by Britt Graves
Disclaimer: Remember WENN is the property of Rupert Holmes (and THAT channel, even though I don't want them to have their grubby mitts on it). No copyright infringement is intended.
Hilary Booth stepped off the elevator and made her way down the hall to WENN. She wanted to be there about as much as she wanted to have a root canal. It was her birthday and she'd wanted to play hooky, but she also didn't want anyone to know it was her birthday either. Rather than have to explain, she'd just forgotten it and hoped Jeff didn't open his mouth to anyone. Although, at the moment, she wondered where on earth he was. Jeff had left early that morning and refused to tell her why he felt he needed to leave.
While she was getting ready, on the dresser waiting in bright blue paper was a small package with a note attached. She'd picked it up and smiled wryly. "Oh...more gifts from Jeffrey? I thought he'd given me birthday, Christmas, and anniversary gifts all in one last night."
Inside the neatly wrapped box was a key. A rather large key that she turned over in her hand several times, confused as to what it went to. The note was no help either. It just had a date on it. Today's date, as a matter of fact.
Hilary had the key with her in her purse as she entered the front door of the small radio station.
"Oh, Hilary," Gertie chirped, "Jeff called a few minutes ago. Said he wasn't going to be able to be in 'The Hands Of Time' today and that Betty needed to either write him out or let Scott fill in. She said you get to choose. Which is it?"
Hilary's mood, which had been rather pleasant, quickly turned sour. "What do you mean he won't be in? Where is he?"
"He didn't say. But he did talk to Betty and she didn't seem to like his being gone either. But she said he told her it was very important."
"He's said that before." Swiping the script that was waiting for her on Gertie's desk, Hilary stormed into Studio A preparing herself for the worst. Whether the worst was Jeffrey not being there or having to put up with Scott Sherwood was still up in the air.
Her anger slightly lessened when Scott walked into the studio carrying a dozen rozes, all of them a different color, and handed them to Hilary.
"These just came for you, Hildy. No card attached, though."
Hilary looked over the arrangement of flowers and sniffed appreciatively. "How lovely!"
"You know, Hildy, you don't need to send flowers to yourself," Scott teased.
"I didn't send these to myself. But even if I had, it is still in better taste than what you do to amuse yourself."
Scott raised his eyebrows, but laughed her off. "So who did send you these, then? One of your two fans?"
Hilary smacked him with her script and glared. "I'm assuming they're from Jeffrey. Or perhaps maybe another friend. It is a very special day, you know."
"And what day would that be?"
Hilary had just about had her limit of sparring with Scott for the day. "It's the day your mother decided to make you legitimate. Now get out of my way!" She turned on her heel and flung the studio doors open.
She hoped the green room would at least be question-free. Entering cautiously, and walking over to the table, she carefully sat the flowers in the center.
"Hilary, this just arrived for you." Mr. Eldridge entered the room carrying a blanket and a wicker basket tied with a big red ribbon. "I don't know what this is, but if you're planning on romancing me, it won't work. I know what you're up to."
"Thank you Mr. Eldridge." Hilary deadpanned. "I'll try to keep my affections for you quiet." She took the blanket and basket and added them to the pile on the table. Should she open the basket or wait for later?
"Hilary, there's a messenger here with a letter for you. You want me to send him here?" Maple had the door half open and looked at Hilary for an answer.
"Oh...I suppose so."
The messenger looked like he'd been delivering mail since the dawn of time. "You Miss Booth?"
"Well, of course I am...Hilary Booth."
"Ask her if she was in the Rivals," Maple cracked.
Ignoring Maple's remark, Hilary signed for the letter. The messenger just stood there. "I'm sorry. Are you waiting on something?"
The messenger held out his hand, rubbing his fingers together. "Uh, Hilary, I think he's wanting a tip." Maple looked amused.
"Oh. Okay then. Here's your tip. Never marry an actress from Czechoslovakia. Goodbye!"
She could have sworn she heard the messenger walking out muttering something about actors and being cheap.
"So what's it say?" Maple craned her neck for a look at the contents of the letter. Hilary snatched it out of the line of prying eyes. "It says that you have a show to do!" Glaring at Maple, Hilary turned and watched the red-head out the door.
Several hours later, the basket was still wrapped in the red ribbon and Hilary was dying of curiosity. "What on earth is in this thing?" But the letter she'd been given said to open that first, so she tore open the envelope to find a ticket. A rather large ticket.
"To the bearer of this ticket: Admission for two to a special birthday celebration. 7:30 tonight. Be waiting in front of the building for a special surprise. Be sure to bring any other items given during the course of the day as they will also be used in the surprise. Don't be late!"
But she had a show to do at 7:30. "Oh well. Too bad! Someone else will have to fill in!"
To her luck, Betty and Scott walked in the room at the same time. "Betty, sorry to tell you now, but I won't be here for 'This Girl's Kinfolk'. Have Maple fill in or something. I don't care."
"What! Hilary, you have to be here for the show today! I don't have time to write you out!" Betty was on the verge of a breakdown after two sponsors had nearly cancelled their shows that morning. She and Scott had spent most of the morning trying to appease the tender egos of the company owners.
"Nope! No can do. I'll be gone. I have other plans. Goodbye!" Grabbing the blanket, the basket, the flowers, and the ticket, Hilary swished out the doors and down the hall to wait at her appointed spot leaving a very flustered Betty scrambling for what to do next.
The evening was perfect and Hilary hoped she didn't look too strange with her items and standing on a street corner. Perhaps she should have asked Maple what to do in this situation?
Suddenly, two hands came from behind and covered her eyes. "Guess who?"
Screaming, she jerked away. The realization that it was Jeffrey was the only thing that kept him from becoming a new sidewalk decoration.
"Don't DO that! Really Jeffrey, you know how I feel about that!"
"Sorry, Hilary, I was only trying to surprise you." Sidling up to her and kissing her softly, he tried again. "Guess who?" he whispered.
"Well...that's...um...better." Hilary didn't want to make a scene on the street corner. But she certainly wouldn't have a problem making a "scene" later.
Getting a good look at him for the first time that night, she stared in delight. He was dressed elegantly, in her favorite tuxedo, and was holding a single rose for her.
"Jeffrey! Where are we going?" Laughing, she tried to clap her hands, but finding them full, she could only shuffle things a bit.
"Not telling, but get into this car, which just so happens to be waiting on us, and you'll see."
They drove around Pittsburgh for a few minutes and stopped in an old theatre district. Most of the houses had been restored, and were full of wonderful productions during most of the year. This being the off-season though, the area was rather deserted.
"Now," Jeff turned to look at Hilary, "you didn't happen to bring that key from the box on the dresser, did you?"
"Actually, I did. What is it for?" Taking the large key out of her purse, she handed it to Jeff and he got out of the car. He then reached in to help Hilary out of the car and stand in front of one of the restored buildings.
"Now, take this key and open that door." Jeff stood by the door in anticipation. Not knowing exactly what to expect, she turned the key slowly and heard the lock snap back. "Open the door." He smiled at her.
Hilary gave Jeff a wary look, but pulled the heavy door towards her and looked inside. "It's just a lobby." Sounding disappointed, she walked inside and stood there tapping her foot.
"And what's on the other side of the lobby, Hilary?" Jeff ran and stood by the main doors into the performance hall.
"There's more in the other room?" Hilary swung the doors wide and stopped so abruptly Jeff nearly ran into her.
The theatre itself was large, with red velvet cushioned seats, and high ceilings with magnificent chandeliers casting a soft glow throughout the room. But the stage...Hilary's eyes feasted on the stage and nothing else in the room mattered. The footlights were shining on the edge of the stage as Hilary took her place in the center and looked out across the rows and rows of seats.
"Oh Pumpkin...." she sighed, almost to herself. Jeff looked at her with concern in his eyes. He'd only wanted to please her, not bring her any unpleasant memories. But as he saw the tears falling, he wondered if he'd done the wrong thing.
"Hilary...I only wanted to give you something special for your birthday. Please don't be sad."
Wiping away her tears, she looked at Jeff in surprise. "Oh no, Pumpkin. This is the most wonderful gift you could have given me. I'm not upset about the gift...just moved."
Sighing with relief, he pulled her in his arms and looked into her face. The face he had loved for so long. "Happy Birthday, Mittens. I love you."
"I love you too, Jeff."
Moving away he spread out the blanket and placed the flowers off to the side. He then put the basket in the middle of the blanket and motioned her over to his side. "Open it up."
Hilary started tearing at the ribbon with glee. "I've been dying to know what's in this thing all day." She opened the top of the basket and stared inside. "Jeffrey!! All my favorites!" Inside the basket was a bottle of wine, two glasses, her favorite dessert, some candles, and a book of Shakespeare.
"I didn't just want to do a romantic dinner this year, so I thought I'd try something a little different."
Later, after finishing the wine, dessert, and a good portion of the Shakespeare, Hilary pulled away from being curled up in Jeff's embrace and kissed him. "This has to be one of the best birthdays I've ever had. But I must ask, we had the dessert first, when do I get the main course?"
Closing the book and tossing it across the stage, Jeff whispered in her ear. "Would now on the stage be acceptable?"
Smiling, she kissed him again, reached for the buttons on the front of his shirt and started to undo them. "Absolutely...."
THE END
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