Veiled Affection

Chapter Ten

It happened on a Friday and Cate was at my house, in the study, when suddenly there was a knock on the room's door. She opened it, to find Gregory standing there.

''Is June with you?'' He asked her.

''No,'' She answered. ''She's out on a walk.''

''A walk? It this weather?''

Cate confirmatively murmured, and when it was still for a moment, the room was accompanied with the gentle sound of the rainfall from outside. Gregory walked into the room.

''Why are you here then? Aren't you with her?''

''I don't want to catch a cold.''

''Right,'' Gregory laughed a little and casually sat himself on the sofa. ''Tell me, how is Andrew?''

And when that question was asked, Cate's eye fell upon something that lay next to the sofa, out of Gregory's eyesight. Something that - upon seeing it - took effect in her speech, as the next words that left her mouth were a bit high-strung.

''Oh he - he's fine,''

''Yeah? Well, invite him over again, will you?''

Cate walked up to the sofa, only half paying attention to what Gregory said, her concern too focused on what lay carelessly on the floor.

''Yes, sure,'' She answered indifferently. Reaching the other end of the sofa, with one smooth foot movement, she slid whatever was there under the couch. When she popped her head up again, facing Gregory, she saw the wondering look on his face.

''Is everything okay?'' He asked, and only then did she notice her aloofness.

''Of course,'' She freely said. ''I'm sorry, I was just reading a book. You caught me off guard for a moment.''

''Oh! Well, then I'm sorry. What were you reading?''

She mentioned a title of one of my books.

''I see... Isn't it a good one?''

''Remarkable.''

It was silent, and Gregory expected her to say more, which she didn't. He got the hint and broke off the awkward ambiance.

''Well, I won't bother you anymore,'' He got up and walked up to the door, ''I'll be in the garden if you need me. This rain is just perfect for my vegetables!''

One might wonder how I would know all this information, and would soon come to the conclusion that it was Cate who told it all to me. But it wasn't like that at all. How I knew about this conversation, was because I was right there in that room.

Cate walked with Gregory to the door, and as soon as she shut it behind him, my hiding place behind it was exposed. Cate put a finger to my lips. We listened to his footsteps going down the stairs, and were quiet until we heard a door close. Cate went to the window and pulled aside the curtain.

''He's outside,'' She said.

''Jesus,'' I let out a breath I felt like I've been holding the whole time. ''Where's my shirt?''

''Under the sofa,'' She answered, still looking at the garden below. She shook her head in discontent, ''This was too close, June. He almost saw your shirt on the floor. And all he had to do was look behind the door to find you standing there, wide-eyed and bare-chested.''

I reached down and got my shirt from under the couch, which I put back on.

''I'm still wearing a bra,'' I said and walked up to Cate, who didn't hint a smile. ''Oh come on,'' I grabbed her waist and brought my lips to her ear. ''It was quite thrilling, wasn't it?''