CHAPTER TEN
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 18, 2000
7:30 AM
Deloris Hector walked purposefully into the lobby of the building which contained the law offices of Farmer & Sheehan. The 'clak-clak' sound of her high heeled shoes echoed across the first floor lobby. Clarence, the middle-aged guard who manned the first floor lobby security desk, watched as the normally pleasant Deloris marched passed him and towards the bank of elevators.
Then she turned around and started walking back towards him!
"He isn't here yet, is he?" Deloris demanded.
"Uh, that would depend on who 'he' is," Clarence replied.
"Mr. Stevens."
"Oh ..." Clarence fumbled with clipboard containing the early morning sign in sheet. Anyone who the security staff let in before the 'normal business hours' was required to sign in. "Uh ..." was all he could manage as he furiously scanned the list of signatures.
"Well, is he?!!" Deloris stamped her foot impatiently.
"Uh, he's not on the list," Clarence replied. Then he decided that caution was the wiser choice and added, "but that doesn't mean that he isn't. Some of the guys don't require 'the regulars' to sign in."
"Well he'd better not be ..." came Deloris' reply as she marched back towards the elevators.
Clarence watched as she disappeared into one of the elevators. He leaned back in his chair and let out a huge sigh of relief. Wherever Mr. Edward Stevens was - he hoped it wasn't working at his desk.
***
Deloris walked into the office, still bearing the same look of grim determination that had flustered poor Clarence. As she neared her desk she cast a glance over at the nearby office - Ed's office. The door was closed, but that wasn't proof of anything, Ed often kept it closed when he was working early to avoid being disturbed by the cleaning staff.
She put her coat away and slipped her handbag into the lower left hand drawer of her desk. As she sat down in her chair, she looked around her desk to take stock of things and then smiled. Her desk was exactly as she had left it on Friday afternoon when she left!
'Ed is always dropping stuff on my desk at night and on the weekends,' she thought.
But she needed to be sure, so she got up from her desk and peeked into Ed's office. One look confirmed her suspicions - Ed WASN'T in yet. She looked around the office, dumbfounded. She looked over at the contents of Ed's in- box and saw a stack of documents on the corner of his desk. But they were the SAME documents she had left them there on Friday just before she had left. Ed hadn't touched them.
"Oh, my..." Deloris grinned, then retreated back out to her desk.
***
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 18, 2000
11:00 AM
Frustrated, Carol Vessey pushed her chair back from the small desk in her hotel room and sighed. She'd been trying for the last three hours to work out the next chapter in her novel and wasn't getting anywhere.
Unfortunately, the novel wasn't the problem. Although she'd had another wonderful time with Ed yesterday, Carol was still haunted by Miranda's revelation that she'd gone away with Ed on an intimate ski-vacation only two weeks previously. And that while they were there in Vermont, that she and Ed ...
Carol stood up and began pacing back and forth. 'That Ed and her ...'
'That they'd ....'
'Aaaargggh!'
Why was she torturing herself about this? She'd thought she'd come to an understanding with herself that whatever Ed had done before they started seeing each other was Ed's business. That whatever past relationships, he'd been in, were just that - in the PAST.
Of course, not that what Miranda had told her constituted a 'relationship'. No. It was more like a 'fling'. A silly, insignificant 'fling', which probably had more to do with Ed being lonely, hurt and vulnerable than anything else. She walked into the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"Come on, Carol Phyllis, get a grip. Ed may have had a fling with Miranda, but that was all it was - a 'fling". She sighed again. It was just that Ed didn't seem the type to have casual flings - *especially* not with a 'woman' like Miranda.
She walked back over and sat down in front of her laptop. Looking over what she'd written, she discovered that her preoccupation with Ed and Miranda had even worked it's way into a chapter of her novel - as a rather heated argument between Caroline and the mysterious dark-haired lawyer she'd fallen in love with.
That she'd fallen in love with?
Was that it? Was she in LOVE with Ed?
But they had only met a few days ago, she told herself. People don't fall in love that fast - except in the movies.
And yet as she saved the work she'd done on the new chapter and closed the laptop, Carol couldn't help but be struck by how 'movie-like' the last few days with Ed *had* been. So wonderful and romantic.
Starry-eyed, she walked over to the window, and looked out across the city. She wondered where he was right at the moment and if he was thinking about her?
What was happening to her? She was so confused one minute and then the next everything was so clear. So right.
If she'd been home, Carol could've talked to her friend Molly or maybe even Nancy Burton. But, it was 11:00 AM in the morning. Molly was in the middle of teaching her 3rd period class and Nancy was probably in a meeting somewhere. They couldn't help her. Not now at least.
She turned away from the window and paced back and forth for a moment. 'What would Molly tell me to do at a time like this?' she asked herself. Then she couldn't help but chuckle as she realized that pacing was something that Ed did to help clear *his* thoughts. She laughed to herself and wondered when she was going to get a baseball bat.
Finally, she decided that if she wanted Ed - if she *really* wanted him - she was going to have to do something more than what she'd been doing. She was going to have to do something that would figuratively 'knock his socks off'. She remembered that Ed had told her that he was planning to take her to 'Windows on the World' for dinner this evening and decided that would be the perfect place for one Edward Jeremy Stevens to see a completely different side of Carol Phyllis Vessey.
Carol walked back into the bedroom of her hotel room and opened her closet. She skimmed through the clothes hanging there. She sighed despairingly. Nothing she'd brought with her from Stuckeyville captured 'the look' she wanted to convey tonight.
'Well,' Carol thought, 'desperate times call for desperate measures!' and she grabbed her coat and headed out to do a little shopping.
She walked outside and hailed a cab. Remembering her mantra ('desperate times call for desperate measures') she directed the driver to take her to Bloomingdale's - "as fast as he could". She got there without serious incident - as long as one didn't consider having two tires up on the curb for half a block to get around a line of stopped vehicles a 'serious incident'.
Carol walked into the store and despite the growing crowd of Christmas shoppers, quickly found the woman's dress section. She flipped through the racks, pulling out a few dresses to try on. She then went to the fitting room and began trying them on. She liked a couple of them, but they weren't what she was looking for. Of course, she didn't know WHAT she was looking for, she just knew these dresses weren't it!
She put the dresses on a rack outside the fitting room and headed back to look for others. While looking over the racks, she sighed loudly enough for a saleswoman to notice. The saleswoman approached Carol and said, "May I help you?"
Carol looked over at the saleswoman. She was young, maybe in her mid twenties, with red hair that framed her face down to her shoulders. She was also slim and very cute. Her name tag read Shannon.
Carol took a chance and explained that she was from out of town and been asked to dinner at 'Windows on the World' by a male friend, whom she really wanted to impress. For added emphasis, she even told Shannon about some of the things Ed had done for her.
"Can you help me?" she finally asked.
Shannon looked at her for moment. Then with a mischievous smile said, "Come with me. We've got some stuff left over from our Fall sales. I'm not supposed to bring customers back here, but since it's for a 'GOOD CAUSE' ... I don't think my supervisor will mind."
Carol smiled and followed Shannon through a door that said "Employees Only" and into a storage room, then through another door and into a smaller room which was lined with racks of clothing.
Shannon eyed Carol critically and then went over to one of the racks. She started pulling dresses off the rack. After a moment, she returned with several hangers and started to hold them up to Carol, judging how they'd look on her. She made little sounds "Un-unh", "No", "Nope". She went through all of the clothes she had selected and tossed them all aside.
After Shannon had tried the last outfit, she got a thoughtful look on her face and said, "Maybe. It might be a little cold, but we can definitely do something about that." Carol simply watched the young saleswoman with amazement. It seemed as if Shannon was as excited about her date with Ed as she was.
Shannon went to another rack and rummaged around for a moment. She pulled something off the rack. "Aha!". She walked over to Carol and held the dress up in front of her, "Yes, I think this will do - nicely. Let's go try it on."
She led Carol back out to the shopping area and over to the fitting room. "Go ahead," Shannon said as she handed the hanger to Carol.
Carol went in and slipped out of her jeans and sweater. She slipped into the dress Shannon had picked and then reviewed how it looked on her in the mirror.
'Perfect!' Carol thought.
Carol stepped out to get Shannon's opinion. Shannon took one look at her and smiled joyfully. Carol even thought she saw a tear welling up in corner of Shannon's eye. Carol returned the smile then went back and got changed back into her street clothes. When she returned, Shannon was waiting outside with a shawl she'd thought would not only accentuate the dress, but also provide added warmth.
Then Shannon took Carol over to the women's shoe department. There she introduced Carol to her friend Bernice, a young girl about Shannon's age with dark curly hair and bright green eyes. After Shannon had informed Bernice of the particulars of their 'mission', she too was eager to help Carol. As Carol tried on shoes, the three women talked more about their boyfriends - well mostly it was just Carol telling the saleswomen about the three dates she'd had with Ed. Bernice and Shannon listened intently. It was clear they thought Carol had found a 'keeper'.
After they'd found the right shoes, Shannon led Carol over to a register. Carol had been so focused on finding the right outfit and then telling the women about Ed, that she hadn't bothered to check to see if she could even afford any of this.
Shannon noticed her concern almost immediately, "Don't worry, I'll enter it in using my employee discount."
Carol looked at Shannon gratefully and said, "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
"It's Christmas," Shannon replied.
Carol smiled and handed Shannon her credit card. Shannon finished the transaction and placed everything neatly into two bags which she then handed to Carol.
Carol thanked her and Bernice again and walked out of the store, taking a cab back to her hotel.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 18, 2000
3:30 PM
Ed stood at his office window, looking out across the city. He'd just spent the last six hours going over the final drafts for the Henderson account. It had been a daunting task made more so in recent days by Ed's complete inability to focus completely on it.
And he didn't care. Not one bit. He would have paid ANY price for the last few days he'd spent with Carol. He smiled recalling the memory of her in his arms. He wondered where she was - right at *that* moment. Was she thinking of him? He looked down at his watch - only a few more hours, til he saw her again.
Deloris stepped into the office. It was obvious to her what, or more accurately, who her boss was thinking about as he stared out that window. She knocked softly on the door - just enough to get Ed's attention.
"Yes, Deloris. What is it?" Ed asked.
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
"No it's alright. I was just daydreaming there for a moment. I need to get back to work anyway. What can I do for you."
"Three things. One. Mr. Farmer is on line one. I think he just wants an update on the paperwork for the Henderson deal. Two. I've confirmed your reservation at 'Windows on the World'." Deloris stated matter-of-factly.
"And the third?"
Deloris smiled at her boss and said, "I just hope that new girlfriend of yours doesn't have allergies. I'm just your secretary and ...." she glanced back at her desk and the bouquet that Ed had sent her in appreciation of her anticipating his need to cancel his monthly racquetball game with Jerry Pender.
"Deloris," Ed corrected, "Carol's not my girlfriend. She's ..."
"She's...?" Deloris echoed his words. Then when Ed couldn't answer said, "Yeah, that's what I thought - it's perfectly obvious what's happening." Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Have I really been THAT distracted?" Ed asked.
"You forget. I type your dictation," Deloris replied.
"No."
"I'm afraid so."
"And how far will *that* little anecdote spread through the office grapevine?"
"Actually, for *that* I'm thinking of taking out a full-page ad in the Times." She holds up her hands as if 'framing' the headline. "Legal Eagle's Heart Gets Taken Off the Endangered Species List by Pretty English Teacher! Film at Eleven!" She started to chuckle.
Ed looked at Deloris, his voice became very serious. "She *is* great. Isn't she?"
"Yes, she is." Deloris looked around and then stepped further into Ed's office. "Ed, I know how badly you hurt when Liz...." She noticed that unlike previous occasions, Ed didn't flinch at the mention of his ex-wife's name. She smiled. "...and to cope, you threw yourself into your work - which you're VERY good at, by the way. But Carol Vessey is the best thing that has happened to you since... Well, since I've known you."
Ed looked at his secretary, unsure of what to say. Finally he managed, "Thank you, Deloris."
"You're welcome." She turned and started to walk back to the outer office.
"Deloris?"
"Yes, Ed."
"Tell Mr. Farmer that I had to step out for a little while on a ... on a personal matter. And that I'll return his call within the hour. Alright?"
"I'll take care of it." Deloris said, returning to a lighter tone of voice, "And thanks again for the flowers. But I don't think I should tell Irving about these - don't want him to get jealous..." She watched as Ed put on his dark black overcoat, noticing how it brought out the brightness of his blue eyes.
"On second thought..." Deloris trailed off with another mischievous grin and continued walking out of the office. Where she almost collided with Miranda.
Deloris quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Van Note. I didn't see you standing there."
Miranda muttered an apology of her own, and hastily retreated back to her office. Deloris watched her go without another word. But what she'd really wanted to do was ask why Miranda was standing outside Ed's office. 'She's up to something. I'm sure of it!' she thought.
***
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 18, 2000
6:30 PM
Carol took one last look at herself in the mirror of her hotel bathroom. She knew that Ed would be on time - he always was, and she wanted to be ready for him. As the clock hit 6:29 PM, she put on her long coat and scarf and waited. As if by magic, Carol heard the knock at the door at the exact moment the clock hit 6:30 PM.
She buttoned her coat up tight and opened the door. Ed smiled at her, warmly. Then noticing her bundled up appearance, he craned his neck to look into the room.
"Cold in here?" he asked. Carol just smiled enigmatically, she'd wanted to surprise Ed with how she looked in the dress - but not until they'd reached the restaurant.
"You look terrific, by the way," Ed stated matter-of-factly.
Carol looked embarrassed and said, "Thank you. You're looking pretty terrific yourself!"
And he did. His hair was slightly mussed, but maybe a little more carefully than usual. He had on a light blue shirt that perfectly complemented his dark suit. 'That suit,' Carol thought, 'must have cost a pretty penny!' It had obviously been tailored just for him - and tailored well! Ed's tie was an understated silk affair with an octagonal geometric pattern in blacks, blues, grays, and purples.
As he walked into her hotel room, Ed pulled out a package from behind his back and handed it to her. Carol wasn't actually surprised - he seemed to keep showing up with things for her. 'That adorable man, if he keeps this up,' Carol thought, 'he's going to spoil me!'
The package was wrapped in festive Christmas paper. The gift tag said "To Carol. Love, Ed." Carol's heart fluttered slightly as she'd read the word 'Love'. She took the package from Ed who said, "Merry Christmas! Actually it's just the Barbie doll I bought you on Saturday. BUT, you're not allowed to open it up until Christmas morning. That way, you'll have something from me with you then."
Carol's eyes misted up momentarily, wishing that Ed himself was going to be there on Christmas morning, but she hid her reaction by dropping her gaze. She nodded and said, "Okay, I promise. I won't open this til Christmas!"
Ed smiled. Carol went back into the room and placed the package on the coffee table, next to the plant from Saturday and the roses from yesterday. 'Good thing I'm going home on Wednesday,' she thought. 'That table can't hold much more!'
"Well, then we're off," Ed said. He took Carol's arm and they walked out of the hotel room together, Ed closing the door to Carol's hotel room behind them. They walked down the hallway almost in silence - both clearly still impressed with the appearance of the other.
By the time they'd reached the elevators, the conversation had reached a more normal level. And as they rode down together in the elevator, Ed asked how Carol how her writing was going, and Carol asked Ed about his day. Both admitted to being somewhat 'pre-occupied'.
They left the hotel and got another cab. 'Well,' Carol thought, 'at least I feel better in these death traps with Ed around.'
The trip down to the World Trade Center wasn't too bad. Traffic was its usual snarled mess, but neither Ed nor Carol seemed to notice it much. The cab driver, an older Italian man probably in his mid 50s, noted the way the two just stared into each other's eyes and he smiled. He figured that if they were headed to the World Trade Center, then they were going to 'Windows on the World'. He did his best to get them there in record time.
At a few minutes to seven o'clock, Ed and Carol stepped out of the cab just outside the World Trade Center. Ed paid the driver, giving him a generous tip - it seemed that Ed paid more attention to the trip than the driver thought and thanked him for the speedy delivery.
They walked inside the north tower, taking the express elevator up to the 107th floor. Both felt their ears pop several times. The elevator ride took Carol's breath away, thinking about how high they were going and how fast they were getting there. She reached down and took Ed's hand in hers, but it wasn't the vice-like grip she'd had at the Empire State Building. Ed noticed this and smiled.
The elevator doorway opened and they walked into the hallway. Velvet ropes cordoned off everything and they were soon approached by a uniformed attendant who asked them their destination. Ed told him about their dinner plans and he conducted them to the restaurant.
As they entered the restaurant proper, Ed nodded at the hostess standing by the doorway. She was wearing a charcoal colored suit that looked like brushed suede, the left lapel of which had a small label that read "WotW". Ed and Carol walked over and Ed said, "Hi, we have a seven o'clock reservation for Stevens, party of two."
The hostess, who name tag read Beatriz, checked over her list and said, "Ah yes, here you are." She waved down a waiter and said, "Please take Mr. and Mrs. Stevens to table #42."
Ed started to correct her that he and Carol weren't married when Carol surprised both of them by placing a hand on his arm and shaking her head slightly. She liked the thought of someone calling her Mrs. Stevens. Ed's heart felt like it was going to burst forth from his chest. He grinned hugely.
The waiter nodded and said, "Would you like to check your coats?"
They nodded. Ed shrugged out of his coat and then helped Carol out of hers. Ed handed the coats to the waiter and turned back towards Carol. When he did, he nearly fell over.
Carol was wearing a simple knee-length black dress. It was designed more for summer, but the shawl covering her shoulders - and the spaghetti straps of the dress - accented it wonderfully. She wore a shawl for a little added warmth, though it didn't seem that she needed it. The dress seemed to have been designed specifically for Carol, accentuating her slender figure perfectly. Her high heel shoes highlighted the curve of her legs - a fact Ed hadn't been able to notice before as she'd worn a long coat.
Ed smiled, taken all together the outfit was ...
Ed was still trying to find the right words when the waiter returned. Like Ed, it was obvious that he too was impressed with Carol's appearance. He conducted them quickly to their table. As they walked across the restaurant, heads turned - a few men were openly staring at Carol. Carol glanced down at Ed's feet and stifled a giggle when she realized the reason she was doing it was because she wanted to see if his socks and shoes were still on!
Finally, the waiter led them to a small square table by the windows. The waiter offered to hold Carol's chair for her while she sat, but Ed stepped in and did the honors himself. The waiter gave a small smile, acknowledging Ed's right - and incredibly good fortune. After she was seated Carol took a moment to look around.
The place was fantastic! Floor-to-ceiling windows were spaced between tall columns all around the room. The ceiling was crisscrossed with wood beams and indirect lighting. In one corner was a grand piano. The plush carpeting was a geometric pattern that accented and complemented the very linear column-glass walls. The tablecloths followed a similar theme, white with thick light gray stripes. The chairs were plush, without arms, and done in a rust color with wood accents. Floral arrangements were on every table and the place settings were white with blue and gold geometric patterns. The salad plate was a curious crescent moon shape, with stars and a crescent moon painted on the bottom.
However, the most incredible part was the view. It was a clear night and Carol could see for miles. The lights of the city and, across the Hudson River, New Jersey twinkled. Carol was lost in the view for a moment.
So was Ed, but in a different view. He just stared at Carol - he couldn't take his eyes of her. 'She keeps taking my breath away!' he thought, finally deciding on an apt description of her in that outfit.
Carol looked back at Ed and realized that the whole time she had been looking out at the skyline, he had been staring at her. She looked down at her plate and blushed.
"Ed?"
"Mmmhmmm."
"You're staring at me," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Am I?" Ed asked innocently.
"Yes. You are. Now stop it, the other guests are starting to notice us."
"Let them. I don't care."
Carol blushed even more and looked back down at her place. She was embarrassed by all the attention the two were suddenly drawing to themselves, but secretly loved the compliment Ed had just bestowed on her. She finally found her voice and looked back up at him and said, "Ed, we can't eat dinner this way."
"I'm sorry," Ed replied recognizing the practicality of Carol's statement, "it's just that when I saw how you looked in that dress. Well..., you just 'knocked my socks off'.
Carol's head whipped up and she just stared at Ed for a moment, then burst out laughing. Ed laughed too, but was slightly confused at why she found it so amusing. Finally, Carol calmed down enough to explain - somewhat sheepishly - that it was exactly the reaction she'd been hoping for.
Ed smiled at her and said softly, "Carol, I have the same reaction every time I see you. Even the jeans and sweatshirt you had on Saturday."
Although she didn't think it was possible, Carol's blush deepened. She was incredibly touched not only by the compliment but by the complete sincerity with which Ed had made it. She reached across the table and put her hand over his. Ed smiled in return.
After a few moments, Ed noticed their waiter standing quietly near one of the empty tables. Every few seconds, he would glance over at them - obviously waiting, not wanting to intrude on something 'private'. Ed smiled again at Carol and said, "Why don't we let the waiter get to work?" He looked back at the waiter again. Carol followed his gaze, turning slightly to see that yes, the waiter had been ... well, 'waiting' patiently. She grinned sheepishly and picked up her menu.
The more or less Continental menu blended classical French and American cuisines. Carol's eyes widened slightly at the prices. Once again, reminded by just how much Ed had been spending on her. She bit her lip and resolved that she'd pay for her meal tonight - and that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
When the waiter returned to take their orders, Ed inquired if the wine steward had any remaining bottles of the '61 Bordeaux left in stock. The waiter smiled, "Sir, has *excellent* taste." Then he looked over at Carol, "but then, Sir *already* knows that, doesn't he?"
Ed's gaze returned to Carol, he reached over and again, took her hand in his, "Yes, he does." Carol was sure she was going to melt into a puddle on the floor.
They spent the rest of their time at the restaurant, eating, talking quietly, stealing intimate glances at one another, and, occasionally, holding hands. Eventually, they got the hint from the waiter that they should probably consider leaving - maybe it was the seventh time he asked them if they needed anything after their dessert plates had been cleared that did it.
While Carol excused herself to use the ladies room, Ed asked the waiter to bring the check, which Ed then quickly paid. It was quite a bill - easily more than all their other meals combined, and he was not about to let Carol pay any part of it.
When Carol returned, Ed asked her if she was ready to go. She started to say yes, then remembered that she had wanted to pay at least her half of the check. When she realized that Ed had already paid the full amount himself, she was more than a little angry with him.
"Ed, you have to stop spending all your money on me like this." She wanted to tell him more than that. That Ed had spent more money on her in three days than Nick had spent on her in seven years, but she didn't want to leave him with the impression that she was keeping score in that regard - because she *wasn't*. What mattered to her was that in those SAME three days Ed had given her more attention and support than Nick had in their entire relationship. Ed could've taken her out for a hotdog and she'd still say she loved...
Carol stopped herself in mid-thought, momentarily stunned at the truth she had just revealed to herself. She was in love with Ed!
"Why?" Ed asked, unaware of the thoughts racing through Carol's mind.
Carol snapped back to attention, "Because it's not right, we only just met a few days ago and it's just ... it's just not right."
"It feels right to me," Ed replied.
"I feel like I'm taking advantage of you." Which was true. She did.
"But you're not. I want to do this, Carol. You're not making me do anything I don't want to do."
Carol's anger was deflected by the compliment, "Alright. But next time I pay, okay?"
"Alright."
They got their coats and left a tip for the coat check girl. Ed helped Carol on with her coat, his hands lingering on her shoulders afterwards. Carol leaned backwards into him and smiled up at him. She rested her cheek on his hand for a moment.
They took the elevator down to the lobby. If Carol thought the trip up was heart-pounding, the trip down was heart-stopping! The elevator moved just as fast going down and, because it was an express elevator, she couldn't tell when they were getting near the ground floor. She was startled when the elevator abruptly started slowing - not harshly, just unexpectedly.
As they walked out of the World Trade Center, Ed moved to the edge of the street and hailed a cab. During the ride back to the hotel, Carol snuggled up against Ed. Ed wrapped his arm around her.
After a short and quite uneventful ride, they were standing in front of Carol's hotel. They walked inside quickly, crossing the lobby to get to the elevators. As in the restaurant, people were staring at them. The men in the hotel watched Carol, and more than a few women were drawn to the man on Carol's side.
Neither Ed or Carol noticed this - their attention was fixed on each other.
They rode the elevator to the 4th floor in silence, both wanting with an almost desperate desire for this evening to continue. As they got to Carol's hotel room, she fished her key out and unlocked the door. She opened the door and then stopped. She looked up at Ed for a moment, then took off her long coat and scarf - she also removed the shawl she had worn at dinner. Folding everything over her arm, she stood in front of Ed in the black dress for a moment. Then, tentatively, she reached out, took Ed's hand in hers and led him into the hotel room. The door closed quietly behind them.
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 18, 2000
7:30 AM
Deloris Hector walked purposefully into the lobby of the building which contained the law offices of Farmer & Sheehan. The 'clak-clak' sound of her high heeled shoes echoed across the first floor lobby. Clarence, the middle-aged guard who manned the first floor lobby security desk, watched as the normally pleasant Deloris marched passed him and towards the bank of elevators.
Then she turned around and started walking back towards him!
"He isn't here yet, is he?" Deloris demanded.
"Uh, that would depend on who 'he' is," Clarence replied.
"Mr. Stevens."
"Oh ..." Clarence fumbled with clipboard containing the early morning sign in sheet. Anyone who the security staff let in before the 'normal business hours' was required to sign in. "Uh ..." was all he could manage as he furiously scanned the list of signatures.
"Well, is he?!!" Deloris stamped her foot impatiently.
"Uh, he's not on the list," Clarence replied. Then he decided that caution was the wiser choice and added, "but that doesn't mean that he isn't. Some of the guys don't require 'the regulars' to sign in."
"Well he'd better not be ..." came Deloris' reply as she marched back towards the elevators.
Clarence watched as she disappeared into one of the elevators. He leaned back in his chair and let out a huge sigh of relief. Wherever Mr. Edward Stevens was - he hoped it wasn't working at his desk.
***
Deloris walked into the office, still bearing the same look of grim determination that had flustered poor Clarence. As she neared her desk she cast a glance over at the nearby office - Ed's office. The door was closed, but that wasn't proof of anything, Ed often kept it closed when he was working early to avoid being disturbed by the cleaning staff.
She put her coat away and slipped her handbag into the lower left hand drawer of her desk. As she sat down in her chair, she looked around her desk to take stock of things and then smiled. Her desk was exactly as she had left it on Friday afternoon when she left!
'Ed is always dropping stuff on my desk at night and on the weekends,' she thought.
But she needed to be sure, so she got up from her desk and peeked into Ed's office. One look confirmed her suspicions - Ed WASN'T in yet. She looked around the office, dumbfounded. She looked over at the contents of Ed's in- box and saw a stack of documents on the corner of his desk. But they were the SAME documents she had left them there on Friday just before she had left. Ed hadn't touched them.
"Oh, my..." Deloris grinned, then retreated back out to her desk.
***
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 18, 2000
11:00 AM
Frustrated, Carol Vessey pushed her chair back from the small desk in her hotel room and sighed. She'd been trying for the last three hours to work out the next chapter in her novel and wasn't getting anywhere.
Unfortunately, the novel wasn't the problem. Although she'd had another wonderful time with Ed yesterday, Carol was still haunted by Miranda's revelation that she'd gone away with Ed on an intimate ski-vacation only two weeks previously. And that while they were there in Vermont, that she and Ed ...
Carol stood up and began pacing back and forth. 'That Ed and her ...'
'That they'd ....'
'Aaaargggh!'
Why was she torturing herself about this? She'd thought she'd come to an understanding with herself that whatever Ed had done before they started seeing each other was Ed's business. That whatever past relationships, he'd been in, were just that - in the PAST.
Of course, not that what Miranda had told her constituted a 'relationship'. No. It was more like a 'fling'. A silly, insignificant 'fling', which probably had more to do with Ed being lonely, hurt and vulnerable than anything else. She walked into the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"Come on, Carol Phyllis, get a grip. Ed may have had a fling with Miranda, but that was all it was - a 'fling". She sighed again. It was just that Ed didn't seem the type to have casual flings - *especially* not with a 'woman' like Miranda.
She walked back over and sat down in front of her laptop. Looking over what she'd written, she discovered that her preoccupation with Ed and Miranda had even worked it's way into a chapter of her novel - as a rather heated argument between Caroline and the mysterious dark-haired lawyer she'd fallen in love with.
That she'd fallen in love with?
Was that it? Was she in LOVE with Ed?
But they had only met a few days ago, she told herself. People don't fall in love that fast - except in the movies.
And yet as she saved the work she'd done on the new chapter and closed the laptop, Carol couldn't help but be struck by how 'movie-like' the last few days with Ed *had* been. So wonderful and romantic.
Starry-eyed, she walked over to the window, and looked out across the city. She wondered where he was right at the moment and if he was thinking about her?
What was happening to her? She was so confused one minute and then the next everything was so clear. So right.
If she'd been home, Carol could've talked to her friend Molly or maybe even Nancy Burton. But, it was 11:00 AM in the morning. Molly was in the middle of teaching her 3rd period class and Nancy was probably in a meeting somewhere. They couldn't help her. Not now at least.
She turned away from the window and paced back and forth for a moment. 'What would Molly tell me to do at a time like this?' she asked herself. Then she couldn't help but chuckle as she realized that pacing was something that Ed did to help clear *his* thoughts. She laughed to herself and wondered when she was going to get a baseball bat.
Finally, she decided that if she wanted Ed - if she *really* wanted him - she was going to have to do something more than what she'd been doing. She was going to have to do something that would figuratively 'knock his socks off'. She remembered that Ed had told her that he was planning to take her to 'Windows on the World' for dinner this evening and decided that would be the perfect place for one Edward Jeremy Stevens to see a completely different side of Carol Phyllis Vessey.
Carol walked back into the bedroom of her hotel room and opened her closet. She skimmed through the clothes hanging there. She sighed despairingly. Nothing she'd brought with her from Stuckeyville captured 'the look' she wanted to convey tonight.
'Well,' Carol thought, 'desperate times call for desperate measures!' and she grabbed her coat and headed out to do a little shopping.
She walked outside and hailed a cab. Remembering her mantra ('desperate times call for desperate measures') she directed the driver to take her to Bloomingdale's - "as fast as he could". She got there without serious incident - as long as one didn't consider having two tires up on the curb for half a block to get around a line of stopped vehicles a 'serious incident'.
Carol walked into the store and despite the growing crowd of Christmas shoppers, quickly found the woman's dress section. She flipped through the racks, pulling out a few dresses to try on. She then went to the fitting room and began trying them on. She liked a couple of them, but they weren't what she was looking for. Of course, she didn't know WHAT she was looking for, she just knew these dresses weren't it!
She put the dresses on a rack outside the fitting room and headed back to look for others. While looking over the racks, she sighed loudly enough for a saleswoman to notice. The saleswoman approached Carol and said, "May I help you?"
Carol looked over at the saleswoman. She was young, maybe in her mid twenties, with red hair that framed her face down to her shoulders. She was also slim and very cute. Her name tag read Shannon.
Carol took a chance and explained that she was from out of town and been asked to dinner at 'Windows on the World' by a male friend, whom she really wanted to impress. For added emphasis, she even told Shannon about some of the things Ed had done for her.
"Can you help me?" she finally asked.
Shannon looked at her for moment. Then with a mischievous smile said, "Come with me. We've got some stuff left over from our Fall sales. I'm not supposed to bring customers back here, but since it's for a 'GOOD CAUSE' ... I don't think my supervisor will mind."
Carol smiled and followed Shannon through a door that said "Employees Only" and into a storage room, then through another door and into a smaller room which was lined with racks of clothing.
Shannon eyed Carol critically and then went over to one of the racks. She started pulling dresses off the rack. After a moment, she returned with several hangers and started to hold them up to Carol, judging how they'd look on her. She made little sounds "Un-unh", "No", "Nope". She went through all of the clothes she had selected and tossed them all aside.
After Shannon had tried the last outfit, she got a thoughtful look on her face and said, "Maybe. It might be a little cold, but we can definitely do something about that." Carol simply watched the young saleswoman with amazement. It seemed as if Shannon was as excited about her date with Ed as she was.
Shannon went to another rack and rummaged around for a moment. She pulled something off the rack. "Aha!". She walked over to Carol and held the dress up in front of her, "Yes, I think this will do - nicely. Let's go try it on."
She led Carol back out to the shopping area and over to the fitting room. "Go ahead," Shannon said as she handed the hanger to Carol.
Carol went in and slipped out of her jeans and sweater. She slipped into the dress Shannon had picked and then reviewed how it looked on her in the mirror.
'Perfect!' Carol thought.
Carol stepped out to get Shannon's opinion. Shannon took one look at her and smiled joyfully. Carol even thought she saw a tear welling up in corner of Shannon's eye. Carol returned the smile then went back and got changed back into her street clothes. When she returned, Shannon was waiting outside with a shawl she'd thought would not only accentuate the dress, but also provide added warmth.
Then Shannon took Carol over to the women's shoe department. There she introduced Carol to her friend Bernice, a young girl about Shannon's age with dark curly hair and bright green eyes. After Shannon had informed Bernice of the particulars of their 'mission', she too was eager to help Carol. As Carol tried on shoes, the three women talked more about their boyfriends - well mostly it was just Carol telling the saleswomen about the three dates she'd had with Ed. Bernice and Shannon listened intently. It was clear they thought Carol had found a 'keeper'.
After they'd found the right shoes, Shannon led Carol over to a register. Carol had been so focused on finding the right outfit and then telling the women about Ed, that she hadn't bothered to check to see if she could even afford any of this.
Shannon noticed her concern almost immediately, "Don't worry, I'll enter it in using my employee discount."
Carol looked at Shannon gratefully and said, "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
"It's Christmas," Shannon replied.
Carol smiled and handed Shannon her credit card. Shannon finished the transaction and placed everything neatly into two bags which she then handed to Carol.
Carol thanked her and Bernice again and walked out of the store, taking a cab back to her hotel.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer & Sheehan
December 18, 2000
3:30 PM
Ed stood at his office window, looking out across the city. He'd just spent the last six hours going over the final drafts for the Henderson account. It had been a daunting task made more so in recent days by Ed's complete inability to focus completely on it.
And he didn't care. Not one bit. He would have paid ANY price for the last few days he'd spent with Carol. He smiled recalling the memory of her in his arms. He wondered where she was - right at *that* moment. Was she thinking of him? He looked down at his watch - only a few more hours, til he saw her again.
Deloris stepped into the office. It was obvious to her what, or more accurately, who her boss was thinking about as he stared out that window. She knocked softly on the door - just enough to get Ed's attention.
"Yes, Deloris. What is it?" Ed asked.
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
"No it's alright. I was just daydreaming there for a moment. I need to get back to work anyway. What can I do for you."
"Three things. One. Mr. Farmer is on line one. I think he just wants an update on the paperwork for the Henderson deal. Two. I've confirmed your reservation at 'Windows on the World'." Deloris stated matter-of-factly.
"And the third?"
Deloris smiled at her boss and said, "I just hope that new girlfriend of yours doesn't have allergies. I'm just your secretary and ...." she glanced back at her desk and the bouquet that Ed had sent her in appreciation of her anticipating his need to cancel his monthly racquetball game with Jerry Pender.
"Deloris," Ed corrected, "Carol's not my girlfriend. She's ..."
"She's...?" Deloris echoed his words. Then when Ed couldn't answer said, "Yeah, that's what I thought - it's perfectly obvious what's happening." Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Have I really been THAT distracted?" Ed asked.
"You forget. I type your dictation," Deloris replied.
"No."
"I'm afraid so."
"And how far will *that* little anecdote spread through the office grapevine?"
"Actually, for *that* I'm thinking of taking out a full-page ad in the Times." She holds up her hands as if 'framing' the headline. "Legal Eagle's Heart Gets Taken Off the Endangered Species List by Pretty English Teacher! Film at Eleven!" She started to chuckle.
Ed looked at Deloris, his voice became very serious. "She *is* great. Isn't she?"
"Yes, she is." Deloris looked around and then stepped further into Ed's office. "Ed, I know how badly you hurt when Liz...." She noticed that unlike previous occasions, Ed didn't flinch at the mention of his ex-wife's name. She smiled. "...and to cope, you threw yourself into your work - which you're VERY good at, by the way. But Carol Vessey is the best thing that has happened to you since... Well, since I've known you."
Ed looked at his secretary, unsure of what to say. Finally he managed, "Thank you, Deloris."
"You're welcome." She turned and started to walk back to the outer office.
"Deloris?"
"Yes, Ed."
"Tell Mr. Farmer that I had to step out for a little while on a ... on a personal matter. And that I'll return his call within the hour. Alright?"
"I'll take care of it." Deloris said, returning to a lighter tone of voice, "And thanks again for the flowers. But I don't think I should tell Irving about these - don't want him to get jealous..." She watched as Ed put on his dark black overcoat, noticing how it brought out the brightness of his blue eyes.
"On second thought..." Deloris trailed off with another mischievous grin and continued walking out of the office. Where she almost collided with Miranda.
Deloris quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Van Note. I didn't see you standing there."
Miranda muttered an apology of her own, and hastily retreated back to her office. Deloris watched her go without another word. But what she'd really wanted to do was ask why Miranda was standing outside Ed's office. 'She's up to something. I'm sure of it!' she thought.
***
New York City - Room 426, the DoubleTree Hotel
December 18, 2000
6:30 PM
Carol took one last look at herself in the mirror of her hotel bathroom. She knew that Ed would be on time - he always was, and she wanted to be ready for him. As the clock hit 6:29 PM, she put on her long coat and scarf and waited. As if by magic, Carol heard the knock at the door at the exact moment the clock hit 6:30 PM.
She buttoned her coat up tight and opened the door. Ed smiled at her, warmly. Then noticing her bundled up appearance, he craned his neck to look into the room.
"Cold in here?" he asked. Carol just smiled enigmatically, she'd wanted to surprise Ed with how she looked in the dress - but not until they'd reached the restaurant.
"You look terrific, by the way," Ed stated matter-of-factly.
Carol looked embarrassed and said, "Thank you. You're looking pretty terrific yourself!"
And he did. His hair was slightly mussed, but maybe a little more carefully than usual. He had on a light blue shirt that perfectly complemented his dark suit. 'That suit,' Carol thought, 'must have cost a pretty penny!' It had obviously been tailored just for him - and tailored well! Ed's tie was an understated silk affair with an octagonal geometric pattern in blacks, blues, grays, and purples.
As he walked into her hotel room, Ed pulled out a package from behind his back and handed it to her. Carol wasn't actually surprised - he seemed to keep showing up with things for her. 'That adorable man, if he keeps this up,' Carol thought, 'he's going to spoil me!'
The package was wrapped in festive Christmas paper. The gift tag said "To Carol. Love, Ed." Carol's heart fluttered slightly as she'd read the word 'Love'. She took the package from Ed who said, "Merry Christmas! Actually it's just the Barbie doll I bought you on Saturday. BUT, you're not allowed to open it up until Christmas morning. That way, you'll have something from me with you then."
Carol's eyes misted up momentarily, wishing that Ed himself was going to be there on Christmas morning, but she hid her reaction by dropping her gaze. She nodded and said, "Okay, I promise. I won't open this til Christmas!"
Ed smiled. Carol went back into the room and placed the package on the coffee table, next to the plant from Saturday and the roses from yesterday. 'Good thing I'm going home on Wednesday,' she thought. 'That table can't hold much more!'
"Well, then we're off," Ed said. He took Carol's arm and they walked out of the hotel room together, Ed closing the door to Carol's hotel room behind them. They walked down the hallway almost in silence - both clearly still impressed with the appearance of the other.
By the time they'd reached the elevators, the conversation had reached a more normal level. And as they rode down together in the elevator, Ed asked how Carol how her writing was going, and Carol asked Ed about his day. Both admitted to being somewhat 'pre-occupied'.
They left the hotel and got another cab. 'Well,' Carol thought, 'at least I feel better in these death traps with Ed around.'
The trip down to the World Trade Center wasn't too bad. Traffic was its usual snarled mess, but neither Ed nor Carol seemed to notice it much. The cab driver, an older Italian man probably in his mid 50s, noted the way the two just stared into each other's eyes and he smiled. He figured that if they were headed to the World Trade Center, then they were going to 'Windows on the World'. He did his best to get them there in record time.
At a few minutes to seven o'clock, Ed and Carol stepped out of the cab just outside the World Trade Center. Ed paid the driver, giving him a generous tip - it seemed that Ed paid more attention to the trip than the driver thought and thanked him for the speedy delivery.
They walked inside the north tower, taking the express elevator up to the 107th floor. Both felt their ears pop several times. The elevator ride took Carol's breath away, thinking about how high they were going and how fast they were getting there. She reached down and took Ed's hand in hers, but it wasn't the vice-like grip she'd had at the Empire State Building. Ed noticed this and smiled.
The elevator doorway opened and they walked into the hallway. Velvet ropes cordoned off everything and they were soon approached by a uniformed attendant who asked them their destination. Ed told him about their dinner plans and he conducted them to the restaurant.
As they entered the restaurant proper, Ed nodded at the hostess standing by the doorway. She was wearing a charcoal colored suit that looked like brushed suede, the left lapel of which had a small label that read "WotW". Ed and Carol walked over and Ed said, "Hi, we have a seven o'clock reservation for Stevens, party of two."
The hostess, who name tag read Beatriz, checked over her list and said, "Ah yes, here you are." She waved down a waiter and said, "Please take Mr. and Mrs. Stevens to table #42."
Ed started to correct her that he and Carol weren't married when Carol surprised both of them by placing a hand on his arm and shaking her head slightly. She liked the thought of someone calling her Mrs. Stevens. Ed's heart felt like it was going to burst forth from his chest. He grinned hugely.
The waiter nodded and said, "Would you like to check your coats?"
They nodded. Ed shrugged out of his coat and then helped Carol out of hers. Ed handed the coats to the waiter and turned back towards Carol. When he did, he nearly fell over.
Carol was wearing a simple knee-length black dress. It was designed more for summer, but the shawl covering her shoulders - and the spaghetti straps of the dress - accented it wonderfully. She wore a shawl for a little added warmth, though it didn't seem that she needed it. The dress seemed to have been designed specifically for Carol, accentuating her slender figure perfectly. Her high heel shoes highlighted the curve of her legs - a fact Ed hadn't been able to notice before as she'd worn a long coat.
Ed smiled, taken all together the outfit was ...
Ed was still trying to find the right words when the waiter returned. Like Ed, it was obvious that he too was impressed with Carol's appearance. He conducted them quickly to their table. As they walked across the restaurant, heads turned - a few men were openly staring at Carol. Carol glanced down at Ed's feet and stifled a giggle when she realized the reason she was doing it was because she wanted to see if his socks and shoes were still on!
Finally, the waiter led them to a small square table by the windows. The waiter offered to hold Carol's chair for her while she sat, but Ed stepped in and did the honors himself. The waiter gave a small smile, acknowledging Ed's right - and incredibly good fortune. After she was seated Carol took a moment to look around.
The place was fantastic! Floor-to-ceiling windows were spaced between tall columns all around the room. The ceiling was crisscrossed with wood beams and indirect lighting. In one corner was a grand piano. The plush carpeting was a geometric pattern that accented and complemented the very linear column-glass walls. The tablecloths followed a similar theme, white with thick light gray stripes. The chairs were plush, without arms, and done in a rust color with wood accents. Floral arrangements were on every table and the place settings were white with blue and gold geometric patterns. The salad plate was a curious crescent moon shape, with stars and a crescent moon painted on the bottom.
However, the most incredible part was the view. It was a clear night and Carol could see for miles. The lights of the city and, across the Hudson River, New Jersey twinkled. Carol was lost in the view for a moment.
So was Ed, but in a different view. He just stared at Carol - he couldn't take his eyes of her. 'She keeps taking my breath away!' he thought, finally deciding on an apt description of her in that outfit.
Carol looked back at Ed and realized that the whole time she had been looking out at the skyline, he had been staring at her. She looked down at her plate and blushed.
"Ed?"
"Mmmhmmm."
"You're staring at me," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Am I?" Ed asked innocently.
"Yes. You are. Now stop it, the other guests are starting to notice us."
"Let them. I don't care."
Carol blushed even more and looked back down at her place. She was embarrassed by all the attention the two were suddenly drawing to themselves, but secretly loved the compliment Ed had just bestowed on her. She finally found her voice and looked back up at him and said, "Ed, we can't eat dinner this way."
"I'm sorry," Ed replied recognizing the practicality of Carol's statement, "it's just that when I saw how you looked in that dress. Well..., you just 'knocked my socks off'.
Carol's head whipped up and she just stared at Ed for a moment, then burst out laughing. Ed laughed too, but was slightly confused at why she found it so amusing. Finally, Carol calmed down enough to explain - somewhat sheepishly - that it was exactly the reaction she'd been hoping for.
Ed smiled at her and said softly, "Carol, I have the same reaction every time I see you. Even the jeans and sweatshirt you had on Saturday."
Although she didn't think it was possible, Carol's blush deepened. She was incredibly touched not only by the compliment but by the complete sincerity with which Ed had made it. She reached across the table and put her hand over his. Ed smiled in return.
After a few moments, Ed noticed their waiter standing quietly near one of the empty tables. Every few seconds, he would glance over at them - obviously waiting, not wanting to intrude on something 'private'. Ed smiled again at Carol and said, "Why don't we let the waiter get to work?" He looked back at the waiter again. Carol followed his gaze, turning slightly to see that yes, the waiter had been ... well, 'waiting' patiently. She grinned sheepishly and picked up her menu.
The more or less Continental menu blended classical French and American cuisines. Carol's eyes widened slightly at the prices. Once again, reminded by just how much Ed had been spending on her. She bit her lip and resolved that she'd pay for her meal tonight - and that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
When the waiter returned to take their orders, Ed inquired if the wine steward had any remaining bottles of the '61 Bordeaux left in stock. The waiter smiled, "Sir, has *excellent* taste." Then he looked over at Carol, "but then, Sir *already* knows that, doesn't he?"
Ed's gaze returned to Carol, he reached over and again, took her hand in his, "Yes, he does." Carol was sure she was going to melt into a puddle on the floor.
They spent the rest of their time at the restaurant, eating, talking quietly, stealing intimate glances at one another, and, occasionally, holding hands. Eventually, they got the hint from the waiter that they should probably consider leaving - maybe it was the seventh time he asked them if they needed anything after their dessert plates had been cleared that did it.
While Carol excused herself to use the ladies room, Ed asked the waiter to bring the check, which Ed then quickly paid. It was quite a bill - easily more than all their other meals combined, and he was not about to let Carol pay any part of it.
When Carol returned, Ed asked her if she was ready to go. She started to say yes, then remembered that she had wanted to pay at least her half of the check. When she realized that Ed had already paid the full amount himself, she was more than a little angry with him.
"Ed, you have to stop spending all your money on me like this." She wanted to tell him more than that. That Ed had spent more money on her in three days than Nick had spent on her in seven years, but she didn't want to leave him with the impression that she was keeping score in that regard - because she *wasn't*. What mattered to her was that in those SAME three days Ed had given her more attention and support than Nick had in their entire relationship. Ed could've taken her out for a hotdog and she'd still say she loved...
Carol stopped herself in mid-thought, momentarily stunned at the truth she had just revealed to herself. She was in love with Ed!
"Why?" Ed asked, unaware of the thoughts racing through Carol's mind.
Carol snapped back to attention, "Because it's not right, we only just met a few days ago and it's just ... it's just not right."
"It feels right to me," Ed replied.
"I feel like I'm taking advantage of you." Which was true. She did.
"But you're not. I want to do this, Carol. You're not making me do anything I don't want to do."
Carol's anger was deflected by the compliment, "Alright. But next time I pay, okay?"
"Alright."
They got their coats and left a tip for the coat check girl. Ed helped Carol on with her coat, his hands lingering on her shoulders afterwards. Carol leaned backwards into him and smiled up at him. She rested her cheek on his hand for a moment.
They took the elevator down to the lobby. If Carol thought the trip up was heart-pounding, the trip down was heart-stopping! The elevator moved just as fast going down and, because it was an express elevator, she couldn't tell when they were getting near the ground floor. She was startled when the elevator abruptly started slowing - not harshly, just unexpectedly.
As they walked out of the World Trade Center, Ed moved to the edge of the street and hailed a cab. During the ride back to the hotel, Carol snuggled up against Ed. Ed wrapped his arm around her.
After a short and quite uneventful ride, they were standing in front of Carol's hotel. They walked inside quickly, crossing the lobby to get to the elevators. As in the restaurant, people were staring at them. The men in the hotel watched Carol, and more than a few women were drawn to the man on Carol's side.
Neither Ed or Carol noticed this - their attention was fixed on each other.
They rode the elevator to the 4th floor in silence, both wanting with an almost desperate desire for this evening to continue. As they got to Carol's hotel room, she fished her key out and unlocked the door. She opened the door and then stopped. She looked up at Ed for a moment, then took off her long coat and scarf - she also removed the shawl she had worn at dinner. Folding everything over her arm, she stood in front of Ed in the black dress for a moment. Then, tentatively, she reached out, took Ed's hand in hers and led him into the hotel room. The door closed quietly behind them.