm just concerned that you're using all of this to escape Stuckeyville, to escape Nick."
"Molly," Carol said after a pause, "I'm not going to deny that it'd be nice to get away from Stuckeyville for a little while - all of the memories I have of Nick - but I didn't plan this trip BECAUSE of it. Its just ... just a pleasant side effect."
Seeing the doubt on Molly's face, Carol continued, "Look, if I'm going to be a writer - a successful writer - then I am going to need a publishing agent. I pestered Nick for a long time before he set up a meeting with his agent. It was very important to me. Which means it wasn't a high priority for Nick. (Carol stuffs more socks into the suitcase) Although it seems that now that we're not together anymore, he didn't waste any time calling him and telling him not to return my calls."
"What an unbelievable jerk!" Molly exclaimed.
"Molls, I was with that man for SEVEN years."
"And?"
"Can't you come up with something better?"
"How about 'jackass'?"
"Jackass will do nicely." The two then looked at one another and burst out laughing.
"Molly," Carol continued, "I really used up some favors getting this particular agent lined up. I need to meet with them in order to make this work. Going to New York City will also be good for me. I had always planned on traveling the world, picking up ideas, experiencing new and exciting things. This is just a small step." Carol closed the second suitcase.
Molly sighed, "I know. I'm just making sure you're doing this for the right reasons. Besides, I'm going to miss you!"
Carol looked over at Molly. She smiled sadly at her, then hugged her briefly. "I know. I'm going to miss you too."
"I could still come, you know. I can afford a last minute fare."
"No, Molls. You've got all these plans with Jim for the holidays. I don't want to ruin that. Besides, I think I need to do this on my own." With that Carol grabbed the one suitcase, Molly grabbed the other and they headed downstairs in silence.
Halfway down the stairs, Molly stopped, "I must have the IQ of a lima bean. I never even thought of how you're getting to the airport? Do you need a ride?"
Carol smiled again, "Thanks, Molls, but I've got a ride set up. Mike and Nancy said that they would take me. They're going into the city to visit Nancy's parents and the airport's close enough that they said they could drop me off."
There was a knock at the front door. Carol turned to Molly, "Speak of the devils!"
Carol walked over and opened the door. Nancy was waiting on the other side. Her husband, Mike was still standing by the car, but when he saw Carol and Nancy coming out of the door, he rushed over to take the suitcases from them.
"Thank you, Dr. Burton," Carol says with a smile. She waved at Sarah who seemed intent on observing all the goings on, despite being fastened into her car-seat.
Mike smiled back at Carol and Molly, saying "No problem." Then he turned to his wife, "See honey, ONLY TWO suitcases. And she's going to be gone for over a week." By means of a reply, Nancy punched her husband in the arm playfully, "Just load the bags, you big moose!"
Mike got the suitcases situated in the trunk. Then walked around back around the car to where the three women were still talking. "All set?" Mike asked.
"Yep." Carol replied. She looked at Molly and hugged her again.
"You take care, girlfriend," Molly said. "Knock them dead in the Big Apple."
As she hugged her, Carol whispered something in Molly's ear. Molly eyes misted up momentarily, but she managed to maintain her composure.
Mike and Nancy got back into the car, followed by Carol who climbed into the backseat alongside Sarah's car-seat. As she closed the door, Carol glanced around one last time - as if she was taking a mental picture of her home and Stuckeyville to sustain her on the trip. Then, she closed the door behind her and with a wave of her hand and an imperious tone, told Mike "To the airport, driver!"
Nancy laughed while Mike just gave her a look. Molly waved as the car pulled away, "I hope you find what you're looking for, Carol."
***
While Mike drove, Nancy and Carol spent much of the drive chatting and playing quietly with little Sarah.
"So," Nancy asked, "are you all excited about this trip?"
"Yeah," Carol replied, "I am. This is a big step. I've only been to New York once before, so I'm excited AND scared about being there alone - all at the same time."
"Nance says you've got a publishing agent lined up, is that true?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. It's a publishing house called Knight Publishing. They've only been in business a few years, but they've been making a big splash. They've signed a couple of big names recently."
"Wow. That's great, Carol." Nancy added.
Carol lifted up a soft sided briefcase and continued, "I've got their contract in here. I'm going to go over it on the plane. I've looked it over once already, but all this legal mumbo-jumbo is like Greek to me. I'm going to have to read it word for word and figure it out."
"Hmm," Nancy says from her seat.
Mike looked over at his wife suspiciously, "Hmm, *what*, Nance?"
"Well," Nancy said, "I wonder if Eddie could help Carol?"
Mike looked over at Nancy again.
From the back seat, Carol asked, "Ed who?"
"Ed Stevens," Nancy explained. "He went to Stuckeyville High with us. He was best man at our wedding. He's a lawyer in New York, specializes in contract law, in fact. You could look him up. I'm sure he'd want to help."
Carol looked confused and said, a little embarrassed, "I ... I don't remember him."
"That's okay. You know us. He's Mike's best friend. Even if he didn't go to school with you, I'm sure he'd want to help." Nancy rummaged in her purse, finally pulling a business card from her wallet.
"Here's his business card," Nancy said. "Give him a call. Tell him Mike and I sent you. Better, tell him I said to help you ... or ELSE!"
Carol was unsure. It felt weird to walk into the office of some big, New York City lawyer and ask for their help when you couldn't even remember them when you went to high school together.
"Thanks," Carol said, "I'll, uh, think about it."
Mike leaned back, "Go ahead and call him. Ed's a great guy, Carol. Like Nance said, I'm sure he'd be glad to help."
Carol tucked the business card in her purse. She was sure she didn't need it. The contracts were confusing, that was true, but she was sure she could decipher them in time for her meeting.
The rest of the trip passed pleasantly. They made it to the airport in plenty of time for Carol's flight, Mike dropped her off at the terminal and volunteered to carry her luggage all the way to the gate, but Carol told him that she could manage. Nancy and Carol hugged one last time and Nancy wished Carol well in New York. Then while Nancy stayed with Sarah in the car, Mike carried Carol's suitcases as far as the curb side check-in. After checking in, Carol gave Mike a quick hug and thanked him - then walked inside the terminal to find her gate.
Mike returned to the car. He fastened his seatbelt and was about to pull out from the parking space when Nancy asked, "Mike?"
"Yeah, Nance," Mike said.
"Do you think that, maybe," Nancy asked, "Eddie still has that crush on Carol? Maybe I shouldn't have suggested she call him to look over her contract."
"Don't be silly, Nance," Mike said. "That was a high school crush, an infatuation. I can't imagine Ed would still harbor feelings for Carol. Not after all this time. Besides, Carol never even noticed him in high school. You heard her, she doesn't even know who Ed is."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Nancy said. "Plus, I can't see that Eddie would be thinking about dating right now. Not so soon after the divorce."
"Right. There is absolutely no way that Ed Stevens still has a crush on one Carol Vessey."
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 13, 2000
2:30 PM
Molly Hudson sat on the corner of the bed and watched her best friend, Carol Vessey, pack for her trip to New York. Carol's decision to leave town had come on the heels of the end of her seven year relationship with Nick Stanton, and Molly was concerned for her friend. Carol, dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, was too focused on finishing packing her second suitcase to notice the concern on Molly's face.
Another suitcase, which Carol had just finished packing, stood by the bedroom door.
Sensing that her friend wasn't going to volunteer anything on her own, Molly turned to Carol and said, "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, it's the middle of the school year. It's the middle of winter, and it's ..."
Carol looked at her friend, "It's *what*, Molls?"
"... It's only been a few weeks since you and Nick split up."
"Molly," Carol started, then stopped. She sighed and continued to fold some clothes and put them into the suitcase. "This had nothing to do with Nick - at least not directly. I have to meet with my new publishing agent."
"About that, why do you need a NEW publishing agent, didn't you have one already lined up?"
Carol looked up from her packing, "I already told you. He was Nick's old publishing agent. Apparently, when I broke up with Nick, I also broke up with his publishing agent," she stuffed some socks into the suitcase angrily.
"Oh. Are you sure that's all there is too it?"
"What do you mean?"
Molly looked at her friend questioningly, "Come on, Carol. You and Nick break up and suddenly you are planning this big trip to New York City. I know that you said that this is about getting back to writing, back to the things that you dreamed about since you were a little girl. It just seems too quick, almost as if."
Carol looked at Molly and said, "'As if' what, Molls?"
Molly took a deep breath, then continued, "As if you are running away from everything."
Carol frowned.
Molly raised her hands and said, "Let me finish, Carol. I completely support your desire to start writing again. And I support your desire to get a new agent lined up. I'm just concerned that you're using all of this to escape Stuckeyville, to escape Nick."
"Molly," Carol said after a pause, "I'm not going to deny that it'd be nice to get away from Stuckeyville for a little while - all of the memories I have of Nick - but I didn't plan this trip BECAUSE of it. Its just ... just a pleasant side effect."
Seeing the doubt on Molly's face, Carol continued, "Look, if I'm going to be a writer - a successful writer - then I am going to need a publishing agent. I pestered Nick for a long time before he set up a meeting with his agent. It was very important to me. Which means it wasn't a high priority for Nick. (Carol stuffs more socks into the suitcase) Although it seems that now that we're not together anymore, he didn't waste any time calling him and telling him not to return my calls."
"What an unbelievable jerk!" Molly exclaimed.
"Molls, I was with that man for SEVEN years."
"And?"
"Can't you come up with something better?"
"How about 'jackass'?"
"Jackass will do nicely." The two then looked at one another and burst out laughing.
"Molly," Carol continued, "I really used up some favors getting this particular agent lined up. I need to meet with them in order to make this work. Going to New York City will also be good for me. I had always planned on traveling the world, picking up ideas, experiencing new and exciting things. This is just a small step." Carol closed the second suitcase.
Molly sighed, "I know. I'm just making sure you're doing this for the right reasons. Besides, I'm going to miss you!"
Carol looked over at Molly. She smiled sadly at her, then hugged her briefly. "I know. I'm going to miss you too."
"I could still come, you know. I can afford a last minute fare."
"No, Molls. You've got all these plans with Jim for the holidays. I don't want to ruin that. Besides, I think I need to do this on my own." With that Carol grabbed the one suitcase, Molly grabbed the other and they headed downstairs in silence.
Halfway down the stairs, Molly stopped, "I must have the IQ of a lima bean. I never even thought of how you're getting to the airport? Do you need a ride?"
Carol smiled again, "Thanks, Molls, but I've got a ride set up. Mike and Nancy said that they would take me. They're going into the city to visit Nancy's parents and the airport's close enough that they said they could drop me off."
There was a knock at the front door. Carol turned to Molly, "Speak of the devils!"
Carol walked over and opened the door. Nancy was waiting on the other side. Her husband, Mike was still standing by the car, but when he saw Carol and Nancy coming out of the door, he rushed over to take the suitcases from them.
"Thank you, Dr. Burton," Carol says with a smile. She waved at Sarah who seemed intent on observing all the goings on, despite being fastened into her car-seat.
Mike smiled back at Carol and Molly, saying "No problem." Then he turned to his wife, "See honey, ONLY TWO suitcases. And she's going to be gone for over a week." By means of a reply, Nancy punched her husband in the arm playfully, "Just load the bags, you big moose!"
Mike got the suitcases situated in the trunk. Then walked around back around the car to where the three women were still talking. "All set?" Mike asked.
"Yep." Carol replied. She looked at Molly and hugged her again.
"You take care, girlfriend," Molly said. "Knock them dead in the Big Apple."
As she hugged her, Carol whispered something in Molly's ear. Molly eyes misted up momentarily, but she managed to maintain her composure.
Mike and Nancy got back into the car, followed by Carol who climbed into the backseat alongside Sarah's car-seat. As she closed the door, Carol glanced around one last time - as if she was taking a mental picture of her home and Stuckeyville to sustain her on the trip. Then, she closed the door behind her and with a wave of her hand and an imperious tone, told Mike "To the airport, driver!"
Nancy laughed while Mike just gave her a look. Molly waved as the car pulled away, "I hope you find what you're looking for, Carol."
***
While Mike drove, Nancy and Carol spent much of the drive chatting and playing quietly with little Sarah.
"So," Nancy asked, "are you all excited about this trip?"
"Yeah," Carol replied, "I am. This is a big step. I've only been to New York once before, so I'm excited AND scared about being there alone - all at the same time."
"Nance says you've got a publishing agent lined up, is that true?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. It's a publishing house called Knight Publishing. They've only been in business a few years, but they've been making a big splash. They've signed a couple of big names recently."
"Wow. That's great, Carol." Nancy added.
Carol lifted up a soft sided briefcase and continued, "I've got their contract in here. I'm going to go over it on the plane. I've looked it over once already, but all this legal mumbo-jumbo is like Greek to me. I'm going to have to read it word for word and figure it out."
"Hmm," Nancy says from her seat.
Mike looked over at his wife suspiciously, "Hmm, *what*, Nance?"
"Well," Nancy said, "I wonder if Eddie could help Carol?"
Mike looked over at Nancy again.
From the back seat, Carol asked, "Ed who?"
"Ed Stevens," Nancy explained. "He went to Stuckeyville High with us. He was best man at our wedding. He's a lawyer in New York, specializes in contract law, in fact. You could look him up. I'm sure he'd want to help."
Carol looked confused and said, a little embarrassed, "I ... I don't remember him."
"That's okay. You know us. He's Mike's best friend. Even if he didn't go to school with you, I'm sure he'd want to help." Nancy rummaged in her purse, finally pulling a business card from her wallet.
"Here's his business card," Nancy said. "Give him a call. Tell him Mike and I sent you. Better, tell him I said to help you ... or ELSE!"
Carol was unsure. It felt weird to walk into the office of some big, New York City lawyer and ask for their help when you couldn't even remember them when you went to high school together.
"Thanks," Carol said, "I'll, uh, think about it."
Mike leaned back, "Go ahead and call him. Ed's a great guy, Carol. Like Nance said, I'm sure he'd be glad to help."
Carol tucked the business card in her purse. She was sure she didn't need it. The contracts were confusing, that was true, but she was sure she could decipher them in time for her meeting.
The rest of the trip passed pleasantly. They made it to the airport in plenty of time for Carol's flight, Mike dropped her off at the terminal and volunteered to carry her luggage all the way to the gate, but Carol told him that she could manage. Nancy and Carol hugged one last time and Nancy wished Carol well in New York. Then while Nancy stayed with Sarah in the car, Mike carried Carol's suitcases as far as the curb side check-in. After checking in, Carol gave Mike a quick hug and thanked him - then walked inside the terminal to find her gate.
Mike returned to the car. He fastened his seatbelt and was about to pull out from the parking space when Nancy asked, "Mike?"
"Yeah, Nance," Mike said.
"Do you think that, maybe," Nancy asked, "Eddie still has that crush on Carol? Maybe I shouldn't have suggested she call him to look over her contract."
"Don't be silly, Nance," Mike said. "That was a high school crush, an infatuation. I can't imagine Ed would still harbor feelings for Carol. Not after all this time. Besides, Carol never even noticed him in high school. You heard her, she doesn't even know who Ed is."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Nancy said. "Plus, I can't see that Eddie would be thinking about dating right now. Not so soon after the divorce."
"Right. There is absolutely no way that Ed Stevens still has a crush on one Carol Vessey."