Thank you for taking the time to consider part 2. If you don't know, this is the first story I have ever written. As in all new things, there is a learning curve. If you are looking for instant love and sex, you should not read this. For those that choose to read the story, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you to my previous editor she has been a tremendous help, and a thank you to Rexbrookdale and AnyaLuna for editing. All mistakes are mine.
*
"Cathy, I've gone over the meeting twice. There's nothing else." Linda sifts through her clothes in the walk-in closet, intent on finding the right outfit. "Where are we going tonight? What should I wear?" She asks putting another dress back on the hanger rack.
Cathy taps her foot on the carpet, leaning against the closet door opening. "Paige said we are going to a piano bar. May we please go back to the conversation you had with Michael?" She folds her arms across her chest, leaning her head against the opening. "Are you sure you've told me everything?" Linda will not lie, but she tends to leave out information.
No response from Linda. Cathy lifts her back from the doorjamb and paces, then resumes her stance against the frame. Time to do some prodding. "Alright if that is everything, then I need to get him away from work."
Linda glances over her shoulder as she pulls out another dress to inspect, turns, and holds the dress up for approval. "Cathy, I don't know if you should even try. He's not your usual.... Date. I mean he's not a bad boy, rich, or interested. Aren't those the minimum qualifications? You'll probably be bored. You should just forget about him. What do you think?" She notices Cathy's foot's steady tap. Cathy's tell. When that foot taps she has something on her mind or she's in deep thought. I'll know soon enough. Cathy doesn't hold back. Good or bad, it's always comes out.
Cathy puts her thumb against her chin rubbing while looking up at the ceiling. "That looks great. What do you mean 'not interested, bored, and forget about him'?"
"Are you sure? This might be a little too much for a bar," Linda asks holding it out in front, and turning it a few times, to inspect its social status, "This may be a little tight."
"Linda, that one will be fine. Oh, I have a guy named Mark stopping by to meet us. We can kick him to the curb if we don't like him."
"You're inviting a date? I thought it'd be just the girls. Although, it sounds good, you haven't been on a date in a few months." Looking over her shoulder again she adds mockingly, "You're getting cranky. Come to think of it, you haven't been on a date since you started talking to Michael. Why is that?" She tips her head smirking then turns back to look at the next dress.
"Mark's not for me, he's for you." Cathy crosses her arms again. Tap. Tap. Tap. "So, four hours, you two talked for four hours, and that's everything?" She tries for in an even tone, hiding a trickle of jealousy.
"What?! Cathy, give me a little more warning. Please. Who is this Mark guy?" Linda's high-pitched response is accompanied by a glare. "And Jesus, Cathy how could you tell Michael I haven't been with anyone in a while?"
Cathy smiles inwardly, I guess you forgot to tell me that the first two times. Outwardly she says, "Did I tell him that? I don't remember," and then stares off. She continues in an upbeat tone, "Listen, I have an idea. I'm going out with Michael, and yes he will go out with me. My will is stronger than his. If I get my answers, and," Cathy hold up her index finger, continuing in a determined tone, "if feel it's not going to work, he is all yours."
"Cathy!" Linda's voice squeals, her eyebrows knit together, "What in the world are you talking about, 'he's all mine'? I don't want Michael. He's making you crazy. Just forget about him." Her mouth falls open for a millisecond. How could she...? She's not thinking straight.
"I don't know what it is about him. But, he could be right for one of us." Cathy's eyes are focused again, her mind clear, determined to get her answer about Michael. "That's all I'm thinking. Are you ready to go?"
"Look what he's done to you," Linda puts her hands on her hips, continuing again in a squeal, "you're obsessed. Michael and I talked, once." I couldn't believe how fast the time went, she thinks, but I can never admit I thought of wanting him. "We need to forget about him. I'm ready to go."
Cathy eyes go wide, and she grins. "We need to forget about him? He got to you." She throws her head back, laughing, "I told you he is different. Oh my god, we like the same guy. This is another first." She walks over to Linda and gazes into her eyes as she lightly rubs her bare arm. "Sis, I'm going to figure this out for us."
"Kit-Cat, there is nothing to figure out, except, who is this Mark character," Linda smiles to disguise her shock. What in the hell is happening? "Let's forget about this conversation and go have some fun, okay?"
"All I am saying is he might be right for one of us. I'm just not sure which one. I see it in your eyes, there is something. I need an answer myself." Cathy puts her arm through Linda's, "Let's go meet Julie and Paige, and I'll tell you about Mark." She gives Linda's arm a light but firm tug, "Don't forget, you suggested I should go for someone different."
*****
Janet leans forward over the kitchen's island, patting Linda's hands where they rest on the cold granite countertop, and smiles, "I know, he has that affect doesn't he."
"It was so easy to open up to him. I still can't believe we talked so long," Linda replies, grabbing the lettuce, and digging her fingers in as if making holes in a bowling ball, "and, when I talked with Cathy, she... She... Ugh."
Janet's knife hits the cutting board with an attention-demanding thud. She eyes Linda, speaking in low, intense voice, "Four hours. That's a long time. Is that all you did, talk?"
Linda pauses in the midst of the comforting act of ripping lettuce, long enough to, look up and past Janet, avoiding eye contact. Lightly blushing she retorts, "What else would we have done?"
Rick thunders, "I'm home."
Janet and Linda look towards the hallway just in time to see the flash of two kids as they run past the kitchen, squealing, "Daddy!" The sound of footsteps stops just outside the opening to the kitchen, and the women hear a familiar voice talking agitatedly.
"Rick, do you have a shirt I can wear? I'm grateful Cathy had this spare, again," Michael rolls his eyes, "but this thing is tight, and I look ridiculous. It's like I'm not even wearing a shirt. Her dad must be tiny." His forehead wrinkles. "The next time Jim spills something on me I am going to punch him right on the temple."
"Ridiculous? He did you a favor. What was it: four? In that group of girls not more than twenty years old, wanting to take you home for the night? Even a couple were willing to share."
"Yeah right, they were just making fun of me, and I don't share. How about a shirt please?"
Rick turns to walk to the bedroom. "Go ask Jan. I'm going to get changed."
"Jan," Michael yells with a hint of aggravation.
"I'm in the kitchen."