Tuesday, July 20th, 1954

12:25 p.m.

The branch of Longchamps over by the furniture house had become a favorite lunchtime haunt of Carol's. Sometimes Carol dined alone, her usual seat by the window where she sometimes would have something to eat or nurse a couple cups of coffee in lieu of a meal while catching up on correspondence. More or less, anytime Carol needed to meet with someone in the middle of the day, it was always, "Meet me at Longchamps? Around 12:30?" Even Therese was used to her being there around that time. She wouldn't even need to call or stop by the shop to find out where she was, it was given that she would be there with co-workers, a friend or two, or on some occasions, herself. Thanks to her new scooter, Therese was able to make it up to the Longchamps by the furniture store in no time.

This particular Thursday, Carol was dining with Jeanette. They hadn't seen each other since one bleak winter day the year before, when Carol was moving out of the house in Ridgewood. Kind Jeanette was the only person who offered to come help get her things together as she boxed up kitchen goods, clothes, books, and other knickknacks from around the house. Like others in their circle, she knew Carol and Harge had split, but no one knew exactly why, especially when they had such a young child. Jeanette had an inkling though. She knew Carol probably better than anyone else in that damn town; she knew better than to believe everything she heard.

"Carol."

Carol stood up as Jeanette hurriedly walked to their table and gave her a peck on each cheek, how the women on the Continent greet each other. Although, she could never seem to remember if it was two pecks or three. Carol stuck with just the two. "Jeanette, lovely to see you." Carol then gestured to the vacant seat across from her.

"Look at you, Carol!" Jeanette joyously said, pointing at the hint of tan, as she took her seat.

"Nothing a week on the Riviera can't do." A waiter appeared with a tray carrying two drinks and a shaker still full of excess Martinis. "I remembered you like dry Martinis."

"Ah, I've been dying for a drink!" Jeanette jested. She picked up the toothpick with the olive and placed it in her mouth. The next moment Carol looked at her glass, half the drink was already gone. "So... how have you been, tell me all about Europe!"

Carol looked down at her glass, blushing beneath that hint of tan, and picked up her own glass. She took a sip and gently smiled, "Oh, the usual. Wonderful, warm, sunny, so much to see, so much to do."

Jeanette looked back at her glass and downed the rest of her Martini. "And, did you go alone or with a tour?"

"I wasn't alone." Carol began.

"Oh?" Jeanette looked at Carol out of the corner of her eye, a little glimmer and smirk to her glance. "Care to elaborate on that one?"

Carol stared off at the napkin in her lap and drifted off. She couldn't lie to Jeanette, she couldn't even tell her a half-truth about it. Besides, Carol was the one to have asked her to lunch. She knew that she would be asking her for the details of her trip. "I went with someone."

"Her?"

"Yes."

Jeanette was still, not shocked entirely. "You two live… together?"

Carol quickly answered yes.

Reaching for her purse, Jeanette pulled out her cigarettes and lighter. Carol was worried for a moment that she had been attempting to leave, but was relieved when she saw her still seated and now smoking a cigarette.

After a long pause, Jeanette spoke as she lit her cigarette. "Don't worry, I'm not judging you, Carol."

"See, that's why I like you, Jeanette." Carol grinned. "'Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls…'"

Jeanette easily laughed, happily smoking her cigarette. She flicked some ashes into the ashtray and looked straight into Carol's eyes as she motioned to the cigarette in her hand. "We'll just keep each other's secrets, now won't we?"

"That reminds me." Carol reached into her purse and fetched a small wrapped parcel. She placed the item on the table and slid it toward Jeanette.

"What's this?" Jeanette looked surprised at the gesture.

"A little something I recall you inquiring about."

Jeanette picked up the packet from the table and carefully removed part of the wrapper. Inside was a hardcover book, a little dated looking, but still in overall excellent condition. The expression on Jeanette's face was priceless when she turned the book on its side to read aloud title on the spine. "Lady Chatter - where on earth did you get this?" She looked over her shoulders to ensure no prying eyes could see what she had in her hands.

"There is a little bookshop I remembered from back in '47. They had a good seventh printing in stock the day I visited."

Jeanette quickly put the paper wrapping around the book again, as though it hadn't been opened, and placed it in her purse. "How'd you get it through customs?"

"You can thank Therese for that. She packed it with her photo items and told the inspector he shouldn't open her bag with all her priceless equipment and undeveloped film."

"Ha! They fell for it?"

"They did, not to mention she's got a press pass."

Jeanette motioned to her purse and grinned. "I'm going to be the most popular lady down at the club once I finish reading this."

"Like you'll want to share." teased Carol.

Jeanette paused, fiddling with the edge of her napkin. "That's her name? Therese?" Carol nodded.

The same waiter who had brought over the Martinis earlier came by to take their orders. Both ladies realized they had been too preoccupied with chatting and the salacious novel to look at the menu. "We're going to need another moment." Carol uttered. She already knew what she wanted, but surmised that Jeanette needed some time to look things over.

Carol expected Jeanette to pick up her menu as soon as the waiter had reappeared, yet she didn't. Jeanette took another drag of her cigarette and let it rest between her fingers. "You know, we got a nephew who, well, goes with another fellow he met during the war." Jeanette admitted. "He's a kind boy. Always stops by the house when he's in the area, or calls to see how we're doing. Very thoughtful. I've met his fellow a couple times. Quite handsome, incredibly sweet. He dotes on my nephew though, and in all honestly, he puts Cy to utter shame," she laughed. Glancing down at her menu, Jeanette finally stopped speaking and then looked up at Carol. "If you've got anything like those two fellows have going for you, then I'm jealous as hell."

Carol smiled as glanced out the window as soon as she heard the unmistakable sound of Therese's Vespa sitting idle. "I most certainly do."