Jenara hammered away at the 12th piece of armor that day. Her arm muscles were on fire, yearning for an end to the torture. Sweat poured down her face, the result of her close proximity to the raging fire of the forge. Her clothes were soaked from the sweat, and she was counting the minutes until she could finish up for the day.
She tossed the curved armor into the cooling water to let it set and slumped into the chair. Her body slumped forward involuntarily. She reached for a glass of cold water to quench her thirst and heard someone knocking at the door. She glanced over to see who it might be.
Cal peeked his head in, obviously upset. His hair in a state of disarray, “Hello Miss Baymont.” He puts a smile on his face, “You look lovelier than ever.”
The usual knot in her throat and stomach when he was around appeared and Jenara was unsure what to say. She smiled shyly and blurted out a quick “Thank you.”
He smiled, “Of course. I have a feeling you don’t get told how beautiful you are too often.”
“It’s been quite a while since I heard a man say that to me. It’s been a while since I wanted to hear it,” she sighed.
His eyebrow went up, “And do you want to hear it now?”
Jenara wanted to hear it more than anything else, but she couldn’t imagine he was going to say it. He was married to Cecelia and surely he wasn’t returning the attraction she held for him. Even in spite of all the reservations, she responded softly, “….yes.”
He just smiles, “It is nice being close to a person who actually loves you, yes?”
Jenara looks down, a bit of sadness in her gut, “I haven’t felt that way since Roger died, and I wish I could again.”
Cal just reached over and softly grabbed her hand, “Perhaps you can.” He gives a soft grin.
Jenara snaps her head up and just stares at Cal, unsure of what she heard. She glances back at his hand holding hers and begins to tremble a bit.
He just eyes her a moment, “I haven’t scared you have I?”
“No,” came a rather quick response, “I just……what about your wife?”
Her eyes betrayed her in a flash and there was no way Cal couldn’t know how she felt. Surely he was just teasing her, surely this was a twisted joke. He couldn’t feel the same way about her could he?
He gives a kind grin, “My wife doesn’t love me. You’ve seen that. Surely you have.”
“I’ve only met her the one time and haven’t really seen you two together.” Jenara’s heart was starting to race a bit.
He leans over and delicately kisses her cheek. He leans back with a smile.
Jenara is pleasantly surprised as her mind screamed, “OH MY GOD!”
They both lock eyes and Jenara readies for another kiss. Cal leans in and begins to…..nuzzle against her and purr.
The purring gets louder and Jenara tries not to question it. Cal then begins to lick her face and Jenara giggles a bit.
Suddenly reality shifts and Jenara is staring at her cat Mandy licking her face, nuzzling and purring and realizes it was all a dream.
A frustrated and disappointed “Damn it Mandy!” was all Jenara could say as she stroked her longtime companion’s fur.
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