Rated: G
Disclaimer is on the Introduction page.
Italics denotes thoughts
February 11th, 1942
"Betty, dear, I need the script for 'Valiant Journey' right away! We go on in three minutes! Eugenia and Mr. Foley can only make eyes at each other for so long before it becomes too much, and I don't care if they did just get back from their honeymoon! And just because I'm in the process of getting an annulment and Jeff is officialy free as of last month doesn't mean that I have to work with that lecherous lout of a leading man slouching in Studio A!"
Betty, however, wasn't paying attention to Hilary's usual tirade. She was reading two notes. Hilary took a good look at the young writer and realized that she was sobbing. She walked carefully into the writer's room and read over Betty's shoulder.
January 15th, 1942
Betty, Betty, Betty;
I'm coming home. All I'm allowed to say is that I won't be home for long, but I have some things that I need to talk to you about. Look for me in about a month. I'll be there.
Yours forever,
Scott Sherwood
Hilary raised her eyebrows. "Scotty's coming home?"
Betty nodded. "Yes, but I don't know when, exactly. I got this from Victor in London, too." She turned to the other paper. Hilary could see Victor's tight, curling handwriting clear as day.
January 3rd, 1942
Dearest Betty;
I am to be detained in London for longer that I believed I would be when I was orginaly assigned to this post. I may be a few months more, but I promise, I will return to you and to WENN, and I will be in my right mind this time.
Betty, I would be honored if you would become my wife. We'd make sensational partners. You share my passion for radio and for the station. I've never met anyone as dedicated and hard-working as you. I'm not sure if this is the emotion known as love, but I know I feel something for you, something stirring and vital. Please consider my proposal.
Sincerely,
Victor Comstock
Hilary's jaw dropped when she read the letter. "He proposed to you!" was all she could say.
The door opened suddenly. "Hilary, I'm sure that whatever Betty is reading is far less interesting than what all of Pittsburgh should be hearing," snapped Jeff Singer.
Hilary moved to follow her leading man into Studio A. She told Jeff about Victor's proposal as they entered the mustard-yellow room. "He really popped the question," Jeff sighed.
Hilary nodded. "It's about time, too. Victor's only been infaturated with her for three years. Scott's coming home some time soon, too. There's something hush-hush that he absolutely must discuss with her." Lester signaled the start of the show, and conversation switched from Betty's love life to Mother Martin Yankee Bean Soup and Daphne Danvers' affair with the dashing English spy John Bonnis.
Betty was still trying to make sense of the messages when there was another knock on the door. She sighed. Between these letters and all the interruptions, I'm never going to get the script for 'Home Sweet Home' finished, the harried woman thought. She flung open the door and found herself face to face with Scott Sherwood.
Betty wondered if she'd suddenly been flashed back two months. Scott wore his Army uniform and looked as handsome as ever. He also looked serious. Betty never saw him look so serious about anything.
"Betty," he said softly as he entered and shut the door, "I came back because I had to see you again. No one else knows that I'm here. Gertie is out to lunch and Mr. Eldridge is in the green room making coffee."
"Scott," gasped Betty, "shouldn't you be in Europe right now, fighting Hitler and Mussolini? What are you doing here?"
Scott smiled, but it wasn't the same as before. It was a sad, small smile. "I was detained by government officials before I even got on the train. It turns out that they don't want me in active combat. They're in desparate need of men who can do any kind of cryptography. It apparantly got around that I did de-coding in Spain and the government thought that I'd be better off breaking Nazi messages than getting my neck broken by a Nazi."
"Then you're not going overseas?" Betty asked him.
He shook his head. "I'm going to California. I don't know how long I'll be there. The duration of the war, I guess. Our location is real hush-hush."
"At least you'll be safe," Betty reminded him. "Victor is still in a war zone."
Scott could feel his blood boil. "It's still always Victor, isn't it? Even when he's not here, when he's turning you down for dates, when all he's got is abstract concepts on his mind and not your feelings, when I'm the one who's been here for you and refuse to leave you for anything short of outright war, it's still always him!"
He reached into his pocket, took out a small box, and thrusted it into her hands. "Well, open it!" he ordered eagerly. "I spent my entire salary from the last three months I worked at WENN on that little beauty. Maybe this will make you change your mind about me. I don't know how else to show my feelings for you."
A small diamond on a gold ring twinkled gently at Betty as she opened the box. She was so shocked that she didn't know what to say. "Betty, please," he begged as he got down on his knees in front of her, "say you'll marry me. I know that I'm a liar and a fake, but I'm trying to reform, Betty. I'll be as good as I can for you. Betty, I'm no good at being noble, but..."
Betty shook her head. "Scott, can I have more time to decide?" she asked.
He nodded. "Sure. I'll hopefuly be able to visit in a few months. You can tell me then." He held her chin to his face and kissed her lips passionatly. "If I can wait nearly two years to propose to you, I can certainly wait a little while longer to marry you."
She followed him to the door and opened it for him as he left. She walked back into the writer's room and re-read the two notes. How to I get myself into these situations? she mused.
This war won't last forever...
Whose proposal will Betty accept? Will Hilary and Jeff ever get married legaly?
On the Edge of the Precipice Series
Go to On the Edge of the Precipice#3 - Wedding Bells Are Ringing!
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