Part 6 (1/2)

”Love you too.”

41.

Chapter 5.

Judith checked her watch for the tenth time as the morning's first panel of speakers wrapped up its comments. She had barely remembered a word from the session, she was so focused on Carmen's presentation, which began in twenty minutes. When the moderator stood and opened the floor to questions, she quietly slipped out from her seat in the back row, hoping for a chance to see Carmen before the plenary session began.

Carmen's freshly laundered raincoat was folded neatly inside a Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bag, one Judith had saved from two years ago when they had a ma.s.sive after-Christmas sale. It was a silly gesture, she knew, but the bag seemed more fitting for the expensive coat than anything else she had. It didn't take a fas.h.i.+on mogul to see she bought her clothes off the rack at discount stores. But then Judith did very little that required her to dress in expensive suits or skirts. Besides, it wasn't as if she had 42 unlimited s.p.a.ce for an elaborate wardrobe. She had barely pulled together three nice outfits for the weekend.

From the deserted hallway, she peered through the crack in the door into the main ballroom, where hundreds of chairs were set up for the plenary session. The room seemed cavernous with only a handful of people inside making last-minute preparations.

Carmen was at a table on a platform with the young man Judith recognized from the company's Web site as Richard Henderson.

Cathy Rosen and Lenore Yates were there too, along with a woman Judith thought she recognized as the vice president of the a.s.sociation of Travel Professionals.

She felt a little guilty for intruding at this critical time, but she had promised to return Carmen's coat before the session.

The smart thing would be to give it to Cathy, but that meant she wouldn't get to talk to Carmen, which was all she had thought about for the last twenty-one hours. Once the presentation was finished, Carmen would probably be inundated with people congratulating her or asking questions. No, now was definitely a better time.

As she drew closer to the end of the platform, she saw them deep in concentration and changed her mind, deciding instead just to give the coat to Cathy. Carmen's time was too important for something-or someone-so trivial. But then Carmen looked up from her notes and saw her. Her face broke into a sudden smile followed by a look of confusion, which made Judith worry for a moment that Carmen didn't recognize her. After a moment's hesitation, Carmen jumped up from her chair and stepped down off the platform. ”Good morning.”

”Hi. I'm so sorry to bother you. I was afraid I wouldn't have another chance to see you.” She handed Carmen the shopping bag. ”I brought your coat.”

”Thank you. There wasn't any hurry.”

Judith noted with embarra.s.sment that everyone on the platform had stopped talking and was looking in their direction. ”I 43 had it cleaned.”

”You didn't have to do that.”

”Yes, I did. It reeked of tomatoes by the time I got home. I couldn't bring it back like that.”

”Still-”

Judith fumbled for the business card in her pocket. ”Look, I don't want to keep you. Here's my card if there's a problem with anything. I really appreciate you coming to my rescue like that.”

”You're welcome.” Carmen looked over her shoulder at her staff. ”I'm sorry. I have to get back to this.”

”I know. I just wanted to say thanks.”

”I'm glad I was there to help.” Carmen smiled warmly before hurrying back to check her presentation.

Judith could feel her face burning with embarra.s.sment as she walked toward the doors at the back of the room. The way they had all gaped at her from the platform, they must have thought she was an idiot for interrupting at a time like that. After all the hours she had spent imagining how nice it would be to talk to Carmen again, she had ended up blowing it by coming at a bad time.

A few early birds were coming in to claim the good seats.

Judith figured she had just enough time to grab a cup of coffee from the beverage bar out in the hall. As she was going out, she was practically bowled over by Bob Durbin, who mumbled a token apology without even making eye contact. Carmen was right about him. He was rude.

When she returned with her coffee, Celia waved her over to a seat in the fifth row.

”Judith, I wanted you to meet my friend Denise. She's the one who got me the interview at the network. I go next Tuesday.”

”That's great.” Judith set her coffee cup on the chair and held out her hand to Denise, who seemed oddly anxious about her arrival. ”I'm really glad to meet you. You're going to love working with Celia.”

”Aw, you're sweet,” Celia said.

44.

”Is it okay if I sit here?”

”Sure.” Celia indicated the open seat on her other side. ”So how did your interview go yesterday?”

”It got canceled.”

”That sucks.”

Judith waved it off. ”I'll deal with it later. I saw they have a job board out by the registration desk. Maybe something good will be on it.”

Celia settled back in her seat and whispered something to Denise that made her smile. Then she looked toward the podium and leaned into Judith. ”Do you remember back when Myrna used to call The Delallo Group?”

”Uh-huh.”

”I always thought she sounded like she was flirting. I think I just figured out why.”

Judith followed her friend's eyes to the platform, where Carmen sat smiling and relaxed. She looked absolutely fantastic in her dark blue suit. Judith had also noticed her understated, but obviously expensive, jewelry-a gold chain necklace and bracelet, with hoop earrings. On her right hand was a wide plat-inum band decorated with small diamonds, an heirloom perhaps.

Her left hand was unadorned.

”Have you had a good look at that woman?”

Still embarra.s.sed about interrupting Carmen earlier, Judith decided to let that be a rhetorical question. She didn't want to share anything about her unfortunate encounters with Carmen.

”Very nice.”

”Very nice?” Celia pulled off her gla.s.ses and handed them to Judith. ”Here. Look again.”

Judith chuckled. ”Okay, she's very, very nice.”

”I'll say. Ol' Myrna was up to something, all right.”

The crowd grew quiet as one of the women rose and took the podium. She too was smartly dressed, and wearing a ribbon on her nametag that announced her official position. This was the 45 one Judith thought was the vice president of the a.s.sociation, Sofia somebody. She was a slender, striking woman, her hair more silver than black.