Page 30 of Earl
“I overreacted. I am sorry.”
“Please do not apologize. I admire your passion for your work. Never apologize for it.”
*****
Cathy could not concentrate on work. Usually whenever she was feeling this restless and out of sorts, she would go outside and attack the weeds invading her flower beds, but it was too cold and it had rained last night, making it worse. Lunch had been pleasant, and she had to admit that she enjoyed the company.
Byron was charming and funny and sensitive. He seemed to genuinely like her. The story about his wife had touched her heart and she knew instinctively that he still loved her. She found herself wondering what it was like to be loved with that kind of intensity that surpasses even death.
And her mind had drifted to Earl. Even during the lunch date, she found her mind wandering to him. What was he doing? Washe really on a business trip as he claimed? And if so, who was keeping him warm at nights.
Her thoughts were irrational of course, he spent all his nights talking with her. Except last night when he had been aloof and barely civil. What had changed? Had he met someone and didn’t know how to tell her?
Placing her hands at the small of her back, she stretched languidly and rotated her head. She had been back from lunch an hour ago with the intention of getting some work done, but so far, all she had to show for her effort was the lackluster design of a bodysuit. Her mind was not on the designs. Reaching for the phone, she called Justin.
“You had better be dying.” He growled.
“Are you still in bed?”
“Yes, darling, and I am not alone.”
“Tough. I need to talk.”
“Want me to come over?”
“I thought you had company.”
“He should be leaving in a few minutes. Just enough time to take a shower and get myself camera ready.”
“You are always camera ready.”
“I am at that. See you in a few.”
She hung up with a smile. It had always been that way with them. She would call and Justin would come running. He spoiled her and she did the same for him. The few men she had been with, had never understood their relationship and had been resentful enough to hint that it was unhealthy.
One had blatantly remarked that he did not believe Justin was really ‘a queer’ and the closeness between them was not healthy. She had told him off in no uncertain terms and told him to get the hell out of her life.
He had stared at her incredulously and exclaimed. “You are choosing that queer over me?”
“Any day, honey.”
Rising gracefully, she stretched some more and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Picking up her phone, she stared at the silent screen and was almost tempted to call him.
To hear his voice and to get back to where they had been before. But she resisted the urge. She had learned over the years that coming across as desperate only drove men away.
Putting the phone back, she went to get the pouch from the cupboard.
*****
“Women will always see you as an opportunity, a way out, first and foremost. Don’t get me wrong, you are extremely attractive, and you are great in bed when you manage to take your mind off business.
But you have always been detached Earl, and I suppose it’s normal for a man like you with so many responsibilities. But it makes us women feel inadequate, wanting more.”
Diana’s damning words reverberated inside his head and was driving him crazy. He knew he should ignore them and not take it out on Cathy, which was what he had done last night.
He had been suspicious as hell, wondering who she had been with at that party. She hadn’t mentioned specifics, and he had been afraid to ask. He had been curt to the point of rudeness, but unable to help himself.
He had also done something he had not done since he started talking to her. He had lied and told her that he was tired and had some early morning meetings. He had also spent the rest of the morning in a state of surliness.