Caroline and the last chance

A Caroline story

Its about just what the title says, but a last chance for who? and Why?

Caroline picked her paper up outside her door. She streched and nearly pulled a muscle in her lower back. She groaned a bit as she rose. She went back inside and put the paper onto the couch. It lightly hit salty in the butt and she hopped off the couch. Caroline then put the coffee on and waited for Richard to arrive for work that day. It was a bit cold out. She wouldnt be surprised if he got up a little later in order to be a little warmer on his drive over. As she was about to phone him, he came in the front door. Annie was right behind him.

"Hi Caroline." Richard greeted her as he took off his long over coat and put it on the coat rack. He set his portfolio on the ground next to Carolines boots.

"Hey you." She said smiling. "Hi Annie! I didnt see you come in."

"If only that were true." Richard grumbled. Caroline did not hear this crass remark but Annie did.

"I have the day off." Annie told Caroline while getting her favorite coffee mug from the cupboard. "I decided to give my under study have her day in the sun. She sings a little off key but, you never notice her in the background."

Richard was now sitting at the desk working on the next days strip. "Caroline, I need to have an hour off this afternoon."

"Why is that?" Caroline asked joining him at the desk. Annie was watching her favorite Korean soap opera.

"Don't ask. As long as hes gone." Annie remarked

Richard glanced at her. "I have a very important appointment this after noon." Annie perked up. "I'm getting my drivers test today." He confirmed for Caroline.

"Well good luck." Caroline said encouragingly.

"Yeah, I hope you didn't forget what I taught you. After all the DMV did have that fire that postponed you drivers test for a month." Annie shifted in her chair. "How about I take you in the car and show you what I know?"

Richard shuddered. "I just got a very frightening image. Everything you know would take two seconds."

As Annie was about retort, there was a buzz at the door.

"Wonder who that could be. Del isnt coming over and Charlie doesn't usually buzz." She hit the button. "Yes?"

"Federal Express. Letter for Richard Korisky." The voice informed her.

"Come on up. Second floor." Caroline released the button. "Do you know what that is?"

"Maybe he found out hes adopted and his real parents are those aliens from Independence Day?" Annie cracked.

"I could only hope." Richard said as the delivery man came through the door. He handed Richard. "Theres only way to find out." He murmured as he slowly ripped it open.

Richard opened the envelope and took out a letter. He looked at both Annie and Caroline before reading it aloud. He cleard his throat and adjusted his glasses.

"Dear Mr. Richard Karinksy." He read. "We have heard from a very reliable source taht you are the painter of a piece that has caught my eye. " He stopped and looked at the return address on the envelope. "This is from the metropolitan museum in Los Angeles. They only let the best artists into there."

"Are you sure they go the right person?" Annie cracked.

"Shush, Annie." Caroline turned to her. "Let him finish."

"We are excited by your work Mr. Karinsky and we are prepared to offer you a full apprenticeship with one of our greatest in house masters Jean-Luc DeLeon." He finished.

"They want you to go to LA?" Caroline whispered.

Richard quickly re read the letter, just to make sure in his mind. He looked at Caroline. A smile unlike anyone else has seen before spread across his face. "They want me to come to LA, and learn from a master."

"This is wonderful." Caroline said. She tried hard to keep the sudden flow of tears from breaking free of her eyelids. She didn't know why she was crying. Was she happy for him, or was she crying cause this will be the third man to leave her life in two years. She got over Del easily, but Joe was much harder for reasons she would rather not get into.

"This is a dream come true." Richard said, he looked at them. "Caroline, may I have the afternoon off? I need to be by myself to think this offer over."

"Well sure." Caroline said as Richard whirled toward the door. He picked up his floder near the door.

"Uhh." Richard stuttered. For the first time he was speechless. He looked at them for an extra seond then left.

Caroline looked at Annie."What do you think he's going to decide?" She asked as she sat down at the desk.

"Its a chance of a lifetime." Annie said. "I felt the same way the first year I did CATS."

Caroline smiled as she started to work on another strip

Richards Place

Richard sat on his fold out bed and thought. He set an easel up the second he got home. The minute he picked up the paint brush the images appeared on the canvas. He worked furiously for what seemed seconds. The brush finally stopped three effortless housr later. Richard admired his work. He painted two seperate images on the canvas. One was obvioouslty the city of LA, where the offer to paint came from. The image of the city was cloudy and clear at the same time. The second image was more crisp, clear and realsistic. Richard traced the nearly dry paint with the tip of his finger. He realized where the inspiration for the picture came from. He clearly had a decison to make. He looked at the second image. On sheer impulse he had painted an image of Caroline. He thought long and hard before he mde his decision.

Carolines Place

The phone rang on the desk. Caroline implusively picked it up on the first ring.

"Hello, Caroline Duffy."

"Carolines it me Richard."

"Oh. Hey you!" Caroline stroked Salty as she hopped into her lap. "Did you make a decision?"

"Yes." Richard ran his hand through his hair. "Caroline I have to say what a difficult choice I had to make."

"I understand completely."

"And my answer is simply: you might have to find another colorist. I'm giving you my notice." Richard said sadly. "I can't talk anymore. The plane for LA is leaving tonight."

Caroline held back her tears once more. "Well I hope you do well in LA."

"Thank you." Richard said, then hung up.

Caroline hung the phone up, then hit the speed dialer for Annies number.

"Hello." Annie answered non chalantly.

"Annie I need you to come over right away." Caroline now let down her guard and the tears flowed down her face.

"Hold on, I'm coming." Annie said and hung up.

Caroline tore into a box of cookies as Annie bounded through the door. Caroline was still at the desk where she got the call.

"How are you?" Annie asked as she gave Caroline a box of strong tissues.

"Not good." She took the box. "Thanks."

"Why are you crying?" Annie asked as Caroline stood. "Its only Richard."

"I don't know!" Caroline shrugged. "I didn't cry as much when it was over with Del and Joe. And I didn't even sleep with Richard." She sighed.

"Well, maybe it was better the way it happened." Annie said. "Some people don't call, just take the next plane out."

Caroline walked to Richards side of the desk. "Richard was in my life longer than most of my shoes. I might as well cleanvelopes in her hand.

"Caroline." He whispered.

"Richard." She said.

They stood that way for several seconds. She held up the first envelope. "I found this while I was cleaning out your desk." He took the envelope. "Do you still feel this way?"

"Yes." He came closer to her. "Now and forever." He took her in his arms and kissed her. Her toes curled in her shoes. He let go. "Do you?"

"I do." And they kissed again. When he released her she looked at him. "The best is yet to come."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't have to go to Los Angeles."

"Why is that?"

"You didn't read the rest of the letter." She took the second letter and turned to the second page. "The first letter was what you read. Read the second page aloud."

"Dear Mr. Karinsky. The letter you see in the envelope was supposed to sent to a Richard Korinsky that is at a different address in the same city you live in. We humbly apologize for this mistake."

"Annie was right when she said you were the wrong person. Little does she know."

Caroline said as she smiled. "I guess you really have to cancel the flight."

"Not necessarily." Richard and went to the ticket booth. He talked for a few seconds with the ticket agent. He then came back and gave Caroline an envelope. "How long has it been since you had a vacation?"

"Richard?" Caroline smiled. "I'm going with you?"

"You bet."

"But I need to go back and get my clothes from my apartment."

"Where we are going..." Richard leaned in close."...we wont need much."

Carolines eyes widened. The speaker announced their flight and Richard let Caroline onto the plane. He never took his eyes off of her. They flew off into a different life....together.