The Other Man

Karla moved over to Tristan's side of the bed, to cuddle up with him only to find it empty and cold. She slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen where she watched him making a batch of pancakes while sipping a cup of coffee. He was wearing a pair of shorts, his torso and feet bare. She smiled at him as she joined him in the kitchen, kissing his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You're up early. I'd hoped to have a lazy morning in bed." She pouted as Tristan turned around and kissed her.

"I'm going for my standing run with a friend. Tom got back from a business trip last week. We make it a point to run together every second Saturday."

"Oh." Karla forced a brilliant smile. "That's fine. I'll spend the morning painting; the light is perfect. How long do you have until you leave?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to trace the outline of his lips with her tongue.

"Not long enough," he muttered as he kissed her.

"So who is she?" Tom asked as he and Tristan walked across the bridge as they began to warm up before their run.

"Who is who?" Tristan asked, silently calling his friend every insult he could think of. Tom had always been incredibly observant and paid attention to the little details.

"The woman. You have a stupid, contented look on your face, a love bite on your neck and you were late. I've never known you to be more than five minutes late."

"She's an artist and my personal assistant."

Tom extracted a few more details about Karla during the rest of the warm up. Eventually, the pair ran in silence, each man left to his own thoughts. When the two finished where they started, Tom fixed Tristan with a dark look.

"I want to meet her; I mean it, Tristan. She sounds incredible. Talk to her and let me know when Victoria and I can meet her."

"What have you told Tom about me?" Karla asked Tristan as she continued to chew her lip.

Tristan could not help but think this was a bad idea. He hated seeing Karla so anxious. But Tom was insistent that he meet Tristan's woman. When Tristan did not call him to arrange a time to meet, Tom took matters into his own hands. He called the office and, as he expected, got Karla and arranged a meeting through her.

So, here they were, sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for Tom and his wife Victoria.

Tristan smoothed his thumb across Karla's lips in a silent order. "I have only told Tom what you do and what you look like. He did not dare ask anything else." His thumb settled at the corner of her mouth as he stroked her cheek.

"Why not?"

"Because you are mine, and I don't want to share you," Tristan answered thickly, smiling when Karla's eyes flew open in surprise.

Victoria and Tom arrived to see the Tristan caressing Karla's face. The married couple shared a secret smile before going to join them at the table. Victoria immediately warmed to the woman and involved her in a conversation about her artwork while Tristan and Tom placed their orders.

When they returned a few minutes later, Tristan placed a cappuccino with extra chocolate and a chocolate cake in front of Karla. She shyly kissed him on the cheek, then picked up her fork and cut half the cake off for Tristan before cutting her piece in half again.

"Tom and I have been married for two years and I still have to tell him what to order for me," Victoria observed Tristan and Karla with bright eyes. The two interacted as though they were a married couple who had been together for decades.

"That is because you never drink the same coffee two days in a row!" he defended himself with a playful glare at his wife. "How long have you known each other? Tristan was not very forthcoming with information about your relationship."

Karla bit her lip as she considered the answer. They had spent three months in the past and had learnt a great deal about each other. Did that count? "We've been dating for almost six months."

Victoria's eyes danced as she noticed the slight emphasis on the word 'dating'. "You knew each other before that."

Karla glanced at Tristan to find his amber eyes hard as he looked at his friend's wife. It seemed that he liked the interrogation less than she did.

Tristan explained their meeting at the ball, his eyes softening as he recalled the night he danced and kissed Karla for the first time. He went on to explain how Karla had taken a job with his real estate business.

"You didn't know he worked there?" Victoria gasped, her romantic imagination carrying away.

Karla refused to answer such a direct and incriminating question. "We did not start dating until I had been working there for about two months." Karla saw Victoria begin to phrase her next question. She was tired of being a specimen under a microscope. "Tristan said that you are an interior designer, Victoria. Did he introduce you to Tom?"

Victoria smiled at her husband before relating the story of how she had met Tom. As Karla was listening fascinated to Victoria and Tom's story, Tristan reached under the table and squeezed her knee in silence thanks.

"Is she always like that?" Karla gasped as she watched Victoria and Tom getting into their car across the street.

Tristan nodded. "Vicki is very forward, but a lovely woman. I'm sorry; I should have warned you about her."

"Yes, you should have!" she huffed. Her eyes travelled to his lips before watching the couple across the street.

"I'm sorry; I really am. Will you forgive me?" Tristan asked with a smile as he took a step towards her, cupped her face and kissed her. "Do you forgive me?"

Karla smiled against his mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I forgive you."

Tom stared at his friend and his partner. He had known Tristan since they were teenagers, and never once had he seen him be so tender towards a woman, let alone smile at another person.

The lovely and quiet Karla Beaumont was the perfect complement to his friend. One glance at his wife assured him she had seen what he had and was already planning what she would wear to their wedding.

Karla grabbed her bag as she left the class and turned to Mya with an awkward smile.

"I won't be coming to run with you tomorrow. Tristan and I have a date."

Mya stared at her friend in shock, unable to believe that she was missing their weekly run. She knew, of course that Karla did not enjoy running, and did it merely as an opportunity to gossip, but she was never one to miss the chance to catch up on the latest gossip. She shrugged off the hurt. It was nice to see that her friend was in a serious relationship at last, but she was hurt by the thought that Karla was choosing Tristan over her.

"Where are you going?" Mya asked, trying to sound interested. If anything, Karla looked more uncomfortable.

"He hasn't told me; it's a surprise."

The following day, all the staff had finished for the day, and it was, as usual only Tristan and Karla left in the office finishing a few things before they went home. Tristan dropped his keys on Karla's desk and turned to her with a smile.

"Interested in drinks on the way home?"

Karla looked up at him with a sad smile. "Love to, but I can't. Mya and I are going on our weekly run."

Tristan looked slightly downcast as her refusal. Karla stood and wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his chin.

"How about we go tomorrow night instead?" When Tristan nodded his agreement, she kissed him again. "I'll be home about seven-thirty."

He nodded, accepting her explanation and waited for her to turn her computer off before walking her outside.

Karla stepped back from her painting to consider her work. As always, the radio was playing in the living room, loud enough that she could hear it in the next room. Content that she could achieve no more today, she crossed to the table and began to rinse her brushes.

Tristan arrived in time to see her staring critically at her work. He had to smile at the way she would add a touch of colour then stand back and look at it again. She had come such a long way in the four months since they had returned from the past. No longer was she stuck painting architecture on dull days. She still hadn't found what was her niche, what she was looking for, but her work seemed lighter and full of feeling.

He joined her at the table and wrapped his arms around her waist laughing before kissing her ear when she let out a little squeal at the unexpected contact. She tilted her head slightly to allow him to kiss her lips.

"What is the time?"

"Almost five. Can I see your painting?" he asked, recalling her dislike of people seeing her paintings before she was ready to show them.

"You've already seen it!" she laughed as she pulled him to look at the canvas, wrapping his arm around her waist. "What do you think? I think I'm nearly done."

Tristan nodded against the crown of her head. "Composition is brilliant. I think it's safe to say you are out of your rut."

Karla wrinkled her nose. "Nearly. I keep missing something, but I can't figure out what that something is."

He placed a kiss on her head. "Patience, sweetheart; you'll find it in time. Now, go get changed; we're going out for dinner."

"I have to have a shower." She looked down at her paint-stained fingers.

"I know," he touched her forehead where she had a smear of red paint before kissing her lips and sending her off. "Dress casual but warm, Karla!"

Half an hour later, they were stopping in front of a small restaurant. Without a word, Tristan went inside, leaving Karla sitting in the car, confused. After a few minutes of waiting, he returned with two bags which he placed in the back.

"I thought you said we were going out for dinner," she commented with a pout when the scent of food diffused through the car.

"We are," Tristan assured her placing a quick kiss on her cheek before starting the car.

Ten minutes later, Tristan entered the Bois do Boulogne. Karla smiled at him as she realised what he intended. They were going to have dinner in the wood, just the two of them and no interruptions. Here, they would be able to talk and cuddle with no interruptions.

Karla sat between Tristan's legs, resting against his chest as they picked at the food Tristan had picked up from the restaurant, taking turns feeding each other.

"It hasn't changed at all in the hundred and twenty years since we were last here!" Karla exclaimed as she looked at her surroundings, and then laughed at her ridiculous statement. "I'm glad you remembered I said I wanted to come back and see it."

"There are so many things here in Paris that you have missed out on, Karla. But, I plan to show them to you."

Karla nodded, liking the idea. "Very soon we'll only be living a few blocks away, you can bring me here and we can try all the restaurants."

Tristan wrapped his arms tighter about her body in silent agreement. He liked the idea of spending the rest of their life together patronising all the restaurants of the Bois.

As the stars slowly began to shine in the sky, Tristan pointed them out, telling her how the got their name and which constellation they belonged to. He took great delight telling her the tale of Aldebaran and its constellation.

Karla twisted around and pushed him onto the rug so that she was lying on his stomach.

"Where did you get the idea to do this, Tristan? It sounds like a very old fashioned thing to do."

Tristan smiled at her playful tone. "An old friend gave me some advice when it comes to courting a lady. He suggested I listen to her, take note of the way she reacts in certain situations and take her likes into consideration." He placed a kiss on her lips.

Karla frowned in confusion at his vague observations but said nothing.

"With that in mind, we have to be at the theatre in ten minutes." He rolled Karla onto her back before standing and assisting her to her feet.

"Tristan, we are-" she stopped suddenly, her eyes glowing. "You are wonderful!"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, not caring if anyone saw them embracing. Tristan remembered her awed reaction when she saw the outdoor theatre all those months and centuries ago. He had made arrangements for them to have a quiet picnic dinner together then go to the theatre.

The phone continued to ring.

Tristan answered it, expecting it to be Karla, but was surprised to find it was Tom calling him in a state of panic.

Tom and Victoria had been shopping when they had seen Karla with another man. He had been reluctant to tell Tristan, but Vicky had insisted, maintaining that Tristan had a right to know what was going on.

"What do you mean she is out with another man?" Tristan demanded coldly. He could feel his whole world falling down around his ears. It seemed as if history was repeating itself and Tristan had been attracted to a woman like his mother. Perhaps if he had been unfaithful to her, he could better understand why she was with another man. But he had been nothing but devoted.

"She told me she was shopping with her girlfriend."

Tom said nothing. He regretted giving into his wife and interfering in Tristan's love life. He did not want to say anything and incriminate Karla even more. Tom was certain there was a reasonable explanation for the man seen shopping with Karla. He had not known the woman for long, but Tom could see that she and Tristan were in love.

Karla dropped her bags in the doorway and flicked on the lights. She let out a scream when she saw Tristan sitting in the dark. His amber eyes glowed with fury.

"How was shopping with Mya?"

Karla did not know how to answer him. She had a feeling that he knew something more than he was saying.

"It looks like you had quite a successful shopping trip, judging from all those bags. Perhaps you had a successful afternoon for reasons other than shopping?"

"What are you talking about?" Karla asked as she sank down into the chair. She wanted to remain standing – to have an advantage over Tristan – but her legs would not support her.

"Tom rang. He and Victoria saw you with another man this afternoon. He said you seemed very close; that you even hugged the man."

Understanding dawned in Karla's eyes.

"I cannot believe you would do this to me, Karla. I trusted you. I told you what happened between my parents and I trusted you would never betray me the way they betrayed each other."

Until then, Karla had been too shocked to defend herself. But to be compared so unfavourably to his parents… The spell that had been holding her silent broke and she let fly with a temper.

"You stupid male! Do you honestly believe that I even consider looking at another man while I am with you? I am not interested in having an affair with anyone! I only want to be with you.

"When are you going to understand that I am not like your mother, that I will never betray you by sleeping with another man? I have more honour than that!"

Karla rose from her chair and stood over him. Not to be intimidated, Tristan stood, looming over Karla.

"You do not trust me. Could you not give me the benefit of a doubt and talk to me rationally before deciding that I am guilty?"

"Fine. Who was that man?"

"He is my singing teacher. He was helping me pick some music for our lessons; we have very different tastes in music."

"Your singing teacher?" Tristan repeated in disbelief.

"Can you not take my word that I am not seeing anyone over the word of your friend?" Karla asked, defeated. She reached out a hand to touch his arm, but let it fall to her side.

"I have known Tom for years. Why didn't you tell me you were taking lessons?"

Karla sighed as she sank down into Tristan's chair and buried her face in her hands. That was one question she had asked herself numerous times. Why hadn't she told her partner and her best friend? She looked up at him with teary eyes.

"I don't know. I guess it was something I felt I had to deal with on my own. Ever since I ran off the stage, I knew I had to start to sing again. Like you said, I couldn't allow the fear and sorrow to stop me from doing something I'm good at and enjoy. I never meant to keep it from you; I just wasn't ready to tell you."

Tristan looked at her, feeling emotionally drained. His friend had been wrong. Karla was not seeing another man. She had been having singing lessons. He sighed with relief as he held his arms open to her.

"I'm sorry." Karla threw herself at him with a watery smile and buried her face in his chest. "Will you come to my lesson Thursday night?"

Tristan smiled. She had nothing to hide and she now wanted him to help her through this step in her life. "Yes," he said placing a kiss in her hair. "I'll be there."