Catherine licked her lips while staring down at her glass. The Café Diplomatico was quiet today. She hoped that other customers would show up soon. Her meeting would be a little less awkward that way.
She'd arrived with her hair bundled up in a bun, but had stepped in the restroom to pull it down. She couldn't help wondering why she'd done that now.
She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She felt a strange excitement within her veins. It was the kind that she'd felt on a date long ago, when she was waiting for the very same person to appear.
She heard the door swing open with a soft little jingle. The patron who'd entered stood still and silent.
Catherine blushed a bit, and held her eyes on the table. She didn't need to look up to know who had arrived.
He glanced at the pair of drinks that she'd ordered, then lifted his smile to her face again. "It's been a long while since we've drank together."
Catherine looked up to find David before her, handsome as ever in his tall trench coat. She inhaled briefly, then sighed with a grin. "It's been a while since we've done anything." She rose right up and wrapped her arms around him.
He closed his eyes while hugging her back.
As the two of them came face to face again, both had to remember not to kiss the other. Following a moment of awkward looks, they smiled once more, then took their seats.
Catherine glanced at her twiddling fingers. "So Michael stayed at the hotel?" she muttered.
"Yeah," he answered, clearing his throat. "He was a bit tired, so he stayed behind. He said he'd just see you at the concert tonight. I can tell that he's really looking forward to it."
Catherine nodded, holding quiet.
David leaned his head forward a little. "I mean he's looking forward to seeing you, and not just the performance."
She smiled again, then tittered a bit. "When I heard that his favorite band would be in town..." Catherine sighed, shaking her head. "I didn't think that you two would actually come."
"Yet here we are." David sipped his drink.
"Here you are," Catherine repeated.
They paused a moment, simply watching each other.
"How are you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes with a grin. "I know we've talked on the phone, but...how are things?"
David lifted his eyebrows, looking touched and surprised. "I'm doing fine, babe. I- -" He paused as the affectionate nickname sunk in. "I'm...I'm doing all right." He nodded.
Catherine blushed a tad, letting her eyes wander.
"And what about you?" He cupped his hands on the table.
"I'm all right. Work and everything else is...pretty much the same." She took a deep breath. "So. What are the three of us going to do after the concert?"
David paused while lifting the drink to his mouth. "The three of us?" he quietly asked. He glanced away while feeling awkward. "Is it only going to be us three?"
Catherine licked her lips again. "Yeah," she answered. "Chloe decided to stay home."
"Oh," he said, straightening his tie a little. "Well then...I guess we'll head to dinner, then call it a night. Same old routine as before." He grinned.
Once the concert had reached its end, the Stewarts grouped together just outside of the building. A stream of cabs and people were passing by.
Michael turned around and faced both of his parents. "You know what? I think I'll just eat at the hotel instead."
"Why?" Catherine asked, her dress glittering in the night.
"I never much liked that fancy place down the street."
David shrugged. "We can go somewhere else."
"You guys go," Michael said. "I want to watch the game anyway." He paused, then pulled Catherine into a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow, all right?"
Catherine swooned while hugging him back, running a hand along his temple.
Moments later, he caught his cab.
"Well..." she said, casting a grin toward David. "Shall we?"
David quieted, then turned his gaze down the road. "Instead of dinner...I think I have a better idea right now."
She raised an eyebrow amidst a bit of amusement.
The ball rolled straight toward the stack of pins, knocking each of them over as it burrowed through.
"Strike!" David called, turning to Catherine.
She hopped in place with a look of glee, and they slapped all four of their hands together.
One of their competitors made a teasing smile. "Lucky shot, David," the man remarked.
"I believe you said that last time, Stan." David reached toward Catherine and rubbed her back, hearing her giggle as she leaned on him.
Stan's wife approached with a ball in hand. "As usual, it falls to me to save the day."
Catherine chuckled again while looking on. She and David had never gone bowling before, and it was much more fun than either expected.
After leaving the action to take a break, Catherine sat down for a drink with Lena.
"So what does David do?" asked the pretty brunette.
"He's a teacher actually," Catherine said with a smile.
Lena nodded. "And how long have you two been together?"
Catherine winced, flashing an awkward look. "We...well..."
"Hey, babe!" Stan called. "I'm going to need your help over here."
Lena rolled her eyes and grinned. "Coming, dear." She hopped down from the stool.
Moments later, Catherine quietly twiddled the straw in her drink, holding her eyes on her bare left hand.
After the game had reached its end, the Stewarts gathered up with the opposing team.
"That was pretty fun," Stan said. "We'll probably be back a week from now. You guys going to be around then?" he wondered.
David would still be in town at that point. He turned to Catherine with a curious look.
"Uh..." Catherine paused, her gaze falling to the ground. "Sure," she muttered, looking up again.
"Okay," Lena said, wrapping an arm around Stan. "See you then." The pair strolled away in a warm embrace.
David and Catherine watched them a moment, holding utterly silent as they eyed the couple.
"Well..." he said, clearing his throat. "I guess we should...you know..."
"Yeah," she concurred, turning around. "It's...it's been a long night," she heard herself murmur.
The cab pulled up before Catherine's apartment. She paused a few seconds, then turned to David. "I had a nice time tonight," she told him.
"I did too," David acknowledged.
She opened the door, lingering in her seat.
David watched her with curious eyes.
"Good night, David."
He nodded at her. "Good night, Catherine," he quietly said.
She closed the door, and the cab pulled away. Catherine stood in place, staring after it. Then she turned around and stepped into the building.
One week later, the pair were once again leaving the alley behind. "So you and Michael leave in a few days?" she asked.
"For the time being...but I might be back."
She turned to him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I've caught up with some old colleagues," he revealed. "They made me an offer to teach here for the coming semester."
A look of calm awe lingered on Catherine's face.
"I'm still giving it some thought, but..." He shrugged. "It sounds like it could be nice."
She let herself pause to absorb his news, then lowered her gaze to the stony pavement. "Where will you stay?"
"Charlie. He's offered to let me rent one of his apartments."
Catherine held quiet as she rubbed her arms.
"What's the matter?" David stared at her. "You seem upset."
"No," she replied, facing him again. She thought of the fun that they'd had tonight. "I think I'm feeling the opposite actually."
A few weeks later, David made his return. Upon getting situated in the city again, he invited Catherine out to a place he'd discovered.
Catherine was surprised when she entered the building, where a number of patrons were gathered in a rink. "Roller skating? Seriously?" She eyed David with a playful smile.
"Come on, it's something we've never tried before."
Catherine recognized his tone of voice. He sounded so casual, yet confident as well. It was the tone he'd once used while comforting her.
Once they'd donned their skates and approached the rink, Catherine found herself growing a little uneasy. She reached out and took David's hand in hers — then paused at the familiar feel of it all: his smooth palm, brushing right against hers; those strong knuckles, just beneath her touch; that gentle thumb, calmly stroking her skin. It had been a while since their hands had met.
"Ready?" David quietly asked.
Catherine watched him in silence, then nodded with a grin.
As his first month back in the city progressed, David continued to bond with Catherine. During lonely days, when she was home by herself, she'd occasionally meet him for a number of things: bowling, skating, karaoke, and other activities that were new to them.
They weren't always good at the things they tried, but they had fun failing while they were together.
Following a night at her favorite store, David drove Catherine home, and helped her carry her bags. They paused upon reaching the building's door. "That outfit's going to look great on you."
Catherine chuckled. "The outfit's plain and simple."
David smiled, staring at her. "Simple things look nice on you."
Catherine quietly beamed at David.
David suddenly felt something warm and familiar.
Catherine's lips parted, and her eyes grew tenser.
Neither could remove their stare from the other.
And in the next moment, the pair embraced, and shared a passionate kiss.
Seconds later, she pulled away and snatched up her bags.
"I'm...I'm sorry," he stammered.
"No," she replied. "I'm sorry. I..." The packages swayed wildly within her grasp.
"Let me help you upstairs."
"No, that's okay." She leaned into the door. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." She nodded, over and over again. "Good night." Catherine disappeared into the elegant building.
David stood still, then looked at the ground. "Good night," he muttered, heading back to the car.
High above the entrance, at a little window, Chloe stared down on the distant scene. She let the drape fall back in place, then turned toward a wall with a placid stare.