Caroline and the Ring

Summary: With one little ring as the catalyst, a lot can happen in a short time!

Author's note: This story takes place during season 2. Characters' thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 2

SLAP!!!

Richard staggered backward from the force of Caroline's blow.

"Hey!" protested Richard.

"How dare you!!!" retorted Caroline.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…" was all that Richard could say.

"Why did you think you could kiss me like that?!?!" Caroline demanded to know.

"I thought… I felt… I thought you felt…"

"Richard, you know I have Joe. You know I'm not the kind of girl who cheats on her boyfriend."

At that, Richard's posture slumped. He was totally defeated. "You're right. I should have known better… I'll make it easy for you, I'll quit. You'll never have to see my face again and be reminded of this." Richard turned and slowly trudged towards the coat rack.

"Richard… Wait!" Caroline's anger subsided as quickly as it appeared. The truth be told, part of her anger was fueled by guilt. She had kissed him back. "Why did I do that?" she wondered.

Richard turned and faced her. The pain on his face moved her, it was the most pitiable thing that Caroline had ever seen.

"You don't have to quit, Richard."

"But I do… I'm so sorry… What I did was not forgivable."

"Well, I say it is… You started play acting, and just got carried away." They both knew it was more than that, but chose to ignore that fact. Caroline smiled brightly and vamped a little. "It's good to know I can still inspire a little passion" she giggled. Richard gulped. She reached out and touched his arm. "Richard, you're my friend. You don't have to quit over this, I forgive you…"

"Oh… okay." Richard sighed with some relief, but he was still unsure of himself. "I guess I should thank you."

"Richard, you don't have to thank me. Friends forgive friends."

Richard tried to joke a little, to relieve the tension. "Oh, not for that… I should thank you for smacking me with your left hand. For a small gal, you can pack quite a wallop when you're mad. If you had clipped me with a right hook, I'd probably be out cold."

Caroline had been so preoccupied with the kiss, her guilt about Joe, and her ambivalent feelings towards Richard, that this was the first chance that she had to feel remorse over striking him. "Oh Richard, I'm sorry…" she apologized, as she reached out and gently touched his right cheek, where she had struck him. When Richard winced with pain and pulled back, she added "I wasn't thinking, I just reacted…"

Richard replied "It only stings a little. And you shouldn't apologize, I'm the one that started this. And you have to believe me, Caroline. I wasn't thinking either, I didn't plan any of this…"

"I believe you, Richard."

After several seconds of awkward silence, Caroline broke the ice. "I tell you what, let's go to Remo's for lunch, your treat. That'll make up for this little incident"

"Done" replied Richard. "It's a good thing that I have a forgiving boss." As the mood turned cheery again, Richard turned to get his coat, and Caroline joined him. Just as they were leaving, Richard noticed something. "Caroline, aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

"The ring."

"Oh yeah, right" Caroline giggled. "I wouldn't want people to think that I've gotten engaged." She struggled for several seconds to twist the ring off, but to no avail. "It's no use… my finger must be swollen from the slap."

"I'm sorry my face got in your way" deadpanned Richard.

"Shaddup" Caroline smirked. "C'mon, let's go." As they left, Caroline said "I'll have to return your ring when the swelling's gone down. Besides, it might be fun to see people's reaction to my wearing the ring." As they waited for the elevator, Caroline raised her left hand and admired the ring again. "It is beautiful, Richard".

Remo greeted Caroline and Richard as they entered his restaurant. "Ah, Carolina, Ricardo…" He grabbed a couple of menus and gestured towards a table. "Would you like a table by the bar?" Caroline nodded, and Remo ushered them to the table.

As Caroline walked to the table, she waved her left hand in such a way that Remo couldn't help but notice. As she sat, he exclaimed "Signorina Carolina…! Doctor Joe has proposed! What a wonderful match…! Uh… there's no bambino on the way, is there?"

"No Remo, no bambino" Caroline replied, somewhat insulted. "Actually Remo, Joe's not the one who asked me to marry him." Caroline smiled at her little game.

"Grazie a Dio!" exclaimed Remo. "Carolina, I knew that young pup was all wrong for you… Why did you two break up, was he fooling around...?"

"No…! Why do you say that…?" ask Caroline, taken aback by Remo's reaction.

"Oh… no reason. It's just that he's a young man, and young men are known to…"

"Well, he didn't!" steamed Caroline.

"Oh… So sorry if I upset you, Carolina… So, who is the lucky man?"

"Actually Remo, Richard asked me to marry him" said Caroline, giving Richard a quick squeeze. "Technically, that's not a lie" thought Caroline, smiling inwardly.

"I knew it…!" exclaimed Remo. He vigorously shook Richard's hand. "Ah, Ricardo… Your eye has been on Signorina Carolina for a long time, no?" He then gave Caroline a big hug. "I'm-a so happy for the both of you… I know you'll be very happy together… Sit! Sit you two lovebirds, relax! I'll-a bring you the special, lunch is on the house! I'm-a gonna go to the back and bring you the finest vino, to celebrate!"

As he turned to leave, Caroline tried to protest, not wanting to cheat Remo out of a free lunch on false pretenses. "Remo…!"

"Thanks, Remo!" grinned Richard.

"Shame on you, Richard" hissed Caroline. "You know we're not really engaged."

Richard grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Now my treating you to lunch won't even put a dent my wallet..." he teased.

"Richard…!"

"Relax, Caroline. My 'tip' will cover the normal cost of the lunch. I just want to have some fun for a little while longer." The truth be told, Richard was very happy about what Remo said about Joe, and about himself being paired with Caroline.

Caroline reluctantly concurred. "Oh, okay Richard… But we tell Remo the truth before we leave." If Richard was happy about Remo's reaction to the "news", then Caroline was confused. "Richard, Remo's reaction is NOT what I expected. I thought he liked Joe. I know I do. I mean, I'm not in love with Joe, but he's fun to be with, and his youthful passion is exciting. And Remo's reaction to the 'engagement'… I thought he'd be shocked for a few seconds, then laugh when he figured out that I was kidding." Caroline was especially incredulous when she exclaimed "Instead he… I mean, you and me…?! Pffff!!! He really thinks that you really have a 'thing' for me…!"

"Yeah… hilarious…" Richard glumly replied.

"What's wrong with Richard…?" Caroline thought. "I wonder…" Caroline smiled as her thoughts drifted back to 'the kiss'…

Caroline's daydreams were interrupted by Remo's return. He placed two wine glasses on the table, and displayed a bottle. "My finest Merlot…! Nothing but the best for my two favorite customers."

As he poured, Caroline objected "Remo, we can't drink your most expensive wine and not pay for it!"

"Okay, okay…" Remo admitted. "So it's not-a my finest…" After he finished pouring, Remo invited himself to join them. He sat, and produced a glass from an inside coat pocket. "Oh look…!" he exclaimed in mock surprise. "An extra glass!" Remo poured himself some wine, then held up his glass in a toast. "To the happy couple…! Salute e amore!" The three clinked their glasses together.

"Hear, hear" Richard responded.

"Uh… thank you, Remo" an embarrassed Caroline responded.

Remo stood up. "Scusa, I have other customers… I leave you two lovebirds alone, sì?"

Caroline and Richard were finishing their meal. Caroline was not her usual talkative self, which suited Richard just fine. He was still embarrassed over the major faux pas that he had committed just before coming here. "Although I don't regret kissing her" Richard mused. "That was… special".

Caroline ate her meal silently, still pondering Remo's reaction to their 'engagement'. Finally, when they were about finished eating, Caroline spoke.

"Richard, don't you find it interesting?"

"Mmmm, I have to agree, Caroline. The sauce is a little spicier than Remo's usual fare, but I find it quite tasty. I think it's one of Remo's mother's recipes."

"No, Richard...! I'm talking about Remo's reaction to our 'engagement'. Why does Remo think you have feelings for me...?" Ever since Remo had reacted to their 'engagement', Caroline had been pondering this question. She had started to consider Richard in a new light. Caroline finally asked the question that had been on her mind through the whole meal. "Do you have feelings for me...? Why did you kiss me so passionately, back at the apartment?"

Richard hesitated before he answered. "I - I..." Caroline stared intently at Richard, expectantly awaiting his answer. "I... I just thought kissing you would be something a fiancé would do, just after proposing. Like you said before, I just got carried away." Caroline's face fell. "And I'm sure Remo was just being polite, both about your breakup with Joe, and about our 'engagement'". Richard thought "I hope Caroline doesn't notice that I didn't answer her question about my feelings for her."

A disappointed Caroline replied "I guess you're right, Richard... I try to read too much into everything. It's like Ockham's razor: The simplest solution is usually the correct one."

"Ockham's razor...?" Richard was impressed by Caroline's answer.

"I've been reading." Caroline smiled, back to her usual cheery attitude.

"Whew...!" thought Richard, relieved. "That was close! If Caroline knew my true feelings, our working together would get too uncomfortable. I mean, she already has a boyfriend, as she made abundantly clear by slapping me." Though the physical sting of the slap had faded, the mental sting had not. "She'd either have to fire me, or I'd have to quit. I couldn't stand not being near her... I did that once, for three months, I can't go through that again... At least this meal is almost over. We can tell Remo the truth, leave the restaurant, and this ordeal will be over."

But then...

"AAAIIIEEE...!!!"

Both Caroline and Richard turned their heads as they heard a familiar voice screech. They saw Annie talking to Remo by the door. He had apparently just told Annie the 'big news'...

To Be Continued…