The Secret of Ed’s Success

February 1975, Twenty-two years before The Secret of the Mansion

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nineteen-year-old Edward Lynch sipped on his iced tea as he looked over his notes for his upcoming Basic Computer Programming 101 test. “I’m going into advertising, not computers,” he mumbled under his breath. “I don’t know why I have to take this stupid class anyway.”

“Because computers are the way of the future, my friend, and you don’t want to be left behind.”

Ed looked up and grinned at his friend Bill, who had just entered the little diner. “I certainly hope my future doesn’t hinge on computers; I’ll end up living in a cardboard box.”

Bill thumped the hulking Irishman on the back as he claimed the stool beside him at the counter. “You’ll get it, Ed. You’re a smart guy, so something’s bound to sink into that gargantuan skull of yours eventually.”

“Easy for you to say,” Ed commented with a smirk. “You’re practically teaching this class for Professor Higgins, even though you’re only his student aide.”

The waitress set down a plate laden with a thick bacon cheeseburger and a heaping mound of golden French fries in front of Ed. She then turned to Bill. “What’re you having, sweetie?” she asked, snapping her gum in a manner Ed found extremely annoying.

“Just coffee,” Bill replied, trying to ignore the enticing aroma emanating from his friend’s food.

However, Ed was an astute young man and noticed the hungry look in his friend’s eyes. “Hey, Dixie,” he called. The waitress turned around to look at him. “Why don’t you bring my pal here a burger with everything and an order of fries?”

“No, that’s okay, Ed,” Bill began, shaking his head. “I’m fine. I’ll just have a bologna sandwich back at the dorm. I just stopped by for a caffeine fix.”

“Didn’t you just have a bologna sandwich for dinner last night?” Ed questioned.

“Well, yeah, but—”

“But nothing,” Ed quickly interjected. “Have lunch with me. My treat.”

Dixie, still gnawing on her Trident, stared at the pair, not taking the order to the cook until she had confirmation from both parties. “So, what’s it going to be, boys?”

“Take the order to the kitchen, Dixie,” Ed declared firmly. “Just bring the bill to me. And ask Skip to make it snappy; I hate eating by myself.”

“All right.” The bleached blonde grinned as she took the order to the kitchen. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen the generous giant foot the bill for a friend, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.

“You didn’t have to do that, Ed,” Bill told him. “I told you I was planning on grabbing a sandwich after I got back to the dorms.”

“Now you can plan on eating with me.” Ed moved his plate aside and tried to ignore his growling stomach so he could wait to eat with his friend. “So, how’s your part-time job going?”

Bill grinned sheepishly. “Well, I kind of quit. Paul and I needed more time to develop that computer program we’ve been working on. We’re hoping to sell it soon, and if we make enough money, we could start our own company.”

“I hope it works out for you,” Ed commented, taking another sip of his tea. He briefly wondered if he should lecture his friend about his need for employment, but decided Bill was smart enough to make his own decisions. Instead, he allowed his generosity to speak for him. “You know, if you ever need a loan, I’m always here.”

“Ed, you’re almost as broke as I am,” Bill said with a chuckle. “Probably more so. At least my family is well-off. If I get too desperate, I could hit up my old man for a loan. You’re at Harvard on an athletic scholarship, and you’re working your butt off to earn spending money now that football season’s over.”

“I’m doing okay,” Ed insisted stubbornly. “And hey, what’s the use of having a little extra cash unless you can use it to help people? That’s what life’s all about, right?”

“You’re a good guy, Ed,” Bill remarked, admiration obvious in his tone. Ed Lynch had certainly earned his reputation for being the most generous student on campus. Never in his life had Bill met someone as charitable as his Irish friend, and Ed had made quite an impact on the young computer programmer. He’d watched Ed happily give away his last dollar to someone less needy than himself.

The waitress brought over Bill’s food, and the two chums began munching companionably. The bell above the diner’s door jingled as another group of students entered the restaurant. “Hey, there’s that guy in my business class,” Bill remarked in between bites. “I think his name’s Matt or something like that.”

Ed barely looked up, too interested in his burger to care.

“That guy’s really sharp,” Bill continued, squirting some ketchup onto his fries. “Just watch; he’ll make it big someday.”

The broad-shouldered man merely grunted in response.

“I heard he comes from money,” Bill went on. “Someone told me that his mom’s dad was a senator or something, so she runs in all the big society circles. His dad was in the military, but after he finished active service, he got a good job in Washington D.C. at the Pentagon.”

“So?” Ed managed through his bite of hamburger.

“It’s all about connections, Ed,” Bill explained. “After Matt strikes it rich, he might be willing to invest in my company. You never know whose going to be loaded someday, so it pays to make good contacts now.”

Ed nodded thoughtfully, adding more salt to his fries.

“Rumor has it that Matt’s best friend’s family is loaded, too,” Bill commented. “That guy he hangs out with. Lin, Fin, Sven… Some kind of weird name like that.”

“Geez, Bill, do you have a financial portfolio on every student here?” Ed asked with a chuckle.

“It wouldn’t hurt. A big-time company like Paul and I want to have someday will need investors,” Bill told him. “I’m heading for the top, Ed, mark my words.”

Ed grinned as he pointed to the glob of mustard that had just dripped down the front of his friend’s shirt. “You’d better change your shirt first. I’d hate for people to see that bright yellow stain when you’re posing for the cover of Forbes Magazine.”

No matter how hard he tried, Bill couldn’t keep the rueful smile from his lips as he wet a napkin and used it to dab at the stain. “You just watch, Ed. I’m going to make a million dollars by the time I’m thirty. Maybe even two million.”

“You sure like to talk about making a pile of dough someday,” Ed remarked in an offhand manner.

“Sure! What else is there?”

“Family, friends, loved ones.” A sentimental smile played languidly across Ed’s lips as he said the words “loved ones”.

“You can’t fool me, Lynch.” Bill smiled knowingly as he studied his buddy through narrowed eyes. “Who is she? After all, there must be some reason the popular jock is sitting here with the campus computer nerd instead of out dancing with sorority girls.”

Ed grinned as he reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open to the picture in the front. “Carolyn Wilson Hoffman. She’s a sophomore at my old high school.”

“She’s cute,” Bill murmured.

“Cute?” Ed’s tone was indignant. “Why, Carolyn’s the prettiest girl in all of Sleepyside! Everybody says so!”

Bill chuckled heartily. “Okay, she’s beautiful. I was just afraid you’d pop me in the nose because I complimented your girl, but if you must know, she’s a knockout.”

Ed gazed at the picture affectionately before he put his wallet back in his pocket. “I can’t wait until we’re both finished with school so we can get married.”

“Already thinking about marriage?” Bill raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “She won’t be out of high school for another two-and-a-half years.”

“I’ve known I was going to marry her since I was ten-years-old.” Ed chuckled, his deep brown eyes sparkling. “Of course, she didn’t even know who I was until two years later, but once she saw me, she’ll tell you that it was love at first sight. So according to her, we’ve been in love with each other since we were both ten.”

“What’re your plans after you get married?” Bill inquired as he finished his hamburger.

“I don’t know,” Ed answered. “Get a job at an advertising agency, buy a house, have a few kids. We both want lots of kids, at least three.”

“No white picket fence?”

“Depends on if it fits into Carolyn’s decorating scheme,” Ed returned with a grin. “What about you, Bill? What’re your plans after you graduate in a couple of years?”

Bill shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not even sure I’m going to stick around to graduate. Paul and I would rather start building up our company now.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Ed’s forehead furrowed with concern. “How are you ever going to be a big-time computer tycoon if you don’t even have a college degree?”

“You said yourself that I was practically teaching Professor Higgins’ class,” Bill told his friend matter-of-factly. “So, why not try and make it in the real world instead of wasting my time doing somebody else’s job?”

“Well, you’ve got to do what you think is best.” Instead of commenting further, Ed called the waitress over and ordered two large slices of apple pie ala mode.

“Dessert, too?” Bill lifted an eyebrow. “You aren’t trying to bribe me for the answers to that big test, are you?”

“Nah,” Ed assured him, chortling. “I just figure you’ve earned a slice of apple pie after all your hard work.”

“I’ll pay you back the minute my dad sends me some cash,” Bill promised.

However, Ed wouldn’t have any of that. “Forget it, buddy. This lunch is on me. Maybe someday when you’re a big computer magnate you can buy me lunch.”

“It’s a deal,” Bill replied. “And hey, maybe I’ll even throw in a stock or two.”

Conversation ceased as Dixie brought over two large plates, each holding a slice of warmed Dutch apple pie and two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Ed Lynch had no idea how his generosity would eventually be repaid.

November 1985, Twelve years before The Secret of the Mansion

Ten years later, Ed Lynch had graduated with a bachelor’s degree in advertising, although it wasn’t from Harvard. His father had had a major heart attack right before Ed’s junior year, and to help his parents financially, he’d transferred to New York University, which was much closer to their home in Sleepyside. However, in doing so, he’d lost his scholarship, and had been forced to go heavily into debt paying his own tuition. In addition to paying for his education, he also sent his parents some money each month to help with their mounting medical bills.

Ed married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Hoffman Wilson, after he graduated, in October of 1979. Although he accepted a position with a small advertising firm in New York City, the newlyweds settled in a tiny apartment on Hawthorne Street in their old hometown, not being able to afford anything better. The couple was poor as church mice, but they were blissfully happy.

In November of 1983, Carolyn became pregnant with their first child. The following August, the Lynches welcomed a beautiful daughter with black curls and violet-blue eyes. Her proud papa, confident she was every bit as pretty as Princess Di herself, named the dainty girl Diana. His princess, he told his wife, deserved a royal name.

Each day, he took the commuter train into his office in the city. Mr. West, his boss, was not terribly successful; however, kindhearted Ed hated to leave the company for which he had worked since he graduated college. Carolyn often urged him to find another place of employment, but in the end, he decided to remain loyal to Mr. West.

Finally, in November of 1985, his loyalty paid off.

“Ed, can I talk to you for a minute?” Mr. West asked, poking his gray head into Ed’s small cubicle.

“Sure, Mr. West.” Ed stood up as his boss entered the tiny room. He pointed to the shabby chair across from his desk. Once the older man had sat down, Ed reclaimed his seat. “How can I help you, sir?”

“As you know, Christmas is next month,” Mr. West said. “You’ve been working here for six years, and you’ve been the best advertising executive I’ve ever had.”

“Thank you, Mr. West.”

“No, thank you, Ed. I appreciate you sticking with me, especially since we haven’t been particularly successful lately.” Mr. West reached into his suit jacket’s inner pocket and pulled out an envelope. “As you know, that big Van-Co account you landed this past fall has been the biggest we’ve handled yet. It certainly helped us through a rough patch. If it weren’t for that account, we would’ve had to file bankruptcy by now.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. West,” Ed replied, smiling. “It’s an honor to help you out. You took me under your wing when I was still wet behind the ears. You’ve been like another father to me. It’s a pleasure to assist the company any way I can.”

“Yes, well now it’s our pleasure to assist you.” The older man handed Ed the envelope. “Merry Christmas, Ed.”

A puzzled expression caused Ed’s dark brows to meet in the groove above his nose. “What’s this?”

“Open it and find out,” Mr. West urged. It seemed he was more excited about the gift than his employee.

Ed tenuously opened the envelope and pulled out a check. He gasped in utter amazement when he saw the amount for which it was written. “Mr. West,” he sputtered, “there must be some kind of mistake.”

“Ed, the only mistake is that we weren’t able to give you this sooner,” his employer assured him. “As you know, we’ve never been to give out more than a turkey or ham at Christmastime; however, after the hefty check that Van-co just sent us, I thought it’d be a fitting gesture for us to reward you. After all, you’re the reason we got that account in the first place.”

“But it’s for so much…” Ed stammered. “Surely the secretary added an extra zero…” He held out the check for Mr. West to examine.

“No, that’s the right amount. I only wish that we could’ve given you more. After all the good you’ve done here, this doesn’t even begin to thank you properly.”

Ed cleared his throat. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Mr. West,” he said huskily. “With the new baby…”

“How is the little one?”

“Pretty as a princess, just like her mama,” Ed replied proudly. “Of course, in this day and age, a man has to be rich as a king to provide for his family.”

“Have a lot of hospital expenses, do you?”

Ed gave a rueful grin. “Yes, that and diapers, formula, baby food... For one so tiny, Diana sure has been expensive.”

“I remember those days well,” Mr. West said, nodding sympathetically.

“And we weren’t in the best financial shape to begin with,” Ed continued. “I’m still paying off several student loans, and I try to send Mom and Dad a little cash when I can. My father’s been unable to work since his heart attack.”

“I’m sorry that you and Carolyn have had it so rough, son,” Mr. West told him.

“Oh, I wasn’t trying to give you a sob story. I was just trying to explain why we appreciated this so much,” Ed interrupted hastily. “I was just talking to you as a friend, more than a boss. I hope I wasn’t out of line, sir.”

“Not at all,” Mr. West assured him. “However, it does make me appreciate how you’ve stuck with us all these years. I know there’re better, higher paying firms out there who’d snap up a smart guy like you in a minute.”

“I like it here.” Ed’s tone was honest. “There’s a lot to be said about having such a considerate employer.”

Mr. West stood, a smile on his face. “Put that money to good use, you hear? And give Carolyn my regards.”

“I’ll do it,” Ed replied. “And once again, thank you.”

At lunchtime, the hefty check burning a hole in his pocket, Ed left his office building to get a sandwich and possibly do a little window shopping afterwards. For the first time in his married life, he would be able to shower his “girls” with presents, and he was anxious to begin purchasing things he knew they would like. A generous soul, Ed truly believed it was better to give than to receive.

Twenty-five hundred dollars! he thought to himself excitedly. Never in a million years did I ever expect to ever get that much money at once! Thank you, God!

He walked down the street to the little diner on the corner. Although he normally packed his lunch to save money, he decided to take advantage of his new windfall and give into his BLT craving. Just as he reached for the door handle, a familiar voice called out a greeting.

“Ed Lynch! Why, you son of a gun! In all of New York City, I never guessed I’d run into you. How long has it been?”

The tall, stocky man turned around in surprise to see his old college buddy, Bill. “Must be almost ten years by now.” He offered his hand in greeting, the ever-present grin on his face. “I haven’t seen you since you dropped out of college.”

“It’s been far too long, my friend.” Bill shook Ed’s hand enthusiastically. “What’re you doing here?”

“I work here in the city at West Side Advertising,” Ed answered. “Do you live here?”

Bill shook his head. “I’m just here for a meeting.” He nodded towards the diner. “You hungry?”

“Aren’t I always?” Ed chuckled boisterously. His college reputation for putting away food— and lots of it— was legendary.

“When your metabolism slows down, you’re going to be in trouble, mister,” Bill teased good-naturedly. “Anyway, I believe I owe you a lunch or fifty. This place any good?”

“They make the best bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches in town,” Ed replied, practically drooling as he said the words. “But how about you let me buy?”

Bill carefully appraised his old friend’s attire. Although Ed’s suit was neatly pressed and expertly hemmed, it looked to be a low quality one from several seasons ago. Additionally, his shoes, fastidiously shined, were scuffed and well-worn. “No, this one’s on me, buddy. Since I would’ve starved to death my sophomore year of college if it hadn’t been for your generosity, buying you lunch today is the least I could do.”

Ed quirked a brow and mulled Bill’s offer. He was accustomed to showing benevolence, not accepting it. It felt rather strange to be on the receiving end.

“Please, Ed. I insist. I have a lot to talk to you about.”

“Okay,” Ed agreed with a rueful smile. “As long as I can pay you back someday.”

“It’s a deal.” Bill grinned as he followed his tall, stocky friend inside. The pair found a table in the corner, where they would have some privacy to discuss old times. After ordering their meals, they proceeded to catch up on the past decade.

“So,” Bill began, adding a packet of sweetener to his iced tea, “did you ever marry that pretty black-haired girl you were so crazy about?”

“Sure did,” Ed told him happily. “And I’m even crazier about her than I was ten years ago. This October, we’ve been married six glorious years.”

“Any kids?”

“We have a seventeen-month-old baby girl, Diana.” Ed practically swooned as he told Bill his daughter’s name.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any pictures on you, would you?”

Ed inhaled sharply, absolute delight etched on his already jolly features. “Bill, someday you’ll learn never to ask a proud papa if he has any pictures of his pride and joy.” To illustrate his point, he pulled out his wallet and flipped it open, unfurling a long string of photographs all featuring the same baby in various poses and at different ages.

Bill chuckled in amusement. “Did I mention that I have a meeting at three this afternoon?” However, he good-naturedly looked at each of the pictures, commenting often how adorable Diana was. “You have a beautiful family, Ed. I only hope to be so fortunate someday.”

“You aren’t married yet?”

Bill paused as the waitress brought their food, and as the two began eating, he answered the question.

“Not yet. Still waiting for the right girl, I guess.”

“She’ll come along eventually,” Ed told him. “So, are you still working with computers?”

“Sure am,” Bill replied. “Paul and I started our own company like we always talked about. In fact, that’s what my meeting’s about. We’re preparing to open up our stocks to the public next month. I don’t suppose you do any investing?”

Ed snorted as he finished chewing a bite of his sandwich. “I’m afraid that all I know about the stock market could fit in a thimble. The only bulls and bears I’m familiar with are the ones in the zoo, and I don’t even visit those regularly.”

“Well, if you’d ever be interested in purchasing some stocks in my company, I can set you up,” Bill offered. “I’m willing to bet that they’ll be worth a bundle someday. You’d be able to spoil your girls in style with all the money you’d make.”

Ed ceased his chewing, and lifted a dark brow. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Bill said with a nod. “I’d even throw in a few extra stocks to boot.”

Ed’s expression became thoughtful as he began pondering Bill’s offer. “How much are those stocks going for? A dollar or two apiece?”

“Actually each share’s about twenty bucks,” Bill corrected matter-of-factly, without a trace of superiority.

“Even twenty bucks is a lot of money when you have to buy diapers and baby food,” Ed remarked.

Bill pushed up his thick-rimmed glasses and studied his friend’s reaction. Though he knew Ed would never admit it, he didn’t have twenty bucks to spare. He immediately regretted his offer. “Hey, I know how tight your budget must be with a new baby. Forget I even brought it up. I’d hate to put a financial strain on you, especially during the holiday season.”

Ed nodded, his relief apparent. The two continued with their lunch, discussing their days at Harvard. However, as they lingered over dessert, the gears in Ed’s head refused to quit spinning, and he returned the conversation to the stock market.

“So, do you think I’d be safe investing a few bucks in those stocks you mentioned?”

Bill thoughtfully chewed his bite of coconut cream pie. “I really couldn’t say for sure, Ed. Each investment involves some risk. And, although I think buying stock in my company would be a wise decision, I could be a bit prejudiced. I’d feel really guilty if I steered you wrong.”

“But a lot of people have made thousands in the stock market, right?”

“Yes, but a lot more people have lost their shirts.” Bill shook his head firmly. “If you don’t have the extra money, then I can’t let yo—”

“I just got a Christmas bonus,” Ed interrupted. “Twenty-five hundred bucks.”

Bill whistled through his teeth. “That was some bonus. But surely you aren’t planning on investing the whole thing?”

“Of course not. I was going to keep five hundred to buy presents for my girls, but that leaves two grand—”

“Maybe you should just put the rest in the bank,” Bill replied with a shake of his head. “You never know when you’ll have an emergency, and that money would come in handy.”

Ed paused momentarily, digesting Bill’s words of wisdom. Finally, he spoke. “True, but just think how much money I’d have if those stocks do well. Why, I could end up with five thousand dollars, instead of two. And I wasn’t really expecting that money, so technically I wouldn’t be losing anything…”

“No, you wouldn’t lose anything,” Bill stated wryly. “Anything except your wife, that is. She’ll divorce you after she finds out you gave me two thousand dollars instead of starting a college fund for that pretty little girl of yours.”

Ed gulped back an extraordinarily large lump in his throat. “Well, I don’t have to tell her.”

“As a single guy, I don’t know much about being married,” Bill said with a wince, “but I have a feeling that keeping a secret like that wouldn’t be wise.”

“I’ll tell her after we start raking in the bucks,” Ed promised congenially. “I’m sure that if I break the news with a sparkly diamond necklace she won’t be nearly as angry with me.”

Bill held up a hand in protest. “Ed, the stock market’s such a fickle thing. One minute you can be riding high, the next you can hit rock bottom. I’m kicking myself for even bringing it up in the first place—”

“I’m an adult, Bill,” Ed told his friend firmly. “I can decide how I want to spend my money. Now, I’m determined to do this, with or without your help. I can just as easily call a stockbroker on Wall Street…”

Bill sighed heavily. “Don’t do that, Ed; I’ll hook you up. How much do you want to invest?”

“Two thousand,” Ed answered adamantly. “That’ll get me one hundred shares, right?”

“Right,” Bill affirmed, albeit a bit reluctantly. “And since you’re so determined to do this, I’ll throw in an extra thousand stocks. Of course, those shares will be restricted, and you won’t be able sell them for at least two years, but at least they should help you get your two grand back if the stocks bomb.”

Ed’s thick brow shot up in surprise. “Can you do that?”

“Of course I can,” Bill said with a chuckle. “Since I own half the company, I have a certain amount of stocks that I can do with as I please. Besides, I think I can swing it easily enough.”

Ed shook his head stubbornly. “I can’t let you waste one thousand shares on me. That’s too generous.”

“It’s the least I can do, my friend,” Bill told him. “I may have been the computer geek, but you taught me a lot about life. I’ve never forgotten your generosity, and it’s high time I paid you back for all the kindness you showed me.”

“I’d feel bad—”

“Ed, I’m the one who’ll feel badly if you don’t let me do this.” Bill locked eyes with his old friend. “You’ve always been the one to show kindness to others. This time, be the one to accept it.”

Ed swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. He gruffly sniffed back a few tears that had begun misting his eyes. “Thanks, Bill. I really appreciate that.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Bill told him with a wry expression. “At least wait until I make you a couple hundred grand.”

Ed snorted. “Yeah, like I’ll ever make that much money.”

“You never know.”

“Well, my friend, I’ll be thrilled if I could just double my money,” Ed said.

“Give me your address, and I’ll be sure that you get your certificates.” Bill handed him his business card and a pen. “And remember you can’t touch those restricted stocks for t—”

“Ten years,” Ed interrupted, looking up as he scrawled his address.

“No, two years,” Bill corrected. “Do you want me to write that down for you?”

“Nah, I’ll remember it.” Ed lifted his glass of lemonade in a toast. “Here’s to making a fortune in the stock market.”

With a wink, Bill lifted his own glass of iced tea. “I’ll drink to that, my friend.”

A month later, a week before Christmas…

Pretty Carolyn Lynch nervously brushed back an ebony tendril as she stopped to inspect her reflection in a window on the New York City street. She was accompanying her husband to West Side Advertising’s company annual Christmas dinner, and wanted to make him proud. “Are you sure I look all right?”

“Sweetheart, if you looked any prettier I’d be afraid to let you out of the house,” Ed teased. He cupped his wife’s cheeks with his hands and tilted her face upward until her brilliant blue eyes met his sherry-colored ones. His breath caught in his throat as he admired the love of his life. “Seriously Carolyn, in all my days, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. I’m mighty proud to be your husband, Mrs. Lynch.”

Carolyn blushed with pleasure, the scarlet of her cheeks only enhancing her classically beautiful features. “You look quite handsome yourself, Mr. Lynch. You’re even more dashing now than you were in high school.”

“I do clean up pretty well, don’t I?” He chuckled as he smoothed the lapel of his new suit. Though he hadn’t planned on spending any of his Christmas bonus on himself, his wife had insisted that he buy something. Wanting to please Carolyn, he had finally picked out the navy pinstriped suit he now wore, which had been on sale.

She smiled affectionately as she stood on her tiptoes to straighten his conservative tie. “You certainly do, darling. I’ll have my hands full, keeping the young secretaries away from you.”

“None of those girls can hold a candle to my girl,” Ed assured her, bending down to kiss her forehead. “I’m just hoping that Mrs. Jackson has Diana fast asleep when we get home so I can show you how beautiful I think you are.”

Carolyn looked up coyly at her husband through a fringe of thick, dark lashes. “Promise?”

“You have my word,” he answered solemnly. “But first, we’ll have to take off that pretty dress so it doesn’t get all wrinkly. You do like your dress, don’t you?”

Carolyn giggled as she spun around to make the red silk folds of her party gown’s skirt twirl. “Oh, I love it, Ed! You really shouldn’t have spent so much money on me.”

“How often can I buy my best girl a fancy dress at Macy’s?”

“Well, I suppose it’s okay,” she relented. “Since it’s Christmas…”

Ed smiled secretly as he thought of the diamond necklace that he had also purchased the previous month. It was still hidden away in his desk at the office, and he was dying to see the look on his wife’s face when she opened it.

“What’re you smiling about?” Carolyn asked, linking her hand through her husband’s arm.

“Just thinking about how jealous all the men I work with will be when they see you at my side,” he responded cryptically.

“If you’re so anxious to show me off, then maybe we should go inside,” she suggested with a shiver. She wrapped the secondhand shawl she’d found in a thrift store more closely around her as the wind blew a bit stronger. “I’m cold.”

“Your wish is my command.” Ed opened the door to the restaurant for his wife. “After you, my dear.”

Once inside, Carolyn stood on her tiptoes and began looking around the room.

“If you’re looking for my girlfriend, I doubt she’s here yet,” Ed teased with a wink.

“Silly goose.” She swatted him with her purse, a glimmer in her eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes with their irises the color of delphiniums mesmerized her husband, no matter how often he gazed into them. “I’m looking for Mr. West. I wanted to thank him for your generous bonus. It’s helped out so much.”

Ed swallowed a huge lump that had suddenly risen in his throat as he imagined his boss informing Carolyn that his bonus had been for $2,500 rather than $500. To say that he regretted making such a large investment in Bill’s extremely risky venture was putting it mildly. Even worse, although it had been over a month, he still hadn’t mustered the courage to tell her about his stock purchase. And he had a feeling that tonight wasn’t the best time to broach the subject. “Uh, sweetheart, maybe you shouldn’t mention my bonus to anyone.”

Carolyn lowered her brows quizzically. “Why not? It just doesn’t seem polite not to thank him.”

“I’ve already told him how grateful we are,” he responded quickly. “No need to do it again.”

“You can’t thank someone too much,” she insisted with a laugh.

Ed sighed deeply, wishing for the millionth time that he’d never purchased those stupid stocks. He had never kept secrets from Carolyn before, and keeping this one was like a knife through his heart. If worry didn’t kill him, the guilt would. Promising himself that he’d tell her the truth later that night, he said, “Sweetheart, I really wish that you wouldn’t mention that money. Nobody else in the office got such a big bonus, and I’d hate to cause hard feelings between the other employees.”

Carolyn worried her lower lip. “I hadn’t thought of that. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I promise I won’t bring it up.”

“That’s my girl,” Ed murmuring, breathing a sigh of relief. Taking his wife’s hand, he led her to an empty table. However, his relief was short-lived as his boss and his wife walked over to them.

“Ed!” Mr. West greeted congenially as he shook the younger man’s hand. “Mind if Evelyn and I join you and your lovely wife?”

Ed could barely swallow. Feeling three sets of eyes upon him, he plastered a wide smile on his face. “Of course not, Mr. West. We’d be honored to sit with you.” He watched warily as the older couple claimed the two remaining seats at their table and sat down.

Dinner was delicious, but in spite of his love of food, Ed could barely taste a bite. He spent the entire time worrying that the topic of his bonus would arise. Though his stomach was in knots during the meal, he had managed to survive the three-course meal without any mention of the check. Dessert had just been served when Mrs. West dropped the nuclear bomb.

“So Carolyn, did you enjoy spending Ed’s windfall?”

Uh-oh, was Ed’s initial thought. He held his breath as he waited for his wife’s answer.

“Actually, Ed spent most of it before I got a turn,” Carolyn replied politely. “He had a ball buying Christmas gifts for our family, especially Diana. He spoils her so, you know.”

Evelyn West cocked a silver brow in query. “Surely he hasn’t spent the entire bonus already?”

“Of course not,” Ed burst in, chuckling. “I managed to squirrel a little away in savings.” He automatically cringed, waiting for lightning to strike him where he sat.

“You did?” Carolyn turned around and looked at him, her widened eyes evidence of her pleased surprise. “That’s wonderful, Ed. How much were you able to put away in the bank?”

“Oh, I’m not sure about the exact amount,” Ed stammered nervously. “But darling, we’re boring Mr. and Mrs. West. Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”

“Why, this isn’t boring at all, Ed,” Mr. West insisted. “After all you’ve done for the company, it was a pleasure to give you such a big bonus. Just seeing your lovely wife’s smile warms this old man’s heart.”

Carolyn turned to face her husband’s employer, and smiled at him in her most becoming manner. “Thank you so much for your generosity, Mr. West. You can’t possibly know how that money has helped us.”

“You’re welcome, dear.” Mr. West patted Carolyn’s hand. “I only wish I could give you twenty-five hundred dollars every Christmas.”

Immediately, the smile faded from Carolyn’s lips. Her chin quavered with the effort of holding back her emotions. “Twenty-five hundred dollars?” was all that she said.

Mr. West began chuckling, thinking Carolyn’s reaction was a joke. “Surely you knew that’s what Ed received. He didn’t hide a grand or two from you, did he?”

Biting back the tears stinging her eyes, Carolyn laughed along with the older man. “Certainly not,” she managed to say. She cast her husband a pointed sidelong glance. “Thank you so much for your generosity, Mr. West. It was a lot more than I expected.”

Ed slunk down in his chair. Suddenly, he had no appetite for the lemon chiffon pie before him. His stomach sank as he waited for Carolyn to announce that he had, in fact, spent two thousand dollars without her knowledge.

However, much to his surprise, his wife didn’t say a word about the amount of the bonus. Instead, she plastered a fake smile on her face, purposely not making eye contact with Ed.

“My, isn’t this pie divine?” she commented in an overly-cheerful tone.

Murmurs of agreement came from the older couple, but one of the members of their party was strangely silent. He was too busy dreading the long evening ahead of him.

The silence ensued on into the long car ride back to Sleepyside. Though Ed attempted to begin a conversation a few times, it was clear Carolyn had nothing to say. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat of their old rattletrap of a car, her steely gaze fastened on the scenery out the window. Barely a minute after Ed pulled into the parking spot in front of their apartment building, Carolyn opened her door and jumped out onto the curb.

Ed hustled out of the car and raced down the sidewalk to catch his wife. It didn’t take long for his long-legged strides to catch up with her smaller ones. “Carolyn!” He reached out and gently clasped her arm. “You can’t ignore me all night!”

Allowing the sparks shooting off her eyes to do her talking for her, Carolyn wrenched away out of her husband’s embrace. Her lips set in an angry, thin line, she spun around like a flash of lightning.

“Carolyn!” Ed struggled to keep his Irish temper at bay. Taking a deep breath, he assumed a more docile tone. “Carolyn, you’re going to fall and kill yourself on this ice in those ridiculous heels. Let me help you inside.”

Refusing to give her husband a cursory look back, Carolyn stalked into their building, without his assistance. By the time Ed caught up to her, she had already paid Mrs. Jackson, sent their elderly neighbor on her way, and then locked herself in the bathroom. Sighing wearily, Ed rapped on the door.

“Carolyn, you can’t stay in there forever,” he beseeched. “Come out, sweetheart. We need to talk.”

Ed had once heard that, when involved in a confrontation with another, one should remain quiet after offering the ultimatum because the person who speaks first will ultimately be defeated. Therefore, he stood outside the door, patiently waiting for a response. Fifteen minutes later, it became painfully obvious that Carolyn must have heard that same theory and had no intentions of answering him. Briefly, Ed wondered if she really could stay in there forever.

Sighing wearily, Ed once again knocked. “Carolyn, I’m sorry. Can you please come out of the bathroom and talk to me? I love you, sweetheart. Please can we discuss this like two adults?”

He held his breath as he waited for a response. However, none would come. It appeared his bride was in this for the long haul.

“Carolyn, please come out.” Desperate, Ed pulled out his secret weapon— Carolyn’s superb motherly instincts. “All this noise is going to wake up Diana.”

As expected, the bathroom door slowly opened, and Carolyn emerged from her sanctuary. The party dress had been cast off in favor of her favorite tattered robe, and a thick spackling of cold cream had replaced her makeup. Apparently the evening wasn’t going to end as they had planned. However, Ed would be content if this night ended with him sleeping in his own bed, rather than on the couch.

He reached out a tenuous hand towards her hand, but Carolyn quickly pulled away her arm. Her sparking eyes currently resembled the blue flame under a Bunsen burner.

“Carolyn,” he began, his voice a defeated facsimile of his usual booming baritone. “If you’d only let me explain…”

Although she knew it was dangerous, Carolyn met her husband’s soulful gaze. And just as it feared, the love and remorse she found there forced her to relent. She released a labored breath, and then murmured, “All right, but this had better be good, Ed.”

This time when he reached out to take her hand, Carolyn didn’t resist. Hand-in-hand, the couple silently made their way into the bedroom. Once there, she left Ed sitting on the bed, and then walked over to the door and pulled it shut so their raised voices wouldn’t disturb their daughter. That accomplished, she whirled around, arms crossed and mouth pinched in irritation, and angrily strode over to her husband.

“What did you do with the rest of the money?”

Surprised by her sudden attack, Ed drew back. Perspiration beaded along his hairline, and his brows gathered at the bridge of his nose. “What?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Edward Lynch!” Carolyn spat contemptuously. “What happened to the other two thousand dollars? And if you want to live to see another day, you’d better not lie to me!”

In his twenty-nine years, Ed had looked fear in the eye on several occasions. However, this time was different; he’d never expected it to be five-foot-four, have curlers in its hair, and be dressed in a ratty blue housecoat.

He’d never been more frightened in his entire life.

“Well, I-I—” Ed stammered, his mind a jumbled mess of information.

“You’d better start talking, mister!” Carolyn shot back. “I want to know what happened to that two thousand bucks, and I want to know now!”

She was in the midst of her lecture, wagging her index finger angrily down at her cowering husband, when suddenly her mood changed. Through the veil of anger, tears began to form in her almond-shaped eyes. “Because if you’re having an affair, you can just leave now,” she choked out in conclusion.

“Having an affair?” he repeated incredulously.

“You are cheating on me!” Carolyn tearfully proclaimed. “Don’t even try to lie! You spent the rest of that money on some cheap, peroxide-blonde floozy named Ginger!”

“You can’t possibly think—”

“I don’t know what to think!” With a trembling hand, Carolyn wiped the steady stream of tears now coursing down her high cheekbones. She suddenly got on her knees by the foot of the bed, and looked up pleadingly at her husband. “Why, Ed? Haven’t I been a good wife to you? Haven’t I loved you? Why did you do it? Why?”

“I did it for you, Carolyn!” Ed exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “I did it for you!”

The last of Carolyn’s already-fragile demeanor deteriorated, and soon, wracking sobs shook her shoulders. “Exactly why did you have an affair for me?” she barely managed through her cries. “How does that help me?”

“I didn’t have an affair!” Ed reached down and clutched each of his wife’s arms to give her a gentle shake. “I wanted to give you and Diana a better life, so I spent the money on stocks!”

“Stocks?” Carolyn’s sobs ceased, leaving behind hiccups. However, the good news for Ed was that she didn’t appear nearly as angry or upset as she had been ten minutes ago. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“I bought one hundred shares of stock with the extra two grand,” he told her flatly.

She stared up at him wordless for a moment, her brows drawn upward in surprise. After his words penetrated her brain, she asked, “You spent the money in the stock market?”

“Yes, Carolyn. I bought one hundred shares of stock in a company.”

She blinked a few times as she attempted to compute this information. “And you spent all the two thousand dollars on stocks?”

“I did.”

Carolyn reached up and brushed back a lock of ebony hair that had fallen in her face. “Who did you buy the stocks from?”

A frown marred Ed’s forehead. Instinctively, he knew his wife wouldn’t like the answer to that question. When he opened his mouth to provide that answer, nothing came out.

“Who did you buy the stocks from, Ed?” Carolyn prompted, her tone brusque.

“Do you remember that guy I was friends with at Harvard?” After a hesitant pause, he continued, “Bil—”

Carolyn’s face turned a ghastly shade of gray. “Ed, please tell me you didn’t buy two thousand dollars worth of stocks from that guy who dropped out of college?!” She pulled a handful of hair out of her curlers and clutched it tightly. “What were you thinking?”

“No,” Ed amended, “I bought two thousand dollars worth of stock from a computer genius!”

“He didn’t even get his degree!” she shouted angrily. “If he can’t graduate, what makes you think he can run a successful business?!”

“I don’t know,” he admitted with a shrug. “It seemed like a good idea at the time—”

“Well, how does that idea sound now?” Carolyn demanded, her voice dripping with sarcasm and her blue eyes flashing like bolts of lightning.

“Pretty stupid,” was her husband’s grim response.

“Do you know how the stocks are doing?”

Ed threw up a hand in resignation. “Heck if I know, Car. I tried to look at one of those graph things to see if we’d made any money, but it didn’t make a bit of sense to me. Best I could tell, they’ve only gone up a couple of measly points, so I may’ve made a dollar or two, but it was nothing like I’d hoped it’d be.” He shook his head sadly, and added in a whisper, “I got in over my head, sweetheart. I hoped I’d be one of those lucky guys who’d make a hundred grand overnight by some fluke stock purchase. But I was wrong.”

At her husband’s defeated expression, Carolyn relented. She rose from her kneeling position and sat beside him on the bed. Taking one of his hands in hers, she said, “You had good intentions, Ed. Your heart was in the right place, like it always is, but you just didn’t think it through before you acted.”

He closed his eyes, hoping it would blind him to the truth. However, no matter how gut-wrenching it was, he had to face it. “You’re right. I tried to act like a big shot, and it blew up in my face. I just wish I could make it all better.”

“Could you sell the stocks?” Carolyn suggested hopefully. “I’ve heard of people doing that. If we could just break even…”

Ed shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m stuck with them for a while. Most of the stocks I got from Bill were restricted, and he said I couldn’t sell them for a few years.”

“Exactly how many years until you can sell them?”

“I’m not sure,” he mumbled. “I think he said ten or fifteen. You know I have trouble remembering details.”

Carolyn resisted the urge the snort; she knew quite well that her husband would forget his own head if it weren’t attached to his neck. “Well, how will we ever find out if— and let me repeat if— we’ve made any money?”

“I don’t know,” Ed replied cryptically. “I guess Bill will get in touch with me somehow. Maybe he’ll call or send a letter, or if he’s not too busy, maybe he’ll stop by the house…”

“I don’t think it works that way, Ed,” she commented, sighing wearily.

“Then how does it work, Carolyn?” he inquired without much emotion. “And after you answer that, why don’t you remind me that I don’t have the foggiest idea what I’m doing?”

“Well, I’d like to, but as impossible as it sounds, I know even less about this than you do!” Carolyn shot back, her temper once again rising to the surface. “But I will tell you this: Maybe before you waste two thousand dollars on buying shares of a company, you should actually learn something about the stock market!”

“Well, since I’m the one with a real job, it was my money to spend!” Ed countered loudly.

The second the words were out of his mouth, Ed realized he had just uttered the most foolish, most insensitive, most incorrect words ever spoken. If he was lucky enough to survive the inevitable fallout, there would be a stiff price to pay. If he survived, that is.

Carolyn stood up, placed her hands on her hips, and glared down at her husband with all the rage of a thousand warriors. Ten thousand nuclear warheads could not pose a greater threat to mankind. One very frightened man, in particular.

“How. Dare. You.” Her words were slow and her tone was venomous. “I work my butt off, dawn till dark, making this shabby apartment a happy home for you and our daughter. I dare you to survive one week—no, one day! — doing what I do! You’d cry like a little girl to go back to your job, Edward Lynch! Why, within an hour, you’d be begging and pleading for a break from babysitting! You’d be buried in dirty dishes and laundry, and Diana would be screaming and you’d be starving to death!”

Ed opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a single word, Carolyn stuck her finger in front of his face and continued her tirade. “And another thing! If I was the one bringing home the bacon, I sure wouldn’t let some stupid college dropout sell me a bunch of worthless stocks! You might as well have gone out and bought magic beans!”

Sherry-colore