An Illicit Love

Chapter 5

Dave and Catie maintained an aura of normalcy on that Monday. Talking politely and handling any matters that required their input with what appeared to be outward ease. Inwardly? Catie managed to remove her tongue from her palate, and actually talk normally. Or as near to normal as possible. She also managed to control the tremors in her hands by striking the keyboard keys rather ferociously hard. Her legs? These she wound tightly together under her desk, in a manner that her mother would have reprimanded her for. It was bad for circulation. Sorry Mom, she thought, to hell with circulation today, I have to do what I have to do. At four fifteen, it struck Catie like a hammer – where the hell were the tennis courts Dave was referring to? Was she so befuddled that she had agreed to meet him there, but had no clue where to go? She calmly (yeah sure) walked to his office and squeaked out a request for directions to the Tennis courts.

Dave looked up, very obviously relieved, and said softly “So you will meet me there? I wasn’t sure.” He explained where it was and Catie squeaked a thank you. He had a question in his look, but she was already on the way back to her office. Catie told herself very sternly that the squeak HAD to go. It was not normal and only a direct result of the memory of Friday. She who received compliments daily on her voice when answering the phone, was now a squeaking Minnie mouse? She who was told regularly by clients calling in what a sexy voice she had, could now only squeak??? Get a grip she told herself. Before four thirty.

Dave left the office a few minutes early and Catie was convinced it was to avoid telling her he had changed his mind about explaining. She promised herself she would turn in at the tennis courts and if he was not there, would leave immediately and not wait a moment for him. Catie left on time, greeting everybody as usual, wondering if they all could see written across her face that she was planning to meet the head of the admin department after work. Could they? This was so unusual for Catie, that it was a possibility. Getting into her car, she noticed that her legs had started to shake slightly against the clutch and fuel pedals – not even at the meeting yet and already she was turning into a shaking ninny.

Catie pulled in to the tennis courts a few minutes later, and saw immediately that Dave’s car was parked near a small office building adjacent to numerous tennis courts. She pulled into a parking space, glanced at herself in the mirror and got out, walking to face whatever Dave had to say to her. He was waiting and the look on his face should have sent Catie dashing back to her car, and leaving with a scream of tyres and a cloud of smoke. But she didn’t. Dave indicated that they walk around the office to a small enclosed courtyard and reassured her that there was no one there at that time of the day. No one to see their meeting or hear their conversation. Then she was face to face with him.