Rupert Holmes, Howard Meltzer, and AMC own the rights to Remember WENN...I just like to play. I've decided on my excuse--one of my Holmes ancestors was married to a Roberts.
I suspect part of this probably is a bit much...but, the sentimental fool in me liked the idea...and hey--it is fiction. So there is a high mushy/sappy alert on this one. (But...we deserve it).
Hilary leaned against Jeff and smiled. "I hope the others won't be too upset with us." She glanced quickly at the taxi-driver then kissed her *old* new husband.
He laughed. "We've eloped before--"
"I know, but this time...Oh Jeffrey, we're married for real." She placed her hand on his shoulder and waved the marriage certificate she was holding. "My god...I don't believe it."
"Well, believe this..." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "And no honeymoon this time to ruin it."
"I'd say two was plenty." Hilary smiled brightly as she ran her finger along his cheek. "But how do we tell the others?"
"We could be late?"
"Oh, cupcake...That is so unprofessional." They both laughed as the cab stopped with a lurch and the driver muttered something. Jeff paid him quickly.
Despite the fact that being late was rather appealing--Hilary realized the station was too short staffed...Scott was away--Betty was pretty close-mouthed about that...She had her suspicions...
Such distracting thoughts were driven away when Jeff kissed her, his hands sliding down her back. When he picked her up, she shrieked playfully.
"This time we'll do it right, Pumpkin," he whispered.
#
#
Betty turned the last light off before looking around the empty station. She and Scott had planned on going to Elkhart for Christmas...They would have been on their way by now. She would have been excited and extremely nervous about the whole trip. But after Scott had left, she'd thought about going on her own, but her heart wasn't in it. And with the increasing number troop trains, normal train traffic was becoming slow. She missed him--far more than she would have thought possible just three weeks ago.
She closed the door and made sure she'd locked it before turning toward her companion. Mackie insisted on walking her to the streetcar and had done so almost every night since Scott had left. They started down the stairs. She hated the blackout curtains over the windows: they were annoying and made her claustrophobic. The trip was slow and quiet. She was too lost in her own thoughts to start a conversation. They stopped at the bottom of the steps. No street lights, again. She mumbled something as she opened her purse and searched by feel for her bus ticket, before stepping into the cold night air.
It was the gun emplacements and the armed policemen they passed that disturbed her the most. She knew they should have been reassuring. Pittsburgh was a prime target: they must be prepared. Or so the local officials said.
"Hurry," Mackie said anxiously. Ever since the air raid alert the other night he'd been jumpy. It had been a false alarm--but several of the gun batteries had fired at the imaginary German plane.
#
#
Maple controlled the urge to scream or laugh. Hilary and Jeff were locked in their third passionate embrace of the afternoon. If she didn't know better...A wicked smile played on her lips as she improvised a closing dialogue that should have been said by Jeff. She looked at Mackie, then at a pitcher of water on Mr. Foley's table. Her smile grew bigger at the look of panic on Mackie's face as he stepped between her and that pitcher. Instead she tapped Jeff's shoulder with her rolled-up script. "If you two love birds would stop cooing long enough--"
"Oh, sorry...We just got carried away." Jeff said.
Maple nodded. "I say...Is there something you haven't told us?"
"What makes you think that?" Hilary said with a smile.
Maple laughed. "Lots of things."
"Perhaps we should tell them?" Jeff asked as he released Hilary from his embrace.
"Later..." Hilary smiled at Jeff. "We will willing wait for all your well-wishes."
When they kissed again, Maple walked out. It was Mackie's turn to cover for them.
#
#
Maple stood in the door way for several seconds watching Betty before she spoke. "Hey Betty, you all right?"
The young woman shrugged slightly. "Busy."
"Hilary and Jeff have an announcement..."
"I know." She nodded at the radio. "All Pittsburgh knows."
Maple started to leave, but stopped. "I was wondering if you would like to join us. It's Christmas Eve, the train station is packed with soldiers and travelers. We were planning to sing carols."
Betty stared at her typewriter a second before nodding.
#
#
Lester nodded as he adjusted the controls. From the speaker came the voice of the British Prime Minister. Betty leaned against the wall. It was Christmas Eve...They would go off the air early--and have Christmas off.
"Betty?" Maple asked. Betty smiled, and almost asked how she was doing--but Maple had hinted that she didn't want to talk about things.
#
#
Betty wasn't sure about this. She shivered slightly, it was cold and there was a good chance of rain. But it was something to do--more than working on scripts or worrying. She sort of knew what he was doing in Washington...but Scott couldn't tell her more, and she had no idea how to tell the others what he was or wasn't doing. She figured most of them had guessed.
"Betty?" Maple repeated. "Scotty will be fine..."
Betty had to laugh. "I'm that transparent?" Maple nodded.
"Did he say he would be home?"
Betty shook her head. His last letter had mentioned 36 hour days and 8 day weeks. Then had closed with--*will you look at the time.* "He's pretty busy." She smiled, he had tried to get time off, but too much was happening.
Maple stopped walking. "Scott's a good man, but I hope he realizes just how lucky he is." She leaned on the railing and looked at the reflection in the water. "I don't know why they bother with a blackout. There is still plenty of light from the refineries and mills..."
Betty silently agreed as Maple continued talking. "Seeing the family, my mother, my five sisters, sixteen cousins...They still haven't forgiven me. They were polite, but I could tell." Maple shivered slightly and started to walk. "I started to dance after father died. I didn't tell no one where I got the money: but they found out, and I was thrown out. Soon after, Mother and the younger children were sent to a work house. I was working a cheap joint in 'Cisco when I met Scott. He saved my life..." Maple looked at her companion. "It's Christmas--I shouldn't be so maroon."
Betty smiled. "We'll be maroon together."
#
#
Betty closed the door quietly and turned to lock it. She was still humming Silent Night...Despite everything, she actually felt less alone than she had in days. She had even enjoyed herself. Everybody had.
Betty didn't bother to turn on the lights, it was later than she had thought, and she was tired.
"Hello," a sleepy male voice said from behind her. She was in his arms before he could say anything else.