Something Unexpected Pt. 02

And when she pulled away, I felt the warm streak against my skin.

I stood in the driveway and watched her leave. But she did not look back to wave as she had every time before that. So, with dejected soul, I went back into the house and back up to the room that had, until that day, been the happiest place in my life. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I stared at myself, shaking my head in disbelief. And then when I felt I couldn't stand it any more, I looked away from the harrowing face gazing back at me.

My eyes fell upon her toothbrush, still neatly placed beside mine. I picked it up and ran my thumb across the head, then gripped it in my hand; perhaps in some effort to keep her there for one more moment. But as I held it over the trash can, I couldn't bring myself to do it. So back the toothbrush went. Neatly beside mine.

CHAPTER NINE

I called in sick on Monday, unable to face her that soon. And I spent the day doing nothing really. A waste of a complete day. Tuesday morning I was feeling no better, but I couldn't let it ruin every part of my life now, could I?

Work was a drag from the moment I got in the door. One thing after another. Only Kim asked if I was feeling better, and since I looked so tired and ragged from not sleeping, even she believed I'd been sick the day before.

I kept avoiding it, but there was yet another set of numbers that I owed Isabel and so at the end of my day, I started toward her door. Noticing it was still closed I went back to Kim's office and asked if she had seen Isabel since I had something for her.

"She's in there. I saw her couple of times. Probably getting caught up from being out yesterday. Boy was it so peaceful with her gone!" Then as an afterthought, "Whatever you two have, don't bring it down here! So you can go now. Ha!"

I headed back to my office, mind numb now. In all the times we had been together, we had always made sure that we never left the same time or took off but for a few hours on the same day, just so nobody would get any ideas. Yet, how ironic that the day we had all but parted our ways, both of us had missed? And, not a single person was even suspicious.

I shook my head in disbelief and placed my report in an inter-office envelope. Added a note reminding her what it was. And took the risk of saying sorry about the delay. I highlighted sorry, hoping she would catch the meaning, and slid the whole thing under her door.

I was surprised, though I don't know why, when over the next few days Carla started handing me some of the requests that Isabel used to do on her own. The excuse was that Isabel was too busy with the end of the merger and I would know what she wanted. It made sense, but I knew she was avoiding me. The way Carla looked at me at times made me very paranoid – like Isabel had maybe told her all about us. I was starting to become miserable in that place.

Our department meeting was cancelled that month due to the Christmas holiday, so that initial awkwardness would not have to be dealt with for another month at least. I shouldn't have, but I checked her schedule through Outlook, and saw that she had taken off the entire week of Christmas, not due back until mid-week following the New Year. My heart sank, knowing that we could have spent all or most of that time together, if only things had turned out different. Could have, would have, should have – right?

As the holidays approached, Isabel stopped making a point of avoiding me, and it seemed to me went right back to the way things always were before anything had happened between us. But then I would see her standing across from my office, or making a last minute copy of something in the copier room, and without looking at me she would smile that same smile I had grown so accustomed to whenever she saw me staring.

On the day before she left for vacation, I stewed about things until I made up my mind. We were going to talk if nothing else. And I was going to have to let her know that it was more than just sex and that was not the reason I was coming after her again.

I waited until nearly everyone else was gone and I marched into her office. Her door was wide open, not expecting anyone that time a night – some two hours after most people had gone home. And she hadn't been out of her office in long enough to have known that I was even still around.

I closed the door behind me and walked right up to the side of her desk and looked down at her. Isabel backed away, looking at me almost in shock.

"We're going to talk about this. And we can do it now, or when you get back – I don't care. But I'm not letting you think something about us that isn't true. If you're going to stop seeing me, then I want to hear you tell me why."

I had planned what I was going to say beforehand, but in the heat of the moment, I completely forgot everything else I had intended to spurt out before she could respond. And now, I simply felt flustered. Isabel saw this, but instead of taking advantage of it she just looked down at her desk.

"OK," she said.

"OK what?"

"OK – we can talk. But not now. I have so much to finish up before I leave. We can deal with it when I get back."

I paused, heart pounding in my chest as I prepared to do something unexpected. Before she had a chance to react, I reached down and grabbed her forearm, pulling her out of her chair and then wrapping my other arm around her to keep her from backing away. For a fleeting moment I was afraid she would slap me, but then I saw her eyes flick down to my lips and I made my move. I kissed her.

I have never kissed a woman like I kissed her that night. It was hard and strange, but no less exciting than the hundreds of other times I'd kissed her. And for her part, she simply stood there, opening her lips and pushing back softly after the initial shock wore off. When I felt her hands reach up and grasp both of my elbows – her body losing its stiffness – I broke it off and just held her in my arms.

Isabel gasped; eyes wide as she braced herself against me and stared back.

"There are more important things than work." I raised my brow to make sure she understood my point and then I kissed her again to shut her up as she tried to respond.

This time when I pulled away, I left her standing there by her desk in a daze. And I didn't turn back to see if she had anything to say.

Over the next few days, I busied myself by making the obligatory calls to my parents – one in Texas and the other in Oregon. Called my sister and brother and talked to their kids. Bowed out of traveling to see anyone at all that year.

On a whim, one of my friends and his wife decided to help out at a soup kitchen over Christmas week. Reluctantly at first, I tagged along. And that is where things changed for the better I think. I met someone there. A woman; not much older than Isabel, who shed new light on things and made me see a sliver of hope.

***

New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday that year, and the company Holiday Party was held the night before instead of the week after like in most years. Management had actually gone out and spent some money I'd heard; reserving a large enough place to accommodate us all. In prior years I had always shrugged it off, never enjoying mingling with over three hundred co-workers and their significant others - particularly when I was so very single myself. I don't suppose this year was any different, except for the fact that had I still been with Isabel, maybe she would have missed it to. But she was out of town, and I was not, so I went and was determined to make the best of things.

It was at the Marriott downtown. Very ritzy to my surprise. A few of the Ladies from my department were there – including Kim - and they flagged me over to where they sat with their husbands. The room was not well lit, and the music was surprisingly loud. I was introduced to the men at the table, who were pleased to finally put my face to the name they'd heard about over the years.

I didn't really know what to do other than eat. So that is what I did. And as I returned to the table for the second time, pulling in the chair beneath me, I saw her.

Isabel was sitting a few tables over, with a few of the upper management of our company and their spouses. She looked radiant, from what I could see. A little short sleeved black dress, dark nylons and sexy little heels. Her diamonds glittered even from where I sat, and I was suddenly very thankful that I had not had the chance to give her the earrings I'd bought over Thanksgiving – nothing in comparison to what she wore now.

I was staring, I know it, when she stiffened and turned in her chair as if looking for someone. When her eyes met mine she froze, but only for the briefest of moments. She smiled, tight-lipped, before turning around and leaving me to a plate of finger foods that looked suddenly very unappetizing.

There were people dancing in the center of the room, as more than just holiday music was being played. It was actually a pretty good party, if only I could have let myself enjoy it more, and not keep glancing at Isabel. For her part, she seemed to have forgotten all about me; so after quite some time of holding rather boring conversations with the husbands sitting near me, I got up to get something to drink.

The music had picked up to a fast song and on a whim; I looked at Jody, the girl that worked kind of as my assistant at times. She was cute in her own way, a bit on the heavy side, and very quiet normally. But she was bopping to the music over by the refreshments. I smiled to myself, wishing I could let go like that. And so, I asked her to dance.

She looked embarrassed, but joined me on the dance floor when I told her I'd be all alone if she didn't. I don't dance well, especially to fast songs – she was much better than me - so I was getting used to the good natured heckling I received from co-workers young and old as I did my best. Jody was good about it though, teasing me with all the others – actually talking to me more than she ever did at work. We stayed out there for one more song before it went to something slow, and with one look we both agreed that our session was over.

I was heading off the dance floor when I felt a hand grab my shoulder, and for an instant I thought it might be Isabel. But it was just Kim. She pulled me back, joking with some of the other dancers that she was going to liven up the party. They laughed and some rolled their eyes I noticed, as Kim was always trying to be the class clown so to speak.

I really wasn't in the mood, but listened as she started talking about so and so's wife - can you believe she's wearing that? – Or that guy over there – he's the one from marketing that has been driving me crazy lately! She laughed again and steered us toward one of her friends from upstairs. Had a short conversation with her, while me and the woman's partner tried to look interested. And then she spun us around and moved us out of earshot.

Kim looked at me suddenly and grinned. "You look gorgeous! No date?" I just shook my head. "Aww, poor thing. If only I was a little younger – and not so married. Ha!" She laughed at her joke and left me standing there as the song ended.

I went back to the table and endured another round of harmless teasing, this time from Kim's husband, of all people. But I took it in stride, which everyone seemed to appreciate.

By this time, many of the people were leaving in pairs or groups depending on how they'd arrived I suppose. Not many seemed to care about making it to midnight. Once my table was cleared out by all but one couple, I headed back for the refreshments and ordered eggnog with rum.

I was sprinkling nutmeg on top when I felt a presence beside me. The familiar perfume left me intoxicated, and I knew it was Isabel without even turning to look. Taking a sip of my eggnog and finding it to my liking, I slowly turned my back to the refreshment table, making sure I was able to see Isabel in all her glory standing just one foot away from me.

She was breathtaking. Her hair was perfect, as was her makeup – to which she needed none. Her diamond earrings and necklace flashed at me tauntingly, begging me to investigate further. I forced myself to face front and watch the two dozen or so couples still dancing on the floor. I recognized some, but certainly not all.

Isabel was standing closer now, reaching behind me for the nutmeg I had not put back in place.

"Sorry," I whispered, stepping further to the side.

She touched my arm and smiled. "Don't be."

After fixing her drink, she turned and stood right next me, waving briefly and smiling at someone across the room. Every time I took a sip – and I did it quite often over the next minute or so – I snuck a quick glance at her looking so divine right there beside me. I finally turned and placed my half empty mug on the table and looked down at my shoes to gather my thoughts. But that was a mistake because her feet were right there in front of me now, exciting me into something that I knew was forbidden.

She slipped her heel out of her shoe and I shot my eyes back to her face to see her smiling as she took a sip from her cup. I glanced at the bartenders behind us and they were not paying us the time a day, watching the few younger women – married or not – that were still milling around or dancing. I went back to looking at Isabel.

"You're staring at me."

But I was too overcome to respond, so I just kept right on looking.

Isabel looked over at me and cocked her eyebrow. "This is where you're supposed to ask me to dance."

"Is that a good idea?" I whispered, trying not to get too excited.

"What? Think I'm not as good as Kim?" she teased.

I smiled, knowing she had been watching like all the others. And then I held out my hand. She put her mug down beside mine and we walked out to the floor, which was not that far from where we stood actually.

Now, while dancing with the others had seemed awkward an unusual, being with Isabel just seemed natural. Our fingers on one hand meshed together so perfectly, even though we had never danced before, that it seemed like second nature to us. Our other hand we both placed on lower backs, maintaining as much a professional manner as possible giving that this was actually a romantic song. But just as we got into rhythm, it ended, and both of us looked first at each other, and then the disc jockey for resolution.

It came as we prepared to walk back and get our drinks. The pre-New Year's Eve chorus.

And so, as the song played its long, well known melody, the two of us danced hand in hand trying as best we could not to look into each others eyes, and yet noticing that every other couple out there had eyes only for each other. I felt her hand pressing harder into me, but not enough to move our bodies together, so I responded in much the same way with my hand on her back.

I saw her close her eyes and take a deep breath as we slowly swayed to the music. I never wanted that moment to end. But like all others ... it did.

As the forty or so people left in the room applauded for the DJ, Isabel moved in closer to the side of my face.

"Come home with me."

She backed away and looked into my eyes just long enough to see my willingness to follow her to the ends of the Earth if that is what it took. And then she headed off to get her things.

I was nearly to my jeep when my cell vibrated in my coat pocket.

"Do you know how to get to Burtonsville from here?" she asked when I answered it.

"Not really."

"Then you'll need to follow me. I'll wait for you by the south exit."

"Isabel..."

"Sshh. We have all night."

I got in and let the jeep warm up for a minute before anxiously heading off to where I thought the south exit would be. There she was, her little silver Audi, just waiting for me.

"Let's just stay on the line ... Don't want you getting lost," she teased.

And so we did - all the way to Burtonsville, which was an hour and a half away. She was the one that started talking. Mostly asking how I'd been. Then me forcing her to let me know the same. We were mostly silent on the way back to her place as the lights from the city dwindled out the further we drove. And neither us of spoke of that November day, not wanting to ruin the moment.

Her two story house was set back in the woods almost – with over an acre cleared out around the home itself. The closest neighbors had to have been a hundred yards in either direction, and even those were blocked by trees.

She had a two car garage, and I hesitated before pulling in to the empty space beside hers. I got out first as she lowered the garage door, having glanced over and seen her collecting her things beside her. It's funny, how I can remember how loud the car doors slammed, but not any detail of how that garage actually looked inside. I walked around the back of her car and held out my hand as she swung her feet out and gripped my fingers.

She looked amazing in her long winter coat and leather driving gloves. Isabel smiled and immediately turned away as we moved enough for her to close the door and lead us inside.

"I wasn't planning for company," she said, as we entered through the laundry room. There were piles of towels and her jeans on the floor. She looked back at me bashfully, but I thought I saw a hint of the playful grin from old times. "Here's the kitchen... and the rest of the house is this way."

Isabel flipped on the light for the kitchen as we passed, and then the hall light in the foyer as we made our way to the right. She opened a hall door and took off her gloves, placing them in a little table built into the side of the closet. And then she let her coat fall seductively off of her shoulders, allowing me ample time to help her out of it. She didn't wait for me to take mine off, nor had she turned around when I removed her coat completely and hung it up for her. I swallowed hard and placed mine on one of the hangers next to hers, thinking how wonderful it would be if that was its place from now on.

I took my suit jacket off and hung that as well before I followed her into the sitting room. She was slowly making her way around the house, showing me each room, pointing out the fireplace that was never used, or that vase that her mother had given her, or the grandfather clock that had actually been her grandfather's.

But I couldn't take my eyes off of her. To say I wanted her makes it sound so crude; disgusting even. It was more than that. From the moment I saw her sitting at that table that night, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I was head over heels in love and this time, I was determined not to let her push me away.

So as I watched her slowly making her away in front of me: her heels clanking determinedly on the hard wood floors, her legs looking so scrumptious in those dark nylons, and her hips swaying so sensuously in that sexy dress - I pushed every other thought out of my mind. And felt myself getting butterflies all over again.

She led us all the way around the first floor and back into the kitchen before she stopped and looked at me head on. Leaning back against the island, she waited until I entered the room behind her, before making a show of running her hands through the sides of her hair and removing her glasses.

I felt anxious as I stepped up to her, placing my hands on either side and framing her in with my arms. More anxious now than at our first meeting – so much more at stake this time.

"I've missed you," I said, afraid to look into her eyes anymore, and finding it difficult to even admit.

Isabel leaned her forehead against mine and took a deep breath. "I've missed you too."

"Then why did you put us through that?" I was smiling, thinking she would take the bait. She surprised me when she looked coy and stared down at her hands on my chest instead. But then she looked back into my eyes without lifting her face.