Caroline looked up from the strip she was drawing when she heard the knock on the door. A million thoughts went through her head as to who would be at the door, and how she would react to each possibility. She hadn't seen anyone besides Salty in two days, since the hallway fiasco, and she was anxious for human company. But she was dreading the possible confrontation to follow.
She stood up from her now lonely partners' desk and walked to the door. "Don't worry, Salty. Maybe it's just a mafia hitman out to get me. That would be much easier to deal with."
She opened the door hesitantly, and was greatly relieved to see Del on the other side. "Hey, Duff." Caroline rushed to him and hugged him, and began to sob quietly. "I am so glad you're here." She pulled away and ran to the kitchen counter to grab a tissue.
"Come in, Del. Come in. It's okay. I'm stable now."
Del walked in and sat down on Caroline's couch, and Caroline quickly joined him. "So, how are you, Duff? Honestly."
And with that, the flood of tears began. "I'm horrible, Del. I lost my best friend and the love of my life in one day. Doesn't do much for a girl's morale. And I was afraid I'd lost you, too. That revenge sex thing was a stupid idea. I was just so..."
"Desperate?" Del chuckled.
"Oh, Del, I don't mean it that way...but, yeah. I wanted to hurt Richard the way that he had hurt me. That's not me, Del. Why did I do that? I'm usually the one who avoids pain and conflict and does everything possible to make everyone around me see life throught my rose-colored glasses. And I just..."
"You were hurt, Caroline. Rightly so, might I add. You know, Annie and Richard did a rotten thing. I mean, who, in this day and time, has a one-night stand with someone they have known for three years? Especially when neither of them is at all attached, and they're both consenting adults? And drunk."
"But it's not like that, Del. I mean, apart from the fact that it's exactly like that." Caroline was suddenly confused. Since the moment she overheard Annie and Richard talking that morning, she had felt like the wronged woman. But, really, what right did she have to be upset? "But I love him, Del. I really love him. And although I know it is completely my fault that I haven't told him that, Annie knows. Annie knew how I felt about Richard before I did. She's supposed to be my best friend."
"I know, hon. And I'm not taking sides here. Actually, if I am on anyone's side...well, I didn't nearly smash Richard's head in for nothing. I know why you are hurt, but Annie and I have been talking..."
Caroline interrupted with a smirk, "You and Annie have been talking?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, a couple of days ago she and I were the only ones who didn't hate each other. I mean, if Charlie ever figures it out, I'm sure even he will be mad at someone." Caroline smiled, which made Del smile. "So, Annie and I have been talking. A lot, actually, and she feels horrible. She loves you, Duff."
"Then why isn't she the one here telling me this?"
"Wasn't sure I was ever allowed in your presence again. Thought you might have set Salty into attack mode." Annie stood in the doorway, unsure of whether to step in or turn around before it was too late. "Hi, sweetie."
"Hi, Annie."
The two women stared at each other for a long time, until Del finally broke the silence. "Well, I should get out of here and let you two talk."
Caroline stood up and walked towards Annie. "Why?"
Del replied, "Well, you know, I just wasn't sure you wanted an audience."
Annie glanced at Del. "No, I think she means me."
"Why'd you do it, Annie? I just don't understand. First of all, you are my best friend and you know how I feel about Richard. Secondly, and what really makes this whole thing so strange, you two hate each other."
"Okay, Caroline. This simple answer is we were drunk out of our minds. He was there to see you. He was there to tell you that he wanted to be with you, and when he found out you were gone for the weekend, oh sweetie. He was so disappointed. I actually felt bad for him, and we started talking, and drinking, and just, before we knew it...I am so sorry, Caroline."
Caroline began to breathe a little easier. "So, that's it. You were drunk and you made a mistake." Caroline sighed and smiled. "I think I can live with that."
"Except..." As Annie spoke, Del buried his head in his hands, wishing Annie had just stopped there.
Caroline's smile went away. "Except what, Annie?"
"Well, I mean, this doesn't really change anything, but I think I should explain why I didn't tell you that from the beginning. Okay, I kind of thought I might be in love with Richard."
Del shook his head. "She actually said it."
Caroline stared, in shock. "Oh."
"But I'm not, Caroline. I'm not. It's just...well, I see why you love him. He's a really great guy, Care. And before you think what you are starting to think, I'm not saying this because of the sex. He...he treated me special, Caroline. Guys don't do that much. And it's not that he feels anything for me. He doesn't. There's not room in his heart for anyone but you. I know that. But, the way he treated me...it's just who he is. Underneath the gloomy, sarcastic exterior, he's a gentleman, and an amazing person."
Caroline wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes.
Del stood up and walked to Caroline, putting his arm around her. "But you already knew that, didn't you, Duff?"
With that, Caroline began sobbing and buried her face in Del's shirt.
Annie began to cry too, completely out of her control. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. Please forgive me."
Caroline pulled away from Del and rushed to Annie, and the two friends embraced and cried. Del joined them, putting his arms around both of them. "Let me in! Let me in!" Caroline and Annie both laughed.
"Okay, Del, get your hand off my ass." Annie looked up at Del threateningly and then smiled and leaned against him.
Caroline abruptly pulled away. "Wait! Has anyone talked to Richard? He hasn't shown up for work. I mean, that didn't really surprise me, but..."
Annie and Del look at each other sadly before Del put his hand on Caroline's shoulder. "He's gone, hon."
Caroline didn't understand. "Gone?"
Annie looked down, unable to look at the pain in her friend's eyes. "Yeah. He just, you know he doesn't deal well with dramatic situations. So he took off again. We haven't seen him since the other night in the hallway."
Caroline shook her head in disbelief. "No, it can't be." Then she looked up with renewed determination. "Where did he go? Paris again? Where? I'll go find him. I'm not letting him get away again. I'm sick of this!"
"You go girl! He said he was going Europe, to focus on his art." Annie smiled broadly at Caroline's strength.
"Okay! Then I'll go to Europe!" Caroline was practically bouncing from excitement and determination and stamina.
Annie piped up, "I'll help you pack!" They began to run towards Caroline's steps to go pack when Del stopped them.
"Um, hate to be a party pooper here, but...Europe's, like, big. What are you going to do? Visit every little artsy cafe on the entire continent?"
"If I have to, Del, I will! I'm not losing him."
"Okay, okay. I think that's great. Really. 'You go girl' and all that stuff. But..." Del looked into Caroline's eyes and saw the joy there. He sighed in resignation. "Okay, Duff. You pack, I'll get a car to take you to the airport."
Caroline kissed Del on the cheek. "Thanks, Del. You're the best ex-fiance a girl could ask for."
"Yeah, well. I get that a lot. Now go! I'll have the car here in twenty minutes."
Caroline and Annie stumbled down the steps with four large suitcases twenty-five minutes later. Del was outside holding the car, so the two of them struggled all the way downstairs and out of the building. There, Del was standing next to a limousine.
"Del! A limo?" Caroline squealed.
"Well, I figure if you are about to spend the next several weeks or months chasing your destiny, you may as well start out in style. Besides, it's the company limo. It's not like I'm paying for it or anything."
"Well, here I go. Wish me luck!" Caroline hugged Del first, and then Annie.
"Caroline, if there is anything I can do, anything at all, let me know. I love you, hon."
"I love you too, Annie. Just take care of Salty and send positive thoughts my way." She leaned in and whispered in Annie's ear, "And please don't be an idiot like me. I wouldn't have to go on a wild goose chase if I had just realized what I had when it was right under my nose." Caroline winked as she nodded her head towards Del.
Annie smiled. "I'll see what I can do."
Caroline laughed. "Good! Just don't do it in my apartment this time, huh?"
Caroline climbed in the limo with a sigh, and Del shut the door behind her. She got her purse and carry-on settled and then sat down in the rear-facing seat. And then she gasped. "Oh my gosh."
"Oh, come on Caroline. I know I look good in a suit, but breathe for goodness sakes!" Richard was sitting in the very back of the limo in a navy suit, holding a huge bouquet of red roses.
"Richard! I thought you were gone. I...I'm on my way to find you."
"Well, I really think you over-packed."
Caroline smiled, "I don't know. You're still pretty far away."
Richard closed his eyes and smiled. "Caroline, please tell me that is an invitation." But before Richard could open his eyes, Caroline was next to him. She pressed her lips against his, and felt his quick intake of air. His eyes fluttered open, then immediately closed again as he responded to Caroline's kiss, and wrapped his arms around her.
It was Caroline who pulled away first, as she gasped for air. "You look amazing."
Richard looked down at Caroline and ran his fingers through her hair gently. "You are amazing." He leaned down and began nibbling on her ear. She shivered as he moved his kisses down her neck.
"Richard...mmm...okay, hang on. Oh, that feels good. No. Okay, Richard, wait." With every ounce of will power that she had, Caroline pulled away. "We have to stop."
Richard sighed and sat back a bit from Caroline. "You're right. Okay, I don't even know where to start. I guess 'I'm sorry' is a good place. I never meant to hurt you. I made a horrible, gigantic mistake and...there's only you, Caroline. There's only ever been you. I love you, Caroline Duffy, and I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to tell you that. Not that I haven't tried on occasion, but I should have found a way, no matter how difficult, no matter the obstacles we would have to face. But instead I just waited and waited and then screwed up. I'm so sorry. And now, Caroline, I know that it will take a long time for you to trust me again, but I'll stick it out, Caroline. Whatever I have to do to regain your trust, your faith, I'll do it. Just name it. And did I mention I love you? Because I do."
Caroline stared at Richard for a moment, and then laughed. "Richard Karinsky, I've never heard you say that many words at one time before. I always kind of wondered if you had some sort of lung problem that prevented more than two sentences from coming out at the same time. But, thank you. All of that was very nice to hear. But I just meant we had to stop, because we're at the airport and our driver is staring at us like maybe he has other things to do today."
Richard blushed in embarassment. "Oh."
Caroline scooted up next to him again. "But, just for the record, I love you too. With all of my heart. And I do trust you. I know you made a mistake, but it's done. Over. I trust you with every fiber of my being, and I know men usually run away when committment is mentioned too early, but I really feel like I need to tell you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You own my heart, Richard. You have for so long, and you always will."
Richard leaned in and tenderly kissed Caroline. "I'm not going to run away. Ever again." Richard glanced up at the annoyed driver. "Except to Europe." Richard opened the car door and stepped out, and then put his hand in for Caroline. "That is, if you will run away with me."
Caroline took Richard's hand and joined him outside. He put his hand on her waist and pulled her to him so that their noses were almost touching. "So, Caroline..."
She reached up and tangled her fingers in Richard's blonde hair. "Yes?"
"Did I mention that I love you?"
"I think you may have." Caroline smiled as she gently kissed Richard on the cheek.
"Okay, then having said that," Richard glanced at all of the suitcases the driver had emptied out of the trunk and onto the curb, "you have to know that there is no way in hell that I am carrying all of this luggage all over Europe!"
Caroline laughed, and then stood on her tiptoes to kiss her way up Richard's neck. As she reached his ear, she whispered, "That's okay. Like you said, I really overpacked."
THE END
Thank you, thank you to my three readers! I do it all for you!
