Keeping Faith by Cindy Bradford (serial 42)
Chapter 16 Part III
Cindy Bradford
Carol took a taxi to the gallery early the next morning, promising to meet Nancy at Tavern on the Green at 1:00 p.m. for lunch. The restaurant choice was a little fancier than she would have planned, but Nancy had made the reservation as soon as she learned Carol was coming to the City.
Walking into the gallery, she saw Fredrico waiting for her. “Oh, Darling, I have missed you so much,” as he gave her a kiss on either cheek.
“Good, you’re supposed to miss me,” she smiled as she kissed him back lightly on the lips.
She often, laughingly, told people that Fredrico was the sister she never had, a dear friend who had always been there for Carol. Alone so often during her affair, he and his partner Marc, a gourmet cook, often invited her over for dinner or drinks. Together, they would sip Dom Perignon or good Bordeaux until the wee hours of the morning.
Because Fredrico would never hear to her going home alone at those times she stayed over in their spare bedroom where they had reserved a couple of drawers just for her.
“Let me see the ring, Darling. Oooh, I love the emerald cut. It is gorgeous and sooo big!”
“Are you coming to the wedding?” she asked while twisting the ring with her thumb.
“I would not miss it for the world. Do you think your new hubby will be ready for your gay friends?”
“Oh, Fredrico, Patrick is very open-minded, as is his church. Besides, he has heard so many wonderful things about you and Marc he could not help but like you both. Anybody so dear to me will be the same to him. He’s just that kind of guy.” Carol said.
“What did you bring for the gallery?”
“Only a few of my smaller pieces. I rode the train, you know, from Boston so only what was easy to carry,” Carol said, pulling out the eight photographs she had recently taken, matted and framed, plus two watercolors of the Hidden Harbor area.
“The colors are brilliant,” Fredrico noted. He loved Carol’s work and was anxious to do another showing for her. “When will you be ready for another event Darling?”
“Lately, I have not done as much as usual.”
“Why? Are you depressed?”
“Depressed? Don’t be silly. I am in love, remember? I have other priorities like cooking and other such domestic endeavors. I must not let Patrick find out I’m a lousy cook, huh?”
“Well, how have you fooled him this long?” He laughed, his eyes lighting up. He loved to tease Carol, especially about her cooking.
“There you have all those luscious herbs you sent me photos of, and you haven’t a clue what to do with them.”
“But FREDDY,” she knew he hated that name so she stressed it. They are so pretty and smell so good.”
“But herbs are grown to be used. I walk fifteen blocks to the market just to buy a little rosemary and oregano, and pay a fortune and you just look at yours and ask, ‘Aren’t they pretty,’ Silly woman!”
“But I know what to do with basil now. Patrick taught me how to make caprese salad. Although I have been to Rome a few times, I’m afraid my interests weren’t in gaining cooking secrets. When he was there, he fell in love with the simplicity of the tomato, baby mozzarella and basil salad. So see I’m a gourmet.”
“That will be the day. How does he feel about your boxed macaroni and cheese?”
“He rather likes it, Mr. Smarty Pants.”
“Well, as much as I hate to, I guess we had better get to work. Oh, can you have dinner with Marc and me tomorrow night? He’s planning a wonderful meal.”
“Yes, but I can’t drink too much wine and stay the night. I have to meet Patrick in Boston the next day.”
“Okay, Darling, we’ll tape your mouth at 10:00 p.m. But first you must tell us how a nice, rich girl from Connecticut fell in love with a poor Irish-American minister.”
“If I knew Freddy, I would tell you now.” Shaking her head, “That’s a mystery even to me.” As Carol was leaving the gallery, Fredrico asked, “Darling, would you like to take your portfolio with your photo essay back with you.”
“Oh yes, Fredrico, I’m so glad you reminded me. I think it’s time. I’m emotionally ready now.”
“Why don’t I take it home with me and you can get it tomorrow night. You’ll be going straight back to Nancy’s. If you take it now you’ll have to drag it with you all day. Besides, this way you can’t change your mind about coming to dinner.”
“You know I wouldn’t do that. I’m anxious to see Marc as well. Give him my love until I can myself.”
He hailed a taxi for her to the Tavern where it was nice to have time alone with Nancy. In spite of Carol’s love for David and Hannah, it was difficult to really visit, especially with Hannah vying for attention. The lunch, rack of lamb and salad, was a real treat for Carol since she never ate lamb in Maine.
“Let’s go to Macy’s. I want to get Hannah’s flower girl dress if we can find something, and also I must not forget her birthday!” Carol offered.
“Sounds great to me, but I’m buying the dress.”
Carol frowned, “No, you’re not. I will not even go if that’s the case.”
“Okay, you win if you’re going to play that way,” Nancy said asking for the check, “but this is my treat, and don’t even move your hand toward the check or your purse.”
“Thanks Nance, it was lovely.” Carol straightened her napkin, “By the way, I almost forgot. I’m taking my photo essay portfolio home finally. Fredrico is taking it to his place and I’m going to pick it up when I have dinner with them tomorrow night. You’ll have me out of your hair for awhile.”
“Carol, I wish you would stay a month. I miss you.”
“I miss you also, but I’m really anxious to get back to Maine if you can believe that. I truly love my life there. I loved the city but it is so serene and unpretentious in the country. No one even locks a door, much less a gate.”
“Well sure, there’s no hustle-bustle and no traffic. But don’t you miss the theater, the ethnic foods and all the cultures coming together?”
“I suppose at times, but not enough to ever want to move back.” She looked around at the sparkling glasses and hand painted china, “Oh, I almost forgot, Fredrico and Marc are coming to the wedding. Will Patrick be surprised?” Carol laughed. “I don’t know how much to warn him or just let him take in the full effect all at once.”
“I think you had better warn him,” Nancy giggled. “Sometimes Freddy’s a little over the top, Darling,” Nancy said mockingly. “But I do love those guys, too.”
“I’m anxious to show Patrick my photo essay now that I’m over Richard and getting on with my life.”
“He’ll be impressed. Who wouldn’t be?”
“I hope so. I think it is probably my best work.”
After paying the check, Nancy said, “Okay, let’s do Macy’s.”
“I’m ready.” Carol reached for her purse and pushed back her chair to stand up.
After two hours of shopping, Carol left with a mustard colored silk tie for Patrick and a pale rose watermark taffeta dress with pearls and matching shoes for Hannah. Holding up the tie, she said, “This will look nice with Patrick’s hair.”
“I still can’t believe you’re marrying a red-headed man. In college you would have never dated a redhead,” Nancy said, teasingly.
“I know,” Carol admitted, “but I’m not doing much of anything these days like I used to do. Who would have guessed I’d marry a minister?”
“Not me, that’s for sure,” Nancy said, not hiding her astonishment.
“Oh, Nance, I’m so excited about Hannah’s dress. She’s going to look so sweet!”
“I hope she acts the same,” Nancy moaned.
“She will. She’s an angel and you know it.”
“You’re not with her all the time,” Nancy laughed and rolled her eyes.
Carol stopped, “That’s it, that’s what I’m getting her for her birthday!” Sitting between two stuffed bears was the biggest stuffed giraffe Carol had ever seen with a huge orange ribbon wrapped around his long neck.
“How would we ever get it home? It’s at least four feet tall. Do you realize you would be giving my three year old the world’s largest, most expensive giraffe short of the San Diego Zoo?”
“She’ll love it. What are godmothers for if not to spoil? I’ll tip the cab driver well if he’ll help me put it in the car.”
“Well, you are obviously good at spoiling her,” Nancy said, throwing up her hands.
Nancy held the sacks, looking exasperated, as Carol maneuvered the giraffe into the largest shopping bag she could find. Still two feet of the long neck stuck out. By the time they were outside, both women were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. “I’ll try to get a taxi,” Nancy said, waving to a yellow cab heading her way but the driver took one look and drove right by. As the second one drove by shaking his head, they looked at each other more subdued; a little surprised they had been snubbed.
“Damn New York cabbies. They are so independent!” Carol announced, frowning.
“Carol, you may have to hide in the store and then come running out so I can get one to stop,” Nancy said laughingly.
“Thank goodness,” Carol said, under her breath as a cab swerved to miss a car and jerked to a screeching halt at the curb.
In a foreign accent, the cabby asked, “Ladies, have you lost your minds?”
“Probably so. We need to go to 300 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side?”
Putting the small packages in the trunk, he said, “You want long-neck to sit up front with me?”
“That would be great,” Nancy said, giggling again.