Nancy asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you that,” Ned said, looking her over.

“If you need to know, I was having dinner with Frank.”

“I’m leaving,” Ned said, pushing past Nancy, as he moved to the door.

Nancy watched as Ned struggled with the door. She knew it wasn’t going to open. She sat down on the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to get he door open.”

Ned kicked the door before turning away from it. He moved back into the room toward the phone. He picked the phone up. A moment later, he slammed it down. “We’re stuck.”

“We’ll just have to wait until we’re let out.”

“If you have your lock-pick, we could be out a lot sooner.”

“I don’t.”

“That’s a first,” Ned said sarcastically. He turned so his back was to Nancy. “I can’t believe we’re stuck in here. I can’t believe Joe did this to me. He’s going to pay when I get out of here.”

“Stop playing tough. Just sit down and relax. We have to wait.”

“I’m not waiting with you.” Ned moved over to the window. He pushed the curtains back.

“We’re too high up,” Nancy said.

Ned angrily threw the curtains back in place. He moved over to the other bed, sitting with his back to her.

Nancy sat quietly. She knew this was ridiculous. We are both adults, she thought. And we should act that way. We can be civil to each other, or at least try.

Nancy broke the silence and quietly asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Joe called me. We were about to leave when he realized he forgot his wallet. We came back to get it.”

There was silence again. She asked, “How have you been?”

“Fine.”

Nancy turned and looked at Ned’s back. She knew they should talk about what happened. She thought they might be able to still be friends. She took a deep breath. “Why did you get so angry?”

Ned turned. Nancy could see his eyes were blazing. Ned asked, “Why shouldn’t I be angry?”

“I don’t understand it,” Nancy said.

Ned got to his feet. “We were to become husband and wife. But that’s not going to happen. You don’t think of me. You only think of yourself. You always put me second and I’m not going to stand for it.”

Nancy couldn’t believe Ned. He had gone back to the same thing as before. Nancy asked, “Are you through?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know the reason Frank and Joe are here?”

“Because you called them.”

“I did call them. But they were here to take over the case I was given. I wanted them to look into it so I could concentrate on the wedding. I didn’t want anything to ruin our wedding.” She took a breath before continuing. “I was thinking about the case Friday night. When I realized how much I needed to do to solve it, I called the Hardy’s. I tried to explain it to you, but you didn’t want to take my calls. I called all weekend, but you were too busy for me.”

Nancy looked at the floor. “Investigating is something I want to do. It’s something I will do. I’m sorry you don’t approve, but that’s a part of me that is never going to change.”

There were a few minutes of silence. Ned quietly asked, “Did you really plan to hand the case to Frank and Joe?”

“I was. I checked it out first. I knew I couldn’t investigate on my own. I knew someone needed to go undercover. I knew it wouldn’t be me.”

Nancy got to her feet and moved to the door. She knew there was no use talking to Ned. She reached for the doorknob and pulled. She wanted to get out. She had had enough of the game.

“Nan,” Ned said. “I wish you would’ve told me.”

“I tried.” Nancy pulled on the door again. “But you wouldn’t listen.”

Nancy stopped struggling with the door. She realized Frank and Joe had rigged the door so it wouldn’t open. Nancy felt a hand on her shoulder. She stood still for a moment before being turned around by Ned.

“I realize I should’ve listened. I know I was wrong. I should’ve been more supportive,” Ned said.

Nancy stepped away from him toward the bed. She sat back down. She wasn’t sure what was going on. Ned sounded sympathetic, but she wasn’t sure about her feelings. She loved Ned, but she didn’t want to be hurt again. She wasn’t sure about them as a couple anymore.

Ned moved in front of her. He kneeled down. “Nancy, please look at me.”

Nancy looked at Ned. He put his hand against her cheek. “Nancy, I was afraid you were going to get hurt. I didn’t want to lose you. I almost lost you once. I couldn’t go through that again.” He looked into her eyes. “That’s the reason why I didn’t want you investigating.”

“You should have told me that instead of forbidding me from investigating.”

“I know I was wrong. I know we should’ve talked it over. We shouldn’t have fought with the wedding so close.”

“It’s too late now,” she said, and Ned took his hand away from her face. “It was your decision to go our separate ways. Nothing will change that.”

“Nancy, I’m sorry. I know I should’ve never told you what to do. You make your own decisions and always will.” Ned looked at the floor. “I wish I could take back everything I said, but I can’t.”

“We both said things we shouldn’t have.” Nancy realized her feelings for Ned were as strong as ever before. She knew she still loved him, even though they’d both made some mistakes.

Without realizing it, Nancy leaned toward Ned. They kissed. A few minutes later, they pulled apart. Nancy looked into Ned’s eyes.

“Am I forgiven?” Ned asked.

Nancy focused on his eyes. “Are you going to forbid me again?”

“I can’t promise that. I’ll always be concerned about you. But I can promise we’ll talk things over. Every decision needs to be talked over by both of us. We need to think of each other.”

Nancy leaned toward Ned and they kissed again. When Nancy pulled back, she said, “You’re forgiven. It was a stupid fight to being with.”

“You’re right.” Ned leaned toward Nancy. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you. I couldn’t get my mind off you. I wanted to hold you in my arms, but I didn’t think you knew how I was feeling.”

“I knew. I knew you were afraid to lose me. I understood why you were so worried with the wedding so close.”

The wedding. Nancy pulled back and looked at Ned. She realized all their wedding plans had been canceled. She asked, “Is the wedding back on?”

Ned smiled at her. “I never canceled any of the plans.”

“Why?”

“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to upset anyone.”

“You were going to wait and say something at the ceremony, weren’t you?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure how to tell everyone.” Ned looked at Nancy with a smile on his face. “Maybe I won’t have to.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We still get married.” Ned went on quickly before Nancy could say anything. “I mean, we both made mistakes and we were both wrong. But I don’t see why we can’t still get married. I love you so much. I know that love won’t go away. Please, Nancy, say you’ll marry me.”

Nancy knew Ned was right. They both made mistakes. She loved Ned as well. She looked at Ned and smiled. She knew they couldn’t change the past. She watched as Ned reached into his pocket. He pulled his hand out and slowly opened it. She saw here engagement ring.