Forgive Me, Katherine

Chapter 8: Eyes Going Astray

Within weeks, Katherine had taken the steps into moving herself into my place. Her little house on the other side of town was put onto the market, she stamped the 'For Sale' sign into the ground just days before the U-Haul was parked outside of her house ready to pack up her belongings. She scheduled a yard sale; selling all of her furniture and other belongings she felt she could live without. Her small house became a memory. Katherine's homely decorations now covered the open and bare walls of my condo, her toiletries now permanently rested in the bathroom, her clothes occupied a majority of the closet space, and also filled a majority of the available dresser drawers. I didn't complain though, because in the beginning everything just seemed perfect. The way it was supposed to be.

The honeymoon phase of it all quickly faded. We didn't argue or bicker at each other much, we naturally got underneath each other's skin. It was fulfilling to be able to return to our normal every day lives, I found myself breathing a lot easier when I was outside of the condo and away at work. I was most relieved when I was drowning in paperwork and case loads.

I found myself avoiding going home altogether on most nights, until the late night or wee hours of the morning. Often times I found myself occupying my time with poker nights with the guys or grabbing a few drinks at the popular pub in town, Georgie's Pub. It was there that I would meet what would ultimately become one of my biggest regrets, the woman that would welcome me into what was the beginning of the ending to my marriage.

________________________________________________________________________________

We found ourselves occupying one of the tables in Georgie's Pub, light country music blared overhead just loud enough to be heard throughout the establishment. Georgie's Pub was a humble place, almost considerably a 'Honky-Tonk', a rarity in the suburban areas. We would come here most nights after late nights at the office when poker didn't seem to satisfy our desire to not go home at a reasonable hour. We would sit there, exchange a few laughs, throw a few whistles at the broads, clank together our glasses, and be carefree for a couple of hours.

Chad threw back another shot of bourbon, "I didn't think you had it in you, buddy. You swore to me the Stefan Monroe we all knew would stick around even after signing away your life, and I must say I doubted you but you sure showed me! My best friend is still a man you guys." He held up another shot as if he were raising a toast, "Let's here it for him!"

Our other colleagues exchanged smiles, holding up their glasses of club soda in unison. The ice in my glass clinked together as I brought the last swig of whiskey to my lips. The liquid sent a burning sensation in the bed of my throat causing for me to wince. The other two colleagues had formally called it a night, however I had another two rounds left in me. I held up two fingers in the waiter's direction beckoning for a refill, "Pour me up, Jeremy. It's been another long night for me and the boys."

He rushed over to my aide, refilling my shot glass with another double and motioned it towards me, "I'm sorry, Mr. Monroe, but after this I'll have to cut you off. We are shutting it down in an hour. Any troubles at home you'd like to talk about?" Jeremy was a regularly spotted employee, almost as regular as I was a customer. He always seemed to be the waiter on nights I would come in, and he always made attempts at small conversation.

I shook my head in denial, "Non, no problems. The late nights are just catching up to me, putting me in a bad headspace. This is the only place I feel comfortable enough to wind down."

"You should bring the wife some time," he started wiping the insides of freshly cleaned shot glasses, "Maybe a little company, besides your friends from the office and myself, would help with the winding down. That's what wives and husbands are for, emotional support."

Jeremy meant well by making the suggestion to include my wife in my nightly outings, what he didn't know was it had already been a solid month since Katherine and I had gone out in public together. I loved Katherine, but things had become different between the two of us.

"Thanks for the suggestion, really, but I'm not someone that includes my wife in every little thing that I do," I brought the shot glass to my lips, swallowing the liquid in one go. I heard the slamming of the Pub's doors coming together, and the click of heels making their way across the floor. The squeaking of an old bar stool across the floor as a mysterious new guest found their way to a seat. Jeremy's eyes grew a slight twinkle within them, a sight I had never seen before assuring me that he was profoundly curious of the person who had just came in. Curiously myself I turned around to look, and there she was.

Jeremy's eyes had every reason to twinkle, she was jaw dropping from the moment I laid eyes on her. Her tight red dress reached just above the knee, complimenting every curve of her body, followed by a single slit on one side rising up to her upper thigh. Her red stilettos matched the clanking that filled the Pub as she had walked in. Her hair was done in a messy bun, complimenting the face resembling a porcelain doll. Her lips were done in a dark red ruby shade, making them look much more inviting.

She waved her hand motioning for Jeremy to waltz over and take her order, and he didn't waste a second before making his way to her side. I overheard her ordering an Apple Martini, and watched as Jeremy was quicker than a whistle trying to make her the drink.

"Slow down, man. Making her drink isn't going to make her like you any faster," I brought my fist to my lips, biting my knuckle to avoid bursting out with laughter.

"What are you talking about?" He nearly dropped the shaker out of his hands, concentrating more on my comment than the job at hand.

"You like her," I started out, "But take it from one who has experience. Slow down, speed doesn't impress them. Be yourself, if she likes you she will come your way and be eating out of the palm of your hand. Guaranteed."

He brought the drink over to her, bowing down as he handed it to her idiotically, "Pretty drink for the pretty lady."

I watched as the two exchanged smiles, her seeming to be one of gratefulness while his was filled with flirtation. Jeremy hollered out for the last call of the night, ushering for everyone to place a final order and cueing for me to gather myself for my drive home.

"Club soda, Jeremy," I held up two fingers and grimaced as he shot a glance in my direction, "What? That's a non-alcoholic beverage. I'm still a paying customer, you're still cutting me off. It's last call, man." Reluctantly, without any argument, a club soda was placed before me.

Jeremy was back and forth between the bar and the table containing the woman. Though he was trying his hardest, the woman was showing no interest in everything that was Jeremy. I could see and sense the frustration fueling within his eyes as he finally retreated back to his position behind the bar after his final attempt. He tried to avoid eye contact with me, making every attempt to finding more work to do.

I downed the rest of my club soda, slamming the empty glass onto the bar in retreat, "Until next time, Jeremy." He threw up a wave, not bothering to say anything to me as I began my way towards the exit.

I didn't notice the woman had left the bar until I saw her standing against the brick wall of the Pub with a cigarette pressed to her lips. She let out a soft blow of smoke as she glared up into the sky, "Have you ever noticed how bright the stars shine with the nights so clear?"

I stopped in my tracks, her voice catching me off guard. I took once glance towards the sky, "I haven't noticed, don't find myself looking at the sky all too often I suppose."

She rolled her eyes and gave out a quick sigh, "It's Callie, you wanted to know."

"I'm sorry," I chuckled as I ran one of my hands through my hair slyly, "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a married man, have a wife at home and all."

She smiled, bit her lip seductively, and began to walk away, "Denial, that's cute. It's not a crime to want to know someone's name. Anyway, my name is Callie."

Her figure was slowly engulfed by the darkness as she walked further down the street, leaving me there standing alone in the dark. The way she walked was almost hypnotizing, her voice repeating itself on steady repeat within my memory. Over and over again.

'Anyway, my name is Callie.'