Posted by Kim on 10/6/2002, 6:17 pm A beaming Ellen Burgess looked up from the oversized lunch menu as Dara sat down at the table. "Don't bother to apologize. I just arrived myself a few minutes ago." The friendship between Dara and Ellen had blossomed during the last few months and a casual observer of the two women would easily conclude that they were life-long friends. After giving their lunch orders to the waiter, Dara sipped on a glass of sparkling water and commented, "I can't believe you've let your shopping for the trip go until the day before you're due to leave for Italy!" "I really don't need to buy a lot of things for the trip," Ellen stated in defending the last minute shopping trip. "Kevin and I are traveling light since we plan to tour Italy after his conference and we'll probably do some shopping there." Sighing wistfully, Dara remarked, "I can't think of a more romantic place to visit than Italy in the early summer. Only Paris would top it." Ellen nodded her head in agreement with Dara's statement. "I know. I can hardly believe that we'll be in Italy, especially the first time..." Dara's jaw dropped as a slightly flustered Ellen left her sentence unfinished and abruptly stopped speaking. "Ellen," Dara gasped, "You and Kevin have been dating for almost 3 months! Are you the same woman who admonishment me earlier this year not to take too much time in going forward with my relationship with Mac?" Kevin and Ellen certainly had her fooled. Though neither Kevin nor Ellen were the type of people to display inappropriate behavior in public, they shared many loving gestures, kisses, and touches, especially when they were on double dates with Mac and Dara. "You know people are always better at giving advice rather than taking it," grinned Ellen. "I'm no exception." Ellen's brow furrowed as she struggled to explain her feelings. "Dara, it just didn't feel right to immediately jump into an intimate relationship with Kevin after my breakup with Matt. Recognizing the feelings I have for Kevin came so suddenly, I just wanted to take some time before completely following through on them. Gazing thoughtfully at her friend, Dara asked the obvious next question. "And now you're think you're ready to follow through on those feelings?" "More than ready," Ellen somewhat sheepishly acknowledged with a grin. "I know that Italy will be a special time for both of us." Struck with an idea for a gift, Dara smiled impishly and cryptically remarked, "Well then, I know exactly where we should shop after lunch." ***** With his elbows on the desk, Taggert was listening intently on the telephone and had his back towards the squad room door. He was unaware of Mac's presence until his supervisor stood directly in front of Taggert and said without preamble, "What's going on with Moreno's transfer? How the ..." Taggert raised his hand to interrupt Mac so he could finish his telephone conversation. "Uh um. Yes. Well get back to me within a few hours with anything you have." As soon as Taggert ended the call, a fuming Mac started again. "What is this nonsense about Moreno getting a get-out-of-jail card via a hospital visit?" "Apparently a state judge signed off on the request, Mac. I was just talking to Warden Tim O'Malley and he says he's just as concerned about Moreno's transfer as we are." Mac made no attempt to suppress his sarcasm. "I seriously doubt that Taggert." Ignoring Mac's comment, Taggert continued. "The warden says two of his best guards will accompany Moreno to the hospital. Also, the governor has assigned state police personnel in and around Mercy Hospital for the duration of Moreno's stay." Leaning back in his chair and giving Mac a quizzical glance, Taggert asked, "Even though both prison & state police personnel will be on duty, I suppose you'll want me to assign someone from the PC police department to make the trip to Albany, right?" "Not at all," Mac evenly replied. "You don't have to assign anyone. You and I are going to make the trip to Albany next week." Taggert grimly nodded, and picked up the telephone again to get the details of Moreno's transfer from the prison officials. ***** "Ellen, this trip is an indulgence. You can't be in Rome or Venice with foundations courtesy of Playtex!" Dara said laughingly. "I know you said you're going to take the opportunity to shop while you're in Italy but you won't hit the stores immediately after leaving Fiumicino airport and you need something nice for the first few days." With that final pronouncement, Dara guided her friend towards the register to complete the purchase. An unexpectedly long line awaited them at the checkout register thus giving Dara and Ellen more time to talk about the trip. Totally animated in their conversation, they were unprepared to hear a strained terse female voice say, "How ironic. Somehow I never thought we would meet here, of all places Ellen." Frozen in shock for a few seconds, Ellen turned around to find Lucy Coe standing not 6 inches away. Grimacing, Ellen thought this public confrontation is what she was getting for not taking the step to meet with Lucy privately after the infamous Valentine Day blow-up. For weeks Ellen thought of contacting Lucy, knowing eventually one day they would see each other again. But guilt and having nothing to say to Lucy that would help the situation kept Ellen from making an attempt to contact her former friend. Clenching and unclenching her fists in anger, Lucy spat out with trembling lips, "I know I haven't had sweet dreams since Valentine Day at Luke's, and if you had any conscience, you would be sleeping well these nights either." Lucy knew her own past history wasn't pure as the driven snow, but Ellen's betrayal of their friendship transcended anything Lucy had ever done. Unbidden tears started welling in Lucy's eyes as she remembered the sight that night of Kevin passionately kissing and embracing Ellen, and more shockingly, Ellen returning Kevin's affection. "You backstabbing, hypocritical, ..." "Lucy, please!" Quickly Ellen left Dara in the store to make the purchases and led Lucy just outside the entrance to the shopping center. Dara paid for the merchandise and with some trepidation exited the store to look for Ellen. Just beyond the double doors of the shopping mall entrance Dara could watch but not hear the end of the obviously bitter confrontation between Ellen and Lucy. From the small part of the exchange she observed, Lucy was talking more than a minute for every few seconds Ellen could get a word in. Then suddenly, Lucy turned on her heels and left. Taking a deep breath, Dara went to join Ellen, who was barely successful in keeping the tears in her eyes from spilling onto her cheeks. It was obvious the confrontation with Lucy had unnerved Ellen and Dara offered to take Ellen back to her apartment. Shaking her head, Ellen refused Dara's offer. "Absolutely not." Ellen clasped Dara's hand and smiled weakly. "Until these last 10 minutes I had a great time with you today and you know you have to get on to the rehearsal. I'll be fine. Really."
"I'm sorry that I'm late Ellen." Local roadwork near Mario's Italian restaurant combined with Mac's unexpected visit to make Dara ten minutes late for her lunch date. Strict punctuality is a well-known attribute of Dara's so her slight tardiness vexed the usually unflappable A.D.A.
It was just after the lunch hour when Mac entered the PCPD squad room and took long brisk steps toward Marcus Taggert's desk. A junior officer with a question for the commissioner immediately changed his mind upon seeing Mac enter the room. Everyone in the squadroom quickly made themselves busy and avoided direct eye contact with Mac. Something about his demeanor told them to stay out of his way and they all headed the unspoken warning.
"How can they charge so much money for this sleepware and there is so little fabric?" The last stop on the afternoon's shopping trip was a visit to Sweet Dreams, an upscale lingerie store in the fashionable Galleria Mall about 15 miles from Port Charles. Ellen marveled at the sheerness and exquisite feel of the plum-colored stretch lace slip selected by Dara as a present for Ellen's trip. However, she blinked her eyes in disbelief when she spied the price on the tag of the dress and protested the expense, but Dara insisted on buying the gift.
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