Forgive Me, Katherine

Chapter 10: Brewed Affair

We could've passed off as teenagers that day in the coffee shop. We sat tucked away in a booth furthest to the back, away from the eyes of everyone around us. Laughing and giggling, playing footsies under the table. Most of all, we were carefree. 

I could sense the daggers from Gretchen being sent in Callie's direction, but I wasn't bothered by it. The only person that had my fullest attention was her as time managed to slip away from us. What started as a casual thirty minute lunch break for me had turned into an additional thirty minutes of lustful conversation with no regrets.

She frantically gathered her things and the remnants of the muffins and coffee, "It was very nice to see you again, but I have to go."

A force within me made me grab her wrist before allowing for her to walk away completely, "Have dinner with me Monday night."

A look of pure amazement spread across her face, and her cheeks were flushed a deep red overpowering her ivory foundation, "I'd have to see if I'm free, but what about your wife? Would she be joining us for dinner?"

I shook my head in refusal, "I didn't ask, it wasn't a question or a request. I'll make the reservations, and you clear your schedule. I'll have my driver come and scoop you up if need be. Don't worry about the Mrs., this dinner is just the two of us."

She stood there mentally debating her next words, making me crave her response before finally nodding in agreement. The flushing red of her cheeks never did seem to fade, "I'll see you then."

I reluctantly released her from my grasp after she sounded off with those final words, they replayed in my head like a broken record. I felt like a teenager all over again, the heat and the rush warped through my body as I watched her walk out of the coffee shop. Her hair swayed in the wind as the Seattle air welcomed her, I watched helplessly out of the window glasses hoping she'd turn back for a farewell stare.

Monday was in no ruse, and the work day didn't seem to be speeding along either. A lump in my stomach assured me that I felt somewhat guilty for having dinner with another woman, not bothering to inform Katherine of anything. It was supposed to be casual, just two people having dinner, but why did it seem to be as if it were so much more?

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I splashed water onto my face following my shave, Katherine peering at me from the doorway, "Are you going out tonight?"

I patted down my face with aftershave, "Just dinner with Chad and a couple of co-workers, might also go in and play some poker afterwards. No need to wait up, darling, I know you're wiped out from work and all."

Disappointed I watched from the mirror as she retreated back into our bedroom, "I was just hoping the two of us could sit in and maybe watch a movie together is all."

The guilt was slowly rushing back, it overpowered the excitement I had been feeling throughout that day. I hated to see Katherine upset, I hated to be a disappointment in her eyes. I walked into the bedroom to find Katherine already nestled into the bedsheets for the night. i planted a kiss in her forehead and seated myself beside her on the bed, "Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?"

She propped herself up onto the pillows, "You're gone all the time now. Business trips, drinks at the Pub with your co-workers. It's as if I'm being left out in the dark. I know when we got married we had to learn how to adjust to being married, but it's as if neither of us have time for each other. We're both at work or separated, I just want you Stefan."

My heart wrenched as her eyes filled with tears, "We'll do something, just the two of us. I have a huge case coming up, and it's going to require my undivided attention for the upcoming weeks. Before I have to begin tackling it, we'll do something. Anything under the sun, anything you can think of." I watched as a smile spread across her face and her lips joined with mine, warmness fueling my insides.