CHAPTER FOUR
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 14, 2000
3:30 PM
Ed had just made it back to chair, when Deloris popped her head into the office, "Mr. Stevens? Ed? Are you okay? I heard a THUD."
"It wasn't a 'THUD'."
"No, I heard it." She smiled, "It was most definitely a 'THUD', possibly a 'CRASH' ..."
"It wasn't a 'CRASH' or a 'THUD'." Ed offered, trying to regain the offensive, "It was .... It was more like an 'OOMPH'!"
"I'm not familiar with 'OOMPH'."
"It's sort of like an 'OUCH', but ... softer."
"I see. So may I assume that you are alright after your THUD-that-was-more- like-an-OUCH-only-softer?"
"Yes," Ed replied. "Just fine. Fit as a fiddle. Never felt better."
There is a pause. "Good. Ed?"
"Yes, Deloris," Ed said.
"The woman who is here to see you. She is still here to see you," Deloris prompts.
"Oh, right," Ed said, trying to hide his nervousness, "What did (he squeaked, then cleared his throat)... What did you say her name was again?"
"Carol Vessey," Deloris stated matter-of-factly.
"Carol Vessey? Carol Vessey?" Ed rubbed his chin trying for all the world to seem like he was struggling to place the name, "Yes, I vaguely recall going to high school with a girl named Carol Vessey. Carol Vessey."
"Ed," Deloris interrupts, "I think we've established that the woman's name is Carol Vessey." There was an amused tone to her voice.
"Right," Ed said, pulling his thoughts back on track, "Uh, send her in."
While Deloris disappeared back through the door, Ed surveyed his office for a moment. He shook his head. He straightened his chair and sat down. 'No,' he thought, jumping up, 'Maybe ... Maybe I should stand. Yeah, stand.' Then he started to re-arrange the items on his desk. He shifted some papers from one pile to another, then he moved the stapler to the right, then back to the left. Finally, he adjusted his name placard.
Then he stopped.
Should he stand behind the desk or in front of the desk? He debated for what seemed an eternity, before deciding that standing in front of the desk was more casual.
He moved back around his desk. His back was now to the door. He noticed the snack he had been eating moments earlier was still scattered across the notes. He swept them from the desk and into his right hand, just as Deloris walked in with Carol and rapped on the door to call his attention to their arrival.
In response, Ed whirled around, almost knocking over the lamp on his desk.
He fumbled for a moment, smiled weakly then steadied the lamp. He was trying so hard to look calm and collected - but it just wasn't working. Deloris wasn't helping much either, what with that smirk on her face. Ed looked at Carol. 'She looked the same as she did in high school,' Ed thought. 'No. No, she looked even better!' Once again, her beauty took his breath away. A barely audible gasp, escaped his lips.
"Ms. Carol Vessey," Deloris introduced Carol to Ed. As he walked over to greet her, Ed noticed that Doris emphasized the "Ms.". Carol started to extend her hand, but stopped short, looking at Ed's hand, and it's contents, curiously.
Embarrassed, Ed tries to recover, saying, "Raisins, they're ... they're NATURE'S CANDY!"
Deloris almost choked. Ed glared at her a moment, then transferred the raisins into his left hand, and wiped his hand on a handkerchief.
"Let me try this again," Ed said, smiling and extending his hand again to Carol. "Ed Stevens."
Carol took his hand this time, smiling in return. "Carol Vessey."
"Well," Ed said, "Please come in and sit down. What can I do for you?"
"Thank you," Carol said and walked further into the room.
"Um," Ed said, noticing that Deloris was still hanging near the open door. "Thank you for bringing Ms. Vessey in here, Deloris."
"You're entirely welcome." Deloris said, totally amused at her boss' dilemma and still not moving.
"Deloris, if there's nothing else?"
"What?" Deloris still wasn't getting it.
"Don't you have some work to do?"
Now it was Deloris' turn to be embarrassed, "Oh. Right. Sorry."
Deloris turned to leave, but then she stopped and said, "Oh, Ed, by the way. My husband, Irving, wanted me to thank you again for paying for our anniversary dinner the other night! That was sweet... sneaky, but sweet."
"You're both very welcome," Ed said with an embarrassed smile.
Carol sat quietly during Ed's exchange with his secretary, Deloris. She hadn't meant to listen in, but since they were in the same room, it was almost impossible not to overhear. She couldn't help but be impressed at the sweetness of Ed's gift of the anniversary dinner. And, to be honest, she couldn't help but be taken by him. The way his hair was slightly disheveled; better than the slicked back look you associate with lawyers. And his eyes - what incredible blue eyes. Nice dimples and a really spectacular smile. He knew how to wear a suit, too. Not like Nick. When he shook her hand he wasn't wearing a wedding band ...
Then she stopped herself. What was she doing? She was here for LEGAL advice. Why was she even thinking about him like that, or comparing him to Nick? Besides, a cute guy like that? He probably already had a girlfriend ...
Aaargh! She was doing it *again*. Finally she stopped, 'He probably doesn't even remember me' she thought.
Meanwhile, Ed was standing there thinking. 'Carol Vessey. Carol Vessey! Is sitting in my office. I can't believe she remembered me!'
Carol looked up and realized that Ed was looking at her. She felt a warmth race through her body and hoped that it wasn't translating to a blush.
"So," Ed said with another smile, "back to my original question. What can I do for you, Ms. Vessey?"
"Oh, no," Carol said. "Its just Carol, Mr. Stevens, please!"
"Okay, *Carol*," Ed said, "And I'm just Ed."
Ed looked at her expectantly, his thoughts still reeling. 'What is my high school dream girl doing here. I remember thinking about her a few weeks ago after Liz left when I was going through my yearbook. I almost asked Mike and Nancy if they knew anything about where she was. Well, I know where she is now!'
"Well," Carol said, "Mike and Nancy Burton gave me your business card."
Ed just smiled at the coincidence. "Mike and Nancy? Heh. Small world. What are they up to?'
Carol continued, oblivious to Ed's reaction, "They said you might be able to help me with legal matters."
Ed managed to maintain a calm face, but inside he was thinking 'Of course! Why else would Carol Vessey want to see me?!'
"I'm in town to meet with a new publishing agent," Carol continued, "and I'm having trouble deciphering the contracts. I thought I'd figured out the one they'd sent me three months ago, but when I went to their offices, they dumped *THIS* one on me." Carol pulled the document out of her bag.
Ed looked at the telephone book sized contract and whistled, "This is a contract between a publishing company and an author? That's a pretty intense looking contract for what I would have thought was a routine legal matter." He held his hand out and Carol passed it over to him.
'Well,' she thought, 'if even Ed thinks it is a little much, how am I supposed to cope with it?'
Ed started to flip through the book quickly, making little sounds here and there. Carol watched him intently, surprised at the fact that she felt immediately comfortable with him. While Ed was flipping, she looked around his office. It wasn't as sterile as the one at Knight Publishing. On a credenza behind Ed, there were some photos. One of Ed in a Stuckeyville High School basketball outfit making a shot from the free throw line. Another of Ed, Mike and Nancy from what must have been their high school days. Another of Ed, Mike and Nancy at Mike and Nancy's wedding. One of Ed with what must be his parents and brother, taken in this office. From the placement of the photos, it looked like one or two had been moved ... or a couple had been taken down.
Ed continued looking through the document.
Carol continued to look around the office, seeing the shelves of law books, and wondered 'Does he even know what all of these are?' She saw the bat in the corner and raised her eyebrows. It was then that she noticed Ed looking at her again. She blushed slightly and said, "Sorry, I'm just naturally nosy."
Ed laughed and said, "You're wondering about the bat, aren't you?"
Carol smiled and said, "Yeah."
"It helps me think."
"It helps you think?"
"It helps me think. It's a guy thing."
"You mean like Tom Cruise in that movie with Jack Nicholson?"
A smile danced across Ed's face, he decided to have a little fun, "I'm sorry, Ms. Vessey - I mean, Carol. Are you comparing me to Tom Cruise?"
Carol blushed, "Well, no. I mean, yes. I mean, just with the being a lawyer and swinging a baseball bat and ..."
"...and the rugged good looks?" he offered.
"I wouldn't call them 'rugged'," she fired back.
"But you would call them 'good looks'?" he quipped.
Carol squirmed in her chair, momentarily confused and not knowing how to extricate herself from this situation. She'd just as much admitted she'd found him attractive - of course he'd tricked her. Damn, he was good. "Well, what I meant was ..." She blushed in embarrassment, but then noticed that Ed was chuckling. She glared at him.
Ed held up his hands and said while still chuckling, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist! I'm sorry." With his last "I'm sorry", he managed to finally wipe the grin off his face, but his eyes were still twinkling.
Carol continued to glare at him for a moment, Oh you think it's funny do you? Then she looked over at the bat, "May I borrow that for a moment. I'd like to give it a try on a problem of mine."
"Um," is all Ed managed to say before Carol burst out laughing herself. Ed looked relieved and started to laugh again.
After a few moments of mutual laughter, Ed said earnestly, "I am sorry. I just...well, I couldn't resist."
"Well," Carol said with a smile, "now you owe me, so I guess you'll have to look this contract over for me, right?"
Ed smiled in return and said, "Well, I had already decided to do that, but yeah, I do owe you. I'll take a look over it and let you know if I find any 'gotchas' buried in it. Free of charge."
"Thanks," Carol said, relieved. "I'm glad you can do this. This stuff is just gobbledy-gook to me. I was getting crossed eyes with all the 'party of the first part will hold the party of the second part' stuff."
Ed laughed and looked at Carol, his mental breath still caught. With a twinkle in his eye, he asked, "So, did Nancy offer me bodily harm if I didn't do this?"
Carol burst out laughing and nodded her head.
"Like this I'll bet," Ed said, trying to imitate Nancy's voice. "'Tell him I said to help you or ... ELSE!'"
Ed's imitation of Nancy's tone, mannerisms, and wording were so perfect, that Carol dissolved into a fit of giggles that goes on for more than a minute. Ed just sits at his desk, smugly.
After Carol regained her composure, she said, "Well, I really do appreciate your helping me out. I shouldn't take up any more of your time." Carol stood.
Ed stood as well and smiled, "It's no problem, really. I'm glad I can help."
As they walk towards the door to Ed's office, he said, "Can I have your phone number?"
Realizing it sounded a little forward, and not at all what he intended it to sound like, he added quickly, "So that I can let you know about your contract."
If Carol was aware of his slip, she didn't acknowledge it. "Sure. My cell phone number is (216) 555-5683. I'm also, uh, staying at the DoubleTree."
'Now,' Carol thought, 'why did I tell him that?'
Ed jotted down her phone number and said, "Okay. Got it." Then he walked over and opened the door to the outer office, noting that Deloris' head whipped around immediately. He chuckled to himself and shook his head slightly. She was incorrigible.
"Well, Carol, I hope that I'll be able to help." he said, as he walked Carol out, past Deloris' desk and towards the bank of elevators just outside the firm's offices. Deloris looked on surprised - was he going to walk her all the way down to the street?
"So," Ed said, not paying attention to the fact that he is pressing the elevator's 'Down' button and waiting with Carol, "Where did you come into New York from. You said you were staying at the DoubleTree?"
"Oh," Carol said, "I live in Stuckeyville. I teach English at the high school."
"You're kidding? That's great," before he thought.
"It is?" Carol was intrigued.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Ed offered. "Do you like your job?"
"Well," Carol thought for a moment, "most of the time." She didn't see the need to regale Ed with Warren Cheswick's attempt to woo her by carving her name in Jell-O.
"And are you happy in Stuckeyville?"
"To be honest ... Not to knock New York, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else."
"Then, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're doing something you want to do, in the place where you want to do it. Am I right?"
"Yeah," Carol said, she'd never thought of it that way.
"Then why shouldn't it be great?"
Carol wanted to reply 'Because I was an idiot and I wasted the last seven years of my life on an inconsiderate jerk who cared more about finishing chapter seventeen than our relationship.' Instead she just bit her lower lip and looked down at her shoes.
Ed noticed Carol's reaction, sensing that he had touched a sore spot, and he went silent. The elevator arrived and they both got on, neither noticing how strange it was for Ed to still be walking together with her. Deloris, who had now moved to the front of the office, continued watching. The grin on her face continued to widen.
Finally, it was Carol who broke the silence. "It's just that sometimes things don't work out the way you planned."
Ed smiled sadly and nodded. Carol took his reaction to mean that he knew exactly what she meant, perhaps even better than she, herself, did.
"Ed," Carol said, "can I be completely honest with you?"
"Of course," Ed said, a little distractedly, "I want you to always be honest with me."
There was a small pause as they both digested THAT comment. The elevator had reached the bottom floor. Ed and Carol slowly walked towards the exit.
Carol continued with embarrassment, "I ... uh, I don't remember you from high school."
Ed laughed and said, "That's okay. As I recall, I don't think I was all that memorable. We did have one class together, though. Ninth grade. Mr. Roarke's biology class."
"You were in Mr. Roarke's biology class?" Carol asked.
"Yep," was Ed's reply.
They were outside now. Carol was looking back and forth along the street, confused. A bicycle messenger flew by her on the street. Ed noticed her confusion and smiled, "The DoubleTree is this way." He pointed, "Come on, I'll walk you. I, um, needed to get out of the office for a few minutes anyway to clear my head."
They start to walk down the street together.
With a laugh, Carol said, "Speaking of Mr. Roark's biology class. Do you remember Jimmy Leichtnam and the frog?"
Ed started chuckling, "Oh yeah! Big, burly football player. Passed out the moment his girlfriend, Jenny Hatcher, cut into the frog they were supposed to dissect. Keeled right over, knocked the aquarium full of tadpoles over and spilled it right out the window."
Carol managed to say between gasps of laughter, "Yeah, right out the window and onto Mrs. Cavendish down below."
"Apparently, they heard her shrieks over in Jaspertown," Ed said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
They chuckled for a couple more moments and then reached an intersection, waiting for the light to change. Carol turned around, looking up at the buildings again. She stood on the edge of the curb, right in front of Ed, face to face. She craned her neck upward - still amazed at the sheer size of the office buildings around her, when she lost her balance slightly and took a step backward to correct herself. But her step took her off the curb and into the path of an oncoming taxi. Ed reacted instantly. He reached out and grabbed Carol, pulling her back onto the sidewalk and into his arms. The taxi flashed past, it's horn blaring and driver cursing.
They stood together in the embrace, neither seemed to be in rush to break it apart. Carol, still shaking from the adrenaline, looked up into Ed's eyes - and noted the concern, the warmth that was there.
Finally, they pulled away from each other - *slowly*.
"Thank you," she offered weakly, still not able to tear her attention from those eyes. She could fall into them forever - she thought. He smiled back at her, "My pleasure." Which of course, wasn't really all that far from the truth - as Ed had dreamed of holding Carol Vessey for years.
The light changed, and the crowd of people around them moved across the intersection, but Ed and Carol remained standing there just kind of staring at one another. It took them a minute or two to realize that they had missed the light. Each felt a little embarrassed, but said nothing, content in waiting for the next light change when they continued across the street walking in silence.
The awkward silence continued right up until they reached the hotel. Neither of them were sure how to say goodbye. Finally, it was Ed who said, "Well, I guess I should get back to work. Lots to do."
"Uh, yeah," Carol said, "me, too. Thanks for agreeing to look over the contract for me, and for walking me back, and (she blushes)...for saving my life!"
"Really Carol, it's okay." Ed said, "I've got to get back to work. Enjoy the rest of your day, okay?"
"Sure," Carol said, "you too."
Ed smiled at Carol one last time and turned to head back. Carol just watched him go, not really wanting him to, more importantly not sure WHY she didn't want him to go, but completely unsure of what to do about it. That is until Ed was about twenty feet away, when she called out, "Ed!"
Ed turned around, a curiously anxious expression on his face. "Yes, Carol?"
"You obviously know the city pretty well, right?" Carol asked.
"Yeah," Ed said, "I'm fairly familiar with it. Got anything in particular you need directions to."
Carol frowned. Directions? She didn't want directions, "Actually, I was wondering if you could show me some of the sights tonight?"
Carol suddenly realized just how forward that was. She knew Ed wasn't married, since he wasn't wearing a wedding band, but she also didn't know if he was involved with anyone. She held her breath as Ed walked back towards her.
"Yeah, I'd love to show you the city. How about I pick you up at, um, say 6:30? Dress casually."
"See you then," Carol said with enthusiasm. "Oh, I'm in room 426."
Carol turns and almost skips into the hotel as Ed turned to head back to the office. He took his time, strolling down the streets, and taking in the sights - almost as if he were seeing them for the first time. He entered his building and took the elevator to his offices on the 33rd floor.
He walked by Deloris' desk, still distracted with thoughts of Carol. "Hey, Deloris,"
"Did you take the elevator back or just float up to the 33rd floor?"
"What?"
"She seems nice."
"Huh?"
"Ms. Vessey. She seems nice."
"Yes. She is."
"I like her."
Ed motioned for Deloris to follow him into his office. If he was going to get interrogated, he didn't want it to be fodder for the gossips in the secretarial pool.
"Okay, what's going on?" Ed asked, obviously referring to the subtle interrogation Deloris was giving him.
"Actually, that was going to be *my* next question."
"Nothing's 'going on', Deloris. She's an old friend from high school. That's all."
"Then why did you pretend you had trouble remembering her?"
"What?"
"Earlier when she first arrived you pretended like you couldn't remember her. You even had this whole rubbing-your-chin contemplation thing going. Which by the way was adorable ..."
"Adorable huh?" He pauses, before adding "I was NOT pretending."
"I think, for the record, I should tell you that you're not a very good liar."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I can tell when you're lying."
"Okay, maybe, she's a little more than an old friend."
"I knew it. Was she your old high school girlfriend?"
"What?!!! No. We didn't know each other in high school."
"After high school, then?"
"No."
"College?"
"No."
"Well, I give up. When did you first talk to this woman?"
"About 30 minutes ago. In this office."
"Get out of here."
"I thought you said you could tell when I'm lying?"
"I can. I just can't believe you never talked to that girl before now."
"She was Homecoming Queen. Very popular. I ... wasn't."
"You were a dork?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Interesting ..."
"I'm not following ..."
"It's just that I find it curious that given the way the young woman was staring at you, that she ever thought you were a dork."
"She was staring at me?"
"Didn't I just say that?"
"Well yes, I just find it very hard to believe that Carol Vessey was staring at me like that."
"Stranger things have happened."
"Not in my universe."
"Are you going to see her again?"
"As a matter of fact, she asked me to show her the sights tonight." Ed didn't bother to mention the incident with the cab, as it would just add fuel to Deloris' speculations.
Deloris smiled, "I told you she likes you."
"Deloris we're just friends, okay. Nothing's going to happen. She lives in Ohio. I live in New York. She probably has a boyfriend back home waiting for her. You're reading way too much into this whole thing. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."
"If you insist."
"I do."
Deloris turned and started back to her desk.
"Deloris?"
She stopped. "Yes, Mr. Stevens?"
"You really think she was staring at me?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. You're 'just friends' remember." She winks at him.
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 14, 2000
3:30 PM
Ed had just made it back to chair, when Deloris popped her head into the office, "Mr. Stevens? Ed? Are you okay? I heard a THUD."
"It wasn't a 'THUD'."
"No, I heard it." She smiled, "It was most definitely a 'THUD', possibly a 'CRASH' ..."
"It wasn't a 'CRASH' or a 'THUD'." Ed offered, trying to regain the offensive, "It was .... It was more like an 'OOMPH'!"
"I'm not familiar with 'OOMPH'."
"It's sort of like an 'OUCH', but ... softer."
"I see. So may I assume that you are alright after your THUD-that-was-more- like-an-OUCH-only-softer?"
"Yes," Ed replied. "Just fine. Fit as a fiddle. Never felt better."
There is a pause. "Good. Ed?"
"Yes, Deloris," Ed said.
"The woman who is here to see you. She is still here to see you," Deloris prompts.
"Oh, right," Ed said, trying to hide his nervousness, "What did (he squeaked, then cleared his throat)... What did you say her name was again?"
"Carol Vessey," Deloris stated matter-of-factly.
"Carol Vessey? Carol Vessey?" Ed rubbed his chin trying for all the world to seem like he was struggling to place the name, "Yes, I vaguely recall going to high school with a girl named Carol Vessey. Carol Vessey."
"Ed," Deloris interrupts, "I think we've established that the woman's name is Carol Vessey." There was an amused tone to her voice.
"Right," Ed said, pulling his thoughts back on track, "Uh, send her in."
While Deloris disappeared back through the door, Ed surveyed his office for a moment. He shook his head. He straightened his chair and sat down. 'No,' he thought, jumping up, 'Maybe ... Maybe I should stand. Yeah, stand.' Then he started to re-arrange the items on his desk. He shifted some papers from one pile to another, then he moved the stapler to the right, then back to the left. Finally, he adjusted his name placard.
Then he stopped.
Should he stand behind the desk or in front of the desk? He debated for what seemed an eternity, before deciding that standing in front of the desk was more casual.
He moved back around his desk. His back was now to the door. He noticed the snack he had been eating moments earlier was still scattered across the notes. He swept them from the desk and into his right hand, just as Deloris walked in with Carol and rapped on the door to call his attention to their arrival.
In response, Ed whirled around, almost knocking over the lamp on his desk.
He fumbled for a moment, smiled weakly then steadied the lamp. He was trying so hard to look calm and collected - but it just wasn't working. Deloris wasn't helping much either, what with that smirk on her face. Ed looked at Carol. 'She looked the same as she did in high school,' Ed thought. 'No. No, she looked even better!' Once again, her beauty took his breath away. A barely audible gasp, escaped his lips.
"Ms. Carol Vessey," Deloris introduced Carol to Ed. As he walked over to greet her, Ed noticed that Doris emphasized the "Ms.". Carol started to extend her hand, but stopped short, looking at Ed's hand, and it's contents, curiously.
Embarrassed, Ed tries to recover, saying, "Raisins, they're ... they're NATURE'S CANDY!"
Deloris almost choked. Ed glared at her a moment, then transferred the raisins into his left hand, and wiped his hand on a handkerchief.
"Let me try this again," Ed said, smiling and extending his hand again to Carol. "Ed Stevens."
Carol took his hand this time, smiling in return. "Carol Vessey."
"Well," Ed said, "Please come in and sit down. What can I do for you?"
"Thank you," Carol said and walked further into the room.
"Um," Ed said, noticing that Deloris was still hanging near the open door. "Thank you for bringing Ms. Vessey in here, Deloris."
"You're entirely welcome." Deloris said, totally amused at her boss' dilemma and still not moving.
"Deloris, if there's nothing else?"
"What?" Deloris still wasn't getting it.
"Don't you have some work to do?"
Now it was Deloris' turn to be embarrassed, "Oh. Right. Sorry."
Deloris turned to leave, but then she stopped and said, "Oh, Ed, by the way. My husband, Irving, wanted me to thank you again for paying for our anniversary dinner the other night! That was sweet... sneaky, but sweet."
"You're both very welcome," Ed said with an embarrassed smile.
Carol sat quietly during Ed's exchange with his secretary, Deloris. She hadn't meant to listen in, but since they were in the same room, it was almost impossible not to overhear. She couldn't help but be impressed at the sweetness of Ed's gift of the anniversary dinner. And, to be honest, she couldn't help but be taken by him. The way his hair was slightly disheveled; better than the slicked back look you associate with lawyers. And his eyes - what incredible blue eyes. Nice dimples and a really spectacular smile. He knew how to wear a suit, too. Not like Nick. When he shook her hand he wasn't wearing a wedding band ...
Then she stopped herself. What was she doing? She was here for LEGAL advice. Why was she even thinking about him like that, or comparing him to Nick? Besides, a cute guy like that? He probably already had a girlfriend ...
Aaargh! She was doing it *again*. Finally she stopped, 'He probably doesn't even remember me' she thought.
Meanwhile, Ed was standing there thinking. 'Carol Vessey. Carol Vessey! Is sitting in my office. I can't believe she remembered me!'
Carol looked up and realized that Ed was looking at her. She felt a warmth race through her body and hoped that it wasn't translating to a blush.
"So," Ed said with another smile, "back to my original question. What can I do for you, Ms. Vessey?"
"Oh, no," Carol said. "Its just Carol, Mr. Stevens, please!"
"Okay, *Carol*," Ed said, "And I'm just Ed."
Ed looked at her expectantly, his thoughts still reeling. 'What is my high school dream girl doing here. I remember thinking about her a few weeks ago after Liz left when I was going through my yearbook. I almost asked Mike and Nancy if they knew anything about where she was. Well, I know where she is now!'
"Well," Carol said, "Mike and Nancy Burton gave me your business card."
Ed just smiled at the coincidence. "Mike and Nancy? Heh. Small world. What are they up to?'
Carol continued, oblivious to Ed's reaction, "They said you might be able to help me with legal matters."
Ed managed to maintain a calm face, but inside he was thinking 'Of course! Why else would Carol Vessey want to see me?!'
"I'm in town to meet with a new publishing agent," Carol continued, "and I'm having trouble deciphering the contracts. I thought I'd figured out the one they'd sent me three months ago, but when I went to their offices, they dumped *THIS* one on me." Carol pulled the document out of her bag.
Ed looked at the telephone book sized contract and whistled, "This is a contract between a publishing company and an author? That's a pretty intense looking contract for what I would have thought was a routine legal matter." He held his hand out and Carol passed it over to him.
'Well,' she thought, 'if even Ed thinks it is a little much, how am I supposed to cope with it?'
Ed started to flip through the book quickly, making little sounds here and there. Carol watched him intently, surprised at the fact that she felt immediately comfortable with him. While Ed was flipping, she looked around his office. It wasn't as sterile as the one at Knight Publishing. On a credenza behind Ed, there were some photos. One of Ed in a Stuckeyville High School basketball outfit making a shot from the free throw line. Another of Ed, Mike and Nancy from what must have been their high school days. Another of Ed, Mike and Nancy at Mike and Nancy's wedding. One of Ed with what must be his parents and brother, taken in this office. From the placement of the photos, it looked like one or two had been moved ... or a couple had been taken down.
Ed continued looking through the document.
Carol continued to look around the office, seeing the shelves of law books, and wondered 'Does he even know what all of these are?' She saw the bat in the corner and raised her eyebrows. It was then that she noticed Ed looking at her again. She blushed slightly and said, "Sorry, I'm just naturally nosy."
Ed laughed and said, "You're wondering about the bat, aren't you?"
Carol smiled and said, "Yeah."
"It helps me think."
"It helps you think?"
"It helps me think. It's a guy thing."
"You mean like Tom Cruise in that movie with Jack Nicholson?"
A smile danced across Ed's face, he decided to have a little fun, "I'm sorry, Ms. Vessey - I mean, Carol. Are you comparing me to Tom Cruise?"
Carol blushed, "Well, no. I mean, yes. I mean, just with the being a lawyer and swinging a baseball bat and ..."
"...and the rugged good looks?" he offered.
"I wouldn't call them 'rugged'," she fired back.
"But you would call them 'good looks'?" he quipped.
Carol squirmed in her chair, momentarily confused and not knowing how to extricate herself from this situation. She'd just as much admitted she'd found him attractive - of course he'd tricked her. Damn, he was good. "Well, what I meant was ..." She blushed in embarrassment, but then noticed that Ed was chuckling. She glared at him.
Ed held up his hands and said while still chuckling, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist! I'm sorry." With his last "I'm sorry", he managed to finally wipe the grin off his face, but his eyes were still twinkling.
Carol continued to glare at him for a moment, Oh you think it's funny do you? Then she looked over at the bat, "May I borrow that for a moment. I'd like to give it a try on a problem of mine."
"Um," is all Ed managed to say before Carol burst out laughing herself. Ed looked relieved and started to laugh again.
After a few moments of mutual laughter, Ed said earnestly, "I am sorry. I just...well, I couldn't resist."
"Well," Carol said with a smile, "now you owe me, so I guess you'll have to look this contract over for me, right?"
Ed smiled in return and said, "Well, I had already decided to do that, but yeah, I do owe you. I'll take a look over it and let you know if I find any 'gotchas' buried in it. Free of charge."
"Thanks," Carol said, relieved. "I'm glad you can do this. This stuff is just gobbledy-gook to me. I was getting crossed eyes with all the 'party of the first part will hold the party of the second part' stuff."
Ed laughed and looked at Carol, his mental breath still caught. With a twinkle in his eye, he asked, "So, did Nancy offer me bodily harm if I didn't do this?"
Carol burst out laughing and nodded her head.
"Like this I'll bet," Ed said, trying to imitate Nancy's voice. "'Tell him I said to help you or ... ELSE!'"
Ed's imitation of Nancy's tone, mannerisms, and wording were so perfect, that Carol dissolved into a fit of giggles that goes on for more than a minute. Ed just sits at his desk, smugly.
After Carol regained her composure, she said, "Well, I really do appreciate your helping me out. I shouldn't take up any more of your time." Carol stood.
Ed stood as well and smiled, "It's no problem, really. I'm glad I can help."
As they walk towards the door to Ed's office, he said, "Can I have your phone number?"
Realizing it sounded a little forward, and not at all what he intended it to sound like, he added quickly, "So that I can let you know about your contract."
If Carol was aware of his slip, she didn't acknowledge it. "Sure. My cell phone number is (216) 555-5683. I'm also, uh, staying at the DoubleTree."
'Now,' Carol thought, 'why did I tell him that?'
Ed jotted down her phone number and said, "Okay. Got it." Then he walked over and opened the door to the outer office, noting that Deloris' head whipped around immediately. He chuckled to himself and shook his head slightly. She was incorrigible.
"Well, Carol, I hope that I'll be able to help." he said, as he walked Carol out, past Deloris' desk and towards the bank of elevators just outside the firm's offices. Deloris looked on surprised - was he going to walk her all the way down to the street?
"So," Ed said, not paying attention to the fact that he is pressing the elevator's 'Down' button and waiting with Carol, "Where did you come into New York from. You said you were staying at the DoubleTree?"
"Oh," Carol said, "I live in Stuckeyville. I teach English at the high school."
"You're kidding? That's great," before he thought.
"It is?" Carol was intrigued.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Ed offered. "Do you like your job?"
"Well," Carol thought for a moment, "most of the time." She didn't see the need to regale Ed with Warren Cheswick's attempt to woo her by carving her name in Jell-O.
"And are you happy in Stuckeyville?"
"To be honest ... Not to knock New York, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else."
"Then, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're doing something you want to do, in the place where you want to do it. Am I right?"
"Yeah," Carol said, she'd never thought of it that way.
"Then why shouldn't it be great?"
Carol wanted to reply 'Because I was an idiot and I wasted the last seven years of my life on an inconsiderate jerk who cared more about finishing chapter seventeen than our relationship.' Instead she just bit her lower lip and looked down at her shoes.
Ed noticed Carol's reaction, sensing that he had touched a sore spot, and he went silent. The elevator arrived and they both got on, neither noticing how strange it was for Ed to still be walking together with her. Deloris, who had now moved to the front of the office, continued watching. The grin on her face continued to widen.
Finally, it was Carol who broke the silence. "It's just that sometimes things don't work out the way you planned."
Ed smiled sadly and nodded. Carol took his reaction to mean that he knew exactly what she meant, perhaps even better than she, herself, did.
"Ed," Carol said, "can I be completely honest with you?"
"Of course," Ed said, a little distractedly, "I want you to always be honest with me."
There was a small pause as they both digested THAT comment. The elevator had reached the bottom floor. Ed and Carol slowly walked towards the exit.
Carol continued with embarrassment, "I ... uh, I don't remember you from high school."
Ed laughed and said, "That's okay. As I recall, I don't think I was all that memorable. We did have one class together, though. Ninth grade. Mr. Roarke's biology class."
"You were in Mr. Roarke's biology class?" Carol asked.
"Yep," was Ed's reply.
They were outside now. Carol was looking back and forth along the street, confused. A bicycle messenger flew by her on the street. Ed noticed her confusion and smiled, "The DoubleTree is this way." He pointed, "Come on, I'll walk you. I, um, needed to get out of the office for a few minutes anyway to clear my head."
They start to walk down the street together.
With a laugh, Carol said, "Speaking of Mr. Roark's biology class. Do you remember Jimmy Leichtnam and the frog?"
Ed started chuckling, "Oh yeah! Big, burly football player. Passed out the moment his girlfriend, Jenny Hatcher, cut into the frog they were supposed to dissect. Keeled right over, knocked the aquarium full of tadpoles over and spilled it right out the window."
Carol managed to say between gasps of laughter, "Yeah, right out the window and onto Mrs. Cavendish down below."
"Apparently, they heard her shrieks over in Jaspertown," Ed said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
They chuckled for a couple more moments and then reached an intersection, waiting for the light to change. Carol turned around, looking up at the buildings again. She stood on the edge of the curb, right in front of Ed, face to face. She craned her neck upward - still amazed at the sheer size of the office buildings around her, when she lost her balance slightly and took a step backward to correct herself. But her step took her off the curb and into the path of an oncoming taxi. Ed reacted instantly. He reached out and grabbed Carol, pulling her back onto the sidewalk and into his arms. The taxi flashed past, it's horn blaring and driver cursing.
They stood together in the embrace, neither seemed to be in rush to break it apart. Carol, still shaking from the adrenaline, looked up into Ed's eyes - and noted the concern, the warmth that was there.
Finally, they pulled away from each other - *slowly*.
"Thank you," she offered weakly, still not able to tear her attention from those eyes. She could fall into them forever - she thought. He smiled back at her, "My pleasure." Which of course, wasn't really all that far from the truth - as Ed had dreamed of holding Carol Vessey for years.
The light changed, and the crowd of people around them moved across the intersection, but Ed and Carol remained standing there just kind of staring at one another. It took them a minute or two to realize that they had missed the light. Each felt a little embarrassed, but said nothing, content in waiting for the next light change when they continued across the street walking in silence.
The awkward silence continued right up until they reached the hotel. Neither of them were sure how to say goodbye. Finally, it was Ed who said, "Well, I guess I should get back to work. Lots to do."
"Uh, yeah," Carol said, "me, too. Thanks for agreeing to look over the contract for me, and for walking me back, and (she blushes)...for saving my life!"
"Really Carol, it's okay." Ed said, "I've got to get back to work. Enjoy the rest of your day, okay?"
"Sure," Carol said, "you too."
Ed smiled at Carol one last time and turned to head back. Carol just watched him go, not really wanting him to, more importantly not sure WHY she didn't want him to go, but completely unsure of what to do about it. That is until Ed was about twenty feet away, when she called out, "Ed!"
Ed turned around, a curiously anxious expression on his face. "Yes, Carol?"
"You obviously know the city pretty well, right?" Carol asked.
"Yeah," Ed said, "I'm fairly familiar with it. Got anything in particular you need directions to."
Carol frowned. Directions? She didn't want directions, "Actually, I was wondering if you could show me some of the sights tonight?"
Carol suddenly realized just how forward that was. She knew Ed wasn't married, since he wasn't wearing a wedding band, but she also didn't know if he was involved with anyone. She held her breath as Ed walked back towards her.
"Yeah, I'd love to show you the city. How about I pick you up at, um, say 6:30? Dress casually."
"See you then," Carol said with enthusiasm. "Oh, I'm in room 426."
Carol turns and almost skips into the hotel as Ed turned to head back to the office. He took his time, strolling down the streets, and taking in the sights - almost as if he were seeing them for the first time. He entered his building and took the elevator to his offices on the 33rd floor.
He walked by Deloris' desk, still distracted with thoughts of Carol. "Hey, Deloris,"
"Did you take the elevator back or just float up to the 33rd floor?"
"What?"
"She seems nice."
"Huh?"
"Ms. Vessey. She seems nice."
"Yes. She is."
"I like her."
Ed motioned for Deloris to follow him into his office. If he was going to get interrogated, he didn't want it to be fodder for the gossips in the secretarial pool.
"Okay, what's going on?" Ed asked, obviously referring to the subtle interrogation Deloris was giving him.
"Actually, that was going to be *my* next question."
"Nothing's 'going on', Deloris. She's an old friend from high school. That's all."
"Then why did you pretend you had trouble remembering her?"
"What?"
"Earlier when she first arrived you pretended like you couldn't remember her. You even had this whole rubbing-your-chin contemplation thing going. Which by the way was adorable ..."
"Adorable huh?" He pauses, before adding "I was NOT pretending."
"I think, for the record, I should tell you that you're not a very good liar."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I can tell when you're lying."
"Okay, maybe, she's a little more than an old friend."
"I knew it. Was she your old high school girlfriend?"
"What?!!! No. We didn't know each other in high school."
"After high school, then?"
"No."
"College?"
"No."
"Well, I give up. When did you first talk to this woman?"
"About 30 minutes ago. In this office."
"Get out of here."
"I thought you said you could tell when I'm lying?"
"I can. I just can't believe you never talked to that girl before now."
"She was Homecoming Queen. Very popular. I ... wasn't."
"You were a dork?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Interesting ..."
"I'm not following ..."
"It's just that I find it curious that given the way the young woman was staring at you, that she ever thought you were a dork."
"She was staring at me?"
"Didn't I just say that?"
"Well yes, I just find it very hard to believe that Carol Vessey was staring at me like that."
"Stranger things have happened."
"Not in my universe."
"Are you going to see her again?"
"As a matter of fact, she asked me to show her the sights tonight." Ed didn't bother to mention the incident with the cab, as it would just add fuel to Deloris' speculations.
Deloris smiled, "I told you she likes you."
"Deloris we're just friends, okay. Nothing's going to happen. She lives in Ohio. I live in New York. She probably has a boyfriend back home waiting for her. You're reading way too much into this whole thing. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."
"If you insist."
"I do."
Deloris turned and started back to her desk.
"Deloris?"
She stopped. "Yes, Mr. Stevens?"
"You really think she was staring at me?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. You're 'just friends' remember." She winks at him.