Keeping Faith by Cindy Bradford (serial 44)
Chapter 16 Part V
Cindy Bradford
It was almost six o’clock when Carol arrived at Fredrico and Marc’s, exhausted but pleased that she had been able to find the perfect dress.
One ring of the doorbell and the door sprang open.
“Carol, my dear Carol. Come in. The drinks are chilling,” Marc half shrieked, hugging her. Fredrico instantly joined them.
“Patrick just called. He got our number from Nancy. He said he would try again in half an hour. I assured him you would be along soon.”
“I forgot last night to tell him where I’d be. Did he sound all right?”
“I don’t know how he usually sounds,” Fredrico said quite animatedly, “but he didn’t appear suicidal or anything, Darling.”
“Freddy, you’re awful. He just lost his mother.”
“I was merely answering your question, love. Now, go sit down and I’ll bring you a chilled glass of the usual. I need to help Marc in the kitchen a few minutes.”
Carol sat down in the tufted Queen Anne chair and waited for what she knew would be Dom Perignon. She felt comfortable as always in their apartment. It had been a refuge when she lived in the city. A cocoon she could crawl into when life wasn’t exactly what she wanted it to be. She looked around at the familiar setting and began to relax.
The phone startled her.
“Would you get that for me darling girl?” Marc called.
Carol reached for the white antique telephone, “Hello.”
“Carol?”
“Oh, Patrick, I’m so sorry I forgot to tell you that I was coming here tonight.”
“That’s okay. I would have just left a message with Nancy as to what time to meet me in Boston, but I wanted to ask you something. Scott called and said he would do the services Sunday for me so I have that covered. I don’t want to leave here very early tomorrow, but if I don’t, it will be really late when we get back. I thought maybe you would rather not have to catch the train really early either. So why don’t I pick you up at about 3:00 p.m. at the station. I checked the train schedule. I think it actually arrives at 3:06 p.m. We’ll have a nice dinner in Boston and I know a quaint little Bed and Breakfast just outside the city on our way home where we can spend the night or if you prefer we can stay in a hotel on the harbor, if there’s a room available.”
“Patrick, that sounds great, either way. But, first, how are you?”
“I’m better now than any time since I arrived. I’m anxious to see you and get back to Maine. I hate to leave Dad, but that has to happen. Joey and Rose Marie will be close, so that helps.”
Another reason Patrick didn’t want to leave early was so he would have time to stop at a travel agency in Boston before going to the train station. His plan was to surprise Carol with a trip to Vienna, Austria, for their honeymoon. Although she had traveled to many European cities, she had somehow missed Vienna and she had mentioned wanting to go there, to see the opera and the Schoenbrunn Castle.
“This will work out well. It will give me time to get my things together in the morning and not have to rush so much. I’m excited to see you, Patrick. I have missed you so much. This is the first time we have been apart like this, you know.”
“I know, and I worry about you in the City.”
“Patrick! I lived here, remember?”
“Yes, but anything can happen. So be careful going back to Nancy’s tonight. Have fun though with your friends Fredrico and Marc. What are you having for dinner?”
“I’m not sure, but it’ll be special I know.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Patrick.”
Fredrico walked in with hors d’oeuvres. Marc followed closely behind with another plate.
“Okay, Darling, I have peppered tuna skewers with wasabi mayonnaise on watercress,” Fredrico answered.
“And, I, my dear,” Marc fluttered, “have southwest tomatillo duck triangles and these are just some roasted almonds with rosemary and fleur de sel to snack on.”
“As always you two out did yourselves. This alone could be dinner.” She tasted a tuna skewer, “mmmm,” as she mouthed the word “perfect.”
As they talked and laughed, catching up on missed times, Marc poured her more champagne and then another glass for himself.
“What are you drinking, Freddy?”
“A gin rickey, my latest obsession.”
Carol laughed, knowing Fredrico was forever changing his drinks and trying something new.
“Would you like one of these?”
“No Freddy,” she said quite emphatically, “are you trying to kill me? I think I will just drink my champagne for now. This tuna is delicious and the duck, yummy.”
“Darling, we have a proposition for you.”
“Uh…oh, this could be scary,” she said, laughing.
“Marc and I want to come early to Maine and do all the decorations for the wedding and the food and decorations for the reception as our present to you and Patrick.”
Stunned, but not really surprised, because these guys had always been so good to her, Carol listened to their plan, knowing they would do a wonderful job although many of the guests might not know what they were eating. “That is so sweet of you two, but that is too much to ask.”
“You are not asking, we are telling you.” Before she could say more he continued, “Good, then it’s decided. We will be there two days early. Is there a good place to buy flowers close? Oooh, this is going to be so much fun.” He clapped his hands together.
“I think I know just the place for flowers in Hidden Harbor, but I’ll go over next week to be sure. If you insist, we will be honored and forever grateful to you, but that is a big undertaking.”
“We are up to it, Darling.”
“Okay then. You can stay with me. I’m so excited. You two are such good friends. I love you,” she said, tearing up.
“Now stop that and have some more champagne while I get dinner on the table.”
Carol looked at the dinner and thought it looked truly delightful: baked snapper with potatoes, oregano with white wine, green beans with Dijon mustard and caramelized shallots, and an apple, onion and walnut salad with cider dressing.
Marc poured a Pouilly-Fuisse′.
When they had finished, he said, “Let’s go on the veranda and visit a bit before we have the Black Forrest Boule-de-Neige.”
“Marc, I am stuffed. I don’t know where I would put cake. I won’t be able to get in my wedding dress, if I keep eating like this.”
“Let’s have a little coffee. You must taste a small piece. It is a new recipe with kirsch in the cake and also in the whipping cream; I made it yesterday because the cake part has to sit overnight.”
“Tell us about your dress,” Fredrico pressed.
“I bought it today.”
“Let’s see. You have it with you?”
“That’s bad luck, but I’ll tell you about it. It is really quite simple, an antique white, silk jersey, strapless, mermaid sheath. There are hundreds of the same fabric gardenias appliquéd down the back and a chapel length train. I also selected the matching short jacket beaded with mother of pearl. It has leg o’mutton sleeves.”
“It sounds splendid. You will be the stunning one. I am already getting giddy about this wedding,” added Marc. “May we have carte blanche with our choices of food for the reception or do you want to choose?”
Smiling, Carol said, “Of course, you can do as you like. I trust you completely. Just remember these are not New Yorkers or very fancy people.”
“They will be when we finish,” Marc giggled.
Thinking it first to herself, she then said, “This could be interesting.”
“Now, let’s eat cake!” Marc brought out a snowball of a cake decorated with candied violet petals.
“You two amaze me. Where do you get these ideas?”
“We are just naturals, Darling. At least he is,” Fredrico said smiling at Marc. “And he is handsome as well as talented; what more could a man want?”
“Mmmm, this cake is sinful,” Carol gushed.
“Good, I am pleased you like it,” replied Marc.
Carol asked, “Marc how is Renaissance?” Carol loved to walk around in his antique store, always amazed at the unique selections, items from all over the world, usually very, very expensive, but one of a kind.
“It is wonderful. I just received the most ornate and elegant armoire from Nice. I have a client in mind. She only wants the best and she is supposed to come to the city from her weekend home in the Hamptons later this week.”
“If you have time, on the way to the wedding, you should stop at some of the small shops along the way. You might be surprised with some of the finds. I bought an Eastlake chair recently when I visited Camden. I thought it was a steal, especially since I rarely see them anymore. The shop itself was charming.”
“That trip we’ll only be thinking of one thing…wedding bells.”
“My turn, Markie,” Fredrico said, cutting in. “Your hair is stunning, Carol Darling. You’ve had it cut since yesterday. Did you see Sergio?”
“Yes, and he sent his love to you two.”
“We have not seen him in a while, but he always makes it to the showings at the gallery. He is quite talented with the scissors and a great fan of all the arts.”
Picking up her empty glass, Carol said, “I absolutely hate to say goodnight. This has been so much fun, but I have to get up early and get everything packed to leave. Marc, may I help clean up?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Then I must get my things.” She stood and walked over to hug each friend.
“We understand. We’re just so glad we had this chance to see you. We’ll keep in touch about the wedding plans.”
“If I can do anything in advance to make it easier for you, please let me know.”
“We’ll take care of everything, but do check on the availability of what flowers you want.”
“Markie, I will go down with Carol and hail a cab while you pick up the dishes.”
“Goodnight, dear,” Marc said, kissing her.
“Carol, don’t forget your portfolio. I’ll carry it. I can’t wait to hear what the lucky groom thinks about your photographs.”
“I’m anxious to show him too,” she mused, as they stepped out of the elevator.
“Goodnight my darling friend,” Fredrico said, giving her his traditional kiss on both cheeks, while the taxi driver waited impatiently.
“Goodnight love, and thanks for everything.” When she got into the taxi; she realized just how tired and full she was. Those guys exhaust me, they are so energetic. “I need to go to 300 East 75th Street. If I fall asleep, please wake me,” she told the driver, and immediately she dozed off.
It was after 10:30 p.m. when she opened the door and thinking everyone was asleep, she tiptoed down the hall to the room where she was sleeping.
“Well, what did they serve?” Nancy’s voice startled her. “Come on, you didn’t think I could wait until morning to hear about dinner, did you?”
Putting her packages and portfolio down, she squeezed in close to her friend on the couch. “It was quintessential Marc and Fredrico. You’ll feel stuffed just hearing about it!”
≈≈≈
The next morning there was just time enough time for Nancy and Carol to visit over a cup of coffee before Nancy and Hannah left for a birthday party and Carol for the train.
“Nest time, I’m sweeping wif you, Arol.”
“Okay sweetie, next time you can sleep with me. I will even read you a bedtime story. How about that?”
“Yippee, when?”
“I am not sure, but hopefully it will not be too long,” though Carol could not even imagine when she would get to do this kind of trip again. In two months she would be married and settled in again to life in rural Maine.
“Thank you for a wonderful time, Nance. I’ll keep in touch about the wedding. Tell Sophia to do your dress superbly.”
“I feel bad having mine made when you’re not, but you know she does such a good job for me. I promise not to look better than the bride though,” she said, teasing Carol.
The truth was that Nancy, who wore more make-up and had her hair styled often, was more attractive than Carol. She liked elegant, stylish clothes while Carol was content with slacks and sweaters. Though different in many of their preferences, the two women were comfortable with their individuality and showed complete understanding of each others’ likes and dislikes.
“I doubt that, but it’s okay because Hannah is going to upstage both of us!”
“You’re probably right.”
As the time approached for each woman to get in a taxi and go their separate directions, they hugged and then Carol hugged Hannah. “You be a sweet girl and mind Mommy about you know what. Remember, real panties for a flower girl,” she prodded, trying to help Nancy who was having a terrible time potty training Hannah and feared Marie was a being a little lax with her. When she complained, Marie casually answered, “She will do it when she gets tired of a wet bottom, Ms. Nancy.”
“Otay Arol, Bye.”