Hunting High and Low
Part Four – One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Dressed casually in khaki chinos, tan leather loafers and a light blue oxford shirt Robert waited impatiently for the elevator to descend. Looking at his watch he cursed himself. He was running late - thirty minutes late to be precise. After an early morning wake up call he'd foolishly allowed himself an extra five minutes and fallen back to sleep.
After what felt like an eternity the doors opened and he barged through them, nearly knocking a lady over in the process.
"Sorry," he yelled out continuing on his way.
"Well, how rude!" the lady harrumphed after him.
Robert's eyes scanned all around the lobby, but Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen. They'd arranged to meet there at 11 and it was well after that. Cursing again he made for the main doors and burst outside. Nothing.
"Damn!" he said loudly.
Bringing his hands to his face he ran them over his cheeks and let out a loud sigh. Looking back at his watch he shook his head and sat down on the steps trying to think of how he was going to talk his way out of this one.
Hearing an approaching engine he looked up. A black cab pulled up in front of him, the door already swinging open. As soon it came to a halt Elizabeth leapt out and saw him.
"Robert, I'm so sorry I'm late. The nanny didn't want to give up her day off so I had to convince Daddy to take Ella. Then it took me forever to get a cab - have you been waiting long?"
"Have you ever known me to be late?" he said trying to sound annoyed, while inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief.
Elizabeth looked at him and tried to gauge how mad he actually was. "I said I was sorry and no I can't recall you ever being late. Look just get in," she said and ducked back inside the cab.
Robert stifled a smirk, stood up and jumped down the remaining few steps. He climbed in and pulled the door closed.
"Half an hour I've been sitting there you know, getting weird looks from the locals."
"I've said sorry, what do you want from me, blood?" Elizabeth said.
Robert smirked at her.
"Nah, your grovelling apology has appeased me."
"Thrilled," she said dryly.
"Where to, guv'nor?" the driver asked gruffly.
Robert shrugged and looked at Elizabeth. "It's your city. Where do you suggest?"
"Museum?" she asked.
He laughed and she stared at him reproachfully.
"Oh, don't look at me like I'm some kind of ignoramus, Lizzie - I thought the idea of today was to talk. We can't do that in a museum without getting the eye from geeks and geriatric security guards."
"Fine," she sniped. "Drop us at Hyde Park, please," Elizabeth said to the driver.
"Which gate?" he asked.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh, I don't know – close to the Serpentine."
"Gotcha."
The cab lurched around and off they went.
"What the hell's a serpentine?" Robert asked.
"Lake," Elizabeth muttered.
Robert looked over at her. She stared absently out the window and yawned.
"Sleep okay?" he asked.
She shrugged. "So-so."
"How's Ella?"
"Fine."
"Talkative soul today aren't ya?"
Elizabeth turned and met his gaze with an impassive one. "Yes," she said.
Robert smirked and gave her a mock two-fingered salute. "Got it. Shut up until we get to the Serpie lake thing, right?"
Elizabeth tried to hide the smile that crept onto her face and turned her head back to the window.
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It was a glorious day and the park was packed with people of all sorts. Some were roller-blading, some played Frisbee, some walked dogs; others ate or read. Couples were making out, couples were arguing. One couple in particular sat by the waters edge, their arms barely an inch away from one another. They stared out across the lake at nothing in particular.
Robert tossed a pebble into the water and glanced sideways at Elizabeth. "Nice lake," he said.
Elizabeth turned to face him, her expression whimsical and she smiled warmly. "It is, isn't it? I could spend hours here."
Robert sat transfixed watching her face. She was all aglow, bathed in the sun's rays, and seemed transformed from the sad woman he'd dined with last night. She looked more like the Elizabeth of old, and he felt a familiar heat as he basked in that smile. "I miss you," he said softly.
Elizabeth held his gaze, and her cheeks reddened at the implication that accompanied those three words.
"You know, I thought about what you said last night," she said.
"Which part?" he asked.
"The part where I had to choose if I was going to accept what life fed me, or to throw it up." She chuckled.
"Oh, that part. You never knew I could be so deep did you?" He grinned.
"And so eloquent with it." She smiled back.
Robert chuckled and nudged her with his shoulder, knocking her sideways and causing her to put out a hand to steady herself.
"Idiot," she said, still smiling and nudged him back harder.
"Hey, steady there, Tyson!" Robert rubbed his arm playfully.
Elizabeth turned her face back to the lake. "I miss you, too," she said quietly.
On hearing that admission Robert closed his eyes briefly, and tried not to appear as buoyed as he actually felt.
"So, did you come to any conclusions?" he asked.
"What - about my life? Not really. But I am thinking about it," she said.
"So, what did your Dad say when you told him you were meeting me?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
Elizabeth turned back to face him and smiled. "Do you really think he'd have agreed to take Ella for the day if he knew I was meeting you?" She laughed.
Robert chortled. "So, what did you tell him?"
"I told him I was meeting an old girlfriend."
"Great, so now I'm a woman?" he grumbled.
"But a very butch one," Elizabeth said, and then asked. "You hungry?"
"Why, you actually going to eat this time?"
"At this point I could eat a scabby donkey," she said.
Robert screwed his face up. "What, is that traditional British cuisine or something? It sounds disgusting!"
Elizabeth snorted and stood up. "Well, are you coming?"
"I'm not eating a donkey."
"Fine, a cheese sandwich it is, then. My treat."
"Wow, last of the big spenders, eh, Lizzie?" Robert said as he climbed to his feet. He noticed Elizabeth smirking at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You might want to dust yourself off." She giggled and pointed at his ass.
Robert tutted and patted himself down. "That everything?" he asked, trying to peer over his shoulder.
"You missed a bit. Allow me," she said brushing of the remaining dirt, then admired her handiwork. "You'll do, come on." She set off up the hill.
Robert turned to follow her and laughed. "You might want to check yourself out, Lizzie."
She stopped and whipped her head round as Robert caught up to her.
"One good deed deserves another," he said and cleaned her up before she could protest. He did note however, that she didn't protest.
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After grabbing a bite to eat, some sight seeing and more light banter, they slipped into a wine bar. Robert went to the bar and selected a French chardonnay, while Elizabeth found them a window seat. He sat down, poured the wine and passed a glass to Elizabeth who tipped it towards Robert and said, "Cheers."
He raised his own glass, took a sip and made an approving noise.
"So?" he said.
"So what?"
"Come on, Lizzie, enough with the chit-chat, let's get down to business. You said last night you felt guilty – what of?" Robert asked.
Elizabeth shifted in her seat. "You're an intelligent man, Robert, you figure it out."
"Look. It's not like we planned it"
"Didn't you?" she interrupted.
Robert sat up straight, feeling his temper rise. "You know what, I'm getting a little tired of this train of thought of yours. Yes - we crossed a line, but who pushed you over it? 'Cause it sure as hell wasn't me. Do you think that by blaming me it will somehow make it easier for you and all this will get better? Is it getting better, Elizabeth? Or do you wake up every morning feeling exactly the same?"
"Does it matter?" she snapped.
"Let's see, you're an intelligent woman Lizzie, what do you think?" he sniped back.
Elizabeth lowered her gaze to the table.
"Yes, it matters." His voice softened. "It matters to me. Look - I gave myself to you and I asked for nothing in return. Then you go and disappear on me and now you're giving me all this crap? Making me out to be some sleazy bastard who saw an opportunity and took advantage of you! You know that's not how it was, so what's the real deal, Lizzie?"
She didn't answer and Robert stood up. "Should I just go now?" he said.
Elizabeth looked up at him with telltale tears in her eyes. "No!"
"Then talk to me!"
"Because it felt right, Robert," she blurted out, her eyes fixed on his. "I feel guilty because I can't stop thinking one night with you may have meant more to me than all those I spent with Mark! What does that say about me?"
Robert looked at her gob smacked and sank back into his chair.
Elizabeth reached her hand over to his and laced their fingers together. "That night - I know you came to be my friend and nothing more, and you're right I've been blaming you to appease my guilt. And no, it hasn't made me feel better. Robert, that night when we first kissed - I knew I wanted you as much you wanted me. And since then I've been asking myself the same question: if Mark's tumour hadn't returned would I have gone back to him? I don't think I would have, and for that I feel awful."
"What, so now you're punishing yourself, is that it?"
"I don't know, maybe I am. I'm not really sure what I'm feeling. I do know I'm confused. I did love Mark, I know that, but"
"But what?"
"Never mind," she said shaking her head.
He sat watching her. When she didn't speak he asked, "Does me being here add to the confusion?"
"Yes." She sighed.
"Sorry. But if it makes you feel any better you're not the only one who's confused now. Are you saying that there's a chance for us?"
"I don't know, Robert." She squeezed his hand, and drained her glass of its contents. "Time. That's what I need."
"Take all the time you need, Lizzie, I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. I'd just kinda like to know I'm not imagining this," he said squeezing her hand back.
"You're not imagining it." She chuckled, and picked up the bottle. "Look, let's finish this and then I really have to get back."
Robert drained his glass and let her refill them both. "Are you working tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yes. Early start, I'm afraid."
"Can I see you when you're done?"
"Not sure. There's Ella – I haven't spent much time with her."
"So I'll come by."
Elizabeth laughed, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Why is that funny?" he asked.
"I'm still availing myself of my father's hospitality."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. How long are you here for, anyhow?" she asked.
"Only a week, and Donald nearly blew a gasket at that - he's having to cover for me."
"Well, I'll arrange something, okay?"
Robert nodded and looked pointedly at her. "You know where I'll be."
They finished the wine in silence and made their way out, emerging onto the busy pavement.
"Are we sharing a cab?" Robert asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Totally opposite directions, I'm afraid," she said flagging down a black cab that drew up alongside them.
"Well, I guess this is good-night, then," he mumbled.
Elizabeth looked at him, with his head dipped, his hands in his pockets and his foot drawing a circle on the pavement.
"Could this get any more awkward?" she said, giggling.
Robert smirked and shrugged.
"Oh, come here," she said and pulled him into her.
Robert pressed himself to her and let his hands slide around her, to rest on her back. He could smell her perfume and recognised it as the scent she'd worn that night. He looked up and caught her smiling at him in a way she'd never done before. It made his heart skip a beat, and yet unsettled him, too. They gazed at one another enjoying the closeness, and Robert, unsure of his footing, tentatively moved to kiss her on the cheek. At the last moment Elizabeth moved her face and their lips connected, making them both gasp. Elizabeth opened her mouth and Robert slid his tongue in to meet hers. They kissed slowly, and as their hands began to push boundaries the kiss intensified and their worlds united. They melted to each other, oblivious to the life on the street that sidestepped round them.
Someone wolf-whistled and the taxi sounded his horn. They peeled their mouths away, and locked eyes. Elizabeth opened the door and climbed into the cab holding his hand, pulling him in with her.
"Where to, kids?" The driver said and chuckled.
"Milestone Hotel, Kensington," Robert said breathlessly before finding Elizabeth's mouth again with his own.
They made out like teenagers all the way there, unaware of the driver's leering, yet envious looks in the rear view mirror. Robert paid the man and they disembarked the cab. Holding hands they entered the hotel and walked in silence to the lift. They waited for the doors to open, and then fell into the car and onto each other. After a short journey, the doors parted again and they climbed out and walked down half a corridor before Robert stopped at a door. He pulled out a key card, and they folded into each other's arms and stumbled into the darkened room.
He aimed them towards the bed and they fell onto it kissing passionately. Robert moved his mouth to her ear and whispered. "Are you sure?"
She grasped his face with both her hands and pulled his mouth down to hers, kissing him hungrily. Slowly they started to undress each other.
The sound of a cell phone rang out, piercing the silence and startled them.
Elizabeth bolted upright scrambling for her bag and Robert lay back and sighed. She pulled out the noisy article and flipped it open.
"Hello? Yes, I know I'm sorry - I'm on my way now. Half hour tops."
"Let me guess, your Dad, right?" he said.
Elizabeth looked down at him, her face flushed.
"He has tickets for the opera." she said, mimicking her father's voice. "I'm sorry."
"Me, too." He reached out to pull her down, but she resisted.
"Robert," she said seriously.
"What?"
"It's probably for the best. You know? That we didn't."
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "How do you figure that?"
"It's too soon. I said I needed time, and this is all - just too much."
Robert sat up and stared at her. "You're kidding me, right? Lizzie, you're the one who started this!"
Elizabeth stood up and reached for what clothes she was missing. "I have to go," she snapped.
"Lizzie, I get that you have to go, but don't go mad."
"What do you expect, Robert? Is it too much for me to expect a little understanding from you? Do you think that this is easy for me?"
"No, I don't! But I get the feeling you think that this is easy for me, or don't I even factor in your head?"
"Don't do this, Robert," she said.
"Then stop casting me as the villain and stop running away from me."
"I'm not running away! I have to go to my daughter."
He watched as she finished buttoning her blouse.
"Look, your Dad's going out right?" he said, lowering his voice.
"Yes."
"So I'll come with you."
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to!"
He blinked and stared at her. "Fine! Go then." He said, getting up off the bed heading for the mini bar.
"That wasn't supposed to sound the way it came out," Elizabeth said to his back. "I'm tired and I'm just done talking for the day."
He yanked the bar door open and grabbed a handful of bottles.
"Robert?"
He ignored her and carried on fixing a drink.
"You see, this is why this is not a good idea – we hurt each other, Robert!"
That made him turn around to face her. "No, Lizzie, we don't! Yeah, I fucked up by you once. Once, that's it! And I've apologised and gone out of my way to help you since. You name me another time I've hurt you!"
She tried, but couldn't think of a single occasion, and that realisation stunned her.
"Go home, Lizzie," he sighed. "See your daughter and get some sleep."
They stared at each other across the short distance of the room. Elizabeth bent down and picked up her bag.
"Do you have your cell phone with you?" she asked.
Robert nodded.
"I'll call you tomorrow, then."
"Do you want me to walk you out?"
"No, I'll be fine."
She walked to the door and reached for the handle. Robert appeared behind her and grabbed her hand.
"Are you mad?" he asked.
She squeezed his hand and turned to face him. "Yes - no. Oh, buggered if I know. Time Robert, give me time."
He nodded and dropped her hand.
"I'll call you," she said and left.
Robert walked back over to the mini bar and emptied it of the good stuff. He carried his booty over to the bed, flipped on the television and then lay down and closed his eyes. When he'd jumped on the plane, he hadn't known what to expect. The only thing he was certain of was he hadn't expected this.
To be continued...
Please R&R