The next day, a staff meeting was called for right after lunch. The purpose was to review a new proposal. Chuck, the chairman rned the meeting over to Jack, who began to explain his work.
Claire looked confused. "We hadn't decided how to make the presentation," she said to Andy. Jack kept talking, while Claire's confusion turned to frustration, then to anger. "He hasn't mentioned my name, once!"
Andy touched her arm, to attract her attention. "Do you trust me?" he mouthed. She didn't seem to understand. "Do you trust me?" he whispered. She shook her head. "No." She turned away. He touched her arm, again, to regain her attention. "I think you know I would never do anything to hurt you," he whispered. "Can you hold off saying anything until I can tell you something?"
"Something you wanted to share with the group?" Chuck asked, from the head of the table.
Andy gave Claire one pleading look. "I'm sorry, Chuck. That was rude of me. Sorry to interrupt, Jack. Sorry, everybody."
Claire scowled at him, but didn't say anything, while Jack continued his presentation of her work. They walked out of the meeting together. "You better have a really good reason for that, Andy. If you don't, I may kill you both."
He didn't smile. "Come to my office a minute." She did. "I do have a really good reason, and I want to share it with you. Look, neither of us is going to do any good around here, today. Why don't we take the rest of the day off, go to my place, cool down a bit, then talk it through?"
She stared at him. "Does the big, strong man want to comfort the poor weak little misused girl? Maybe take her to bed, and just forget it all?"
"My god, you are a hard woman to be friends with! No, I am not offering you my manly shoulder to cry on, and we are definitely not going to bed together. If we go to my place, we will relax a bit - maybe over a glass of wine - then, we will eat something, and then we will have a fairly brief, but very important talk about what has happened. Can we please do that, Claire?"
She relented, slightly. "Okay. I'm too tired to fight with you, anyway."
"Right. Now, I have a little project that I have to complete, today. An hour, tops. Why don't you go back to your office, and do whatever you need to do to close up. I'll meet you there shortly, and we will escape to a more hospitable clime."
As soon as she left, Andy made his way down to Chuck's office. "Can I interrupt you for a couple minutes?"
Chuck looked up from what he had been reading. "Since you have already interrupted me, you might as well complete the intrusion. What's on your mind?"
Andy sat down. "Has anyone yet mentioned to you that Jack's proposal is not exactly his to propose?"
That got Chuck's attention. "What are driving at?"
"The work that Jack took credit for is 100 percent - or, at least, 99.9 percent - Claire's. She went to him for help, and he stole her work."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Absolutely. I don't know how many others know the whole story, but everybody knows that she spent most of her time during the last week with Jack. At the least, everybody knows he should have acknowledged her 'collaboration.'
Chuck took a moment to think. "Well, it's not the first time that Jack has gone rogue, but this is pretty extreme, even for him. You're sure you know what you're talking about?"
"Absolutely positive. Claire, Jack, and I may be the only ones who know the whole story, but I bet you can piece together quite a bit of it from our various other team members."
"Why didn't she protest at the meeting?"
"Partly because - possibly at risk of my future life - I convinced her to wait, and talk to me first. Also, because she really wants to be a team member, and she didn't want to disrupt the proceedings with accusations - particularly because the whole thing was a real surprise to her, and Jack will have prepared at least some kind of credible-sounding response."
"That makes sense. What I'm wondering about is why you're taking such an interest. Do you and the girl have some extracurricular involvement?"
"Definitely not. The woman is a completely free agent. I don't think she's sure she even likes me - although that may have been decided, today! But I like her, and I'd like to see her succeed, both for herself and for the good of the company. You've seen her academic record - she was brilliant in both undergraduate and graduate work. I haven't read her thesis yet, but I know it has been roundly endorsed at the university. And, of course, Jack gave you a good introduction to her post-graduate work. I think she is really clever, and can make us all look good."
Chuck took another moment to process that. "So, okay. What do you want me to do?"
"I don't have anything in particular, in mind. You're the one who makes the big bucks around here. I just wanted to make sure you know what I know."
"Fair enough. I'll give it some thought."
"Thanks. Whatever happens, can you keep our conversation out of it? I'd just as soon not have the publicity, since Claire might consider that I am meddling in her private affairs.
"Also, she is pretty upset. She's not going to be much use around here the rest of the day. Do you mind if I take her home? I think she'll be okay, tomorrow - although I'm not sure why I feel that confident about it!"
Andy stopped at Nancy's desk on the way out, and asked her to put both him and Claire on leave for the rest of the day. "Really?" she said, with an attempted leer accompanying the word. "Yes, really. Whatever your sexy little mind is conjuring up, it isn't going to happen. Chuck okayed it, so just mind your own bees wax."
"As you wish," she smiled at him. He smiled back.
***
Claire was ready to go when he got to her office. He'd brought his car that day, so the trip home was easy. She didn't say much on the way, but she didn't seem too agitated. In the house, he directed her down the hall to the bathroom, then went to the kitchen to pour them some wine. He also gathered up one of his long-sleeved flannel shirts, which he offered to her.
"I don't think the house will be too chilly, but you might want to wear this to protect your blouse from food or wine stains."
She put it on. It was obviously big on her. "I look like a lumberjack," she opined.
"An honorable profession," he observed, as he directed her to the couch, brought the wine glasses out from the kitchen, then settled on the opposite end of the couch from her. "Do you want me to start my explanation, or do you want to relax a bit?"
"Let's just sip for a while." They did. After a while, Claire asked how he happened to have this beautiful house all to himself.
"It's a personal indulgence. As you note, it is rather large for one person. I don't even have a pet to share it. But I've always hated the thought of apartment living. Watch the evening news, and the occupant next door has set fire to his kitchen or Christmas tree. Also, there were shots fired on the second floor. I know a lot of people have no choice but to live that way, but I had a little money, and nothing else to spend it on, so I just invested. Maybe someday, I'll need more room. Even if I don't, I think houses are one of the few investments one can make that almost always retain or increase their value."
"Well, it's nice, and I'm glad you could do it. I do live in an apartment building. It doesn't have the problems you mentioned, but I also pay a rather exorbitant rent to assure my peace and security. As you say, not everyone can afford to have indulgences.
"So, okay, I'm ready for your explanation. Why didn't you want me to tell everyone what a thieving jerk Jack is?"
"Partly because everybody already knew it - not about your present case, but he's pulled something nearly as bad on each of us at some time. You were completely surprised; he was ready for you to complain. He wouldn't have tried to deny anything, then; he'd just have turned it around so you looked like a little cry baby who hadn't got as much credit as you wanted. The meeting would have been disrupted - by you - and nothing would have changed."
She thought about that, then actually responded more quickly than he had thought she would. "Okay, you're probably right. The fact remains, however, that he stole my proposal. How do I get it back, and get the credit I deserve?"
That was a little hard to explain without revealing the part he had already played. He did have faith in the whole team raising enough questions to eventually reveal (at least something of) the truth. However, that would take some time. "Probably nobody but you, Jack and I know the complete truth. However, everybody (but me, off on vacation) would have seen you with Jack every day, obviously with something significant going on. At the very least, everybody knows that he cheated you out of some well-earned recognition. They'll be talking among themselves, and will continue to add clarity. I'm confident it will eventually turn out right. I wish I didn't have to leave it at 'eventually,' but... Look, what I can say is that - except for Jack, himself - all of our co-workers are really committed to integrity and fair-play. They will come through."
Claire was ready to reluctantly accept "eventually," but Andy found he didn't like that ending. "If that seems to be taking too long," he said, "I will call him out before the whole office as the conniving, thieving blaggard that he is, and challenge him to a duel!"
Claire liked that ending better, too. "So, what are we having for dinner? I'm starved."
For Andy, that posed almost as many problems as the 'Jack situation.' There was plenty in the refrigerator for him to eat off of for days, but nothing that looked like a real meal. Finally, he offered her the choice of ordering a pizza, eating cheese and cold cut sandwiches, or making pancakes and eggs. Claire happily opted for the pancakes, with the fried egg a little bit soft but not runny.
She helped him in the kitchen prepare the first batch, then Andy sent her back to the living room with the first egg and the first pancake. When he carried his plate out to join her, he found her egg and one or two bites of pancake had been eaten. She was fast asleep on the couch. When he sat down next to her, she didn't move. He ate his meal, then (when she still didn't wake) he ate the rest of hers, and finally carried the dishes back to the kitchen. He returned to find her in the same position, so he carefully took off her shoes (no response), laid her down on the couch (no response), put a pillow under her head and put two warm blankets over her, kissed her on the forehead (probably shouldn't have, but wanted to), and returned to the kitchen. He cooked and ate one more pancake, then cleaned up the dishes. She was still fast asleep when he had finished.
It was still early - the sun wasn't even down, yet. She'd had a traumatic day; no wonder she was exhausted. He couldn't see any reason not to let her sleep awhile longer. He could still get her home in time for her to have a full night's rest. He made sure she was well-covered, kissed her on the forehead again (what was that all about?), then retired to his favorite chair with a book. He alternately read and watched her sleeping.
The next he knew, the room was dark, and his book was on the floor. He glanced at the clock: after ten! He'd been asleep two hours. He got up, and walked over to check Claire. She was still asleep, but her breathing was steady, and she seemed comfortable. He didn't know what to do. He could wake her up, and take her home, but would she be able to get back to sleep? If they waited any longer, it would be silly to even thing about that. She was so peaceful at present...
She looked well-covered, so he didn't try to adjust her (no kissing!). He left on enough lights that she could find her way to the bathroom if she woke up, then he went to bed. He figured, after his two-hour nap, he would still be awake when she stirred. He wasn't.
He woke laying on his back, not a way he usually slept. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, so didn't know what time it was. He lay without moving, trying to remember anything about his sleep. It seemed to him that Claire had talked to him at one point, but what he remembered was crazy - something about his innocence and virtue were safe with her. There was also something about her being warmer and cozier. He decided to open his eyes. He saw the clock - five a.m. He also noticed that there was a very cute face, surrounded by tousled, curly hair, resting on his shoulder. Further, he found that his arm was wrapped around a body that obviously went with the face. Curious.
Andy felt there was a mystery here that needed investigating. He let his gaze wander below the cute face to that part of the body that emerged from the covers. She had found one of his tee shirts to use as a pajama top. It seemed to him to be a very nice fit. He wondered what she had found for pajama bottoms, and very gently lifted the blankets to get a view. There were no pajama bottoms - just a pair of panties, and two long, well-shaped, and very naked legs. He let his gaze wander from panties to toes and back again, before letting the covers fall back in place. Interesting.
He was remember the talk he and Claire had about skirts versus long pants, and how some men seemed to be especially fascinated with seeing women's panties. He seemed to be feeling a little of that fascination, himself. He wondered if it was something mysterious, or if he was just feeling horny. Some other feelings arising in him suggested it was the latter, and also that it might be wise for him to get out of bed. He lifted Claire's sleeping body just enough to get his arm loose, rolled her gently off his shoulder, and escaped.
It was quite early, but he thought he might as well start getting ready for work. He showered, then started to shave. Suddenly, she was standing behind him, looking a little sleepy-eyed, but (in his opinion) delectable. He could see that she was still wearing his shirt - and it was, indeed, a very nice fit. He wondered if he might get another look at her... well, her legs, but when he let his glance slide casually downward, he saw that she already had donned her skirt.
They exchanged a little small talk, then he left the bathroom to her, and went to finish dressing. When he next saw her, she was fully dressed. "I'm a little wrinkled from sleeping in my clothes, but not too bad. The problem is that I will be showing up at work in the exact same things I wore yesterday. Men probably won't notice, but the women will."
"Especially Nancy."
"Why Nancy?"
"Because I checked us both out with her."
"What did she say to that?"
"Nothing, but she gave me a very lascivious smile."
"What did you say to that?"
"I told her to mind her own bee's wax."
"Which she won't do."
"No, she will not. However, I have an idea. It's still quite early. We can eat a little breakfast, then we can drive to your apartment, where you can change clothes and do whatever other freshening up you need to do. We will then drive to the office. I will let you out of the car a block or so away, so you will clearly be arriving at our building by yourself. I will park the car, then walk to work. It should be at least twenty minutes - maybe a half-hour - before I arrive. Voila! No cause for speculation."
"Okay, I think that will work. Good thinking."
Claire had peach yogurt and toast for breakfast, Andy had a bowl of raisin bran, and they were soon on the road to her apartment.
"You were sleeping pretty hard last evening," Andy observed. "Are you okay today?"
"I feel really good. Well, I'm still a little upset about Jack, but in general..."
"I think I heard you come to bed, but I was pretty wiped out, myself."
"Yeah, I was actually nice and warm on the couch, but I just got to thinking that I'd probably sleep better in the bed. You didn't mind, did you?"
"Oh, no. As I said, I was pretty far gone." He paused. He knew the answer to his question, but he asked it anyway. "I noticed we were sleeping rather close this morning. We didn't...?"
"No, you were a perfect gentleman. I felt quite safe. Well, I did until this morning."
"What about this morning?"
"Well, as you said, we were pretty much wrapped around each other and, when I opened my eyes, I saw that you were regarding my body in your tee shirt rather intensely. Then, when you lifted the covers, and really gave my bare legs the same scrutiny... Well, I guess I felt quite lucky that you had been asleep until then. If you hadn't got up, I just don't knew what might have happened."
Andy didn't respond. Actually, he found he was thinking pretty much what she had just said.
"There was something else in the night that was interesting," Claire began. "It was a dream - maybe two separate dreams - but you know how sometimes a dream can feel really real? That's how this was - or these were."
"What was the dream?"
"Well, someone kissed me on the forehead. Then, later - maybe in the same dream, or maybe in a separate one - it happened again. Somebody kissed me very gently on the forehead."
"Interesting. What happened in the dream, or dreams, between forehead kisses?"
"Well, that's the really odd thing, and maybe why the kisses seemed so real. I can't remember anything before, between, or after them. Just the two kisses. What do you think?"
Andy shook his head. "Well, they say that all dreams have some kind of meaning - some significance - but usually they're too mixed up to even guess what they're about. You can't think of anything that would triggered that particular dream?"
"Not a thing. Now, I should say that I remember it as a very good dream, or dreams. It made me feel loved, and that's a nice feeling."
Just then, they arrived at her apartment. She invited him to come up while she changed, but he opted to wait in the car. When she had entered her building, he thought about the conversation - well, both conversations, but especially the 'kissing' one. Obviously, she knew it wasn't a dream - that he had kissed her, twice. She was teasing him, or baiting him, but what did she really think about it? For that matter, what did he think about it? He was still pondering it - and getting nowhere - when she returned.
The rest of the plan went like clockwork. Andy entered the office almost a half-hour after her, just at 8 o'clock, and just as Chuck was calling another staff meeting. Everybody headed for the conference room. There was no seat for Claire near Andy, so she just took a random chair. Andy was pouring water as usual. When he leaned over her to fill her glass, he rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. She didn't look at him, but she couldn't help smiling. Nobody seemed to have noticed the brief exchange.
"Sorry to interrupt your work before you even get started," Chuck began. "But we have a job sent to us by our friends upstairs - the ones we call C. E. O's and vice-presidents. This is a big deal - one that will take all of our involvement for a month or so, possibly. I need somebody to ramrod the project, but as I said, we'll all be involved."
Jack immediately volunteered to take it on. "Thanks, Jack, but you've been pretty busy lately. We'll give you a rest. Claire, how about you? Do you feel ready to take on an assignment like this?"
Claire was stunned by the offer, but it didn't slow down her response. "Sure, particularly if everybody else is available to help out."
"Great, that's settled. Now, you're the project leader, but everybody here is on call whenever you need them. Everybody, that means you're available on call, unless you have something going that definitely needs to be handled first." Chuck got up. "I won't keep you any longer. Go forward, do God's work, and save the world. Claire, come see me after lunch, and we'll work out the details."
***
Claire followed Andy back to his office. His smile was a big as hers. "Nice one, Claire; just what you've needed. You'll be great."
"I will be, but I'm going to need your help and advice a lot. This is really new ground for me."
"Well, I'll certainly lend a hand when it doesn't conflict with my personal philosophy. You know that I don't give advice to other people."
"Usually, you don't, but I'm the boss this time, and Chuck says you have to do what I say. If you don't, well... Well, I don't know what, but I will make you suffer, some way, believe me."
"Then I look forward to it - well, not the suffering, but the taking orders from Ms. Leader. Bring them on. In the meantime, want to have lunch?"
"No, I'm too wound up. I think I'll just wait until after I talk to Chuck."
***
For lunch, Andy bought a Snickers candy bar, and took it for a walk in the park. His mind was swirling with thoughts, ranging from Claire's good fortune (Chuck did better than anything he could have hoped for!), to kisses on foreheads, to finding himself in bed with Claire. He didn't have any great revelations, or solve any problems, but it was a lovely day. Unfortunately, the candy bar did not survive the walk.
At about 2 o'clock, Claire was in Andy's office, looking more excited than she had the first time. "What's going on?" Andy asked. "Did they make you C. E. O.?"
"Oh, better than that. Much, much better." She collapsed in the chair beside his desk. "Well, I had my meeting with Chuck, and got the details of the project. It's going to be hard, but very exciting. I'll tell you all about it, but now I just want to talk about the end of our meeting.
"I thought we were finished talking, and I was starting for the door. 'Wait a bit, Claire,' he said. 'I have something else I want to talk to you about. You heard me tell Jack I was putting his project on hold.' Well, obviously, I'd heard him. It didn't seem like a question that really needed an answer, and I wasn't sure what I might blurt out, so I just waited. 'Well,' he said, 'I thought Jack's presentation was pretty interesting, but Jack has a tendency to present proposals before he really has the details all worked out. If you'd be willing to do it - and after we get our big project well underway - I'd like you to really go through the plan, make sure it really covers the bases, add or correct anything that needs correcting, and eventually bring it back to me for finalizing. To be clear, I don't want you just to edit Jack's initial proposal. I want you to really make it your own. Are you interested?' What do you think I said?"
Andy laughed out loud. "Now, that is quite an answered prayer, isn't it?"
***
They went to the coffee shop after work. They didn't really need to, as he had the car, and he would be transporting her home, later. Still, it seemed like the coffee shop was the appropriate to celebrate the day's victories.
Terri greeted them at the door. "My favorite couple! I've missed you guys."
Claire gave her a very fake scowl. "Terri, I have told you repeatedly that Andy and I are not 'a couple.' We hardly know each other, and we're not even sure we like each other. You have to quit using that terminology."
Terri scoffed. "Claire, you and Andy are more a couple than most of the 'real' couples who come in here. You can't deny it."
"I can - and do - deny it, and I will complain to your supervisor if I hear you mention it again."
"Okay. They used to say that the customer is always right, so I will desist from saying it. However, you can't stop me from thinking it. You are not the Thought Police."
"You're right there," said Claire, as she gave Terri a substantial hug.
"Some people's kids!" Andy commented, as they sat down.
Claire giggled. "They are awful, aren't they?" She was quiet for a moment. "This has been such an amazing time, hasn't it? And it's all happened so fast and so unexpectedly. Andy, I think your hand is in this some way that I don't understand."
"Claire, you know I don't offer advice, or interfere with other people. Besides, I haven't been out of your sight - or, at least, not out of your presence - since Jack gave his presentation. I mean, we even spent the night in the same bed, if you recall."
"I do recall, and I don't understand what you might have done to help this all along. Anyway, it doesn't matter. You've been my ally in many ways since we first met, and I really appreciate it all. Thank you for being a real friend."
"I think you're overstating my participation, but you're welcome. Now, are you up for a little philosophizing from me - something I've wanted to talk about for some time?"
"Sure. I guess. What is it?"
Andy sort of mentally "girded his loins" before he spoke. "You may remember that, when we first met, there was a little antagonism between us."
"That's rather understated, but okay."
"The issue seemed to be that you didn't want to be beholden to any man, even for something as simple as him holding the door for you. Yet, when I - rather rudely, I admit - barged into the elevator before you, or let the door potentially slam in your face, you were incensed by my lack of what we might call 'common courtesy.'
"Well, you may remember that, when I quit being quite so obnoxious with my challenges to you, I said it was because I had found out what I wanted to know. What I think I found out is that you were fighting two battles simultaneously - one very big one, and one that maybe didn't need to be a battle, at all."
"Okay, Andy, I think I know where you're going with this. What are the two battles?"
"All right. The big one - which is very real, and very bad - is against the way women are perceived and treated in our society. That has varied a lot over time and in different parts of the world, but in the United States of America from Day One, women have been denied a real identity. Between us, we could both come up with a lot of examples of what we mean by that, but the simple truth is that equal rights for women is a valid, pressing, and long overdue need.
"Now, to the second battle. Obviously, women don't have equal rights because people are keeping those rights from being realized. Those people are probably mostly men, although I know that a lot of women - for whatever reason - don't want any changes that would affect the status quo. When you - well, when we, women and men, together - come across the ones who are actually fighting against women's rights, we should fight back as vigorously and innovatively as we can.
"But there are a lot of men - adorable creatures, like me - who may not have a clue about some of the injustices, but who are certainly pro-woman. If they do something that might seem sexist or masculinely chauvinistic - like letting a woman enter a room before them - it probably has nothing to do with exerting male leadership, or emphasizing female weakness. It may well be what used to be called 'common courtesy.'
"I suspect that my Dad, on his first date with Mom, walked around the car to open her door for her. Now, he might have been thinking in the back of his mind that such attention might get him a goodnight kiss later, but probably he was just doing what everybody did in those days. The fact that he kept opening car doors for Mom for the next 30 years of their lives - whether she needed that help or not - suggests both found the exercise quite acceptable.
"I was raised in that household, and I started 'being polite' to girls and women long before I had any particular masculine interests in them. I've done it all my life - not just for females, but opening doors for men, older people of both sexes, and even children on occasion. Usually, people don't even realize I've done it - or, at least, don't acknowledge it. Occasionally, a woman may look back at me, smile, and mouth 'thanks.' I like that, but none of those women have ever ended up in my bed. If my intentions were sexual, I wasted them."
Andy seemed to be finished. Claire had been listening intently. "So, you're saying that this last group - 'adorable creatures' like you - represent the battle that doesn't need to be fought?"
"I think so. Now, some of these gestures that are thought of now as 'good manners' probably did arise in the days when women were often considered to be frail and in need of special attention. So, they could be pretty sexist. I don't think that's true, anymore. I know it may make some women uncomfortable - to be singled out that way. That's a valid reaction, but I think ignoring, may usually be better than emphasizing."
Claire seemed to be choosing her response, carefully. "Okay, I've been doing some thinking, too, some of it along those same lines. You remember I told you about Jenny, my high school teacher. She taught me just about everything I know about equal rights and 'women's lib.' She could be a real firebrand when it came to confronting the wrongs she saw, and I'm sure that's how I got so angry and cynical about men, and the slow progress being made to give us our true citizenship. You are among those 'adorable male creatures' who have been subject to my man-hate.
"What I think I forgot for a long time is that Jenny always had two messages for us. No matter how intense she got, it seemed she always ended up saying something about how much she liked men. She wasn't kidding, either. We were just schoolgirls at the time - and probably didn't really know as much as we thought we did - but I always imagined she was just as intense with her... Well, when she was with a man she really liked. I think she would have liked you."
"Well, I'm honored. Do you think she's still around?"
Claire didn't know what she had gotten into. "Oh, I didn't mean that you and her..."
"What's this? Are you questioning my virility - my ability to satisfy a really intense female?"
"No, no. I'm sure you... Well, if you were with a woman whose feelings for you matched your feelings for her, I suspect you might just mutually burst into flames when you... Oh, god! What I mean is that you would do fine with a Jenny - or with this other woman I was describing. But you're very cerebral, too. When you're not actually... Well, when you're doing other stuff, you want a woman who can match you intellectually, too. Well..."
Andy rescued her. "It sounds nice."
"Yes, it does. I was thinking of something specific Jenny said. She wasn't married, and hadn't been married. One of the girls asked her if she would want to be married. She said that she certainly liked the idea, if she could find a man she could appreciate as a whole person, and who saw her the same way.
"I think maybe that's what we've both been talking about."
Andy rather hurriedly started to get up. "I'll go get the car, and bring it around."
"Wait, I'll come with you."
"No, that's okay.. I had to park quite a ways away. Finish your latte. I won't be long."
As soon as Andy was out the door, Terri came over. "You are a bald-faced liar, Claire!"
Claire was stunned. "What are you talking about?"
"You tell me you barely know each other - which, by the way, was an obvious lie - but then I find out that you slept with him!"
"What? Terri, what are you talking about?"
Terri kind of waved her hand overhead. "Remember the sound in here?"
"Oh my god! Terri, you have to tell the owner to soundproof this place."
"Not on your life! I like it. If my clientele wasn't so high-class, and if I was a blackmailer, I could really get rich, here. But, anyway, now that I know about it, how was your night with Andy?"
"No matter what you think you heard, you little sex fiend, nothing happened. Well, something happened, but not what it sounds like. I'll tell you the whole story, if you want to hear it."
"Are you going to lie?"
"I promise I will tell the absolute truth, but I'm not sure your sexy little mind will believe it. Anyway, here's my tale. Yesterday morning was pretty awful for me. Nobody died or anything, but in the office, one of my co-workers stole some of my work, and presented it to our boss as his. I'm pretty new, and I never dreamed anything like that could happen. I was really devastated. Andy didn't want me to have to ride home on the train, and then be alone. He had brought his car to work - he usually doesn't - so he took me to his house, gave me a glass of wine, and we talked for a while. Then, he started to make us some dinner, but I fell asleep before I could eat. He couldn't wake me up, so he made me comfortable on his couch, wrapped me up in a blanket, and waited for me to wake up. He assumed that would be fairly soon, and then he'd drive me home. But I couldn't wake up. Apparently, he kept checking to make sure I was alive but, when I still wasn't awake around midnight, he just made sure I was warm and cozy, and went to bed. I woke up about 2 o'clock, I think, used the bathroom, and found a little bit to munch. I could have just gone back to the couch, but I got to thinking the bed would be warmer and more comfortable. Okay, I admit I didn't know what would happen - certainly didn't know what I wanted to happen - but I just crawled in bed with him. He didn't wake up. In fact, he didn't know I was there until he woke up this morning with me beside him."
"So, that's when you..."
"Terri, nothing happened! I told you it was hard to believe, but that's the whole thing. End of story."
"Claire, I thought that you and Andy were the slowest non-couple I've ever come across. Well, until just now, when you started on your seduction routine."
"Seduction routine? Terri, what are you talking about?"
Terri pointed at the ceiling. "Acoustics, remember?"
"Oh, no! what did I say?"
"What did you say? Claire, you had that man just about ready to rip your clothes off, and have you right here among the coffee cups. Why do you think he ran out of here so abruptly?"
"He just went to get the car?"
"I believe it, but I also believe he needed to get outside, and get his breath coming regularly again, and his heart beating at more or less the normal rate. Claire, you two are ready. Well, you're more than ready. What are you waiting for?"
"I don't know. I've realized things are changing with us, but I never imagined we were this far along. Stay tuned. The next couple of episodes may get pretty interesting."
***
Terri had been right about Andy's escape. The car was parked just around the corner, but he had thought he might have a heart attack if he stayed with Claire any longer. It took almost ten minutes for him to feel more or less stable. Man! He hadn't felt anything like that in a long, long time - maybe never, quite that intense. It was lucky that hadn't happened while they were in bed, together. No, that's not exactly what he meant, was it?
He tried to act nonchalant when he entered the coffee shop, but he doubted he pulled it off. Claire saw him, and began to gather up her belongings.
"Have you been catching up on current events?" Andy asked.
"Yes," Claire replied. "We've been talking about some of the office happenings. It's been a quite exciting two days."
***
Andy was just going to let Claire off at her apartment, then get on his way home. She asked him to come in for a minute, to at least get a quick look at her abode. He followed her inside. It was a lovely, spacious, clean apartment - not how he pictured most apartment living.
"Well, as I said, I pay pretty dearly for it, but I think the security and the nice surroundings are worth it to me."
They sat on the couch, but Andy immediately felt his eyelids sagging. "I gotta go," he said, as he stood up. "I'm falling asleep."
"Are you sure you're okay to drive? Do you want a cup of coffee, or a glass of water?"
"Oh, I think once I get in the car, I'll be okay for the short drive home. I do think I'm going to be hitting the hay pretty soon."
"I know what you mean. I suspect I'll be doing the same. I do like today's type of excitement better than yesterday's, though."
At the door, he compulsively hugged her to him (their first). "Are you sure you're okay?", he asked.
"Oh, yes. I think I'll take a bath, then maybe go right to bed."
As he was letting go of her, his lips found her forehead for a moment. "Wait," she said, as he started to back away. "Lips that feel the same, and same amount of pressure against my forehead. It's amazingly like in my dreams."
"Coincidence," he said, but lips and forehead met one more time before he was gone.
Go to “Claire, Part Six” (linked above)
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