Copyright 2006, 2007 by LadyLincoln






     She swept into the dimly lit Diner and all eyes were quickly turned towards her – a moment later, she was accompanied by a rather striking gentleman who silently opened the door behind her. Those around them immediately knew that there was something striking about them – but no one could quite put their finger on it…they both walked over to a corner booth together, desperately trying to avoid everyone else’s faces as they sat down, and reached for each other’s hands under the table.
I wonder if he knows how much I adore him…

     The gentleman smiled and squeezed the woman’s hand tenderly. “You know we cannot avoid this forever…” he said to her quietly, as she nodded slowly and tried to avoid his face as he spoke to her gently. “I know Robert, but must we speak of such things now?” She asked him in subdued tones, eager if only to spend those few bittersweet moments with him. “If not now then when? Kathleen…in as much as I adore you…” his voice broke. She sighed quietly and slowly pulled her hands away from his and could immediately see the hurt in his eyes. “Things have become so complicated,” she said in unhappy tones. “I never meant for things to be as they are…” so vainly before had he tried to ease her pain at her having made the discovery of his shadowy past – of his alcoholic wife and spiteful only son…each day his wife would abuse him and then punish him by throwing him out of the house and leaving him with little idea of where to go…leaving him questioning his very existence.

***

     One stormy night as Robert walked the muddy streets alone, shaken and feeling immensely downcast, he stood still for a moment as he noticed a bright flashing light in the near distance that had immediately caught his eye. Kyle’s Diner; these digs he had never seen before – but wanted to be free of the cold rain falling upon his shoulders. He opened the door and took in his surroundings. A soft song was playing on the jukebox and the inviting smells of hamburgers and milkshakes reminded him of a long ago childhood memory. Haven’t I been here before? He had hesitated taking a seat, because none seemed to be available. It appeared to be a very popular “social dive.”

     Someone from a table close by happened to notice Robert looking about and put down her book to get a better look at him. He looked lonely and abit frazzled…his hair and clothes were a mess, but that couldn’t disguise his beautiful eyes and dapper figure. He drew his eyes towards the stranger looking at him and felt drawn to her the instant he had seen her. She was so unlike his wife; everything about her was different…she quickly felt anxious as he approached her. He smiled down at her, “is this seat taken?” He asked softly. She blushed alittle and replied, “no…” they were silent for a few moments as she studied his expression as he eyed her curiously. “I couldn’t help but notice…you…” Robert hesitated for another moment; “…noticing me…” the young lady laughed. “It was very easy,” she gave him a coy smile, but immediately warmed up to him.

     “What’s your name?” She asked him, avoiding his face alittle…feeling very awkward, yet still powerfully drawn to him in some mysterious way…as though he were meant to be there with her that night. “Robert,” he replied, trying to smooth his hair down. “Yours?” He asked, “Kathleen,” she put her book down to relax her hands on the table. “What brings you here on such a rainy night…Robert?” She whispered. He lowered his head abit, pondering her question, “fate…I suppose…” he said with a gentle air that continued to draw her in. She smiled, “do you believe in such things?” She chuckled abit, as he grew instantly enchanted by it…it was so easy to feel an attraction to her that he craved so greatly.

     She sensed what he was feeling and felt flushed. “Of course I do…most especially now…” he said straightforwardly. She grinned, trying to hide her smile behind her slim fingers. There was just something about him that continued to draw her near, despite her better judgment. “The rain has stopped…” he paused for a moment, “would you enjoy taking a walk with me?” He coaxed her. She hesitated, “yes…” she replied. They had left the diner that night together and strolled the streets until the early dawn, sharing confidences and pleasantries…Kathleen felt very safe with Robert and he was easily drawn towards her humor and friendly frankness. He had so hated to see the sun rise…for he knew that he was forced to start another day and was dreading returning to a lonely house.

     They were leaning against a sidewalk beam together, watching the morning traffic pass by. As her hair blew in the wind Robert was fighting off the instinct to pull her into his arms and hold her there for as long as he could. But how would she respond? She looked at him and then silently reached out for his hand and held onto it tenderly. Her eyes had sparkled in the dim paleness of the street lamps as he smiled and leaned forward. Kathleen then slowly raised her head up towards him. He put a gentle hand on her cheek, taking in every contour of her face…clinging onto that moment for as long as he could. He put an arm around her waist and drew her even closer as the wind picked up. His eyes were possessively hypnotic and she could not pull away. He felt Kathleen shiver in his arms and wrapped his long jacket around her, as they held onto each other. He kissed her so gently at first…and then became so overwhelmed in their exchanges of kisses that his grip upon her arms tightened as he pulled her towards him more forcefully. The hunger he felt was so immense and powerful that she nearly lost her footing.
…Then it had begun.

***

     “Did you hear me?” Kathleen was speaking, but Robert was growing lost in a daze. “Robert?” She asked again, drawing him away from his thoughts of the heated past… “What did you say?” He asked her, ignoring the noise of the others in the diner behind him. “I said that you have to make a decision,” he sighed, recalling nearly the same conversation that they had had the night before… “I am not altogether sure that she will be able to handle me leaving her just now…” Robert said softly. Kathleen crossed her arms, “Is it worth staying to have her toss her hatred at you when she’s drunk?” She asked matter-of-factly. He sighed, “I am at a loss as to what to do,” he replied. “Get her help, take your son away from there…” she had whispered. “My son would refuse it, he is far too attached to his mother,” Robert uttered, tossing a hand through his hair, picking at the food that he had ordered.

     “Tell him the truth – make him understand that you are not the one at fault. He loathes you because he thinks you are forcing her to do the things that she does…” she said softly. “He blames me for everything…every detestable thing she says or does to us is always my goddamed fault,” he muttered. “You need to figure it out,” Kathleen said abit heatedly. “You also need to make your commitments where they rightfully belong. I really need you…” Kathleen said sadly as he pushed his plate aside and reached out for her hands once more, but this time she had pulled them away. “I need you too…more than I have ever needed anyone,” he said softly. “I hate to lose what we have…” he said, lowering his eyes guilty.

     “I am beginning to think that what we have was all based on a lie. You inconveniently forgot to tell me you had a wife after we…” he flushed alittle, “I was trying to find a means of escape,” he admitted; “and you were so beautiful and so…eager;” she then blushed, “…that I found it difficult to walk away…” he said. “You mean a great deal to me,” he added gently. She was trying not to cry…there were far too many people there. “Even if it is based on a lie?” She muttered sadly, “I wasn’t lying when I told you I loved you,” he whispered.
“Nor was I…” Kathleen said.

     “Do you regret anything that has happened?” He asked her weakly. She shook her head abit defiantly. “No…it was something that we both wanted,” she replied. He nodded. “Which only returns us back to the beginning of our peculiar predicament…” Robert said sadly. She sighed, lowering her hands. “I suppose it does…” she said softly, wanting nothing more in that single moment than to be in his arms. He sensed that as her eyes burned into his. He leaned over the table and had impulsively kissed her, despite their surroundings.

     Robert then stood up, tossing the check aside, and then reached for her hand. “I will take you home…” he whispered, and she immediately knew what he meant by it. “…And after?” She muttered into his ear in a hushed tone as she noticed someone staring at them. “Wherever you wish to go…whatever you want,” he said softly. She then grew alarmed, as he seemed to grow rather agitated, “Robert, honey, what’s wrong?” Kathleen whispered. She noticed his face as it grew ghastly pale as her eyes trailed his over to a further booth where another woman was sitting. “Who…?” She mumbled, but already knew the answer...
Everything else was a blur.
Robert felt the sting of a slap in his face and could barely hear the words that he’d exchanged with his drunken wife as she continued to shove him backward until he nearly fell, with Kathleen trying to catch him in her arms…before Robert’s wife realized what she was doing, she’d lurched herself forward and openly attacked him violently; and in a bittersweet moment it was all over…she finally broke free and ran quickly from the diner…  leaving him lying on the floor – fighting for what felt like his last breath.

     Kathleen’s shadow was still looming over him as he felt his tears caressing his cheeks. He could barely hear her whispers… “Please…open your eyes…” she softly begged him, but it felt hopeless. She gave him one last kiss before his breathing had stopped. Was he finally at peace? She might never know…

*finis