DISCLAIMER is on the Introduction page.
Italics denotes thoughts
Thanksgiving was fast approaching but Betty wasn't feeling very thankful. She actually had many things to be thankful for, but was worried about Scott and missed him terribly. The day after their evening with the Taylor's in the Starlight Room, he had received a call from St. Luke's Hospital in Buffalo. His aunt had a stroke and he immediately left to be with her. She knew that this was his only living family and not much of one at that. She wished with all her heart she could be by his side to comfort him and help him get through this.
Betty wondered if she should go ahead and go home for Thanksgiving like she had planned. She didn't know how long Scott would be gone and she desperately wanted to see him, or at least talk to him, before she left. She had tried calling the hospital only to be told that his aunt had been moved to another facility. The young girl who answered the phone refused to give out any additional information to a non-family member.
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Betty was in the Writer's Room desperately trying to concentrate on her scripts. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the day before Betty was scheduled to leave for Indiana. There still had been no word from Scott. She glanced at her watch. It was already 5:30 and she needed to get these done before she could call it a day. Her bus to Indiana was scheduled for a 6:00 departure the following night and she still had a stack of things to get done before she could leave.
Maybe some fresh air will clear my head. She pulled on her coat as she approached Gertie's desk. "I'm going out for a while, Gertie. I'm not sure when I'll be back."
"Would you like some company?" Victor had walked up behind her. "Maybe we could grab a bite to eat before I catch my train back to Washington in 45 minutes." Just then, Betty's stomach growled. She smiled and nodded.
"Sure."
The phone was ringing as Betty and Victor stepped into the elevator. Gertie answered it distractedly, wishing she knew what was going on with those two. Gertie, however, was quickly brought back to attention by the voice on the phone. "Hi Gertie. How's my best girlfriend?"
"Oh, Scotty. I'm so happy you called. We've all been worried sick about you. How is your aunt? When are you coming home?"
"Gertie, I'm sorry I don't have time to chat. Is Betty there?"
"Scott, I'm sorry. You just missed her. She and Victor went out for dinner."
There was a long pause, so Gertie asked, "Scott, are you still there?"
She heard Scott sigh, "How about Maple? Is she around?
Just then, Maple walked out of the Green Room with Mackie. "She's right here, Scott." Gertie frantically motioned to Maple. "Maple, Scott's on the phone."
Gertie handed the phone to an anxious Maple. Their conversation was short. As Maple listened, her forehead furrowed. "Scotty, I'm so sorry. No, don't worry. I'll tell her. Tomorrow at 4:45? No problem. You take care honey. We love you. Goodbye."
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Betty found her way back to the station an hour later. She felt a bit better and thought maybe she could get her work done now. The walk she had taken after Victor had hurried off to catch his train seemed to have cleared some cobwebs.
She passed by Studio A and saw Maple and Mackie finishing up 'The Petersons of Pigeon Hollow'. She walked down to the Writer's Room and sat at her typewriter. She was staring at the keys, willing them to tell her what to write, when Maple came in the door.
"Betty, I talked to Scott." Simple words, but words that evoked strong and varied emotions in Betty. Her disappointment and envy that Scott turned to Maple rather than her gave way to her genuine concern for him and the relief of finally hearing from him. "What did he say?"
Maple sat on the edge of Betty's desk and took one of Betty's hands. Her eyes puddled with tears. "His aunt passed away this morning, Betty. They are having a small service for her tomorrow morning and then he's coming straight back here. I'm picking him up at the train station tomorrow at 4:45."
Betty stood up as she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. "Oh Maple. That's the only family he had left in the world."
The two very different women hugged, trying to console each other - two woman who cared deeply for a man who had had so few to truly care about him throughout his life. Betty felt such a kinship at that moment with Maple. She really was a good friend. She could understand why Scott turned to her so often.
"Maple, I'm so glad Scott has a friend like you."
"Remind me sometime to tell you all he's done for me. I'm just trying to make up for... Oh dear. I'm due back on the air. We'll talk some more later, ok?" Betty nodded.
After Maple left, Betty knew she needed to start facing some cold, hard truths. She admonished herself, Admit it, Betty Roberts. You thought all you would have to do was bat your eyes at Scott and wear a pretty dress and he would come running back to you. If he still loved you, even a little bit, he would have turned to you on one of the saddest days of his life, but he didn't. He doesn't need you.
She thought back to the magical dance they shared in the Starlight Room. "Boy, did you overestimate yourself. Obviously, he wasn't effected by that night the same way you were. You need to get over it and face the fact that he doesn't want you anymore and might never again. You waited too long to come to your senses and now it's too late."
She took out her bus ticket to Indiana and looked at it. She knew there was no question now that she would go. All she desperately wanted to do, at this moment, was cry in her mamma's arms.
Betty's Journey of Discovery Series
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