Dreams of Forever

Who knew Sex and the City really began in 1987, with Caitlin, rockin' that Barbie-doll hair!

Book Series:                Caitlin: The Forever Trilogy #1
Title:                            Dreams of Forever
Publishing Date:         1987
Author:                        Francine Pascal
Publisher:                    Bantam Books, Inc.
Point of View:             Third Person, omnipotent
Chapter Count:           20
Page Count:               197

Chapter 1- Hail the conquering graduates of Carleton Hill University! Jed and Caitlin are ready to take on the world, together. Jed will go on to graduate school at Columbia in NYC to study law, while Caitlin will be the next Brenda Starr (sans the red hair) for National News magazine as assistant to the (female) editor. The two young adults turn to greet Dr. Gordan Westlake, Grandmother Regina Ryan, and Jed's father, Carl Michaels, who keels over just as they've started chatting. He's having a heart attack! Is there a doctor in the house?

Chapter 2- The scene in the hospital waiting room is tense. Regina Ryan and Dr. Westlake leave after Caitlin insists she's staying to support Jed. His father dies later that night. Caitlin holds Jed as he cries, mourning with him, promising complete support in whatever Jed decides to do regarding the family ranch in Montana.

Chapter 3- Caitlin travels with Jed to Montana. After the funeral, the family attorney meets with Jed and his younger sister, Melanie, newly graduated from high school, to go over the estate. To their astonishment, their father never bothered to update his will after the divorce so the entire ranch has been left to none other than his ex-wife. Jed and Melanie are devastated because the ranch is as good as sold, leaving them homeless. Caitlin suggests Jed continue his plans to attend Columbia and bring Melanie along who can enroll in NYU. The three of them will hang out and paint the town red, in separate apartments of course.

Chapter 4- Two of Caitlin's classmates from Highgate are living in NYC and are happy to house Caitlin until she can find her own place. Both girls work pink collar jobs-secretary and magazine writer-plus night classes. They date occasionally but tonight they will fix dinner for Caitlin, do their homework and stay in. Learning Caitlin is still with Jed, they anticipate wedding plans and beg to be bridesmaids. Caitlin laughs and agrees; if Jed decides to propose, they're in.

Chapter 5- Caitlin starts her new job and the first week flies by. Jed comes out for the weekend and they spend all day Saturday seeing the sights. Jed also has a proposition for her. Since he'll be relocating here soon, around the same time Caitlin will be finding her own place, they should just move in together. Melanie can find her own apartment. Caitlin is shocked. She clutches her pearls. Live together? Without being married? Unheard of! She begs for time to think over such a big step in their relationship. Jed's mask of cold indifference drops into place. Reluctantly, he agrees to give Caitlin time. 
After tossing and turning all night, Caitlin tells Jed she'll get her own place and live alone for now. They have their whole lives ahead of them to test their compatibility before committing to marriage (cohabitation?).

Chapter 6- Thanks to her incredible wealth, Caitlin leases an apartment in the same building as her friends on the Upper East Side, a real fixer-upper, but that's what hired laborers and contractors are for, right? The redecorating is accomplished quickly and Caitlin moves in, three weeks later. She buys all new furniture and art. 
Meanwhile, Jed found his own bachelor pad on the Upper West Side, a large two bedroom with dining room and real working fireplace.
After a hectic day at work, Caitlin has Jed over for dinner, just the two of them. A private housewarming and it's a pleasant (chaste) evening for both.

Chapter 7- At work, Caitlin meets thirty-four-year-old Peter Leonard, the magazine's official photographer who is immediately smitten by Caitlin's devastating beauty. Since his model didn't show up for today's shoot, he declares Caitlin will make the perfect substitute. Flattered, Caitlin agrees to be National News' next cover model.

Chapter 8- Melanie is also here, experiencing New York and she's ready to ditch her wholesome, country image and become a real "Carrie Bradshaw" buying a new wardrobe and cutting her hair into The Rachel. A tall, handsome, stranger with a lazy grin, stops her on the street and starts chatting her up. The young man introduces himself as Cole and asks her out. With his single pierced ear and hair "cut punk" Melanie decides he's exactly the type of guy she's looking for to complete her new image and they go for coffee.
September passes in a whirl. Jed is suffering Freshman Fatigue. He stops going to his classes and starts spending all his time with a group of fellow classmates who would rather party all night than study. When word reaches him about Melanie's new boyfriend with the bad reputation, he shrugs, "Am I my sister's keeper?"
So, when Caitlin gets wind of her boyfriend and Melanie's philandering, worldly ways, she can't sleep for worry. Her two best friends are turning to the dark side and there's nothing she can do about it. (Quick, somebody call Elizabeth Wakefield!)

Chapter 9- Peter interrupts Caitlin, hard at work at her desk in the magazine office. She's on the cover of the latest issue! She looks great and sales have skyrocketed.
A few nights later, Caitlin is all dressed up (she'll turn 22 soon) and Jed is taking her out to dinner so she can meet his new friends, who don't impress her very much, while Jed can show off his "arm candy," the city's newest pin-up girl. Caitlin would've preferred staying in tonight, but when she mentions her fatigue to Jed he gets very defensive and they part on disagreeable terms.

Chapter 10- Jed calls to apologize next morning. Peter talks to Caitlin at work. A prominent cosmetics company wants to make Caitlin their new cover girl, with a contract and everything (never mind Caitlin has no professional portfolio, an agent, or ever harbored any ambitions to be America's Next Top Model). Caitlin agrees. The papers are signed and Caitlin meets with the stylists and wardrobe people who declare Caitlin's long, raven black hair, deep blue eyes and slim figure are perfect, just the way they are. No makeover or dieting will be necessary.
Peter ogles her behind his camera during an early morning shoot in Central Park. Unbeknownst to both, Jed is here, observing the entire scene. Hearing Caitlin's photographer is a single male, he became insanely crazy with jealousy and is spying on them from the bush. He steps out just as Peter is about to lean in for a suspected kiss and surprises them. Embarrassed to find nothing is going on between them, Jed makes a flimsy excuse about taking Caitlin to breakfast but Caitlin is too offended that Jed doesn't trust her. Can't he see Caitlin's relationship with Peter is strictly platonic? She tells him to go home.

Chapter 11- Caitlin's old flame from high school, Laurence Baxter, (see Book #3 True Love from The Love Trilogy) is in town. Caitlin and Jed bring Melanie along to join them for dinner. Caitlin is pleased to observe the chemistry between Lawrence and Melanie. Unfortunately, word leaks to Caitlin, two weeks later that Melanie is still running around with that douche bag, Cole, drunk and out late partying every night, when she's supposed to be enrolled in school.
Caitlin tries to talk to Melanie, warning her about this player who never commits leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. Melanie slams the door in her face.
She tries Jed next who just shrugs. Melanie's a big girl now, she can take care of herself. He's not worried. Caitlin has never felt so powerless.

Chapter 12- Peter has a surprise for Caitlin the following morning at work. He wants her to fly to a Caribbean island with him, hotel accommodations included, for a special photo shoot, courtesy of her new sponsor. But Caitlin also has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the magazine this weekend to interview a famous, very single, male celebrity. There's no way she can do both.
Caitlin returns from lunch to find a dozen red roses from Jed on her desk and an invite to dinner at his place where she confides in him her dilemma but instead of sympathy and advice, Jed gets angry. Can't she see Peter only wants to make Caitlin his angel in the centerfold? There's no way he'll allow her to take a private trip with that jerk. Caitlin gets angry in return and storms out of Jed's apartment. She'll be accepting Peter's offer after all, if only to spite Jed.

Chapter 13- Caitlin has to shower and wash her hair at least twice a day during her weekend shoot in the Caribbean. Early morning/all day photo shoots, a dip in the hotel pool and dinner with Peter that night fill up her two day stay. The owner of the resort approaches their table with complimentary champagne because they are such important guests and make such a nice couple. Caitlin blushes, Peter gets his hopes up. He tells Caitlin how he feels about her but Caitlin can only apologize. She already has a boyfriend. Caitlin resolves to call him as soon as she gets back to New York. Jed was right about Peter all along. 

Chapter 14- Single life being what it is in the Big Apple, Jed has already found himself a rebound relationship. A knockout, bombshell blonde female named Nonnie, who loves to party and hook up with any willing male and Jed is no exception. They go to Club Max, where, amidst the smoke filled room, Jed spots his own little sister grinding away with all the drunk frat boys, including Cole. He confronts her boyfriend. Blows are exchanged until a bouncer throws them all out.
Nonnie is so angry Jed would ditch her to take his intoxicated little sister home and put her to bed instead of being with her, she tells everyone who asks that Jed tried to rape her and she told him to get lost. Now everyone thinks Jed spent the night with a hooker.

Chapter 15- And that's the story Caitlin hears first thing the next morning when a friend calls her. Jed is no longer a virgin. He cheated on her! Caitlin calls Jed's apartment but Melanie is too hung-over to know anything. She hangs up. Caitlin's phone rings again. It's Jed, but Caitlin refuses to believe his story and hangs up on him.

Chapter 16- A week passes. Caitlin continues to work at the magazine. She goes home for the weekend to Ryan Acres for a pleasant visit with her Grandmother and rides Duster for the first time in ages before taking a trip into town where she runs into Lawrence Baxter who takes her to lunch.
Lawrence tells her he really enjoyed meeting Melanie and would like to see more of her. Caitlin tells him, by all means, please, give Melanie a call, offer to be her next boyfriend, get her away from Cole and off our hands! 
Thanks to her connections at the magazine, Caitlin attends the glamorous opening of a new club with Peter. As they step out of the limo, flashbulbs pop, Caitlin is wearing an elegant white beaded dress with her hair hanging loose and full around her shoulders.
Inside, who should they see but Jed and Nonnie. Like something out of a bad rom-com, the two feuding lovers steer their dates onto the dance floor and attempt to out-do each other until Nonnie pipes up, sneering a degrading remark at Caitlin which offends Peter which leads to a fist fight with Jed. Caitlin flees in tears. Peter runs after her leaving Jed sitting on the floor, stunned. Nonnie pulls him up for one last dance and Jed decides to let Caitlin go.

Chapter 17- Ever the gentleman, Peter takes a weeping Caitlin home where she tosses and turns all night. Alone. At 5:30am, the phone rings but it's not Jed, calling to apologize, it's her father, Dr. Westlake. Regina Ryan has suffered a stroke. She's in the hospital and might not make it. Caitlin needs to come, right away.
Frantic, Caitlin dials Jed but he's not home, he's out walking the streets, racking his brain for a way to get Caitlin back because, darn it, he still loves her! Caitlin reaches Peter instead who comes right over to take her to the airport (because Caitlin can't call a cab herself?) and offer his shoulder for her to cry on. Hefting her bags, he walks Caitlin down to the street where he has a cab waiting for them both.
This is the scene Jed observes as he's approaching Caitlin's building with every intention of going up, knocking on her door and begging forgiveness. Well, that's all out now. Darn that Peter! Spending the night with Caitlin and whisking her away to another tropical romantic getaway, most likely. He'll show them! He'll do something so shocking, Caitlin'll wish she'd never heard of Peter. (He's going to start using Tinder?)

Chapter 18- Missing Jed desperately, Caitlin keeps vigil in the hospital waiting room. Alone. Apparently, Peter didn't come. Her father is there but Regina Ryan is in a coma and there's nothing they can do but wait. Her father needs to get back to work but Caitlin promises to call him if she needs him or if there's any change.
Twenty-four hours later Caitlin returns from the pay phone, again, where she's tried several times to call Jed but nobody's answering and cell phones only the rich can afford won't be invented for another decade.

Chapter 19- Since he stayed up all night, Jed returns to his apartment, unplugs the phone and collapses onto his bed, sleeping until late afternoon. Waking, he decides he's through with that superficial slut, Caitlin, takes a shower and heads out for a night on the town ending up at a party where Melanie is also in attendance with her favorite bad boy. Once again, Jed tries to drag his sister away but Cole punches him.
Peter is suddenly there, picking Jed up and breaking up the fight. He leads Melanie and Jed outside where he explains why Jed saw him with Caitlin, who really loves does love him and needs him now, more than ever.
Jed sees the light, thanks Peter, who promises to escort Melanie safely home and jumps in the nearest cab for the airport.

Chapter 20- Jed arrives just in time to take Caitlin in his arms in the hospital waiting room. Each beg forgiveness of the other. Dr. Westlake appears to announce Grandmother has finally come out of her coma and can allow visitors. Jed and Caitlin share a passionate kiss of renewal.

THE END