CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Stuckeyville - the home of Molly Hudson
December 20, 2000
12:30 AM
Molly Hudson slipped quietly into the guest bedroom and watched as her friend, Carol, rested quietly on the bed. Then just as quickly and as quietly as she'd entered, she slipped back out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
She leaned back against the now closed door and exhaled wearily, 'What a night! Well at least we're not still at the airport!'
She remembered how she been trying to figure out how get Carol and her bags to her car when a couple of flight attendants came up and asked Molly if she needed a hand. It turned out they had worked Carol's flight. Then, taking her silent nod as permission, they grabbed Carol's bags and walked with Molly, who had one arm wrapped around Carol, to her car. Molly helped Carol into the front seat, while the two female flight attendants put Carol's bags in the trunk of Molly's car 'Sadie'.
Molly thanked the two women graciously and after making sure that Carol was securely belted in, started the long hour and a half drive back to Stuckeyville. Molly noticed that Carol had spent her supply of tears, shortly after they'd exited the airport parking lot, but remained curled up in her seat, not talking and trembling restlessly.
Molly reached out and took Carol's left hand comfortingly. It helped some, but not much. Molly knew right then and there that whatever was troubling Carol, it was obvious that she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She just sighed, and hoped that whatever it turned out to be - it was something she could help Carol with.
When they finally reached Stuckeyville, Molly decided that it would be probably be better if Carol spent the night at her place, rather than home alone. She took Carol inside, then went back out to get the bags. While she was unloading the car, a thought struck her and she made a quick call on her cell-phone to Mike and Nancy's. Then she brought Carol's two bags into the house. She had wondered about the plant and the single rose Carol had sticking from her briefcase, decided not to inquire about them to Carol - who had by now sought refuge under the decorative blanket and pillows Molly usually kept on her couch.
While she waited for Mike to arrive, Molly started boiling water for tea. Then she went upstairs to make up the guest bedroom for Carol. It wasn't long after she'd walked back downstairs that she heard her doorbell ring. If Carol heard it as well, she gave no indication, preferring to remain half buried under the pillows and blankets on Molly's couch.
Molly walked over and opened the door. As she expected, it was Mike Burton. He handed her a small white paper bag with the words "Stuckeyville Pharmacy" written on the side.
"Nancy's watching Sarah, I got over here as fast as I could..." Mike said.
"Thanks, Mike. I didn't know how I was going to get Carol to go to sleep. How should I...?"
"Just crush one of the tablets up in some hot chocolate or tea. It's that bad?" Mike asked, sounding very concerned.
Molly just looked at him grimly, "I'm not sure. She hasn't said anything since the airport. Whatever 'it' is - it must be pretty big. Have you managed to get a hold of Ed, yet?"
"No. I've called his apartment three times and he's either not answering his cell-phone or it's been turned off."
"Mike," Molly said hesitantly, "You don't suppose ... I mean, you don't think Ed's the reason Carol's so upset."
"Ed would NEVER hurt Carol, Molls. You know that. At least, not deliberately."
"I know ... It's just that, she was so happy before and then she ..."
"She'll tell us when she's ready, Molly. Till then I'll keep trying to get a hold of Ed. I'd bet good money that he doesn't know Carol's like this."
"Okay ... call if you hear anything, okay?"
"Of course," Mike said, the concerned look still on his face.
Molly watched as Mike walked back to his car. Then after he had gone, she turned, walked back into the house and straight into the kitchen to finish making the tea. She placed the two cups on the serving tray, then she crushed one of the two sedative tablets Mike had obtained from the pharmacy and stirred it into the cup she would give to Carol.
She carried the tea into the living room, and offered it to Carol.
"Here honey, drink this. It'll make you feel better." Carol simply nodded and took the tea. They drank in silence, Carol's attention still distracted by whatever was troubling her. Molly continued to watch Carol, concerned.
About ten minutes after she finished her tea, Carol began to feel the effects of the sedative, and started drifting off. Molly then helped her upstairs and into bed.
Molly sighed and looked at her watch. She had to get to work in seven hours. Today was the last day of school before the holiday break. She thought about calling in sick and staying home to be with Carol, but sensed that her friend might need a little more time to collect herself.
Silently, she walked down the hall to her own room, and went to bed.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer and Sheehan
December 20, 2000
9:00 AM
Ed walked into offices of Farmer & Sheehan. The receptionist looked up, surprised. She had never seen Mr. Stevens ... Ed, come in this late before. Although, he was very clearly dressed for work and clean shaven, it looked like he hadn't slept in two days - which in truth, he hadn't. He wasn't at all himself. He didn't even return her morning greeting, just nodded - almost absently.
As he passed her desk, the receptionist called ahead to Ed's secretary, Deloris, to give her the 'head's up'.
Ed walked down the hallway towards his office. Deloris was just getting off the phone with the receptionist when she saw him and started to say, "Good morning, Ed" but managed - sort of - to change it to just "Morning, Ed." Ed again nodded and walked into his office, closing the door behind him. He removed his suit-coat and absently hung it on the hangar he kept in his private bathroom, then he walked over to his desk and sat down.
He heard a 'crumple' as his suit-coat fell off the hangar and onto the bathroom floor.
He left it there.
He stared at the stack of paperwork waiting for him, but after several long minutes realized that he just couldn't bring himself to work on it. So preoccupied was he with thoughts of Carol, wondering why she had left and if it was somehow his fault.
It was finally Deloris, knocking at his door, which forced his attention back to the there and now. Ed shook himself and sat up straighter, then he called out, "Come in!" and tried to look collected.
Deloris opened the door and slipped in to his office, then closed the door behind her. She walked quickly over to and sat down in front of Ed's desk. She stared at him intently for several seconds - using what she once told Ed was her "secretary-vision".
Ed hated when she did that. Finally, he said, "Yes, Deloris?"
"Do you want to talk about it?" Deloris said candidly.
"Talk about what?" Ed replied.
"That," Deloris said, pointing at the Carol's letter on Ed's desk.
Ed followed her gaze and winced. "How much do you know?" he finally asked.
"Nothing specific, just that Ms. Vessey stopped by yesterday. She was clearly upset and she left you that letter. And it's bad."
"How do you know...." Ed began to ask, but Deloris interrupted him.
"And before you ask me 'how I know it's bad' I think we both know that I've seen enough old movies to know that when an emotionally distraught woman shows up at the office of the man she loves and leaves him a letter - it's NEVER good," Deloris explained.
"Oh," was Ed's only replied.
"So I'll ask again, do you want to talk about it?"
"What did Carol say?" Ed asked.
"She didn't say what was bothering her, if that's what you're asking. She just asked for the contract, and an envelope for that letter. I wasn't sure what to do about the contract, but since she wasn't a client ..."
"She wasn't planning on signing it was she?" Ed asked, clearly animated.
"I don't know, Ed," Deloris said. "I don't think so. She didn't seem really interested in it."
Ed allowed himself a brief sigh of relief.
"Ed," Deloris asked hesitantly, "You didn't ... Um ... You didn't do anything to hurt that poor girl did you?"
"Of course not! I would NEVER do anything to hurt Carol!" Ed's head whipped up and Deloris could see the pain in his eyes clearly. She could also see how lost and confused he was - it was obvious he didn't know what this was about any more than she did.
Then Ed took the envelope and removed the sheet of paper. He offered it to Deloris who shook her head, feeling like she had stepped too far over the line.
"Read it," Ed said with a small amount of the forceful personality he often showed at work.
Deloris took the note and read it quickly. Her eyes misted up and her hand covered her mouth. She looked up at Ed with sympathy and said, "I'm SO sorry, Ed. I should have realized. But, that poor girl, yesterday. I just ... I just don't understand this. What are you going to do?"
Ed sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. Part of me wants to tear out of here and get to Stuckeyville as fast as I can. But there's another part of me that says that I should respect Carol's wishes. Besides, I *have* to be here when the Henderson contracts are signed tomorrow.
Deloris noticed that Ed had said, he "had" to be there for the contract signing, rather than he "wanted" or he "needed".
Ed sighed, "I ... I just don't know what to do."
Deloris said, "Do you love this girl, Ed?"
Ed looked out the window for moment. His brain filled with image after image of Carol: the very first time he saw her - back in Mr. Roarke's biology class; when she walked into his office a week ago; just after he had pulled her from in front of the cab; the look on her face when he kissed her under the mistletoe; skating at Rockefeller Center; on top of the Empire State Building; turning heads at Windows on the World; kissing him in her hotel room.
"Yes," he breathed. Then looked over at Deloris and shrugged, "...But that doesn't tell me what to do. Something is going on that I don't understand. Something I'm missing."
"What does she mean about it being for the best, specifically for you?" Deloris said.
"That's just it! I haven't the slightest clue what she's talking about," Ed said with a sigh. "That's probably what is confusing me the most. Well, that and the contract. She came to New York to sign with a publishing agent and I have no clue what happened with that."
"Could there have been a problem with her agent .... with Knight Publishing?" Deloris asked.
"I don't know," Ed said. Then the spark returned to his eyes, "But I am GOING to find out." He got up and picked his suit-coat off the floor, then turned back and said, "Deloris, cover for me will you?"
"Sure. But, where are you going?"
"To see Victor Knight," Ed said, a hard gleam in his eye. "Tell Jerry the final review of the Henderson contracts is his responsibility."
Deloris smiled as she watched Ed practically run out of his office.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Molly Hudson
December 20, 2000
9:30 AM
Carol sat up and rubbed her eyes. At first she was confused. The only thing she was sure of was that she wasn't in her own bed. Then the events of the last 36 hours came rushing back and she gasped, almost in physical pain. She took a deep steadying breath and looked around.
'I'm at Molly's,' Carol thought. 'She brought me here, not to my house.'
Images of last night started to come back to her: Molly at the airport, driving Carol home, getting her tea, helping her upstairs ... after that, it was just a blur.
Carol got up and tried to figure out what to do. Molly had obviously gone in to work. Carol remembered that today should be the last day before the winter break. She wandered downstairs, a dull ache in her chest. She tried to fight off memories of her time in New York with Ed, but it had been a losing battle from the beginning.
She had thought that going back home to Stuckeyville and getting some distance from New York would lessen the pain, but she was surprised to discover that for some reason that it had just made it worse.
She didn't understand that.
She fixed herself some breakfast, just toast and juice. Then decided that she couldn't stay at Molly's any longer, she needed to get home. It wasn't that Molly would've minded, but she felt like she had to try and get back to some kind of normal routine.
She almost laughed, 'Like the holidays are a normal routine!'
She called a cab to take her home. While, she waited, she collected her luggage and briefcase. After about 10 minutes, she heard a car honking out front.
The cab ride to her house was quick - but, fortunately *without* the death defying speeds and antics of New York City taxi's! She wanted to be thankful for that difference, but she ached when all it really did was remind her how much she missed the NYC taxis, riding with Ed and hanging onto him for dear life. She paid the taxi driver, who helped carry her suitcases inside.
***
New York City - the Offices of Knight Publishing
December 20, 2000
10:00 AM
The security guard directed Ed to one of the elevators that went above the 30th floor. "Knight Publishing is on the 56th floor, sir,' he told him.
Ed nodded.
Ed wasn't sure what he was going to say when he got there, but he knew he'd figure something out. The elevator stopped at the 37th, 41st, and 42nd floors before going the rest of the way to his destination. He got off the elevator and went through the double glass doors detailed with Knight Publishing's corporate logo. The receptionist looked up, saw Ed, and smiled brightly. "May I help you, sir," she said in her nasally tones.
"Yes," Ed said, confidently. "I'd like to see Victor Knight."
The receptionist's smile faltered somewhat. She knew that her boss didn't have any appointments that morning and said, "Do you have an appointment, sir?"
"No," Ed said. "But please tell Mr. Knight that Carol Vessey's attorney is here to see him."
The receptionist's eyes widened, but she got on the phone and had a hurried, whispered conversation. She finally looked back at Ed, who had wandered over to one of the glass coffee tables to look at the books, and said, "Mr. Knight will be with you in a moment."
Ed nodded and continued to look at the books, his hands clasped behind his back.
After a few minutes, Victor Knight strode out into the reception area followed by an associate. He stopped and spotted Ed, immediately understanding just who Ed was from Carol's description of the male lead in the novel she had been working on. Just to be sure, he cast a questioning glance over at the receptionist, who nodded.
He walked over and said, "I'm Victor Knight." He offered his hand.
Ed hid his reluctance and shook Victor's hand and said, "Ed Stevens with Farmer & Sheehan."
Victor smiled. "This is David Coe, my right hand here at Knight Publishing." Ed and David shook hands.
"Why don't we talk in the conference room, Mr. Stevens," Victor said and indicated a room three doors down and to the left.
"Certainly," Ed replied, following the two gentlemen.
After they were in the conference room, Victor took a seat at the farthest end of the table. Ed took the seat farthest from Victor. David Coe, who had waited to close the door, took a seat next to his boss.
"Well then, Mr. Stevens," Victor said, "what can we do for you. You said you represented Carol Vessey, is that correct?"
"Yes, I do," Ed said. "I guess I'm here to see if you can clarify something for me."
"Such as?" Victor asked.
"Did Ms. Vessey sign the contract you gave her last week?" Ed asked matter- of-factly.
Victor looked over at David, who replied, "Why no, Mr. Stevens. She called yesterday afternoon and said that she was not going to accept our very generous offer and that she was returning to Ohio. Very sudden and, well, to be frank, ... *very* unprofessional."
"I see," Ed replied. "Thank you for your time gentlemen." Ed stood and started towards the conference room door. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard Victor Knight whisper to his associate,
"I bet she played *him* too."
Ed stopped, and without turning around, said, "Excuse me?"
"Nothing. It was nothing," David Coe tried to cover for his boss.
Ed still hadn't turned around, so the two men were unable to see that there was a certain fire in his eyes when he replied, "Oh, it wasn't 'nothing', Mr. Coe. It was most definitely 'something'."
Victor stood up and walked towards Ed, "Look, Stevens,... Ed. We're both influential men, you and I. It certainly wouldn't be the first time - at least in *my* case - that an attractive woman like Carol would use her (ahem) 'assets' to promote herself."
Ed still refused to turn and look at him, he just replied, "Mr. Knight, I'm afraid I don't know *what* you're talking about."
Victor smiled at him coyly - as if he were acknowledging some insider's joke. "It's okay, Ed. We're all friends here. It's nothing to be ashamed about. I mean it's not as if you were the only one she fooled, why if last Friday was any indication, I'm sure Ms. Vessey has quite a list of ... Oh how shall I put this? ... Friends' willing to do her a favor."
Knight glanced back at Coe, not seeing that Ed's fist had begun to clench.
"Victor...?" Ed said coldly.
"Yes," Victor turned back towards Ed, a second before Ed's fist smashed into his jaw sending him backwards and across the conference room table.
Ed remained there, standing silently over Knight's dazed form. Then he looked over at David Coe, and saw by his shamed expression that he wanted no part in Knight's slander of Carol. Then he looked back down at Knight.
"Victor, I am going to say this once, and only once. You and I are NOT friends. We will NEVER be friends. And if I hear that you've repeated this slander to *anyone* I will make it my mission in life to ruin you. Am I clear?"
Victor, still dazed, did not respond. However, David spoke for him, "Very clear, Mr. Stevens. I'm terribly sorry for this 'incident'. You can be sure that it will not happen again."
"Make sure that it doesn't," Ed replied coldly, then he yanked open the conference room door, startling two Knight Publishing staff members who had been listening to the commotion inside. Ed walked out of the office and to the elevators. He smiled with satisfaction as the elevator door closed and took him to the ground floor.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 20, 2000
10:30 AM
Carol had just finished unpacking the first of her suitcases. What didn't get put away was tossed into her laundry basket. She lifted the second suitcase to the bed, unlocked it and opened it. And immediately regretted it.
Lying on top was the wrapped Vera Wang Barbie doll Ed had given her. Carol felt the pain return to her chest and she had trouble breathing. 'How could I have forgotten this was in here!?' she thought. She took a deep breath and took it out, quickly emptying the rest of the suitcase. Then she set aside the little gifts she had purchased for everyone - as she would need to wrap them later.
She put the suitcases away in a nearby closet and then took the gifts downstairs - including the one from Ed. As she put the gift from Ed under her Christmas tree (which, she noted, Molly had dutifully watered in her absence) she paused to read the tag once again. 'To Carol. Love, Ed.' She felt her eyes tear up as she read the last part, but fought them back. She promised herself she wasn't going to start crying again - she wasn't!
She had just finished up wrapping the small "New York" gifts when her phone rang. She tensed, unsure if it would be Ed or not. She let the answering machine pick up and listened.
"Carol, its Molly. If you're there pick ..."
Carol grabbed the phone receiver. "Hey, Molls," Carol said softly.
"Hey, Carol," Molly said. "How are you doing this morning, sweetie?"
"Okay," Carol said, "I guess. How are you?"
"Me," Molly said, "I'm fine."
There was an awkward pause in the conversation. Molly had hoped that Carol would open up, but it seemed like it was going to take a more direct, face- to-face effort.
"Well," Molly said with a sigh, "I just wanted to be sure that you had gotten home okay."
"Yeah, I did," Carol said. "Molls?"
"Yeah?" Molly replied.
"Thanks for last night," Carol said. "You know, picking me up at the airport and letting me stay over at your house."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Molly asked, smiling.
Hearing Molly smile helped raise Carol's spirits somewhat. "Well," Carol said, "I guess I should let you get back to work. Wouldn't want the hyenas to get the upper hand."
"Hah," Molly said, "some days its actually the wildebeests I'm more scared of."
"Carol ... " Molly said more quietly.
"Yeah, Molls," Carol said.
"I'll be over right after school. So we can ... talk," Molly said.
Carol sighed and said, "I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it, Molly. It ... it's hard."
"I know, sweetie," Molly said, "but I think you NEED to talk about it."
"We'll see," Carol said.
There was a pause in the conversation, then Carol heard Molly shout, "Warren! Warren Cheswick!! Stop right there mister or, my hand to God, the only thing you will find in your stocking on Christmas morning is a big ol' can of whup ass!"
Molly came back on the phone, "Carol, I need to go. Warren Cheswick is running down the hall in a speedo and a Santa's cap handing out little trinkets to the female students. Be glad - be VERY glad - you're not here to see this! Bye!"
"Bye, Molly," Carol chuckled, and hung up the phone.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer and Sheehan
December 20, 2000
11:00 AM
Ed walked into Farmer & Sheehan, again startling the receptionist. This time it was because of the way he whipped the door open and strode into the office. He nodded at her as he sped past.
He was still more than a little keyed up from his 'meeting' with Victor Knight. He smiled with grim satisfaction at the memory of Knight sprawled on the conference room table, a small trickle of blood oozing from the left side of his mouth.
Ed walked passed Deloris, who noted his rather more purposeful attitude, and into his office with a head jerk indicated that he wanted her to follow.
Deloris rose and quickly followed Ed into his office. He closed the door as she came inside. He took off his coat and threw it over a chair and began pacing. Deloris sat in one of the other chairs and just watched, fascinated.
"Well," Ed said, "whatever is going on with Carol doesn't seem to have anything to do with Knight Publishing. She called them yesterday and told them she wasn't taking the deal and that she was going back home to Stuckeyville."
"Well then," Deloris said continuing to watch Ed pace back and forth across his office, "Why would she ..." She noticed Ed rubbing his hand, more specifically the *knuckles* of his right hand.
"Ed...?" she smiled.
"Yes?" Ed continued pacing.
"Is there something you'd like to tell me about your *meeting* with Victor Knight?"
"Not really."
"ED!" Deloris grew impatient.
"I hit him."
"You did what?!!!"
"I hit him. And before you say another word. He earned it," Ed said coldly. "I won't repeat what he said about Carol."
"Did you hit him hard?"
"...knocked him clear across a conference table," Ed replied, waiting for Deloris to lecture him about how 'violence didn't solve anything'.
Instead she just said, "Good for you. Will there be anything else?"
"Yes, now that you mention it. Get me the first available flight to Cleveland after the Henderson contract signing. I'm going to Stuckeyville to straighten this out!"
Deloris smiled again and began to walk out of the office. When she reached the door, she stopped, turned back around and said "...You did say 'clear across a conference table' right?"
"Yes," Ed leaned back in his chair and smiled, "Yes I did."
"Just checking." Deloris said, "I'll just go and get that flight reservation, now," and she walked back out into the outer office. Leaving Ed to wander just how long it would take before the entire office knew about his encounter with Victor Knight.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 20, 2000
3:30 PM
Carol was startled by a knock on the front door. She looked up at the clock. 'It's 3:30!' Carol thought. 'How did it get so late?'
But she knew.
After her phone call with Molly, Carol had spent the entire day sitting on the couch. She hadn't really done anything, just sat there. She hadn't even had lunch - not that she'd felt hungry. No, that wasn't right either - she had done something. She'd thought about Ed.
Carol figured it was probably Molly, since school was out. She sighed and got up, mentally preparing herself for the grilling she knew her friend was going to give her. She opened the door and was so startled that she took a step backwards. It wasn't Molly.
It was Nick Stanton!
He had on his trademark jeans and blazer - and he was as handsome as ever. He flashed Carol his usual smile, but Carol found herself oddly unimpressed.
He said, "Hello, Carol."
"Nick, um, hi," Carol said. "What are you doing here?"
"Well," Nick said, "that's not a very heartwarming greeting."
They looked at one another for a minute before Nick said, "Are you going to let me in, or are we going to stand here all day?"
"Oh, um," Carol said, "I'm still in the middle of unpacking and the house isn't really guest-friendly at the moment..." Carol hesitated, then finally said "Sure. Come on in."
She stepped back and let Nick enter the house. When he was inside, he went to kiss her - at the last second she turned her head so that he kissed just her cheek.
"So," Nick said as he walked into the living room and sat, "how was your trip to New York?"
"Er, good," Carol said. She still wasn't sure what Nick was doing there. She followed him into the living room and sat down on the opposite couch.
"Things go okay with Knight Publishing?" Nick asked. "I assume you got my message. You know, I've actually heard good things about Knight lately. Hah! Maybe I should consider signing with them myself."
Carol just sat there looking at Nick.
"Carol?" Nick asked.
"Hmm? Yeah?" Carol said.
"How did it go with Knight Publishing?" Nick asked for a second time.
"You know, Nick," Carol said, "I don't think I want to talk about my dealings with Knight Publishing with you."
Nick looked surprised. "Okay," Nick said, drawing out the word. Then he just stared at her.
"Nick," Carol said, "why are you here?"
"I just wanted to check and see how you were," Nick said. "See how your trip to New York went. When I heard Molly talking to you on her cell phone earlier I realized you were back in town, so I thought I would just drop by."
"But why would you do that?" Carol asked. "We're not a couple anymore, Nick. Its over."
"But it shouldn't be!" Nick said. "I still can't believe you broke *us* up over a waffle?"
Carol noticed how Nick had said "us" as if it was supposed to have some special significance. But if that had really been true, they wouldn't *have* broken up. She sighed, "Nick, the waffle was just a symptom of a larger problem."
"What larger problem?!" Nick said, a note of anger creeping into his voice. "Your ending our relationship because of some silly epiphany you had while making waffles is childish. I think its about time that you grew up and realized that I'm the best thing that has ever happened to you! Before its too late!"
Carol sat there shocked, temporarily unable to believe that Nick had just said what he did. '*He's* the best thing to ever happen to me? He has got to be kidding,' she found herself thinking.
Carol stood up and said, "You've overstayed your welcome, Nick!"
Nick stood up, but didn't move, "Carol, let's talk about this."
"Go!" Carol said and pointed at the door. Nick moved towards the front door, but paused in the foyer.
"This is silly. Now you're throwing me out of your house?" Nick said.
"I'm *trying* to, but it doesn't seem to be getting through your thick skull!" Carol said in a raised voice.
Nick opened the door, swinging the screen door open as well. He said, "You know that you and I should be together. You just need to be an adult about this."
"NO!!" Carol said vehemently. "We are not meant to be together. I know that with absolute certainty now. I've seen what real love is like! I've felt what real love is like! I've looked into someone's eyes and gotten myself lost in them - deliriously lost! What *we* had (she moved her hand back and forth between herself and Nick) doesn't even compare. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back to what we had...its empty...hollow. I may not be able to have..."
Carol stopped, she had been about to say Ed's name. She choked for a moment, then continued, "Go, Nick. And don't come back."
Nick stood there stunned for a moment, unable to believe the passion and the intensity with which Carol had just spoken. He turned and suddenly realized that Molly, Nancy and Mike were standing on the porch - off to the side of the door. Mike was holding two bags - from the smell they were obviously Chinese food. Nick was mortified. To have been spoken to like that by Carol was bad enough - but to have witnesses to it was too much. He whirled around and marched off to his car.
Molly, Nancy, and Mike walked in the front door, startling Carol, who hadn't seen them there either. They had surprised expressions on their faces.
"Um, hey Carol," Molly said.
Carol looked embarrassed and said, "Oh, sorry guys! I didn't know you were out there. You...you shouldn't have heard that."
"Are you kidding?" Mike asked, "I wouldn't have missed THAT for the world."
Nancy punched Mike in the arm. Mike said, "What?"
"When I answered the door earlier, I thought it would be you, Molls," Carol said as she hugged Molly. "I never would have answered the door if I had known it was Nick."
Then she looked over at Mike and Nancy and raised an eyebrow. "I see you've brought backup?"
Molly just shrugged and smiled. Molly, Mike and Nancy slipped off their coats, and the foursome made their way to Carol's dining room. Carol was surprised to note that she WAS hungry and she pulled out plates, utensils, and glasses.
At the dining room table, they all sort of stared at one another for a while as they filled their stomachs on wonton soup, eggrolls, chicken with broccoli, pork egg foo young, and chicken and shrimp. It was quiet - it was obvious that Carol and Molly were engaged in a battle of wills to see who would talk first.
Carol won.
"Come on, Carol," Molly said, "what happened in New York? All I know is that you went to New York to settle some legal matters with a publisher, the president of the publishing company turned out to be a jerk, you think Ed Stevens is a great guy, and now you're back home in Stuckeyville a day early and an emotional wreck. I think, and correct me if I'm wrong here, that I may be missing a few items from the middle of the story."
"DON'T start with me...!" Carol's replied.
Molly just looked at Carol, "I'm not starting with you. We're your friends Carol, we want to help you... if you'll let us."
"Would someone please pass the duck sauce?" Mike asked.
Stuckeyville - the home of Molly Hudson
December 20, 2000
12:30 AM
Molly Hudson slipped quietly into the guest bedroom and watched as her friend, Carol, rested quietly on the bed. Then just as quickly and as quietly as she'd entered, she slipped back out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
She leaned back against the now closed door and exhaled wearily, 'What a night! Well at least we're not still at the airport!'
She remembered how she been trying to figure out how get Carol and her bags to her car when a couple of flight attendants came up and asked Molly if she needed a hand. It turned out they had worked Carol's flight. Then, taking her silent nod as permission, they grabbed Carol's bags and walked with Molly, who had one arm wrapped around Carol, to her car. Molly helped Carol into the front seat, while the two female flight attendants put Carol's bags in the trunk of Molly's car 'Sadie'.
Molly thanked the two women graciously and after making sure that Carol was securely belted in, started the long hour and a half drive back to Stuckeyville. Molly noticed that Carol had spent her supply of tears, shortly after they'd exited the airport parking lot, but remained curled up in her seat, not talking and trembling restlessly.
Molly reached out and took Carol's left hand comfortingly. It helped some, but not much. Molly knew right then and there that whatever was troubling Carol, it was obvious that she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She just sighed, and hoped that whatever it turned out to be - it was something she could help Carol with.
When they finally reached Stuckeyville, Molly decided that it would be probably be better if Carol spent the night at her place, rather than home alone. She took Carol inside, then went back out to get the bags. While she was unloading the car, a thought struck her and she made a quick call on her cell-phone to Mike and Nancy's. Then she brought Carol's two bags into the house. She had wondered about the plant and the single rose Carol had sticking from her briefcase, decided not to inquire about them to Carol - who had by now sought refuge under the decorative blanket and pillows Molly usually kept on her couch.
While she waited for Mike to arrive, Molly started boiling water for tea. Then she went upstairs to make up the guest bedroom for Carol. It wasn't long after she'd walked back downstairs that she heard her doorbell ring. If Carol heard it as well, she gave no indication, preferring to remain half buried under the pillows and blankets on Molly's couch.
Molly walked over and opened the door. As she expected, it was Mike Burton. He handed her a small white paper bag with the words "Stuckeyville Pharmacy" written on the side.
"Nancy's watching Sarah, I got over here as fast as I could..." Mike said.
"Thanks, Mike. I didn't know how I was going to get Carol to go to sleep. How should I...?"
"Just crush one of the tablets up in some hot chocolate or tea. It's that bad?" Mike asked, sounding very concerned.
Molly just looked at him grimly, "I'm not sure. She hasn't said anything since the airport. Whatever 'it' is - it must be pretty big. Have you managed to get a hold of Ed, yet?"
"No. I've called his apartment three times and he's either not answering his cell-phone or it's been turned off."
"Mike," Molly said hesitantly, "You don't suppose ... I mean, you don't think Ed's the reason Carol's so upset."
"Ed would NEVER hurt Carol, Molls. You know that. At least, not deliberately."
"I know ... It's just that, she was so happy before and then she ..."
"She'll tell us when she's ready, Molly. Till then I'll keep trying to get a hold of Ed. I'd bet good money that he doesn't know Carol's like this."
"Okay ... call if you hear anything, okay?"
"Of course," Mike said, the concerned look still on his face.
Molly watched as Mike walked back to his car. Then after he had gone, she turned, walked back into the house and straight into the kitchen to finish making the tea. She placed the two cups on the serving tray, then she crushed one of the two sedative tablets Mike had obtained from the pharmacy and stirred it into the cup she would give to Carol.
She carried the tea into the living room, and offered it to Carol.
"Here honey, drink this. It'll make you feel better." Carol simply nodded and took the tea. They drank in silence, Carol's attention still distracted by whatever was troubling her. Molly continued to watch Carol, concerned.
About ten minutes after she finished her tea, Carol began to feel the effects of the sedative, and started drifting off. Molly then helped her upstairs and into bed.
Molly sighed and looked at her watch. She had to get to work in seven hours. Today was the last day of school before the holiday break. She thought about calling in sick and staying home to be with Carol, but sensed that her friend might need a little more time to collect herself.
Silently, she walked down the hall to her own room, and went to bed.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer and Sheehan
December 20, 2000
9:00 AM
Ed walked into offices of Farmer & Sheehan. The receptionist looked up, surprised. She had never seen Mr. Stevens ... Ed, come in this late before. Although, he was very clearly dressed for work and clean shaven, it looked like he hadn't slept in two days - which in truth, he hadn't. He wasn't at all himself. He didn't even return her morning greeting, just nodded - almost absently.
As he passed her desk, the receptionist called ahead to Ed's secretary, Deloris, to give her the 'head's up'.
Ed walked down the hallway towards his office. Deloris was just getting off the phone with the receptionist when she saw him and started to say, "Good morning, Ed" but managed - sort of - to change it to just "Morning, Ed." Ed again nodded and walked into his office, closing the door behind him. He removed his suit-coat and absently hung it on the hangar he kept in his private bathroom, then he walked over to his desk and sat down.
He heard a 'crumple' as his suit-coat fell off the hangar and onto the bathroom floor.
He left it there.
He stared at the stack of paperwork waiting for him, but after several long minutes realized that he just couldn't bring himself to work on it. So preoccupied was he with thoughts of Carol, wondering why she had left and if it was somehow his fault.
It was finally Deloris, knocking at his door, which forced his attention back to the there and now. Ed shook himself and sat up straighter, then he called out, "Come in!" and tried to look collected.
Deloris opened the door and slipped in to his office, then closed the door behind her. She walked quickly over to and sat down in front of Ed's desk. She stared at him intently for several seconds - using what she once told Ed was her "secretary-vision".
Ed hated when she did that. Finally, he said, "Yes, Deloris?"
"Do you want to talk about it?" Deloris said candidly.
"Talk about what?" Ed replied.
"That," Deloris said, pointing at the Carol's letter on Ed's desk.
Ed followed her gaze and winced. "How much do you know?" he finally asked.
"Nothing specific, just that Ms. Vessey stopped by yesterday. She was clearly upset and she left you that letter. And it's bad."
"How do you know...." Ed began to ask, but Deloris interrupted him.
"And before you ask me 'how I know it's bad' I think we both know that I've seen enough old movies to know that when an emotionally distraught woman shows up at the office of the man she loves and leaves him a letter - it's NEVER good," Deloris explained.
"Oh," was Ed's only replied.
"So I'll ask again, do you want to talk about it?"
"What did Carol say?" Ed asked.
"She didn't say what was bothering her, if that's what you're asking. She just asked for the contract, and an envelope for that letter. I wasn't sure what to do about the contract, but since she wasn't a client ..."
"She wasn't planning on signing it was she?" Ed asked, clearly animated.
"I don't know, Ed," Deloris said. "I don't think so. She didn't seem really interested in it."
Ed allowed himself a brief sigh of relief.
"Ed," Deloris asked hesitantly, "You didn't ... Um ... You didn't do anything to hurt that poor girl did you?"
"Of course not! I would NEVER do anything to hurt Carol!" Ed's head whipped up and Deloris could see the pain in his eyes clearly. She could also see how lost and confused he was - it was obvious he didn't know what this was about any more than she did.
Then Ed took the envelope and removed the sheet of paper. He offered it to Deloris who shook her head, feeling like she had stepped too far over the line.
"Read it," Ed said with a small amount of the forceful personality he often showed at work.
Deloris took the note and read it quickly. Her eyes misted up and her hand covered her mouth. She looked up at Ed with sympathy and said, "I'm SO sorry, Ed. I should have realized. But, that poor girl, yesterday. I just ... I just don't understand this. What are you going to do?"
Ed sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. Part of me wants to tear out of here and get to Stuckeyville as fast as I can. But there's another part of me that says that I should respect Carol's wishes. Besides, I *have* to be here when the Henderson contracts are signed tomorrow.
Deloris noticed that Ed had said, he "had" to be there for the contract signing, rather than he "wanted" or he "needed".
Ed sighed, "I ... I just don't know what to do."
Deloris said, "Do you love this girl, Ed?"
Ed looked out the window for moment. His brain filled with image after image of Carol: the very first time he saw her - back in Mr. Roarke's biology class; when she walked into his office a week ago; just after he had pulled her from in front of the cab; the look on her face when he kissed her under the mistletoe; skating at Rockefeller Center; on top of the Empire State Building; turning heads at Windows on the World; kissing him in her hotel room.
"Yes," he breathed. Then looked over at Deloris and shrugged, "...But that doesn't tell me what to do. Something is going on that I don't understand. Something I'm missing."
"What does she mean about it being for the best, specifically for you?" Deloris said.
"That's just it! I haven't the slightest clue what she's talking about," Ed said with a sigh. "That's probably what is confusing me the most. Well, that and the contract. She came to New York to sign with a publishing agent and I have no clue what happened with that."
"Could there have been a problem with her agent .... with Knight Publishing?" Deloris asked.
"I don't know," Ed said. Then the spark returned to his eyes, "But I am GOING to find out." He got up and picked his suit-coat off the floor, then turned back and said, "Deloris, cover for me will you?"
"Sure. But, where are you going?"
"To see Victor Knight," Ed said, a hard gleam in his eye. "Tell Jerry the final review of the Henderson contracts is his responsibility."
Deloris smiled as she watched Ed practically run out of his office.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Molly Hudson
December 20, 2000
9:30 AM
Carol sat up and rubbed her eyes. At first she was confused. The only thing she was sure of was that she wasn't in her own bed. Then the events of the last 36 hours came rushing back and she gasped, almost in physical pain. She took a deep steadying breath and looked around.
'I'm at Molly's,' Carol thought. 'She brought me here, not to my house.'
Images of last night started to come back to her: Molly at the airport, driving Carol home, getting her tea, helping her upstairs ... after that, it was just a blur.
Carol got up and tried to figure out what to do. Molly had obviously gone in to work. Carol remembered that today should be the last day before the winter break. She wandered downstairs, a dull ache in her chest. She tried to fight off memories of her time in New York with Ed, but it had been a losing battle from the beginning.
She had thought that going back home to Stuckeyville and getting some distance from New York would lessen the pain, but she was surprised to discover that for some reason that it had just made it worse.
She didn't understand that.
She fixed herself some breakfast, just toast and juice. Then decided that she couldn't stay at Molly's any longer, she needed to get home. It wasn't that Molly would've minded, but she felt like she had to try and get back to some kind of normal routine.
She almost laughed, 'Like the holidays are a normal routine!'
She called a cab to take her home. While, she waited, she collected her luggage and briefcase. After about 10 minutes, she heard a car honking out front.
The cab ride to her house was quick - but, fortunately *without* the death defying speeds and antics of New York City taxi's! She wanted to be thankful for that difference, but she ached when all it really did was remind her how much she missed the NYC taxis, riding with Ed and hanging onto him for dear life. She paid the taxi driver, who helped carry her suitcases inside.
***
New York City - the Offices of Knight Publishing
December 20, 2000
10:00 AM
The security guard directed Ed to one of the elevators that went above the 30th floor. "Knight Publishing is on the 56th floor, sir,' he told him.
Ed nodded.
Ed wasn't sure what he was going to say when he got there, but he knew he'd figure something out. The elevator stopped at the 37th, 41st, and 42nd floors before going the rest of the way to his destination. He got off the elevator and went through the double glass doors detailed with Knight Publishing's corporate logo. The receptionist looked up, saw Ed, and smiled brightly. "May I help you, sir," she said in her nasally tones.
"Yes," Ed said, confidently. "I'd like to see Victor Knight."
The receptionist's smile faltered somewhat. She knew that her boss didn't have any appointments that morning and said, "Do you have an appointment, sir?"
"No," Ed said. "But please tell Mr. Knight that Carol Vessey's attorney is here to see him."
The receptionist's eyes widened, but she got on the phone and had a hurried, whispered conversation. She finally looked back at Ed, who had wandered over to one of the glass coffee tables to look at the books, and said, "Mr. Knight will be with you in a moment."
Ed nodded and continued to look at the books, his hands clasped behind his back.
After a few minutes, Victor Knight strode out into the reception area followed by an associate. He stopped and spotted Ed, immediately understanding just who Ed was from Carol's description of the male lead in the novel she had been working on. Just to be sure, he cast a questioning glance over at the receptionist, who nodded.
He walked over and said, "I'm Victor Knight." He offered his hand.
Ed hid his reluctance and shook Victor's hand and said, "Ed Stevens with Farmer & Sheehan."
Victor smiled. "This is David Coe, my right hand here at Knight Publishing." Ed and David shook hands.
"Why don't we talk in the conference room, Mr. Stevens," Victor said and indicated a room three doors down and to the left.
"Certainly," Ed replied, following the two gentlemen.
After they were in the conference room, Victor took a seat at the farthest end of the table. Ed took the seat farthest from Victor. David Coe, who had waited to close the door, took a seat next to his boss.
"Well then, Mr. Stevens," Victor said, "what can we do for you. You said you represented Carol Vessey, is that correct?"
"Yes, I do," Ed said. "I guess I'm here to see if you can clarify something for me."
"Such as?" Victor asked.
"Did Ms. Vessey sign the contract you gave her last week?" Ed asked matter- of-factly.
Victor looked over at David, who replied, "Why no, Mr. Stevens. She called yesterday afternoon and said that she was not going to accept our very generous offer and that she was returning to Ohio. Very sudden and, well, to be frank, ... *very* unprofessional."
"I see," Ed replied. "Thank you for your time gentlemen." Ed stood and started towards the conference room door. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard Victor Knight whisper to his associate,
"I bet she played *him* too."
Ed stopped, and without turning around, said, "Excuse me?"
"Nothing. It was nothing," David Coe tried to cover for his boss.
Ed still hadn't turned around, so the two men were unable to see that there was a certain fire in his eyes when he replied, "Oh, it wasn't 'nothing', Mr. Coe. It was most definitely 'something'."
Victor stood up and walked towards Ed, "Look, Stevens,... Ed. We're both influential men, you and I. It certainly wouldn't be the first time - at least in *my* case - that an attractive woman like Carol would use her (ahem) 'assets' to promote herself."
Ed still refused to turn and look at him, he just replied, "Mr. Knight, I'm afraid I don't know *what* you're talking about."
Victor smiled at him coyly - as if he were acknowledging some insider's joke. "It's okay, Ed. We're all friends here. It's nothing to be ashamed about. I mean it's not as if you were the only one she fooled, why if last Friday was any indication, I'm sure Ms. Vessey has quite a list of ... Oh how shall I put this? ... Friends' willing to do her a favor."
Knight glanced back at Coe, not seeing that Ed's fist had begun to clench.
"Victor...?" Ed said coldly.
"Yes," Victor turned back towards Ed, a second before Ed's fist smashed into his jaw sending him backwards and across the conference room table.
Ed remained there, standing silently over Knight's dazed form. Then he looked over at David Coe, and saw by his shamed expression that he wanted no part in Knight's slander of Carol. Then he looked back down at Knight.
"Victor, I am going to say this once, and only once. You and I are NOT friends. We will NEVER be friends. And if I hear that you've repeated this slander to *anyone* I will make it my mission in life to ruin you. Am I clear?"
Victor, still dazed, did not respond. However, David spoke for him, "Very clear, Mr. Stevens. I'm terribly sorry for this 'incident'. You can be sure that it will not happen again."
"Make sure that it doesn't," Ed replied coldly, then he yanked open the conference room door, startling two Knight Publishing staff members who had been listening to the commotion inside. Ed walked out of the office and to the elevators. He smiled with satisfaction as the elevator door closed and took him to the ground floor.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 20, 2000
10:30 AM
Carol had just finished unpacking the first of her suitcases. What didn't get put away was tossed into her laundry basket. She lifted the second suitcase to the bed, unlocked it and opened it. And immediately regretted it.
Lying on top was the wrapped Vera Wang Barbie doll Ed had given her. Carol felt the pain return to her chest and she had trouble breathing. 'How could I have forgotten this was in here!?' she thought. She took a deep breath and took it out, quickly emptying the rest of the suitcase. Then she set aside the little gifts she had purchased for everyone - as she would need to wrap them later.
She put the suitcases away in a nearby closet and then took the gifts downstairs - including the one from Ed. As she put the gift from Ed under her Christmas tree (which, she noted, Molly had dutifully watered in her absence) she paused to read the tag once again. 'To Carol. Love, Ed.' She felt her eyes tear up as she read the last part, but fought them back. She promised herself she wasn't going to start crying again - she wasn't!
She had just finished up wrapping the small "New York" gifts when her phone rang. She tensed, unsure if it would be Ed or not. She let the answering machine pick up and listened.
"Carol, its Molly. If you're there pick ..."
Carol grabbed the phone receiver. "Hey, Molls," Carol said softly.
"Hey, Carol," Molly said. "How are you doing this morning, sweetie?"
"Okay," Carol said, "I guess. How are you?"
"Me," Molly said, "I'm fine."
There was an awkward pause in the conversation. Molly had hoped that Carol would open up, but it seemed like it was going to take a more direct, face- to-face effort.
"Well," Molly said with a sigh, "I just wanted to be sure that you had gotten home okay."
"Yeah, I did," Carol said. "Molls?"
"Yeah?" Molly replied.
"Thanks for last night," Carol said. "You know, picking me up at the airport and letting me stay over at your house."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Molly asked, smiling.
Hearing Molly smile helped raise Carol's spirits somewhat. "Well," Carol said, "I guess I should let you get back to work. Wouldn't want the hyenas to get the upper hand."
"Hah," Molly said, "some days its actually the wildebeests I'm more scared of."
"Carol ... " Molly said more quietly.
"Yeah, Molls," Carol said.
"I'll be over right after school. So we can ... talk," Molly said.
Carol sighed and said, "I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it, Molly. It ... it's hard."
"I know, sweetie," Molly said, "but I think you NEED to talk about it."
"We'll see," Carol said.
There was a pause in the conversation, then Carol heard Molly shout, "Warren! Warren Cheswick!! Stop right there mister or, my hand to God, the only thing you will find in your stocking on Christmas morning is a big ol' can of whup ass!"
Molly came back on the phone, "Carol, I need to go. Warren Cheswick is running down the hall in a speedo and a Santa's cap handing out little trinkets to the female students. Be glad - be VERY glad - you're not here to see this! Bye!"
"Bye, Molly," Carol chuckled, and hung up the phone.
***
New York City - the Law Offices of Farmer and Sheehan
December 20, 2000
11:00 AM
Ed walked into Farmer & Sheehan, again startling the receptionist. This time it was because of the way he whipped the door open and strode into the office. He nodded at her as he sped past.
He was still more than a little keyed up from his 'meeting' with Victor Knight. He smiled with grim satisfaction at the memory of Knight sprawled on the conference room table, a small trickle of blood oozing from the left side of his mouth.
Ed walked passed Deloris, who noted his rather more purposeful attitude, and into his office with a head jerk indicated that he wanted her to follow.
Deloris rose and quickly followed Ed into his office. He closed the door as she came inside. He took off his coat and threw it over a chair and began pacing. Deloris sat in one of the other chairs and just watched, fascinated.
"Well," Ed said, "whatever is going on with Carol doesn't seem to have anything to do with Knight Publishing. She called them yesterday and told them she wasn't taking the deal and that she was going back home to Stuckeyville."
"Well then," Deloris said continuing to watch Ed pace back and forth across his office, "Why would she ..." She noticed Ed rubbing his hand, more specifically the *knuckles* of his right hand.
"Ed...?" she smiled.
"Yes?" Ed continued pacing.
"Is there something you'd like to tell me about your *meeting* with Victor Knight?"
"Not really."
"ED!" Deloris grew impatient.
"I hit him."
"You did what?!!!"
"I hit him. And before you say another word. He earned it," Ed said coldly. "I won't repeat what he said about Carol."
"Did you hit him hard?"
"...knocked him clear across a conference table," Ed replied, waiting for Deloris to lecture him about how 'violence didn't solve anything'.
Instead she just said, "Good for you. Will there be anything else?"
"Yes, now that you mention it. Get me the first available flight to Cleveland after the Henderson contract signing. I'm going to Stuckeyville to straighten this out!"
Deloris smiled again and began to walk out of the office. When she reached the door, she stopped, turned back around and said "...You did say 'clear across a conference table' right?"
"Yes," Ed leaned back in his chair and smiled, "Yes I did."
"Just checking." Deloris said, "I'll just go and get that flight reservation, now," and she walked back out into the outer office. Leaving Ed to wander just how long it would take before the entire office knew about his encounter with Victor Knight.
***
Stuckeyville - the home of Carol Vessey
December 20, 2000
3:30 PM
Carol was startled by a knock on the front door. She looked up at the clock. 'It's 3:30!' Carol thought. 'How did it get so late?'
But she knew.
After her phone call with Molly, Carol had spent the entire day sitting on the couch. She hadn't really done anything, just sat there. She hadn't even had lunch - not that she'd felt hungry. No, that wasn't right either - she had done something. She'd thought about Ed.
Carol figured it was probably Molly, since school was out. She sighed and got up, mentally preparing herself for the grilling she knew her friend was going to give her. She opened the door and was so startled that she took a step backwards. It wasn't Molly.
It was Nick Stanton!
He had on his trademark jeans and blazer - and he was as handsome as ever. He flashed Carol his usual smile, but Carol found herself oddly unimpressed.
He said, "Hello, Carol."
"Nick, um, hi," Carol said. "What are you doing here?"
"Well," Nick said, "that's not a very heartwarming greeting."
They looked at one another for a minute before Nick said, "Are you going to let me in, or are we going to stand here all day?"
"Oh, um," Carol said, "I'm still in the middle of unpacking and the house isn't really guest-friendly at the moment..." Carol hesitated, then finally said "Sure. Come on in."
She stepped back and let Nick enter the house. When he was inside, he went to kiss her - at the last second she turned her head so that he kissed just her cheek.
"So," Nick said as he walked into the living room and sat, "how was your trip to New York?"
"Er, good," Carol said. She still wasn't sure what Nick was doing there. She followed him into the living room and sat down on the opposite couch.
"Things go okay with Knight Publishing?" Nick asked. "I assume you got my message. You know, I've actually heard good things about Knight lately. Hah! Maybe I should consider signing with them myself."
Carol just sat there looking at Nick.
"Carol?" Nick asked.
"Hmm? Yeah?" Carol said.
"How did it go with Knight Publishing?" Nick asked for a second time.
"You know, Nick," Carol said, "I don't think I want to talk about my dealings with Knight Publishing with you."
Nick looked surprised. "Okay," Nick said, drawing out the word. Then he just stared at her.
"Nick," Carol said, "why are you here?"
"I just wanted to check and see how you were," Nick said. "See how your trip to New York went. When I heard Molly talking to you on her cell phone earlier I realized you were back in town, so I thought I would just drop by."
"But why would you do that?" Carol asked. "We're not a couple anymore, Nick. Its over."
"But it shouldn't be!" Nick said. "I still can't believe you broke *us* up over a waffle?"
Carol noticed how Nick had said "us" as if it was supposed to have some special significance. But if that had really been true, they wouldn't *have* broken up. She sighed, "Nick, the waffle was just a symptom of a larger problem."
"What larger problem?!" Nick said, a note of anger creeping into his voice. "Your ending our relationship because of some silly epiphany you had while making waffles is childish. I think its about time that you grew up and realized that I'm the best thing that has ever happened to you! Before its too late!"
Carol sat there shocked, temporarily unable to believe that Nick had just said what he did. '*He's* the best thing to ever happen to me? He has got to be kidding,' she found herself thinking.
Carol stood up and said, "You've overstayed your welcome, Nick!"
Nick stood up, but didn't move, "Carol, let's talk about this."
"Go!" Carol said and pointed at the door. Nick moved towards the front door, but paused in the foyer.
"This is silly. Now you're throwing me out of your house?" Nick said.
"I'm *trying* to, but it doesn't seem to be getting through your thick skull!" Carol said in a raised voice.
Nick opened the door, swinging the screen door open as well. He said, "You know that you and I should be together. You just need to be an adult about this."
"NO!!" Carol said vehemently. "We are not meant to be together. I know that with absolute certainty now. I've seen what real love is like! I've felt what real love is like! I've looked into someone's eyes and gotten myself lost in them - deliriously lost! What *we* had (she moved her hand back and forth between herself and Nick) doesn't even compare. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back to what we had...its empty...hollow. I may not be able to have..."
Carol stopped, she had been about to say Ed's name. She choked for a moment, then continued, "Go, Nick. And don't come back."
Nick stood there stunned for a moment, unable to believe the passion and the intensity with which Carol had just spoken. He turned and suddenly realized that Molly, Nancy and Mike were standing on the porch - off to the side of the door. Mike was holding two bags - from the smell they were obviously Chinese food. Nick was mortified. To have been spoken to like that by Carol was bad enough - but to have witnesses to it was too much. He whirled around and marched off to his car.
Molly, Nancy, and Mike walked in the front door, startling Carol, who hadn't seen them there either. They had surprised expressions on their faces.
"Um, hey Carol," Molly said.
Carol looked embarrassed and said, "Oh, sorry guys! I didn't know you were out there. You...you shouldn't have heard that."
"Are you kidding?" Mike asked, "I wouldn't have missed THAT for the world."
Nancy punched Mike in the arm. Mike said, "What?"
"When I answered the door earlier, I thought it would be you, Molls," Carol said as she hugged Molly. "I never would have answered the door if I had known it was Nick."
Then she looked over at Mike and Nancy and raised an eyebrow. "I see you've brought backup?"
Molly just shrugged and smiled. Molly, Mike and Nancy slipped off their coats, and the foursome made their way to Carol's dining room. Carol was surprised to note that she WAS hungry and she pulled out plates, utensils, and glasses.
At the dining room table, they all sort of stared at one another for a while as they filled their stomachs on wonton soup, eggrolls, chicken with broccoli, pork egg foo young, and chicken and shrimp. It was quiet - it was obvious that Carol and Molly were engaged in a battle of wills to see who would talk first.
Carol won.
"Come on, Carol," Molly said, "what happened in New York? All I know is that you went to New York to settle some legal matters with a publisher, the president of the publishing company turned out to be a jerk, you think Ed Stevens is a great guy, and now you're back home in Stuckeyville a day early and an emotional wreck. I think, and correct me if I'm wrong here, that I may be missing a few items from the middle of the story."
"DON'T start with me...!" Carol's replied.
Molly just looked at Carol, "I'm not starting with you. We're your friends Carol, we want to help you... if you'll let us."
"Would someone please pass the duck sauce?" Mike asked.