Epilogue, Radio Station WENN, Writer’s Room, September 1941
“That seems kind of…complicated, Hilary.” Betty looked up from her notes as Hilary finished her description. “It’s a bit too complicated and much too dark for a kid’s show.” She grinned. “But it might work for our crime anthology Vengeance Is Mine. We turned Hamlet into a detective mystery and Macbeth into a crime caper. Why not make Beauty and the Beast into a gothic Agatha Christie mystery? It would be different, anyway.”
Maple nodded, flipping through her own script. “Vengance Is Mine is on Tuesday. We could all help you write it between shows. We have time.”
“Now I’m looking forward to Tuesday.” Hilary sighed. “However, that doesn’t settle the question of what to do with our beasts. Where are Jeff and Scott, anyway? I thought Jeff might have gone home. No idea where Scott went.”
No sooner did Hilary speak those words than they heard three loud, angry voices back near the reception area. They all jumped up at once and dashed to Gertie’s desk…to see three familiar figures stumble into the lobby. All three held ice bags to eyes.
“Oww! Sherwood, could you please not push that ice bag so hard?” Victor Comstock stumbled in first, followed by Scott Sherwood, who held a bag of ice to a huge black and purple spot over his right eye. “It hurts abominably!”
“Sorry, Vic, but I haven’t done nursing in twenty years. I’m a little rusty.” He was trying to reach around Jeff and hold ice to his own eye.
“Guys,” Jeff complained, holding ice to his own shiner, “could you two comedians keep it down? You know there’s still shows going on.”
“Victor?” Maple raised an eyebrow. “What happened to you? First of all, you were a perfect gentleman on our date, and as far as I know, you ain’t lied to anyone. Second, ain’t you supposed to be in Washington?”
“I am!” He rubbed his head. “I was in such a terrible hurry getting to the station, I ran into the door of the radio store downstairs. I saw stars for ten minutes before I ran across Sherwood. He and Jeff aided me in purchasing ice from the Buttery before they closed.”
The three women exchanged amused looks, then doubled over laughing. “You look so cute like that!” Hilary had to grab the side of the desk. “It’s adorable! You really are our Lost Boys.”
“Yeah,” Maple added, giggling through her gloved hand. “Now you all match!”
“It’s what all of you deserve,” Betty smirked, “putting us through hell tonight! You in particular, Jeff. Why did you drag me into making Hilary jealous? I did it because it was your idea.”
“Because I thought it would get us arguing again.” He sighed and rubbed his own eye. “That’s usually the way to true love for us.”
“Miss LaMarsh,” Victor took Maple’s hand with the one that wasn’t holding the ice to his bruised eye, “I did enjoy our date tonight. Sherwood explained to me tonight that your previous relationship was in the past. I meant what I said. I am being called to Washington, but I’ll be back by the day after tomorrow. I genuinely do wish to continue our date then.” He gave her a lopsided peach smile. “I believe I have enough time before my train to accompany you to the trolley stop.”
She took his arm. “Aww, how gentile of you, Mr. Comstock.”
“I believe,” he corrected, “that the word is ‘gentle.’”
“Yeah.” Her smile could have lit up the entire building. “That too.”
Betty sighed. “Scott…”
“Betty, I swear, I haven’t had a relationship with Maple in years. I feel more like she’s the sister I never had. Even when we were lovers, we were really more like friends. That’s why we broke it off.”
“I believe you, Scott. Maple told me.” She sighed. “Scott…why don’t we talk about this over a real dinner at the Buttery? It should still be open.”
His grin was even brighter. “You’re willing to go out with me? Even after tonight? Really?” His grin fell. “Didn’t you want to go out with Victor? I know you were waiting for him earlier. I know you want everything to go back to the way it was…before.”
Betty sighed, running a finger over the desk. “I’m not sure what I want anymore. I do know,” she finally turned back to him, “that I owe you an apology for tonight, and for my behavior since last week. You saved my life. That means something. Yes, Scott, you are brilliant…but more than that, you care. And that’s what matters.”
“Betty Roberts, tell me more.” He took her arm as they got their coats and led her out the door and after Maple and Victor to the elevator.
Jeff sighed and turned to his ex-wife. “Hilary…”
Jeff sighed and turned to his ex-wife. “Hilary…”
“No, Jeff.” Hilary made a face. “Don’t even try. I’m not going out with you. Not after tonight. Why did you flirt with Betty? You never showed the slightest interest in her before!”
“I told you, Hilary, I did it to get us arguing! I feel the same way about Betty that Scott does about Maple. Betty and Maple are like my sisters, but I don’t love them that way.” He took her hand. “I love you, Hilary. I always have. And I always will. I swear, I will find Pavla and get her to annul that marriage contract.”
“And then we’ll just get married and divorced again.” She sighed. “Jeff…give me time. All of this hurt. She told me you loved her! I didn’t know it was a doctored monologue! It seemed real to me!”
Jeff nodded. “Hilary, whenever you’re ready, I’m right here. I always have been.” He gave her that boyish smile of his. “Can I walk you to the trolley, at least?”
“No.” She shook her head and reached for her coat. “No, Jeff. I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl. I have to water our…my roses anyway. They’re waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She hurried out faster than she meant to. It was all she could do not to cry as she watched Betty, Scott, Maple, and Victor chat animatedly as they waited for the elevator, even as Victor held the ice to his eye. She decided to take the stairs. They were all chattering about their upcoming dates and the station and their Beauty and the Beast idea. She really didn’t feel like hearing talk of romance right now.
As she hurried down the steps, she was surprised to hear steps. Eugenia made her way upstairs, holding hands with Mr. Foley. The looks on their faces could only be described as adoring. “So there you two are! I take it your date went well.”
Mr. Foley nodded, grinning ear to ear. “Oh yes, Hilary!” Eugenia breathed, squeezing Foley’s slender hand in her plump one. “We had the most wonderful time in the world! Do you want to hear about it?”
“Tell me tomorrow. My roses are calling me.” She managed a wan smile. “Good night, you two.”
“Good night, Hilary!” Eugenia tugged Mr. Foley along before he could do more than wave at her.
Hilary sighed. Her roses were calling her. Maybe they could make her forget how badly this night went…and make her forget how much she wanted Jeff. How much she wanted to say “I do,” even when she couldn’t, and shouldn’t. Even when he wasn’t hers. Especially when he wasn’t hers. Maybe she’d show him how it felt to hurt the way she had. And then…then maybe…she’d consider loving him again. Maybe. Someday. She finally sighed and finally made her way down the stairs and into the dark autumn night.
The End
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