Kim Delaney was on the set of her ABC Television courtroom drama, "Philly", rehearsing her lines. A picture of pure professionalism, she worked and worked to make the lawyer character she played believable.
Nearby a stagehand described the work habits of the 39-year-old star.
"She's a total pro, a hard worker. She is demanding but not unrealistic," said the older man, nodding at the show's successful star. "She has a good sense of humor, and often breaks us up with her jokes."
An elder makeup specialist agreed with her co-worker. "Ms. Delaney is just a nice girl, she always asks about my family, and she always has a nice word to say about my work. I have worked with hundreds of stars," said the woman, "and I would say the majority are uppity and in their own world. But not Ms. Delaney, she's a special woman."
The Philadelphia born actress has graced the small and big screens for several decades. She played Jenny Gardner on the soap "All My Children" for three years before moving on to the big screen. She has appeared in more than 20 feature films, but in recent years has been earning critical acclaim in television.
She parlayed a guest spot on "LA Law" into a staring role in "Tour of Duty," then played alcoholic detective Diane Russe on "NYPD Blue". It was that New York-based show which earned her an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actress.
Her time with "Blue" was critically acclaimed, as her character found creative ways to capture the bad guys while still finding time to be the sexy girlfriend of co-star Jimmy Smits. The two, in fact, had a steamy simulated sex scene in her first episode on the award-winning show.
As she rehearsed her lines, Delaney thought ahead to the weekend, when she would be visiting family in the Delaware Valley, hitting some of her old haunts, and relaxing. She was looking forward to the weekend, as she needed the rest and relaxation after several months of grueling filming. Early the next week she planned on a uneventful drive along the Atlantic City Expressway and then the Garden State Parkway to visit her old college girlfriend in Cape May.
"I can't wait," she thought, sipping coffee as she read her lines.
The little gremlin in the back of her mind nodded agreement, quietly sending a gentle warm feeling through the actresses mind.
* * *
Kim Delaney bit her family adieu, smiling as she slid into the driver's seat of her fiery red Corvette. The car was a gift from her television show's producers, but the outfit she wore was purely her own Fifth Avenue taste. Casual four-button fleece top from Nordstrom, a pleated flannel Italian skirt from Saks, and a classic leather-riding boots from Hermes. She looked adorable with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, practical given her penchant for driving with the 'Vette's convertible top down.
She began the drive down the tree-lined South Philadelphia street toward Delaware Avenue, then out of town and over the heavily traveled Walt Whitman Bridge. As she traversed the road high above the Delaware River she remembered back to her teenage years. Those days, when she wasn't hitting the books, she dated lots of different guys.
Many of them ended their dates by parking with the cute girl in the shadows of the river just off Penrose Avenue. In those years the many guys tried to get into her pants, but none was successful. Still she was a popular lass, as her handjobs were exquisite and satisfying. It wasn't until the summer after her graduation that she lost her virginity.
As she whisked down the North-South Freeway, Delaney's mind wondered back to her new television show. People kept telling her they liked the show, that she presented a great side of womanhood. Still, she was happy to have the first nine episodes in the can, and wondered how long she could continue enjoying the time off. As the wind pelleted her face, she thought of how most of her vacations were cut short when her Type A personality almost forced her to get back into the work mode early.
"I must force myself to have some fun," she thought, switching from an easy listening station on the radio over to her CD. "What good is success if you can't enjoy it?"
Just before the entrance of the Atlantic City Expressway the actress made a quick decision to take the back roads down to the shore. There was no hurry, she enjoyed the scenery of the Garden State, and along the way she could pick up some excellent Jersey corn or other produce at one of the numerous roadside stands to bring as a gift to her friend Cindy's Cape May home.
* * *
The strong smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns struck the nostrils of Jack Dougherty as he entered the old diner off Route 553. Diners are to New Jersey as Delicatessens are to New York. A place to get decent food at a decent price, diners can be found at most of the circles that grace the state's roadways.
The 40-something man was tired from the long trip from North Carolina, where he had started her journey the day before. After dropping packages in Salisbury, Maryland, Dougherty drove into Delaware and took the Cape May-Lewes Ferry into New Jersey before finding and then sacking out in a fleabag motel.
This morning, after an invigorating, heart-awaking run and then soothing warm shower, he donned his denim shirt and faded blue jeans and hit the road. He drove northwest for about an hour before stopping at the Five Points Diner for a greasy spoon breakfast. Sitting at the counter, he attempted to strike up a conversation with a cute waitress, to no avail.
"I think she likes girls," said the tired looking man sitting a couple seats down after the woman entered the kitchen. "She doesn't even flirt with guys, which has to affect her tips."
Dougherty nodded his head in agreement at the regular's assessment of the waitress. "You have to work the crowd to be successful in this line of work," he replied, looking around the room. "It's not as if this place is packed. You'd think she would be working us for a bigger tip."
The two talked a little more about the waitress, especially her ample bosom and the length of her black skirt, before switching the conversation to football when the woman returned to the dining area. Football turned to hockey, which turned to politics and two more cups of coffee.
Their conversation was interrupted when a brunette opened the front door, entered the diner, and casually looked around. She was an attractive woman who looked somewhat familiar. The men watched as she sauntered over to a booth and sat down.
"She's a looker," said the guy whose name turned out to be Mike Sampson, a local maintenance mechanic. "I like her more than the waitress."
The truck driver agreed, adding, "She's not only a looker, but a classy looker as well. I could swear I've seen her somewhere before."