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Date Posted: 18:25:31 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Lakota
Subject: Waiting for You - Chapter 19 (continued)
In reply to: Lakota 's message, "Waiting for You - Chapter 19" on 18:24:05 03/05/01 Mon



“You just aren’t going to let that go, are you, Mike? The Huskies are going to win. Tonight was just a preview of my
winning streak.”

“Not to interrupt, although I am, but Sami and I are going to fix an early dinner tomorrow afternoon and want you to
come dine with us, that includes both of you, if you can make it” Carrie said as she pointed to Kurt and Victoria.

“Oh, Carrie, that’s so generous of you. Well, I have nothing on my schedule what with tomorrow being New Year’s
Day and I do have five bucks riding on the Rose Bowl as well. Given what Mike said about not being able to get five
dollars from his brother after six years, I think I should be there to make sure I collect my winnings. That means,
Victoria, you have the day free as well since we don’t have to be in the embassy’s office.”

“I was just thinking that myself. I’d love to come and please, let me bring something as a contribution to dinner. How
about I bring a box of Swiss chocolates for dessert?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful, Victoria. I know they’ll be a welcome addition.”

“That reminds me, Carrie, Grandma wanted me to ask you if the box of chocolate covered cherries arrived safely
without melting.”

“Yes, they did, Sami. I’ll be sure to let her know in my next note to her.”

“Wait…wait….you got the traditional box of chocolate covered cherries? I love those things and didn’t think I’d get
any this holiday seeing as how they didn’t have them in England.”

“You were right, Lucas, you won’t.”

“But you said…”

“I said I got them - not that there were any left. You see, a certain someone who shall remain nameless ate the entire
box plus the replacement one he brought. Even I didn’t get any.”

Mike began to blush when everyone at the table realized who the culprit was.

“Hey, I let you take the Christmas wrapping off the box, didn’t I?”

“Barely.”

“Ohhhh, wait until I tell Aunt Maggie and Gran about this.”

“Lucas Roberts, you’ll have something other than your arm in a sling if you say one word of this when you get back
home. I don’t know what it was about those things. I don’t usually like sweets but I couldn’t leave them alone until the
box was empty.”

“You mean, ‘boxes’, don’t you”.

“Maybe I’ll just make a notation to bring two boxes tomorrow, then - - one for Mike and one for everyone else.”

“Good idea, Victoria.”

“Speaking of bringing something, how about I bring a wine?”

“A wine? Well…..I don’t know, Kurt.”

“What are you serving so I could bring something appropriate?”

“That’s the problem, I don’t really know what would be appropriate.”

“Well, is it poultry, meat, veal or fish, Sami?”

“Ummm…..actually, it’s meat…………………loaf. I guess I should tell you, Kurt, tomorrow isn’t going to be
anything as fancy as what we had here tonight. We’re just doing up a meatloaf recipe of Alice Horton’s, Mike’s
grandmother’s, mashed potatoes, a vegetable and some homemade bread.”

“I can’t wait! I’ve never had meatloaf but I’ve always heard it was wonderful.”

“You’re kidding, aren’t you? You’ve NEVER had meatloaf?”

“No, Lucas, never. Even living in Chicago my grandparents were gourmets and each dinner was an adventure and not
always one I enjoyed participating in. I’ve longed to just enjoy a good, home-cooked meal, completely American
style. How about I bring some imported cheeses and crackers. I know cheese is rationed but we Swiss are drowning
in it.”

“That would be wonderful. We’ll see you at the apartment about eleven o’clock. The game will be on the radio
probably about three o’clock and that will give us a chance to talk, listen to the game and then have dinner about six.
Sami, will you give them the address before we leave tonight?”

The lights dimmed one last time as the Dorsey Orchestra prepared to play the traditional final selection of the evening,
“Dream”. The three couples made their way to the dance floor and enjoyed the final slow dance. At the song’s
conclusion the platform the orchestra was on retracted from the room and the curtain lowered amid wild applause.

“I guess we’d better be going. It’s already one thirty and we still have to hail a cab back to the Staten Island Ferry
Terminal.”

“No, you won’t have to do that, Mike. My limo will take all of us. I’d really like to do that.”

“Thank you, Kurt, you sure it isn’t out of your way?”

“Absolutely not, Carrie. I have to finish one last bit of business and we can go. Give me about ten minutes?”

“We’ll meet you out front.”

“Fine, Mike, see you there.”

“I have a little financial business of my own to do before we leave the hotel, Mike.”

“You do, Lucas?”

“Yeah, there’s a terra cotta planter I sort of broke on the terrace and I want to pay for it. Come on, Sami, let’s get
your coat and meet the others out front after I’m finished at the front desk.”

Sami took Lucas’ hand and they headed out the side entrance of the ballroom.

“Do you have any idea what that was all about?”

“Oh, a little. I’ve got an idea, too, Mike. Let’s go take a look at the view from the terrace before we leave. Sami said
it was a spectacular panorama of the Manhattan skyline.”

“Welllll, okay. Let’s get our coats, too. I’m betting it’s chilly out there.”

They rode the elevator to the 28th floor and walked through the huge brass doors. The first thing they noticed was the
terra cotta planter broken into several pieces with the poinsettia plant in a clump beside it.

“It is beautiful out here….great idea, Carrie.”

“I kind of wanted us to have a few minutes to ourselves tonight. So much has been going on all evening and I don’t
just mean the beginning of a brand new year. I guess it would be safe to say Lucas told you he knows about the
letters and that Belle wrote them?”

“Uh-huh, guess we never thought about the fact Sami doesn’t write like Belle. Amazing how the littlest things can slip
up a perfect plan. I knew something had happened when they came back into the ballroom tonight. It was like Lucas
had gone through some miraculous transformation.”

“Sami, too. I am so happy for them. To find their way back to each other after everything is miraculous, you’re right.”

They spent a few minutes telling one another the details their respective siblings had told of what had transpired. When
they had each finished filling the other in they were silent. Mike looked off into the night sky as he put his arm around
Carrie.”

“Kate….of all people. What ever possessed her to set out to destroy them? I don’t understand her at all.”

“It didn’t come as a complete surprise to me. When I dated Austin and just spent time with Lucas as a friend, I could
feel her watching me. No girl will ever be good enough for her sons.”

“Then Phillip will have a rough time ahead of him, too. Maybe he’s already aware of it which is why he spends so
much time at our house. It might even be worse for him because he’s the pampered baby of the boys. Whoever he
chooses will have to be strong of character if she wants a future with him.”

“Sadly, Kate’s really the ultimate loser in all her machinations. I don’t know which is worse – losing a son by death to
the war or one who is alive but probably won’t ever go near her again.”

“Hey, I thought we came out here to have some time just for us.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I just wanted to thank you for the most wonderful New Year’s Eve I’ve ever had. The hotel,
the music, the company and you – all perfect. I feel a little like a fairy princess.”

“I was thinking that, too…..maybe Cinderella, except in this version you’d have both glass slippers off.”

“Very funny, Mike. I can’t help it if I don’t like wearing shoes when I don’t have to.”

“I guess we should be preparing to leave the ball, literally. The coach awaits us downstairs.”

“Isn’t there a part of the story where I get to kiss the prince?”

“Oh, I believe you’re right. My lips are at your service, my lady.”

Mike turned Carrie to face him and wrapped his arms around her before lowering his face to kiss her. The light wind
swirled around them though they were oblivious to anything other than one another. After what may have been
minutes but felt like seconds they parted and gazed at one another.

“I love you so much, Mike. You are and always have been my only love. That’s the only way it ever will be. I just
want the war to end this year so we can get on with the rest of our lives. There’s so much of life I want us to
experience together. There are so many ‘firsts’ I dream of with you.”

“I love you, Carrie. It’s become as natural to say that to you as it is to breathe. I want to one day hold you and not
have to let you go. I want to walk through the door of an apartment or house with you, close the door behind us and
not sleep on the couch. I want to watch you fall asleep in my arms and wake up in them as well. I
want…………….oh,………..I want so much to be with you.”

Carrie nodded and kissed Mike gently as she ran her fingers through the short hair on the back of his head, trying to
draw him nearer in some way.

“I don’t want to leave here but….I’m freezing.”

“Yeah, and the others are waiting for us. We’d better go. Carrie.”

They turned toward the doors and each with an arm around the other, walked in step back to the elevator. The other
four waited for them in the hotel lobby and after leaving the entryway piled into the limousine driving away from the
hotel. In one magical evening new friendships had been made stronger, two lovers had found their way home to one
another’s hearts and two others had openly for the first time spoken of the shared dreams they longed to fulfill
together. It had, indeed, been a night for each to remember.

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