A couple of weeks later...
"Hey Caro, you're coming to my party, right?" Annie asked as she walked through the door for her morning caffeine fix.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," answered Caroline.
"Ritchie, you bringing the 'little woman'?"
"Yes, I'm bringing her. She has a name you know," he added.
Annie leaned over to Caroline and whispered,"Yeah, and it rhymes with witch." Carolinbe gasped and then nodded, totally agreeing with the statement, though Annie's words were always a bit stronger than hers. "Anyway, just trying to figure out how much food ma's got to make. She's really getting into this party idea."
"Annie, you're making Angie make all of the food?" Caroline asked.
"Hey, I didn't ask. When I told her I was having a party, she immediately started making a list of appetizers. The woman was born to cook. Well, gotta run. We still on for shopping this afternoon Caro?"
"Yeah, I guess. You don't mind a half day, do you Richard?"
"No, no problem. I've got an idea for a painting, anyway," Richard answered.
"Alright then, it's settled. We having lunce at Remo's first, right?"
"Yep Annie. I'll meet you there at noon. Now go, so we can get some work done."
"I know when I'm not needed," annie said as she walked to the door.
Richard and Caroline worked silently for the most part of the morning. Caroline left for lunch with Annie, and Richard left to put paint on canvas.
After a full afternoon of shopping, Caroline and Annie returned to Caroline's apartment.
"Wow. My feet are killing me! But hey, no pain, no gain, right?" Annie said as she plopped down on the couch.
"At least we both found new outfits for the party. So, who's the lucky date?" Caroline asked, putting her packages down on the counter.
"John, you know, the one I told you was training for that marathon. I can tell you, that one has stamina."
Caroline laughed as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Well, I'm going stag for once. I've had enough set-ups to last me a lifetime." And none of them een comes close to beating out Richard, Caroline thought with a sigh.
"Don't worry Caro. It takes some time," said Annie sympathetically. She knew her best friend was still heartbroken over Ritchie marrying that witch. "Anyway, I'd better get up, or there's no telling whn I'd be able to move again."
I'd better go hang this dress up anyway," said Caroline, walking towards the bags she'd dropped earlier. "it would take a whole week for me to get used to this one, but I don't have enough time to regret it."
"You look great in that dress. It may cause some discomfort in your general area, if you know what I mean."
"Stop it! I'm no knockout."
"No, you stop it. It's about time you started taking care of you, and that dress is just the beginning," Annie gently reprimanded. "Well, better get going. See ya tomorrow."
Caroline went up the stairs, carrying all of her packages. Well, she thought to herself, at least I can show him what he's missing.
The next night...
Caroline stands in front of her mirror, cursing Annie and her insistence that she buy the miniscule dress she was now wearing. My God, she thought, my mother would have a stroke if she saw me wearing this.
Richard and Julia were busily preparing for the party as well. Richard, as usual, in all black, and Julia in a short black leather skirt and skintight red blouse. As she was pulling on her black thigh-high boots, Richard came over and sat next to her on the bed.
"Honey, I can't wait any longer. Do you mind opening your Christmas present now?"
"Why Reechard, of course not."
Richard handed her a small black box, no wrapping. She opened the lid...
Caroline had helped Annie set up for the party, so she was already there when the guests started to arrive. Annie was in her 'meet and greet' mode, holding onto John as she did so. Caroline milled around, talking to the few people she knew. Del, Charlie, Remo, and a few others were starting to mill around, eating a few hors-devours (sp?) and making chitchat. But the one person she really wanted to see, and also the one she didn't, had yet to arrive.
Suddenly, there he was. But he was alone. "So, Ritchie, where's the bride of Frankenstein?"
"Can it Annie," he demanded. I need to talk to Caroline." he scanned the room, and he spotted her near the back of the growing crowd. Wow, he though, she looks great in that dress.
"Caroline!" he called, trying to call to her over the party sounds. He motioned for her to come over, and she did, proceeding slowly through the people surrounding her. "We've got to talk," he said, leading her out into the hallway. "Don't worry annie, I'll bring her back," he said, noticing the interested look she was giving him. "Can we go into your apartment?" he asked Caroline.
"Ah...sure. What's this about?"
"I'll explain in there."
They went into the apartment, and Caroline paused to turn on the lights. They stood facing each other in the middle of the room.
"So, do I get an explanation of why you dragged me out of Annie's party now?" Caroline asked, trying to sound irritated, but secretly glad he had appeared alone.
"Come, sit down Caroline. This is going to take a while."
He explained, from the note he had left her which Annie found, the song, the kisses, everything. He told her what had happened when he gave Julia the ring.
"She opened the box, and she had this look of awe mixed with horror. She told me she loved the ring, but I would have to take it back. You see, we had talked about movng out of my apartment, but I didn't have enough money right now, so I had bought her the ring. When I asked her why, she threw the box at me. 'Don't we have something better to spend that money on, instead of a consolation prize?' she demanded. I didn't know what to say, I thought she'd be happy."
"After that, it just went downhill. She said how I didn't appreciate her, how I thought that buying her an expensive gift was going to change the status of our marriage. I'll tell you now, it wasn't as good as it seemed from the outside. Then she brought out a charge that I couldn't deny. I was in love with another woman. She had known this for all of that time, and didn't say anything, hoping that the longer I stayed, the better things would get. She admitted she was wrong. And I forgave her."
"So, I took the ring back this afternoon and got something I had seen the last time I was there. I knew it would be perfect the first time I saw it, but didn't have the guts to buy it." He got down on one knee. "Caroline Duffy, will you marry me? For real this time?"
Caroline was quiet for a moment, then slowly took the box from his hand. She opened it, and saw the most perfect ring she had ever seen. She took the ring from its box and placed it on her left hand. "Of course I will!"
Richard swooped up and swung her around, only putting her down so he could kiss her properly. "I think we'd better get back to the party before Annie sends a search party," Caroline said breathlessly.
"I agree, only because they'd be in for a big surprise if we didn't."
Leaving it like that, Caroline could only ponder his last statement as they again crossed the hall, arm in arm. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" Richard asked as they approached the door.
"Not yet, but I was hoping you would," she said as she knocked on the door. She reached up to kiss him, and they had goten pretty well started before Annie got to the door.
"Well, well, well. Finally the man has come to his senses! Get in here you two. There's mistletoe over in that dark corner if you want to get kissy-kissy," Annie added, giving Caroline a look that said she wanted all the details.
"Well, there's little something I want to say, to everyone, first." Richard drew Caroline into the room and addressed the crowd. "I want you all to be the first to know that Caroline Duffy has agreed to be my wife!"
Murmurs of congratulations, as well as a back-slapping from Remo and Del, surrounded the couple. Richard shooed them all away as a slow song began. Gathering Caroline close to him, they began to dance.
Standing in our silence I hear my heart beating And if only I could choose I'd stay here with you But hold me 'till the train is leaving
Somewhere down the line After you're gone from sight Our love will be the same And, whispering your name, I'll cling to you with all my might
Let me dream of you But it's true And wake me up when this is over Love will be there when this is over and
Somewhere far beyond today I will find a way to find you And somehow thru' the lonely nights I will leave a light in the dark Let it lead you to my heart
There's a love inside us That goes without saying But I'll tell you just the same And that love will fan the flame And the flame will warm the heart that's waiting
You are mine and I'll wait for you my love You are mine it may take some time If I have to wait a lifetime Tell me you'll wait
And somewhere alone I will be praying you home I know that somehow our love
Our love will lead me to your arms
[Michael W. Smith ©1992 Milene Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/ Emily Boothe, Inc. (BMI)/ Age To Age Music, Inc. (ASCAP)]
"Now, that's the kind of Christmas my best friend deserves," annie said, drawing John into her arms to join Richard and Caroline in their dance. It would be a Merry Christmas all around, except for one lonely Italian witch...