Disclaimer is on the Introduction page.
Italics denotes thoughts
The next morning, Betty reluctantly walked up to the door of the station. She didn't want to be here. She was tired and still didn't feel well. Maybe she would go home a little early today. Betty walked in the door to see everyone gathered around Gertie's desk chattering excitedly. She managed a fake little smile. "Good morning everyone. What's all the excitement?"
Gertie looked up, "Oh, my heavens Betty, didn't you see the morning paper?" Betty didn't have a good feeling about this.
"Well, no. I slept in a bit this morning..."
Gertie shoved the paper in her face, "Well look!" Betty took the paper. Splashed on the front page was a picture of Veronica and Scott dancing. Veronica was reaching up and kissing him on the cheek. The headline read VERONICA RIVERS OUT ON THE TOWN WITH NEW BEAU.
Noticing the look on Betty's face, Gertie grew concerned. "Betty dear, are you all right? You look very pale?"
"Huh? I'm sorry Gertie. What did you say?"
Just then the door of the station opened and Veronica walked in. Eugenia exclaimed, "Oh Miss Rivers, did you see the paper?"
Veronica looked at the paper and a secretive smile crossed her face. "I'll have to show this to Scott. He's right behind me." Everyone but Betty giggled and then followed in Veronica's wake to the Green Room chattering happily.
Quiet descended on the reception area. Betty's legs suddenly felt very weak so she sat down on the couch. Her eyes began to puddle with tears. "What is wrong with me?"
Scott walked in the door just as she was fumbling in her purse for a handkerchief. He saw Betty and his face brightened. "Betty,Betty, Betty." As quickly as his face brightened, it turned to concern when he saw the tears. "Betty, are you all right?"
He found his handkerchief and sat down next to her. He gently put his hand under her chin and lifted her face up and began wiping away her tears.
"Tell me what's wrong." He was using that voice. Betty looked at the concern in his eyes and remembered how strong his arms were. She thought how easy it would be to dissolve into his arms in tears and pour out everything she was feeling, if only she knew what it was that she was feeling.
"Uh hum! Excuse me." Betty and Scott looked up to see Mr. Eldridge. "Scott, Miss Rivers says I'm to get you the second you come in. She needs you. In the Green Room, I mean."
Betty, brought back to earth with a thud, quickly stood up. Scott stood up and distractedly said to Mr. Eldridge, "Tell her I'll be just a minute, Mr. Eldridge."
Betty shook her head. "Oh don't keep Miss Rivers waiting on my account."
Scott turned back to her. "Betty, I want to make sure you're OK first."
"I'm fine!" She snapped. "I'm just coming down with a cold or the flu or something. And the last thing I need is Scott Sherwood's concern." She hurried away to the refuge of her office and didn't see Scott's shoulders sag or the demolished look on his face.
Betty shut her office door and leaned back against it. What is wrong with me? I've turned into a blubbering idiot. She was grateful for the anger that started welling up in her. It was helping to dry her tears.
She wiped the last of her tears away and realized she still had Scott's handkerchief. She examined it with interest. It was a beautiful raw silk in pure white with a small burgundy and gray monogram in one corner - SRS. She realized that she didn't know Scott's middle name and wondered what it was. There was a very subtle and tasteful Oriental pattern stitched in white on the other three corners. She wondered what foreign adventure he was on when he bought it and wished she knew. Another thought came to her and she snorted. "It was more than likely a gift from a woman." She held it up to her nose and noticed the masculine scent of his aftershave. She had to admit she loved the smell of his aftershave.
She thought back to the scene that just transpired. He had been so kind to her and she had snapped his head off. She suddenly felt a desperate urge to apologize and tell him she did appreciate his concern.
She slipped into the ladies lounge and washed away the signs of tears and touched up her makeup. She then went looking for Scott. She looked in the control room window and saw him talking to CJ. She quietly opened the door. They both looked up at her.
"Scott, can I talk to you for a minute?" She hated the wary look that briefly crossed his face knowing she had put it there. "CJ, would you mind?"
"Normally not Betty, but we go on the air in 30 seconds."
Maple poked her head in the door from the Studio. "Scotty, we need to go over these promos before we go on."
CJ started the countdown. Scott hesitated then said, "I'm sorry Betty. I've got to go. I'll catch you after the broadcast."
"That's all right Scott. I just...I just wanted to tell you I'd have your handkerchief cleaned and get it back to you as soon as possible."
Scott looked a bit disappointed then resigned and said over his shoulder as he left the control room, "Listen. Don't worry about it. You just keep it."
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Betty spent what she could of the day in her office. She ventured out at lunchtime only, only to be told that Scott and Veronica had gone out to eat together. She quickly retreated back into her office, not wanting to listen to the inevitable gossip and speculation.
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Betty glanced at her watch – 45 minutes until the broadcast of Ships That Pass In The Night. She had put her heart and soul into writing it, but for some reason dreaded hearing it on the air.
Gertie popped her head in the door. "I'm going home now Betty. I would like to stay and hear the program, but my sister from Albany is calling tonight. How are you feeling?"
"Gertie, to be honest, not very well. I think I'll call it a day. Wait and I'll walk out with you."
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When Betty got home, she tried to ignore the clock. She knew the broadcast was in progress. Instead of listening to the program, she kept busy by carefully washing and ironing Scott's handkerchief. Then with only 5 minutes left in the program, she finally turned on the radio.
Clinically she was thinking that the cliffhanger she wrote certainly worked. Emotionally all she could hear was "that voice" sounding so tender with another woman. A surge of jealousy washed over her. As much as she hated to admit it, Scott and Veronica were great together.
Betty's Journey of Discovery Series
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