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Date Posted: 19:38:05 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Kelley
Subject: Crossroads--Chapter 34

Hi

Just posting the last chapter of Crossroads I have written out. I have half of 35 done but it probably won't be finished
until spring break, a month and a half away or unless I want to forfeit schoolwork one night :)

Take care and thanks for any feedback. :)
Kelley

Crossroads--Chapter 34

The week had gone by rather quickly and the details of the fundraiser were now coming together, slowly.. She was
completely exhausted though and decided to take Saturday to do a little housework. Her apartment was due for a
major cleaning.


Carrie had woken up about 9am and already done the dishes, the vaccuuming, the laundry and now, the dusting. She
had her hair pulled back in a scarf and was wearing her college sweats, not exactly something she waned to be seen
in. She was glad she didn’t have to go out today. She finally sat down to rest for a few minutes when the phone rang,
starling her relaxed state. She picked up the receiver.


"Hello?" She waited calmly on the phone for the other party to answer.


"Carrie.. did I wake you?" She immediately opened her eyes at the sound of the voice and smiled.


"Mike.. no no.. I've been awake for awhile already. I've just been cleaning and was resting for a few minutes. What's
going on?"



"Not much. Listen, I wondered if you wanted to see if maybe you wanted to get together for some discussion about
the fundraiser. The hospital board had a few questions and I told them I would have some answers for them Monday.



“Sure, where do you want to meet up. I’ll bring the files with me.”


“What about Salem Place?? Maybe the Java Café say around 2 or 3 o’clock?”


"Sounds good. I'll be there.”


"Bye Carrie."


"Bye Mike." Carrie hung up the phone, and sighed. So much for not going out today. She went into the bedroom and
rummaged around in the closet to decide what to wear. 3 pm was only a couple hours away. She certainly didn’t
think Mike would appreciate her in sweats too much. She showered and dressed casually in a maroon skirt with a
crème sweater to match. She wore simple strapped black shoes and put her hair up with a few strands hanging loose.
Simple, casual and elegant. She hoped she wasn't overdressed or underdressed but it would have to do. After
studying her appearance in the mirror once more she spritzed on a little perfume, grabbed her belongings and headed
out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Weaving through the mall shoppers to find Mike, Carrie saw hands motioning to her above the endless heads that
seemed to be walking in every direction. She connected them to Mike and headed towards the table he was seated
at.


“Hey! Goodness.. you would think a world famous band is at Salem Place today with al the people here!” Carrie lay
her satchel on the table while setting her purse and coat on the extra chair.


“Some people I know used to love shopping.” he laughed as her eyes glared at him.


“Hey.. some of us work for a living remember… although if my boss prefers I could leave my work with him and turn
into a professional shopper.” She pretended to get up to leave when he caught her arm, catching her off guard for a
brief fleeting moment.


“Nooooo no no no no.. that’s quite alright. My public relations director is very responsible with her work and most
importantly.. I trust her with the small details that a majority of women claim men never think of. I’d hate to be
accused of that allegation!”


Carrie laughed loudly at his last remark and finally opened her work satchel.


“Alright then Dr. Horton, are we ready to carry on then?” She pulled files out of the satchel and opened them, ready
to jump into work.


“Of course. But first.. I need some caffeine. What may I get for the lady? Capuccino? Espresso? Soda?? Tell me,
please.”


“The lady will take a hot chocolate thank you very much.” She smiled.


“The one I didn’t mention. One hot chocolate coming up.” He went to order their beverages while she searched her
purse for a pen.


She was scribbling a few notes when he returned with their drinks. She carefully picked hers up and sipped the hot
drink carefully.


“Okay Mike.. I’ve got everything in front of me. I wrote estimates for major expenses such as catering, decorations,
entertainment, and whatever else we need for this. I tried to be as cost saving as I possibly could.”


“Well I was sort of wondering what you had decided about those things. I think Maggie can get us catering through
Tuscany’s for a relatively inexpesnive price.”


“I’m ahead of you. I called her myself and she agreed to it. Oh she also suggested that if we wanted to, we could host
the benefit at Tuscany’s. I told her I’d have to run that by you first before we let her know. I’ve also enlisted a party
warehouse and a few of the department stores to provide the decorations for the event.”


“Wow you are definitely ahead of me! Sounds great so far! I think Tuscany’s is a great place. I know Maggie has the
top floor reserved for special events and it would hold more than enough people. The decorations sound like they’re
taken care of. What about the entertaiment?”


“That may be my only problem. I haven’t been able to contract anybody for the night. It seems everyone thinks
December is a good time for Christmas parties.” She rolled her eyes in mocking disbelief, making him laugh.


“Good golly gee I wonder… Well what do you think about.. ummm..”


“Come on Horton spit it out. What do I think about what???”


“Well.. what about us actually auditioning people? We can put an ad in the paper and then see what happens?”


“Actually that’s what I was considering. I tried to look for other ways to get a hold of nice decent entertainment but ..
christmas parties you know.”


“So let’s do it. We can pick who we like the best. It could actually be fun!”


“Great.. I’ll put the ad in Monday morning at work.” Carrie scribbled a few more notes on her yellow notepad. More
things to take care of.


“I’ll try to get a copy of all of this typed up before Monday morning. Should’ve brought my laptop with me.”


“Monday morning will be fine. I told the board members I’d have it on their desks before noon.”


“I will put it on my list for top priority. I just hope they agree to it.”


“I’ve given them the proposal already and they seem extremely responsive. They just wanted exact figures, the exact
items the hospital would be paying for and the set up for it. You know how it works.. it all boils down to money.” He
sighed.


“I know. I really think we can make this work though.” She put her files back into her satchel and put it back in the
chair.


“So do I, but let’s not talk about work for the rest of the afternoon. Deal?”


“It’s a deal. I guess I’ll go, I’ve got some err…” She gathered her belongings when Mike stopped her.


“Wait I didn’t mean for you to leave yet.”


“I know.. but .. I should get home. I specifically put Saturday on my schedule for cleaning my apartment. During the
week there isn’t enough time to do it and after a long day’s work the last thing I want to do is clean. But... you could
come over later, watch a movie, mop the floors? We can rent some at the video store.”


“Sounds good. But we need to stop by the video store on our way out of here first, oh and one thing.. I don’t do
floors.”


“Okay Horton, First things first let’s go pick out some movies! And a big fat FYI Mike about the floors, there’s
always a first time for everything.” She laughed at his deadpan expression and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him
hastily behind her.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Carrie you’ve picked out all chic flics. I refuse to watch another sappy romance with Tom Cruise or Ben Affleck or
Matt Damon. Come on I want a real movie!”


“A real guy’s movie you say? Fine, stop the temper tantrum and pick a movie. Hmm, wonder what cartoon it will be
…” She laughed at her comeback to him.


She was enjoying the jokes between them lately. In some ways it allowed her to express herself freely without
worrying about how Mike would take it. She knew he could handle it, and most of all he didn’t make her feel like she
had to be so careful around him. He made it easy.


He stuck out his tongue at her mockingly and picked up a video box in front of him.


“Hey I want this movie. It’s either this one or James Bond.. you choose.”


“I thought for certain you would pick Sly or Arnold movies. But hey, Pierce Brosnan IS the only James Bond to me
and I haven’t seen The Thomas Crown Affair... So that’s your guy flic I assume?”


“Sly and Ahnold are just too much action and yes that’s my guy flic... I’m happy now. What exactly did you pick for
those chic flicks.. I saw you looking at a couple of them.


“I decided on an oldie, An Affair to Remember with Audrey Hepburn and Legends of the Fall. Sorry Doctor but no
girl in her right mind could turn down Brad Pitt, even if she fought tooth and nail with her conscience. Almost went for
a comedy but I’m such a sucker for romances.”


He sighed and poked her in the arm softly a couple of times.


“Great. I guess I can torture myself with twice the romance for one night.”


“Never know Horton, you might learn a few things” She slightly laughed as she turned and started to walk out of the
video store. He followed and they parted ways until later that night.


TBC

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