And You Will Find Love

Barbara had never heard of her relatives. But then she was sure the fraulein baroness or whoever she was called had never heard of hers, either.

Fraulein von Selzenberg spoke no English, it seemed, so Chet felt he could talk freely to Barbara in front of her, holding up his scotch on the rocks.

"She's as cold as the ice cubes in my glass. I can foist her off on some politician in a wink, and you and I can go somewhere and make up for lost time. How about it?"

Barbara had enough champagne in her to tell him what she really wanted to say. "Chet, you're a handsome dog, but why don't you get yourself a muzzle or something? Better yet, get yourself neutered. Then maybe you won't be in heat all the time."

She did not look back as she walked away, but thought maybe he might be standing with his mouth open.

Instead, he called after her, "The higher up the berry tree, the sweeter grow the berries."

Barbara walked into the ballroom and was asked to dance by several of the North Shore's most handsome and eligible bachelors. She politely declined, having had enough of them. Instead, she watched as Gail and Paul danced, close and very much in love.

After a while, watching the bride and groom dance one final slow waltz before departing on their honeymoon, Barbara saw Gail motion to her. The friends retreated to the powder room and had a farewell hug and cry.

"It's the happiest day of my life, Barbara," Gail told her joyfully and tearfully. "I'll always cherish it, and your friendship. We'll go on being best friends, always, won't we?"

Barbara remembered their pledge and they repeated it to each other: "We'll always be best friends, and never jeopardize our friendship. No matter what, forever."

After they said their temporary farewells, Gail said she wanted to say good-bye to her mother. Barbara started back to the reception hall. On her way, Paul appeared out of nowhere, looking handsome but uncomfortable in the striped trousers and cutaway coat Gail's mother insisted he be married in. She knew he'd much have preferred bluejeans, a lumberjack shirt, and cowboy boots.

"Barbara, can I have a word with you for a moment?" he asked.

When they were in an unoccupied corner of a smaller room off the banquet hall, he held her hands in his. She couldn't imagine what was on his mind, but hoped she had played her part well enough to conceal her broken heart.