Roses at Home-8
Another Monday morning. Kate usually didn’t mind Monday mornings, probably because she enjoyed her work. She was working in the accounting department of a large investment company. It was busy, hard work but it was what she enjoyed. Mondays were never terrible. Until now, that is. She felt aloof and confused. The weekends events left her dazed, and to make matters worse, it was a slow Monday. She had already finished her paperwork, checked her email (six times), gotten a drink from the break room (eight times), and spoken to everyone in her area. She tried to keep her mind busy, otherwise her thoughts drifted back to him, his touch, his kiss.
Finally after lunch she could take it no more. Using the office phone, she dialed quickly and held her breath.
“This is Will,” he answered. There was a slight apprehension in his voice. Kate realized she never gave him her office number.
“Hey, it’s Kate,” she said after a moment. “I’m calling from the office.”
“So it is. How are you? How was your trip back?”
“It was fine, rather boring. How are you?”
“I’m great. Listen I’ve got to run to meet my agent, how about dinner tonight? Mama Varillas?” Something was not right in his voice. He sounded tense, and curt.
“Sounds good, I’ll meet you there at 7?” They finished and hung up. Kate made the reservation under his name, which guaranteed a nicer table. Now it was just a matter of six hours to kill.
Seven o’clock came faster than Kate had anticipated. One of the clients accounts needed immediate attention and she barely had time to freshen up before getting into a cab to go downtown for dinner. When she got to Mama Varillas, William was already waiting at the table. He gave her a small kiss, and pulled out her chair for her. They ordered quickly and it was not until they finished eating dinner that he started talking. Up until then, he made small talk but avoided eye contact. Kate was getting more nervous.
“Kate, these past few days have been amazing,” William started off. Kate held her breath. “But unfortunately,” He paused taking a breath. “I have to leave for a bit.”
“You’re leaving… me?” Kate asked, somewhat confused.
“No! Not that, I meant to say,” William ran a hand through his hair. “I have to work, promotional stuff, lots of traveling.”
Kate sighed, so it wasn’t terrible news. “Oh, oh that.” She nodded and looked down. “How long will you be gone then?”
“At least a month. Hopefully not more than a month but I can not guarantee anything. Nor do I know my full schedule yet.”
“And you just found out today?” Kate looked up. “You had no idea that all of this promotional work would kick in now?”
“Well,” William paused, unsure how to continue. “I had an idea for a while now. But this weekend, was amazing and I forgot the world when I was with you.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. How he hated hurting her, she might never understand. “I felt like the luckiest man alive. I do not want to leave England the loneliest.”
“Excuse me sir,” the waiter had come with the check. William gave his card and signed without really looking. After a few more moments of silence, Kate finally spoke.
“I just had the most wonderful weekend of my life,” she said softly. “Now you are leaving, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.” William looked down at the table. There were a few crumbs, he wondered if counting them might make this less painful. “But,” Kate continued. “This is something so important to you. It is your life and your dream. I want you to go and enjoy it. And when you come home, we’ll have another nice dinner, and perhaps dessert.” She reached across the table and brushed his cheek with her hands. “But know this, I will miss you terribly, think of you often, and love you dearly.”
William broke into a huge smile, eyes glittering. All of his fears were gone. He took her hand and kissed it.
“When do you leave?” Kate asked as they left the restaurant.
“Tomorrow morning,” William said. “Very early, I’m off to New Zealand first.” Kate’s heart sank, so the good-byes were earlier than she had hoped. “Please try not to be upset.”
“How can I be upset with you?” Kate whispered into his ear. She hugged him close, taking in his scent and making a memory she hoped would last over the coming weeks. He cupped her face with both of his hands, and brought it close to his. Their noses touched and William gazed into the eyes of his beloved, taking in her very soul. Then he kissed her softly on her lips. Kate understood a good-bye kiss. Something lovely and loving, full of emotion and sadness, just enough to assure you a reunion.
And with that, she bid him goodbye, got in a cab and went home.
Finally after lunch she could take it no more. Using the office phone, she dialed quickly and held her breath.
“This is Will,” he answered. There was a slight apprehension in his voice. Kate realized she never gave him her office number.
“Hey, it’s Kate,” she said after a moment. “I’m calling from the office.”
“So it is. How are you? How was your trip back?”
“It was fine, rather boring. How are you?”
“I’m great. Listen I’ve got to run to meet my agent, how about dinner tonight? Mama Varillas?” Something was not right in his voice. He sounded tense, and curt.
“Sounds good, I’ll meet you there at 7?” They finished and hung up. Kate made the reservation under his name, which guaranteed a nicer table. Now it was just a matter of six hours to kill.
Seven o’clock came faster than Kate had anticipated. One of the clients accounts needed immediate attention and she barely had time to freshen up before getting into a cab to go downtown for dinner. When she got to Mama Varillas, William was already waiting at the table. He gave her a small kiss, and pulled out her chair for her. They ordered quickly and it was not until they finished eating dinner that he started talking. Up until then, he made small talk but avoided eye contact. Kate was getting more nervous.
“Kate, these past few days have been amazing,” William started off. Kate held her breath. “But unfortunately,” He paused taking a breath. “I have to leave for a bit.”
“You’re leaving… me?” Kate asked, somewhat confused.
“No! Not that, I meant to say,” William ran a hand through his hair. “I have to work, promotional stuff, lots of traveling.”
Kate sighed, so it wasn’t terrible news. “Oh, oh that.” She nodded and looked down. “How long will you be gone then?”
“At least a month. Hopefully not more than a month but I can not guarantee anything. Nor do I know my full schedule yet.”
“And you just found out today?” Kate looked up. “You had no idea that all of this promotional work would kick in now?”
“Well,” William paused, unsure how to continue. “I had an idea for a while now. But this weekend, was amazing and I forgot the world when I was with you.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. How he hated hurting her, she might never understand. “I felt like the luckiest man alive. I do not want to leave England the loneliest.”
“Excuse me sir,” the waiter had come with the check. William gave his card and signed without really looking. After a few more moments of silence, Kate finally spoke.
“I just had the most wonderful weekend of my life,” she said softly. “Now you are leaving, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.” William looked down at the table. There were a few crumbs, he wondered if counting them might make this less painful. “But,” Kate continued. “This is something so important to you. It is your life and your dream. I want you to go and enjoy it. And when you come home, we’ll have another nice dinner, and perhaps dessert.” She reached across the table and brushed his cheek with her hands. “But know this, I will miss you terribly, think of you often, and love you dearly.”
William broke into a huge smile, eyes glittering. All of his fears were gone. He took her hand and kissed it.
“When do you leave?” Kate asked as they left the restaurant.
“Tomorrow morning,” William said. “Very early, I’m off to New Zealand first.” Kate’s heart sank, so the good-byes were earlier than she had hoped. “Please try not to be upset.”
“How can I be upset with you?” Kate whispered into his ear. She hugged him close, taking in his scent and making a memory she hoped would last over the coming weeks. He cupped her face with both of his hands, and brought it close to his. Their noses touched and William gazed into the eyes of his beloved, taking in her very soul. Then he kissed her softly on her lips. Kate understood a good-bye kiss. Something lovely and loving, full of emotion and sadness, just enough to assure you a reunion.
And with that, she bid him goodbye, got in a cab and went home.