fling15

She practically leapt for the phone sitting on her rather grand desk and dialed Howie's number."Hello,"his voice sounded like paradise.
"Howie?"her response steady but a little shaken.
"Kara. What's wrong?"
"I think we need to talk now."
"Sure. I'll be here."
"I'd rather we meet at my place."
Her secretary Lynette stepped into the office and Kara's state of dissaray."Are you okay Kara?"
"Hold on just a sec,"she turned her attention to Lynette."I'll be fine. Just cancel my appointments for the rest of the day okay?"
"Okay."
"Then you can take the rest of the day off. Just tell them it was a family emergency and we'll reschedule when we know anything further."
"Gotcha boss lady,"she turned and went to her appointed desk outside Kara's office.
"What's going on Kara?"he returned; bewildered by her state of emotion.
"Just meet me at my place as soon as you can. I'm leaving right now."
"Sure thing sweetheart. See you there."
She arrived home just shortly before the doorbell rang. She answered the door in her present state. She wasn't tattered and torn but she was visibly a woman shaken.
"Oh baby,"he took her in his arms. He wasn't a large man by any means but she felt comfort and safety in the warmth of his arms. She felt as if no one could ever hurt her again or would hurt her again. But she felt something else. She felt compelled to confide in this man. A man who stood beside her no matter what her past had already dredged up. He was the one true thing she had in her life and now she may have to give it away with her revelation.
"Who did this to you,"he directed her gaze toward his.
"That's what we need to talk about."
He took her hand and guided her into the sunken living room of hers. They settled upon the southwestern upholstered eight chair ottoman that they had christened last week ."So do you need me to get you anything?"
"I just need you to sit and listen."
"Okay,"puzzled with concern for her.
"It's about the guy."
"Did he do this to you Kara?"
"He did this and more."
"So who is he?"
Her phone rang."Just a second."
"I've got all the time in the world for you,"he reassuringly gripped her hand.

"Hello,"Kara answered.
"I know he's there. Don't you dare say a word or the rest of the world finds out about your most recent occupation.
Are we clear?"AJ threatened.
"I'll take care of that tomorrow Lynette."
"I'm assuming he's right next to you."
"Yes. It's right there on the desk next to the color coded folders. We'll see you tomorrow."
"You will keep quiet then."
"Yes I will. Goodbye Lynette,"she hung up the phone. AJ was putting a strain on her relationship and she couldn't tell Howie. She couldn't risk it yet she would lose him at any juncture once it was out in the open. She turned back to Howie; his grip still firmly within hers. Her head bobbed down and filled with tears; tears she was ashamed to be crying because right now she knew they were just a facade to avoid the facts that would present themselves all too soon. She drew her tear filled gaze up to his caring and penetrating gaze."I'm sorry. I thought I was ready to tell you this but I just don't think I can,"she sobbed.
"Shhh, it's gonna be okay,"he drew her into the comfort of his arms once again as she wept against his shoulder. After what seemed hours, she drew away from the circumfrence of his comforting hold.
"I don't want to push this Kara but you will have to tell me someday who this person is."
"I know."
"And because I love you, I'm not going to push it. I know you'll tell me when you're ready. You know, I can call Kristy and Nick and tell them we can't make it today."
"No don't do that."
"But you've been through quite a bit today Kara."
"And I don't want your friends to wait any longer to meet the woman that makes you so happy because I have a feeling Kristy already knows."
"Are you sure? I just don't want you to do anything you don't want to."

"And you never have. I'll be fine."
"If you say so," but in his heart he just couldn't believe she wanted to be surrounded by people.
"What time is it?"
"We have a couple of hours."
"Good. Because you're gonna need to freshen up too,"referring to his tear soaked polo shirt.
"Didn't I leave something here the last time I stayed?"
"I was wearing it when you left that morning,"smiling and reminding herself that there were still some decent creatures left roaming the free world.
"I haven't seen your face light up that way since I've been here. You sure you're okay."
"I just remind myself that there are only a few true men still left out there in the world and that I have one of them."
Maybe it was her resilliant nature that helped her bounce back from anything anymore that was helping her or maybe it was just him. Just his mere presence always gave her the courage she needed to get through another day. She wouldn't know what to do if he ever left. But what had happened to send AJ crawling out of the office like a baby when she never had the strength to before. Maybe Howie was with her when she wasn't with him and she didn't even realize it.