Monday I Met Catherine

I live for the moment when I hear that whimper in her throat with our very first deep kiss. Her breathing getting heavier, catches with each gentle caress, touch, stroke, of her sensitive places, I wait for those words she will not speak..., yet.

My God, have I imagined this whole thing?

Maybe I fell asleep standing up in that train car where I dreamed I'd fallen through a hole in this universe, but all too briefly came out into some other more beautiful place! Only to be dragged screaming, clawing and kicking back into this one.

Looking down at my right hand holding my left jacket sleeve back so I can see my watch, I suddenly remember, she put something into my right jacket pocket. Reaching there I find this folded piece of paper with a seven-digit telephone number written on it, and nothing else. And bringing it closer to my face to see it better in the dim light, I catch the erotic womanly scent of her dried wetness on my hand. When the same time, I sense someone is staring at me.

Looking to my left, I see the face of a very pretty woman, possibly in her early thirties, looking back at me as she's riding almost even with me on the adjacent escalator. I also notice this woman is wearing a leather jacket too. Catherine complimented me on mine, then told me about hers, and how she likes fine leather. The leather jacket this woman is wearing I see covers about half of her very nice womanly behind. And there's that bulky scarf too, Catherine playfully draped hers over my shoulder, we played a little tug of war with it. Where this one is loosely wrapped around this woman's neck, the extra length draped down over the swell of her breast. And there's that exact woolen hat Catherine held in her hand, where my heart sank when I caught the glint of her wedding ring; maybe the reason she had the hat in her hand while she held it over my shoulder.

But even knowing that, I can't help staring into this woman's beautiful hazel eyes, and that beautiful face with its tantalizing sexy mouth. She is more than just pretty, or beautiful; no, she is stunning! But it's those eyes that captivate me.

It's said the eyes are the windows into the soul, and if that's true, I've been caught peeking in her window. If her's are peering into mine; she's breaking and entering! Now letting my eyes slowly roam over this beauty, my mind is overwhelmed by the perfection they see! And now I put my right hand back under my nose, cocking my head as if asking; is this you Catherine?

Her eyes opening wide in shocked surprised understanding at what I'm doing! Where I see what appears to be a little pink forming on her cheeks before she quickly looks away. Then tentatively looks back to me, and yes, she's blushing! And covering her face with her gloved hands, looks away once more. But it's only for a few seconds before she looks back at me; but this time, it's without her hands covering her beautiful face as her mouth breaks into a huge smile that lights up my world.

Oh My God Catherine, it is you!

But at that very moment of realization we've reached the top of the escalator where I look down to see when to step off. But when I turn to look for her; she's no where in sight, and wondering did she blend into that crowd moving away from me, opposite to the direction I have to go? But just then I catch a glimpse of a woman moving swiftly through the crowd of people. And yes, she's wearing a leather jacket, and on her head a woolen hat, along with a bulky scarf around her neck too. But I also see those tight blue jeans hugging that perfect womanly ass, as well as her long shapely legs, and her snug leather boots that come up to cover her calves. Those boots, with their raised heal, making her hips and that beautiful ass smoothly sway with the rhythm of her walk.

Some guy coming in her direction, stops to say something to her where she pauses in her stride, maybe to acknowledge what he said, then continues on her way as he looks back; watching as she goes. Where I see him nod his head in appreciation of what just walked on by him.

Yeah! As I'm saying to myself; buddy, if you only knew! If you only freaking knew! But with a deep sigh, and a resigned shrug of my shoulders, turn around, and walk towards the stairs and the exit I take to the street.

But as I'm almost there in my mind screams, NO! Where I stop an turn around to look back to where I just came from. Damn it Swaggart! She either did it on purpose, the fact of the ring, and that's why she asked me not to follow her. But I don't care about any of that now, or how late I am! All I care about right this minute is, I have to know who she really is.

So moving as quickly as I can back through the thinning crowd coming towards me, looking left, than right as I pass the shops an stands trying to see if she may have stopped in one. But so far, I haven't seen her.

Hell, maybe I waited to long, and she already made it up to street level. If she has, I know I'll never find her now. But she did put that paper in my pocket didn't she! And it does look like a phone number. So maybe I'll have better luck if I call it? Yeah, I will call it!

But as I'm standing here lamenting my rotten luck, I catch the aroma of fresh brewed coffee, along with the lure of fresh pastries. Oh well, I can at least get some coffee, and a toasted raisin bagel to take back to school with me. I know it's cheaper in the cafeteria, but..., what the hell; I'm here. Plus, never being in this part of the concourse I'm not familiar with this coffee shop, but I might as well see what they have. An while standing here looking up at the menu board I hear the female voice to my right as she's saying, "I'd like a medium coffee with cream, and no-cal sweeteners on the side. Oh, and a toasted raisin bagel, light on the butter please."

Still staring at the menu board where I'm thinking, someone else likes toasted raisin bagels too. Then it's..., wait a damn minute! An without a doubt I know that woman's voice as I turn my head to look in the direction it came from. And it's, Oh My God, there she is, looking down at the news paper in her hands. What the...? I know I passed a news stand. And I know I looked to see who was there!

But it's the counter person breaking into my thoughts asking, "Sir, can I help you?" But I'm too distracted to reply with anything so stepping away to let anyone standing behind me take my place. And lucky for me, there's no one standing with her. So quickly moving in behind her; but what do I say to her? Where the only thing that comes immediately to mind is, Hello Catherine, I guess it's my turn to stand behind you.

At recognizing my voice her head snaps up from her newspaper only to stare straight ahead as the guy behind the counter; who's now holding her coffee an bagel in a paper bag as he's telling her how much she owes. So quickly stepping to her right it's, Excuse me sir, I'll pay for the lady's order, as I'm looking at her for some reaction to what I just offered. But is her expression confusion, surprise, or God I hope not; annoyance. But instead it's, "That won't be...," Please Catherine, as I interrupt her with, I really would like to.

Then getting my wallet out, but when I open it, pausing for a few seconds as I first look at the guy behind the counter holding the bag with her coffee an bagel. Then back to her as if, Oh Shit! I don't have any money? Where the guy behind the counter is asking, "Sir, are you going to pay for the ladies order?" And still looking at her with, Ah..., I'm sorry, but I hope you have the money? And the look I get from her is like, You really can't be this dumb?

Then it's, Catherine I'm only kidding. Which has her looking up at the ceiling as if asking, please God, why me? But there's also the hint of a smile in the corners of her pretty mouth. So handing the counter man a ten dollar bill along with asking for a large coffee, along with several creamers and sugars too.

Then with Catherine taking the bag from the man as she's saying, "Thank you." But is she saying it to me, or is it to the man handing her the bag? While all this time I'm not sure what to expect next. Is she going to just walk away, or maybe say something about why I followed her? But she doesn't say a word, just turns around to walk away where I quickly ask, Catherine wait..., please, just for a minute?

But it's, '"Here's your large regular with extra creamers and sugars sir." Is what the man is saying to me. But I don't want to look away from her; afraid she'll disappear again, as I hear the counter man repeat, "Sir..., your coffee."

Now only looking away from her long enough to see the bag he's holding, then quickly turning back to see if she's still there, and yes she is; standing just outside the doors of the coffee shop. An silently saying to myself, Thank You God! So taking the bag from the counter man, but as I'm walking away, he's calling after me with, "Sir, your change." But only waving a friendly good bye, continue over to where Catherine has been waiting just outside the entrance.

But now that we're standing here, face to face for the first time, I realize how tall she is in those boots. I'm six foot three, so I'm guessing she's about five foot eight or nine without those two inch heels on her boots, so she doesn't have to tip her head back much to look me in the eyes.

So trying not to stumble my words it's, Catherine please forgive me. I know you asked me not to follow you, but I have to know who you are. And I promise I will leave if you tell me to go away, and I will. But please, I'd really like to know who you are? Catherine..., you already know my first name is Bob, and my last is name is Swaggart.

She looks at me a few seconds more before smiling with, "Nice to meet you again..., Bob Swaggart. And it's Parker, and yes, you already know my first name too."

Closing my eyes, nodding my head slightly repeating, Parker, Catherine Parker. An when I open them I'm looking into her's with, Thank you Catherine Parker.

"Excuse me," As someone brushes into us, and continues walking on up the concourse. Then looking around for a place to get out of the people traffic, I notice a few small tables and chairs in an area opposite the entrance to the coffee shop. Where it's, Catherine, can we sit down for a minute? As I point to the tables.

"Bob, I'm sorry, but I'm very late, and I really have to go." Is Carherine's apologetic reply.

Yes Catherine, I understand, and I'm very late too. But a few more minutes won't make much difference now. So waiting for her to turn away and leave but when she doesn't it's, "You're right Bob. I guess a few more minutes won't make much difference for me either."

An me with a, Thank you, as we move to one of the tables, and sit down. But now what do I say?

Watching her sitting across from me taking off that woolen hat, and with a quick shake of her head, loosening her long honey brown hair, I'm just so taken by how beautiful she is. And that head toss, the way some women do it to get a man's attention, kind of flirty saying, yes I'm interested, totally disarms me and it's making it hard to say what I want. She was so easy to talk to on the train because I couldn't turn around to see this woman with that sexy, slightly husky voice. And all the time we were talking I was trying to place where I've heard that voice before. But now it comes to me; a little Kathleen Turner I think. So instead of fumbling something out like a fool, it's reaching into my pocket to remove the piece of paper, and placing it on the table top, sliding it across to her asking; Why did you put this in my pocket? I assume it's your telephone number?

With a few seconds of thought before it's "Yes Bob, it's my office phone number. I thought maybe we should talk sometime..., about what happened. But..."

But Catherine? It sounds like you're not so sure now?

Please, as I said, I'm not stalking you! And again, if you want me to leave I will. And you can have that back, as I motion to the piece of paper with the number on it, if you've changed your mind. But I'll tell you this Catherine Parker, I've already memorized it.

Where she laughs with, "So..., fat lot of good it will do me to take it back now, huh?"

Laughing back at her with, Yeah..., you're right. But I still won't call it if you ask me not to. But I hope you won't.

Then the stars must be shining on me as she lifts her gloved hand, places her fingers on the paper, pausing as if in thought, then slides it back across to me as she's saying, "Don't call it for three weeks."

Stunned by the length of time I ask, Why three weeks? As I look at her in complete disbelief at the, three weeks!

"Bob, I'll be doing some extensive traveling on business for the next three weeks."

Okay..., so, is that a twenty-one days three weeks, or is there a fudge factor there somewhere? And when does that three weeks start?

"Bob, it starts late tomorrow afternoon. I have a flight leaving at six-thirty for Denver."

Wow, three whole weeks? That's a long business trip.

"Yes it is Bob. But I knew there would be a lot of traveling when I accepted this job, but its not like this trip all the time."

Well Catherine Parker, may I ask what you do?

"Bob, I'm a program administrator for a program offered to active and retired military veterans, and their families. I work for IIG, International Insurance Group."

Okay, so you're in that glass and stainless steel building across the plaza I can see from my classroom windows.

"Class room, Bob?"

Yes Catherine. My company has a training facility in a building that also faces the plaza where the fountain is. I'm in a training course for a new system our company is deploying on the network. Today was the start of our next thirteen week part of that course.

"Okay. So Bob, do you work down town too?"

No Catherine, I work in the suburbs. I'm only down here for that training course. Then I'll be returning back to the field. So..., a program for veterans and their families; insurance I assume?

"Yes Bob, but a lot more then just insurance. We offer individual counseling for the Veteran and their family, many support services, savings and investment assistance, child care assistance, assistance with working with the VA on disability and medical benefits plus more as the program continues to evolve. There are many, many Veterans returning with all kinds of issues, from PTSD, to divorces. So hopefully we can help save marriages along with lives There are way too many suicides among returning vets."

WOW! I wish I had known about your program earlier.

"Oh, and why is that Bob?"

Catherine, I'm Master Sargent Robert Swaggart of the United States Marine Corps. But now I'm in the active reserves; also, a divorced Master Sargent too. I didn't make up my mind fast enough about getting completely out of the Corps after my last deployment. So my wife did what she said she would do, and that was leave.

"Bob, I'm sorry to hear that. Before I was offered this position, I was doing a lot of research; gathering facts, figures, statistics on many of the issues facing veterans; like divorce rates. My real father divorced my mother when my sister and I were eight; he was a captain in the army."

"When my mother remarried about four years later, she married a Marine. So when I refer to my father now, it's my step dad I'm referring to. I guess when they were considering people for the position I now have, maybe my close connection to the military and their issues made me their choice."

Catherine, your step father was a Marine?

"Yes. But he was killed in a traffic accident one night returning home from the base by a stupid nine-teen year old kid, stoned and drunk out of his mind. Who ran a red light, and broad-sided my dads car killing him."

Son of a bitch! I'm sorry Catherine! But Marines die for many noble reasons, but not taken out by some stupid ass mothr... sorry, stupid jerk! I am sorry about your dad.

There's a big sigh just before she says, "I've called that kid worse than that, and thank you."

So Catherine, it's really three weeks huh?

"What? Yes Bob, three weeks." As she looks at me with that beautiful smile an those hypnotic hazel eyes.

Then it's, "Bob, I really have to go."

Yeah I know..., me too, as I melt under her gaze. I hope you have a safe trip Catherine Parker! But damn it, three weeks?

Again laughing as she stands up saying, "Thank you for my coffee Bob Swaggart."

Catherine, you're more than welcome, and thank you too for staying and talking with me. But three fricken weeks?

"Good bye Sargent Swaggart, and yes," As she's sweetly smiling again, "It's still three weeks."

And putting her hat back on while I watch her walk down the concourse then up the stairs for the exit to the street. Okay, even though you're married Catherine Parker, I think I'm in love with you!

Walking into my class room, and over to the coat rack taking off my new leather jacket as I go. But as I pull a hanger from the rack, and start to hang up my jacket, it's then I see the bite marks in the collar.

Son of a bitch! It really did happen! She is real! And her name is Catherine Parker, and she gave me her office telephone number too. But SON OF A BITCH! She'll be out of town for three damn weeks!

Then walking over to a window to stare at the glass and stainless steel building with the large letters, IIG on the top of it wondering where her office is, and can she see this building I'm in too. But the sound of voices as some of my class mates, including my team mate John, come noisily into the room followed by our instructor Frank, disturb my rerunning of what happened this morning on the train.

Damn it Catherine Parker, why in the hell me?

John and I greet each other as we sit down at our shared table. Then asking how each others Thanksgiving weekend went. Where Frank interrupts our conversation about that as he started out by saying, "I planned on jumping right into the next part of this course. But four other members of this class have called out do to issues with the weather. So..., we'll just do some reviewing of what we covered previously in the first half."

But Frank is easily side tracked, and soon were talking about everything except the subject we're here for. Where Frank has already digressed to his experiences with stories about his family's adventures over Thanksgiving, mostly because of the icy weather that's moved in causing all kinds of travel issues, like my commute today was like me; being late getting into the city.

But for me, the talk going on around me is just back ground noise to my thoughts, along with the vision of this woman who has now turned my life up side down.

But it's John, noticing my lack of participation, leans over to ask. "Is every thing alright; didn't spend Thanksgiving by yourself I hope?" John knows about my wife, and our divorce, because we've talked about that and what he went through during his divorce. Where it's, No John, In fact, her parents had invited me for Thanksgiving dinner, so I got to see my daughter and Sally..., we've always had a good relationship, even through the divorce, and still do. Plus, I think her parents are hoping that one of these days Sally and I will get back together. Its just..., something that happened today on my train ride into town.

And naturally he wants to know what it was. But I can't tell him because he wouldn't believe me anyway, or worse, open his big mouth to the whole class. So I tell him it was just something I have a hard time believing myself. But I know it did, I have the proof.

"Okay. So what was it?" An trying to mollify him it's, Maybe later John.

Now closer to lunch break, and thinking, I know she said not to call that number for three weeks. But I fell in love with her soft whispering against my ear. Her little moans, the whimper in her throat, and her hot heavy breaths against the back of my neck. All stoking my heated desire to posses all of her. And now I need to hear her once more before she leaves.