Loves Sweet Promise

It had all come down to this moment. She knew that no matter what she had done up until this very second she could still turn back and her life would be as it was. No matter how far she had come in her mind, everything could be put down to, to what? A need for some space, a need to get away on vacation and soak up the sun, or the need to escape a marriage that had grown so cold and distant her husband had probably not even noticed she was gone?

She pictured him coming home his movements mechanical, keys in the door briefcase in hand coat deposited upon the hook by the door as he entered, keys set into the tray paper and mail retrieved, tucked under arm, a hello Lisa, not honey, or sweet heart, in passing as he made his way to the den, no looking up to see where she was no need to hug or kiss her and say with great relief "I'm so glad to be home here with you my love".

No not Tim by now he would be chapters deep into some book on making money n how to keep it. Or asleep in the chair his feet up on the desk the book cradled in his lap, normally that's where she would find him and with not a little bit of coaxing get him upstairs and at least lying on the bed. Morning as she awoke would find him already gone. How long she wondered, would it take before he realized she wasn't there, days, weeks, months?

Lisa stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel around her letting the water droplets keep her cool as the Caribbean heat slowly made itself felt once more. Stepping out of the bathroom she looked out upon the sea view and sighed this was it one more step and there was no turning back. She could see him lounging in the dark upon the balcony the moonlight reflecting off his glass as he took a sip of his martini. She could get dressed and slip out the door. She knew he wouldn't try to stop her, he knew to well the turmoil going on within her and wouldn't push, she felt her heart surge. He was everything Tim was not

Not the least of which on her list of comparisons was attentive. Long before he had ever

Made it clear he desired her he had become her friend and confidant never once overstepping the boundaries of friend and co-worker until the night Tim had called to say he would be staying in town to work on a big corporate money deal.

 Sorry honey we can celebrate our anniversary next week she thought as she hung up the phone looking at it incredulously. She felt the hurt and anger deep inside threatening to come out.  So wrapped up in his own world he'd had no clue what day it was and she wasn't about to enlighten him not this time. So she'd gone to the local watering hole where many of her colleagues had been for years trying to get her to come out to. Dan had been there with a couple of the other girls from the office. 

They were the only two left at closing time and by then he'd heard all the details of a marriage gone wrong. He could have taken advantage of her that night four strawberry margaritas had loosened her up and he knew she was vulnerable but like a true gentleman  he'd seen her safely into a cab and on her way home.

For six months he'd been her sounding board as she weighed the pros and cons of what was now a union in crisis. Twelve years of marriage and the last time she could remember being happy was the first three. Both career driven there were no kids and probably wouldn't be, not now, so to walk away would only affect the two of them.

She wasn't sure when her feelings for Dan or his for her began to ever so subtly shift into more than just like. Was it love? She wasn't sure but sooner or later she would have to find out, which had brought her to this moment here in St Kitts.

Every year her company had a getaway retreat seminar this time she had signed up for it so did Dan and now here they were in this room about to... she shook her head not wanting to think about it afraid she would chicken out  and run home to the safety of, what, being ignored? The anger surged within her again, giving her courage and she took another step towards Dan. She needed to know at forty three years old if she didn't do it now she might end up stuck forever.

Dan looked up and saw her standing there so uncertain in the shadows with only the moonlight filtering through the window to illuminate her. He could tell she was afraid, not of him he knew, but of what this would mean to her well ordered life. Taking chances was not something people attributed to Lisa, safe, reliable, constant. Looking past that he had always seen beautiful, resilient, kind. Any man would be a fool not to see how smart and intelligent she was and damn sexy too, only she didn't know it, or didn't believe it, either way he wanted to enlighten her.  

Truth is he had been in love with her ever since the first day she'd walked into Belton advertising looking for a re-entry level position. She'd applied for the receptionist job but during the interview he'd discovered she was quite the artist. Right there and then he'd offered her a job in the graphics department and she had accepted, overjoyed at the offer and pay grade.

Dan had never made any advances towards her, married meant hands off. he should know first hand. Divorced he dated but there was no one serious and since she'd been working for him he had to admit he'd kinda lost interest in other women, still he never told her, content he supposed to love her from afar, until now.....

 To be continued