1: Surprise Encounter

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Verdana" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>1:  Surprise Encounter</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Proscribed Venerable Love"><U><B>2:  A Proscribed Venerable Love</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Stalked by the Vampire"><U><B>3:  Stalked by the Vampire</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Flight to the Auld Country"><U><B>4:  Flight to the Auld Country</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Ally From Nowhere"><U><B>5:  Ally From Nowhere</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe Peopl"><U><B>6:  Tales of Pookahs and the Sidhe People</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: The Middle Kingdom"><U><B>7:  The Middle Kingdom</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: My Lady Healer"><U><B>8:  My Lady Healer</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Triple Betrayal"><U><B>9:  Triple Betrayal</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: A World Apart"><U><B>10:  A World Apart</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Flight From Tara"><U><B>11:  Flight From Tara</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: Imbas Forosna"><U><B>12:  Imbas Forosna</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Wheel of Fortune"><U><B>13:  Wheel of Fortune</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: Wednesday, the Best Day of All"><U><B>14:  Wednesday, the Best Day of All</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>1:  Surprise Encounter</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>       There was no one in the drawing room when Quentin walked in, lonely and looking for company.  Disappointed, he headed for the next best thing to human companionship-the brandy snifter.  He poured himself a more than healthy serving and took a deep swallow.  He tipped the bottle and gave himself a refill.  He heard footsteps approaching and looked around to see who it was.   He saw Julia coming down the stairs, pulling on her gloves.  “Julia!” he called, in greeting.</div> <div>      Julia paused at the bottom of the stairs.  Obviously she was going somewhere, but she came into the drawing room.  “Hello, Quentin,” she said with a smile.  She noticed his expression and the glass in his hand.  “Something's bothering you.  What's wrong?”</div> <div>      Quentin laughed.  “Is it that you're extraordinarily perceptive or am I just that obvious?  I was just musing over my less than exciting life.”  He took another gulp of his drink.</div> <div>      “Do you think you'll find excitement in that bottle?” From anyone else, it would sound like criticism.  Julia, though, had never been judgmental toward him.  She didn't pull any punches, though.</div> <div>      “No, just solace.  I'm feeling very lonely.”  There was just a hint of self-pity in his voice.  He was trying hard not to let it show.  He didn't think she'd believe him.  He was getting quite a reputation again as a ladies man, and he could attract the attention of some woman anywhere he went.</div> <div>      He was right.  Her eyebrows arched up in surprise.  “Lonely?”</div> <div>      “I don't have anyone special in my life now,” he complained.  Julia didn't hoot at him; she was listening sympathetically.  “I know that I can get all the dates I want, Julia, but they don't mean anything.  I mean that I don't have anyone to love.  There's no one who loves me-and I don't mean my family or friends.”</div> <div>      “I understand what you mean,” Julia said with sympathy.  She put her hand on his arm.  “I just want to point out, though, that it seems like you're looking for a drinking partner, not a partner in love.”</div> <div>      He set the glass down and laughed again.  “You're right.”  He started toward the sofa.  Elizabeth apparently had been in earlier, and the tea tray was still there.  “I guess this is still warm.  Would you care to join me?”</div> <div>      “I'd like to, but I can't.  I have to go into town.”</div> <div>      “Oh?”  Then he noticed an alluring scent in the room.  “Are you meeting someone, Julia?”  She gave him a puzzled look.  He'd blurted it out without thinking, and now he felt embarrassed.  “Your perfume-it's very nice.  I like it.”</div> <div>      Julia blushed a little.  “Why, thank you, Quentin.  No, I'm not meeting anyone.  I'm just going into town to do a little research at the library.”</div> <div>      “Want some company?” he asked.  “I could help you.”  It occurred to him he'd rather be with his friend in a dusty library than sitting here alone.</div> <div>      Julia smiled faintly.  “I could use the company.  Come along, then, Quentin, if you don't think you'll be too bored.”</div> <div>      “I'd be bored here, and then I'd drink,” Quentin answered, getting up.  He added, gallantly, “I'm never bored with you, Julia.”</div> <div>      Julia laughed a little, sounding embarrassed.  They went to her car; he opened the driver's side for her and then went around and got in on the passenger side.  As they made small talk on their way to the library, Quentin really looked at Julia for the first time.  Perhaps it was because he was realizing he how lonely he was for someone to love.  Barnabas didn't know what a prize he could have, he thought.  What a fool!</div> <div>      Julia was a beautiful woman, he realized.   The trouble was, she didn't seem to know it.  She had wide, expressive eyes that would be absolutely gorgeous without so much mascara on her lashes.  She also had very appealing freckles lightly sprinkled across her cheeks and noses.  Usually she powdered her face heavily to cover them up; today she hadn't, and he found he rather liked them.  He knew how much she cared for Barnabas and also knew that Barnabas either could not or would not reciprocate those feelings.  Worse, he seemed to treat Julia like a lapdog sometimes.  He'd often wondered why a strong person like Julia would put up with that.  He remembered, with shame, how badly he'd treated Beth and how she'd stubbornly stuck by him.  Beth was no Julia, though.  Julia was as strong and stalwart as an oak.  She didn't seem the type to allow someone to walk all over her the way Barnabas had.</div> <div>      Julia noticed his scrutiny.  “What is it?  Is my nose shiny?”</div> <div>      Embarrassed at being caught, Quentin laughed uncomfortably.  “No.”</div> <div>      “What is it, then?”</div> <div>      “I was just-um, I was just,” Quentin began stuttering.  He didn't really want to tell her what he was thinking.  He was afraid it would hurt her feelings, and he never wanted to do that.  She'd been too good a friend to him to ever intentionally hurt her.  “I was just wondering what it was you needed to research,” he finally finished.</div> <div>      Julia gave him a very dubious look but, for whatever reason, elected not to challenge him.  That, in itself, was a surprise because she always knew when he was lying and always called him on it.  He couldn't fool her and had given up trying.  They spent the entire afternoon in the library, Julia reading and Quentin playing step'n'fetch-it for her.  He was curious to know what it was she was doing, but she was very cryptic about it.  He wondered if this had to do with more ideas to cure Barnabas.  He was locating and dragging out very old historical volumes for her.</div> <div>      He'd picked up a newspaper for himself to put on the desk and used it as a ruse so that he could sneak peeks at Julia without her catching him.  He wondered what her nights were like.  He knew she spent a lot of her free time with Barnabas, but there were also many hours when Barnabas went off on his own-either to feed or brood or court Maggie.  He wondered again why Julia would want to waste her time waiting for Barnabas to notice her.  She had such lovely auburn hair-if she'd wear more flattering colors, Barnabas sure would sit up and notice.  Quentin thought Julia would look lovely in a forest green or a dark blue dress.  He didn't think he'd ever seen her in those colors.</div> <div>      Suddenly Julia looked up.  “You're doing it again, Quentin.  What is it?”</div> <div> She sounded a little irritable now.</div> <div>      “I'm hungry, Julia, aren't you?” he asked, lying to cover his thoughts.  “I was just wondering when you'd be done?”</div> <div>      Julia gave him an appraising look.  “It is getting rather late, isn't it?  I guess we'd better get going so that we don't have Mrs. Johnson furious at us.”</div> <div>      “God forbid!” Quentin exclaimed and laughed.  Impulsively, he said, “Listen, Julia, why don't we eat out?  You don't have any plans, do you?  I don't.  Do you like Chinese food?  I feel like getting some Chinese food.”</div> <div>      “Well, I-“ Julia began and blushed.</div> <div>      “There's nothing for us to do at Collinwood.  Or were you planning on seeing Barnabas tonight?”</div> <div>      “I usually do,” she answered softly.</div> <div>      “You can do something different if you want to, can't you?”  Suddenly, he wanted very much to have dinner with her, if for no other reason than to just break out of the same old humdrum routine.  “Oh, come on, Julia.  What's up at Collinwood anyway?  Mrs. Johnson will be grumpy because we're late.  Elizabeth will listen to Roger ranting about the lazy employees at the plant.  David'll shoot rubberbands under the table at Hallie…aren't you bored with all that?  Come out with me, Julia.”</div> <div>      “Quentin…”</div> <div>      “Can't friends have dinner together?  You have dinner with Barnabas all the time.”  He could see that she was about to speak, perhaps to protest that that was different.  He put on his best “aw please” face, and she laughed.  “Good, you'll do it?”</div> <div>      “Yes, but Quentin, there is no Chinese restaurant in Collinsport.”</div> <div>      “So we'll go to Bangor.  I know a place there.”</div> <div>      Julia looked surprised.  “Bangor!”</div> <div>      “Come on, Julia.” He stood up.  “You'll like the Pu Pu platter at this place.”</div> <div>      They drove to Bangor, making small talk.  He could tell Julia was uneasy, but she really had a terrific sense of humor.  It seemed the more nervous she felt, the more she used it to put herself at ease.  He wished she could be comfortable with him and still have that same sparkling humor so that they could laugh together in real companionship.  He wondered if Barnabas ever saw any of this.</div> <div>      They were seated at a cozy little table in the restaurant in Bangor.  Lots of Chinese restaurants were brightly lit and served as both a take-out and as a sit-down restaurant.  This one was strictly a dining-in restaurant, very softly lit.  Curtains of bamboo separated some of the tables, and Quentin, who knew the owner of this place, asked for one of these.  Julia looked enchanted.  Pleased with her expression, Quentin ordered rice wine and the Pu Pu platter to start with.  </div> <div>      Looking at her in the dim light, Quentin realized her features had become softened and very feminine.  She looked sensual in this lighting.  As she looked back at him, her eyes were almost like a cat's, slanted and greenish.  She picked up a shrimp and very delicately brought it to her mouth.  Quentin felt his face flush as the piece of shrimp went into her mouth.  She popped the shrimp in with her finger and slowly chewed it.  Quentin realized he was staring at her, wondering if her lips were soft.</div> <div>      “What do you recommend?” Julia asked softly.  He knew she was asking his advice about ordering, but it was almost as if her words had another meaning as well.</div> <div>      “Do you like spice?” he asked.  He, too, was asking another question.</div> <div>      Julia smiled.  “Without spice, I would find the meal-bland.”</div> <div>      “Then I suggest the Szechwan Dragon and Phoenix.  It's very good-lobster meat sautéed with mixed vegetables and General Tao's chicken.”</div> <div>      “Oh, I think I'd like that,” Julia agreed with a smile.  He wanted to see the shrimp go in her mouth again, so he picked up a piece and held it out to her.  Surprised, she let him feed it to her.  His fingers lightly brushed her lips.  It was dark, but he thought she might be blushing, too.</div> <div>      “Julia,” he said a little hoarsely, “when was the last time anyone told you how beautiful you really are?”</div> <div>      “Quentin, really, stop!” she laughed, waving her hand in embarrassment.</div> <div>      “No, seriously,” he said earnestly.  “Did you know how much your eyes light up when you smile?  Your whole face lights up, really.  You don't smile enough, Julia.  Someone should tell you that you're beautiful every day just to get you to smile.”</div> <div>      She put her hands on his.  “You're sweet.”  Her hands felt very warm.</div> <div>      Sweet?  He'd been called many things, but he didn't think “sweet” was one of them.  She was looking at him with an inscrutable look on her face.  He couldn't tell what she was thinking.  He turned his hands over and clasped hers in his.  “You've been my best friend, do you know that, Julia?” he asked her softly.</div> <div>      Julia laughed a little.  “Well, but Barnabas…” she began.</div> <div>      “Barnabas is my cousin, and I love him, but…” Quentin paused.  He didn't want to trash his cousin and offend her.  “Julia, you've been my friend throughout everything.   You were the one that helped me get my memory back.  If it wasn't for you-but you're just like that, you know?  You're always thinking of the other person.  Me, Chris, Barnabas.  I was just wondering-do you ever think about yourself?”</div> <div>      “When would I have time to do that, when I'm so busy thinking of all you other people?” she asked with a smile and squeezing his hands.</div> <div>      “Maybe it's time you let people start thinking about you,” Quentin ventured.  Julia smiled and didn't say anything else.  The rest of the meal arrived, and it was very spicy and very delicious.  “Julia?  We don't have to be anywhere special tonight.  Why don't you come to the movies with me?  Or better yet-let's go dancing.”</div> <div>      “Dancing!”  Julia laughed.  “Quentin, you don't want to go dancing with me!  I don't do any of the dances those young people do now-I can't get my body to move like that.”</div> <div>      He laughed.  “What makes you think I can?  I know a place that has an orchestra, Julia.  We can do real dancing there-not this new stuff.  It's not a rock and roll band that plays there.” Julia looked at him with surprise.  He raised his eyebrows mockingly at her.  “I have eclectic tastes in music, don't you know that?”</div> <div>      “I guess I should have known.  You just look so…” Julia stopped herself before finishing her thought.  He wondered if she were about to tell him he looked so young.  “I was under the impression you liked rock and roll.”</div> <div>      “I do.  But I also like swing and the big band sound.” At her dubious expression, he rattled off a list: “Glenn Miller.  Benny Goodman.  Tommy Dorsey.  And jazz, too, Julia.  Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Count Basie, Duke Ellington…”</div> <div>      Julia laughed.  “All right, I believe you!  Is this place far from here?  I really was planning on checking on Barnabas…”</div> <div>      “Why?  Do you think he'd notice?”  Quentin asked, without stopping to think.  Shit! he thought as soon as he saw the hurt in her eyes.  She pulled her hands away, and he was afraid he'd spoiled everything. “I'm sorry, Julia.  I shouldn't have said that.  That was uncalled for.  Don't be mad at me, please?”</div> <div>      It was the tone in his voice and the “aw please” expression again that did it.  Looking slightly mollified, Julia shook her head and said, “As if I could ever stay angry with you.”  He gave her his most charming smile, letting the smile move to his eyes.  Julia laughed again.</div> <div>      “I like when you laugh, Julia.”</div> <div>      “Oh, really?  And are you planning on entertaining me and keeping me laughing all evening?”</div> <div>      “I'd like to try.”  He took her hands again, and noticed she shifted uncomfortably.  “I'm not trying to put the moves on you, Julia.  I just think you deserve to have a good time.  So-will you come dancing with me?”</div> <div>      Julia sighed and looked as if she wondered about her own sanity.  “All right.  Yes, I will come dancing with you.  I can always check on Barnabas later.”</div> <div>      “Tomorrow.” He urged, looking at her intently.  He thought he could see her flushing just a little across the cheeks and neck.  “You can check on him tomorrow.  He can wait.  Let's close the place down, Julia.  I'll play the piano for you-would you like that?”</div> <div>      She looked as if she was turning ideas over in her head and came to a decision.  “Yes, I would,” she answered, and gave him just as charming a smile as he'd given her.  She looked him directly in the eye, and there was no mistaking the growing interest he saw there.</div> <div>      Most places catered to young people and rock and roll bands; Quentin knew of an American Legion in the city that regularly had Friday night dances for the veterans who wanted the swing sound-that was the music they'd listened to in the war.  Julia seemed surprised when Quentin was admitted so easily.  Some of the couples there seemed to know him as well.  “I told you I have very eclectic interests,” Quentin explained, noticing her look.  </div> <div> He led her to a small table off to the side.  Many of the tables were larger so that several couples could sit together; Quentin chose a table that was set off by itself and had room for one other couple.  He pulled a chair out for Julia and then sat down himself.  He hoped no one would join them there.  They had a drink first to relax and so that Julia could get her bearings.  Julia brought out a cigarette and put it to her lips.  Her hand was shaking a little as she fumbled with her lighter.  “Let me,” Quentin offered, taking it from her and lighting her cigarette for her.</div> <div> “Thank you,” Julia murmured.  She seemed overwhelmed by it all.  “Your mother brought you up well, Quentin.  These days, it's hard to get anyone to open a car door for you or hold your chair out for you, let alone light a cigarette for you.”</div> <div> Quentin smiled.  “If you want to thank someone, I suppose it ought to be my grandmother, my brother Edward and my sister Judith.  My mother died when I was a little boy.  I must have picked up a few more things from them than I thought.”</div> <div> “Oh?  I didn't know that.  What happened?” Julia asked.  Quentin talked; she listened.  Then he asked her about her family.  He realized he knew very little about her.  He listened as she talked about her aged parents who now lived with her sister and brother-in-law.</div> <div> “Were you ever married before, Julia?” he asked.  “I don't even know that about you.”</div> <div> A sudden look of pain crossed her face.  “Neither does Barnabas.  He never asked.”</div> <div> Quentin made a face.  “That's his loss.  I'm asking, though.  I'm interested-I want to know.”</div> <div> Julia told him about the young pilot she'd married during the World War.  She'd never wanted to marry again after his plane was shot down.  She'd been in medical school then and just got busy with her career.  “So serious,” he said.  “You never met another man you wanted to go out with?”  Julia's eyes were still filled with pain.  This man must have been her true love.  “How long did you know your husband?”  He listened as Julia told him all about the man she'd loved and who'd been such a big part of her life.  She poured her heart out to him, confiding things she'd been holding secret for years.</div> <div> “I'm sorry you lost him, Julia,” he said when she was through talking.  “He sounds like he was very special.  I wish you had someone else who made you feel as loved as he did.”</div> <div> Julia took his hand.  “I do, too,” she said wistfully.  Then she added with a shy laugh, “Actually, you're doing a pretty good job of making me feel special tonight.”</div> <div> He shrugged.  “You deserve it, Julia, don't you know that?”  The band had stopped playing for the moment, and he lowered his voice.  He ordered another round of drinks for them.  They'd already consumed a bottle of rice wine; he was feeling very relaxed and happy now.  Julia was beginning to look the same way.  “Do you like to dance, Julia?” he asked.  “I'm hoping you'll dance with me-I love it.  I always have.”</div> <div> “Yes, but it's been a long time-years.  I've just been too busy lately, I guess.  I just hope I haven't forgotten how.  I might be very clumsy, Quentin.  I imagine you're a very graceful dancer and that you've had very graceful partners.”</div> <div>      “Oh, I'm sure you'll move with the same grace as the best of them.”  Feeling a little giddy from the drink, he pulled his chair closer to her.  “Let me put you in the mood, Julia, before the band comes back.”  She looked a little alarmed but didn't pull back when he put his lips to her ear and hummed softly the tune to a song Pansy Faye had taught him years ago.  When he finished the song, he pressed his lips lightly into her hair.</div> <div>      Caught up in the moment, Julia put her hands on his face and turned him toward him.  She kissed him gently on the mouth and then sat back a little.  “You are so very sweet, Quentin,” she said almost breathlessly.  He wanted more, but the band was beginning to take their places again.  They were looking into each other's eyes, just a moment away from another kiss.</div> <div>      As the music became louder, Quentin heard himself ask in a husky, shaky voice, “May I have this dance?”</div> <div>      “I would be delighted,” Julia answered with a smile that lit up all her features.  She looked absolutely lovely.  He was surprised at the intensity of the desire he felt for her and stood up, hoping he wouldn't wobble and topple over.  He pulled her chair out and escorted her to the dance floor.  If Julia had any ideas of dancing with someone she considered a friend or a younger brother, Quentin quickly disabused her of that notion.  He pulled her close to him, wanting her to look in his eyes again.  She wasn't quite ready for that again, however, and leaned her head on his shoulder instead.</div> <div>      He felt a little lightheaded again as he moved around with her on the floor.  She was actually a much better dancer than she'd led him to believe.  She felt totally relaxed and natural in his arms, and he found himself becoming warm and flush with rising desire.  It was embarrassing in a way; he was sure she could feel him but she made no attempt to move away from him.  He'd never felt attracted to an older woman before, but he found himself thinking of her in a different way-not an older woman, but a mature, beautiful, feminine woman who was very desirable.  They danced all night; when they got tired, they sat down and talked.</div> <div>      The band played until midnight; by then most of the couples had left for the evening.  In other places, the bands played until two to four in the morning for a much younger clientele.  As the lights began to come up, workers came out to start clearing off the tables.  People were leaving; the band members stood up, stretched, and began to put their instruments away.  “Come on, Julia,” Quentin said, taking her by the hand.  She followed him to the bandstand and stood listening quietly as he talked with the piano player about staying and borrowing the piano for awhile.  This wasn't a new arrangement between the two of them obviously.  </div> <div>      The band members cleared the stage, leaving Quentin and Julia alone in the room except for the clean-up crew.  Quentin sat down on the bench and patted the seat beside him.  “Have any favorites you'd like to hear?” he asked.  Julia looked momentarily nonplussed from drink and all the attention-she wasn't used to either.</div> <div>      “You pick,” Julia suggested.</div> <div>      “Okay,” he said easily.  He didn't know why he thought first of a Simon and Garfunkel song.  There were so many pieces of music he enjoyed very much; it just seemed to fit, and it was easy to play on the piano.  It was a song called “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”  “Do you know this one?” he asked, as he began the opening bars.</div> <div>      “I've heard it,” Julia answered, musing.  “Can you sing it?”</div> <div>      “Who, me?  You'd better help me with some of these notes, Julia!”</div> <div>      “All right,” she agreed, laughing. </div> <div>      It was one of Quentin's favorites from last year.  This year, he favored Elton John, whose songs were much more melancholy. Together, they made a valiant attempt at the song.</div> <bR> <div> “When you're weary, feeling small,</div> <div> When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all.</div> <div> I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough,</div> <div> And friends just can't be found,</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will lay me down,</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will lay me down.</div> <bR> <div> When you're down and out,</div> <div> when you're on the street,</div> <div> When evening falls so hard,</div> <div> I will comfort you.</div> <div> I'll take your part, oh,</div> <div> when darkness comes,</div> <div> And pain is all around,</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will lay me down,</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will lay me down.</div> <bR> <div> Sail on silvergirl,</div> <div> sail on by,</div> <div> Your time has come to shine,</div> <div> all your dreams are on their way.</div> <div> See how they shine, oh,</div> <div> if you need a friend,</div> <div> I'm sailing right behind,</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will ease your mind.</div> <div> Like a bridge over troubled water,</div> <div> I will ease your mind.”</div> <div>      </div> <div>      As he played the last few notes, Quentin looked at Julia and said with all sincerity, “I'd like to be your bridge, Julia.”  He was surprised when her eyes filled up with tears.  “I'm sorry, I upset you,” he said, distressed.  He put his hand on her cheek, using his thumb to wipe away the tears.</div> <div>      “No, I'm not upset at all!  It's just that you are so sweet and so kind, and I just wish-“  she broke off suddenly.</div> <div>      “That I was Barnabas?” he asked, trying not to sound hurt.  It was silly to think she'd be attracted to him.  He knew how she felt about Barnabas.</div> <div>      To his complete surprise, she answered, “No, dear Quentin, I just wish you were older.  I'm old enough to be your mother, you know.”</div> <div>      He laughed, feeling a mixture of amusement and relief.  “Julia!  I may look like a kid but I'm way older than you are!”</div> <div>      “In years, maybe,” Julia began tentatively.</div> <div>      He listened for a criticism.  “Do you think I'm too immature for you?  Is that it?  I mean, I know I act like a kid sometimes but…”</div> <div>      She put her finger on his lips.  “You haven't acted like a kid once tonight, Quentin.  It's been years since I've felt so…appreciated-and desired.”</div> <div>      He could feel himself blush furiously.  He wondered if she would let him kiss her.  She was looking at him, almost expectantly.  If she wouldn't, she'd either pull away or smack him.  Somehow he didn't think she'd do either.  He moved closer to her, turning so that he could put his arms around her and pull her close.  Her lips tasted sweet, like the wine she'd been drinking.  To his surprise, they parted, allowing him to enter and explore her.  Then he withdrew and opened his mouth, hoping she'd follow.  She did, and his head began to swim again.  When he thought he couldn't stand to just kiss her anymore, she moved back a little.</div> <div>      “Play me another song,” she whispered, her voice husky with desire.</div> <div>      It was hard to swallow; harder still to concentrate.  Suddenly, a song came to him.  He was always lucky in that he was able to pick out the notes of the songs he heard without actually having the sheet music.  The song seemed appropriate under the circumstances, and he sang very softly, so that only the two of them could hear it.</div> <bR> <div> “Love, look at the two of us</div> <div> Strangers in many ways</div> <div> We've got a lifetime to share</div> <div> So much to say</div> <div> And as we go</div> <div> From day to day</div> <div> I'll feel you close to me</div> <div> But time alone will tell</div> <div> Let's take a lifetime to say</div> <div> "I knew you well"</div> <div> For only time will tell us so</div> <div> And love may grow</div> <div> For all we know.</div> <bR> <div> Love, look at the two of us</div> <div> Strangers in many ways</div> <div> Let's take a lifetime to say</div> <div> "I knew you well"</div> <div> For only time will tell us so</div> <div> And love may grow</div> <div> For all we know.”</div> <bR> <div>      Once again, he looked at her appealingly as he ended the song.  “Julia,” he said softly.  “I know we don't know each other very well, and I know we've just been friends.  Somehow, though, it feels different now.  I want you-I want you to come with me and stay with me tonight.  Not at Collinwood.  Would you-please?”</div> <div>      For what seemed like a long, interminable time Julia didn't say anything.  Then she leaned over and kissed Quentin, very gently, on the mouth.  She stopped kissing him to answer:  “Yes, I will, Quentin Collins.  How could I resist?”</div> <div>      “Let's go now,” he whispered urgently.</div> <div>      Julia opened her handbag and pulled out her car keys.  She handed them to Quentin.  “Would you mind driving?  I'm not sure I'm up to it.”  As their fingertips touched, he thought he could feel a spark of electricity between them.  “You seem to know your way around town better than I do.  You're not drunk, are you?”  </div> <div> “Not on booze,” he answered, and they both laughed.  He took the keys, and they got up to go.  He took her gently by the elbow, considering where to take her.  He knew one place with sunken Roman tubs and extra large Jacuzzis in the rooms.  He thought she'd like that.  Then she said, “I do have an early morning appointment.  I need to be close to Collinsport.”</div> <div>      He reconsidered, thinking.  Places closer to Collinwood weren't nearly so nice.  There was one place, though.  “I have the key to Chris' cottage.  He gave it to me after he and Sabrina and Amy left.”</div> <div>      Julia smiled.  “Close enough.”</div> <div>      The room with the Jacuzzi could wait until next time-if there was a next time.  He opened the car door for her once again and then came around the car to get in the driver's side this time.  He was feeling a little nervous; that mingled with the anticipation growing in him.  He drove back toward Collinwood, going over the condition of the cottage in his head.  Everything was clean, and the bed was freshly made.  When she put her hand on the inside of his thigh, he nearly started.  He drew his breath in a little and half-turned to smile at her.  “I don't think I can drive this way, Julia.”</div> <div>      “No?”  her voice sounded uncertain and shy, as if she'd been taking a chance and was afraid of doing the wrong thing.</div> <div>      He didn't want her to misunderstand so he took one hand off the wheel to move her hand to the hard bulge between his legs.  “You see?  I'm finding it hard to concentrate.”</div> <div>      Julia laughed nervously and withdrew her hand.  “I can wait,” she laughed.</div> <div>      When they got to Collinwood, he pulled off the main drive and headed down the path to the cottage.  No one would ever know they'd been there, not unless they went out walking in the middle of the night.  Parking the car, he got out and hurried around to open Julia's door, fumbling for his keys.  He nearly dropped them and cursed himself for his clumsiness.  Wouldn't that be fun?  Crawling around in the dark, looking for keys!  He wished there was some sort of outdoor light as he fumbled around in the dark, trying to get the key to fit.  Finally, he heard it snick home; he turned the key, and the door swung open easily.</div> <div>      Quentin turned on the light and walked Julia into the room.  She looked around nervously; she looked frightened and uneasy.  He put his arms on her shoulders and turned her to face her.  “Hey, you're scared.  What are you scared of?  It's not me, is it?  I'm not anyone to be afraid of, honest.  I just want to please you.”</div> <div>      “It's not that,” Julia answered tremulously.  “I haven't-I mean, it's been a long time since I…”  she broke off, miserably embarrassed and unable to continue.</div> <div>      “Oh, Julia, there's no rush.”  Quentin put his arms around her and pulled her to him, hugging her.  “Let's just spend some time together, if that's all you feel up to doing.”  He was disappointed, but he knew he wouldn't die and he didn't want to push Julia.  Someone else maybe; a cute babe he didn't care about, but not Julia.  She was different-someone very special and someone to be handled with a great deal of care.  Kiddingly, he began to move around the room with her a little.  “Want to dance again?”</div> <div>      She laughed.  From her expression, he could tell she was feeling bad about being so nervous.  “There's no music-unless you can make some.  What was that song you were humming to me before?”</div> <div>      “Ah, that song?  My brother Carl was once engaged to a showgirl, and she taught me that song.  Would you like to hear the words to it?”  They were swaying together slowly, dancing in a slow rhythm.</div> <div>      “Sure,” Julia answered with a game smile.</div> <div>      “Okay, but we'll have to move a little faster.  This is a lively tune, all right? Here we go!”  As he sang the words Pansy had sung so many years ago, he began to whirl around the room with Julia, holding her close so that he could sing into her ear:     </div> <div> “I wanna dance with you</div> <div> Wanna dance my cares away</div> <div>  I'll be so close to you</div> <div> In your arms I'll always stay</div> <div>  Our hearts will beat in tune</div> <div> In the rhythm of our love</div> <div>  It's always been said that life is a song</div> <div>  So why don't we both just dance along</div> <div>  Around and Around</div> <div> Together we two</div> <div> Oh I wanna dance with you.”</div> <bR> <div>      Because the verses were so short, he sang them again, continuing to dance around the room with her.  They were careful not to knock over any of the furniture, or maybe it was just luck.  Quentin felt the drinking and the events of the whole evening catch up with him.  He felt very warm and giddy.  Julia was laughing but looked like she needed to catch her breath, and so after the second round, he stopped singing and they slowed to a halt.</div> <div>      “Whew!” he exclaimed, sweat running down his face.  “Pardon me, Julia, but I really need to get this off.”  He began unbuttoning his shirt.</div> <div>      Julia put her hands over his to stop him.  “Let me,” she said softly.   Surprised, he stopped moving and stood still while Julia slowly and seductively continued to unbutton his shirt.  When it fell all the way open, Julia pushed it off his shoulders.  As the shirt slid down his arms, Julia began to caress his chest.  Slowly, she rubbed the nipples on his chest with her thumbs; he shivered as goosebumps erupted along his arms.</div> <div>      He leaned down and pulled her close, kissing her throat.  She'd put perfume behind her ears and the scent was arousing.  He wondered what it was.</div> <div> They sat down together on the sofa and he leaned toward her so that she fell back, reclining almost all the way back.  He moved so that he was almost on top of her but didn't press his weight onto her.  He continued to kiss and nuzzle her throat, slowly working his way to her mouth.  Her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer to her.</div> <div>      She moved her head a little to free herself.  “Quentin,” she began.  She wants to stop, he thought with dismay.  He caressed her cheek.  “Why don't we move to the other room?  Where we'll be more comfortable?”  Excited, he didn't need to be asked twice.  He got up immediately and held his hands out to her, helping her up.  He led her to the bedroom and turned the light on.  Julia cleared her throat and said hesitantly, “Would you mind if we left the light off?”</div> <div>      He turned to her, surprised.  “Why?”  Almost before the question was out of his mouth, he knew what it was.  “I do mind,” he answered gently.  “I want to see you, Julia.  I think you're beautiful.”  Her eyes filled up, and he was afraid he'd hurt her again without meaning to.  </div> <div> She grasped his hand firmly and pulled him to the bed.  “In that case, I'd like to see YOU,” she said quite frankly.  “I've been feeling you most of the evening, and I'd like to see what you look like.”</div> <div> “Why, Julia,” he teased in mock horror.  “I didn't know you were like that!”  He leaned to kiss her again.</div> <div> She was already unfastening his pants and pulling the zipper down.    She may not have had sexual relations in a long time, but she certainly hadn't forgotten how.  He was very excited, kicking his shoes off.   He'd begun unbuttoning her blouse as she busily worked at getting his pants to slide down his hips.  They were still attached at the lips as well, the feel of Julia's tongue tickling his palate raising more goosebumps on his arms.   When he she reached into his briefs to stroke his erect penis, he thought he would explode then and there.  They maneuvered together toward the bed, helping each other undress and discarding the garments as they went.</div> <div> If Julia still had any qualms about him looking at her body in the nude, she hid it well.  She lay back on the bed, reaching up for him, pulling him down onto her.  “Julia, I want you so bad,” he whispered huskily, caressing her breasts.</div> <div> “Come inside me then, because I want you too,” she whispered back, maneuvering under him so that he was between her legs now.  He slid into her easily; she was soaking wet and yet very tight.  It really had been a long time for her, then.  He groaned as he felt the walls of her vagina contract around him.  He was afraid he was going to come fast, like a little schoolboy.  He took a deep breath and tried not to think about how good it would feel just to shoot off now.  He moved slowly, wanting to bring her to a climax first.</div> <div> She moaned, too, her face going a deep dark red.  She raked his shoulders with her nails. He was surprised at the sudden pain, but it also felt exquisitely stimulating as well.  He could feel her moving with him in a passionate rhythm that started out slowly and then became rougher and more frantic.  Before he came, he heard her crying out, her head thrashing as she lost herself in the throes of her orgasm.  That was all he take; another two or three thrusts and he could feel his own climax coming.  They held onto each other tightly as he rocked back and forth on top of her.  “Ohhh, God!” he exclaimed.  He couldn't help himself-he collapsed right on top of her and felt paralyzed for a few seconds.</div> <div> As soon as he was able to, he lifted himself up.  He didn't want to crush her, and she was already gasping and wheezing a little.  He looked at her with concern but quickly realized that she was fine-it was from the passion, and he was glad he was able to give that pleasure to her.  “Julia, you're a spitfire,” he gasped to her, kissing her deeply and then rolling off her.  He pulled her close, encouraging her to put her head on his shoulder.  They lay closely together, recovering slowly.</div> <div> As their breathing slowed and they began to relax, Julia suddenly raised herself up to look at Quentin.  What he saw in her face other than passion was a look of deep gratitude and affection for him.  “I have not felt this good in years and years and years,” she announced.  “Quentin, you are incredible!”  She gave him a deep kiss and then lay back against his shoulder in contentment.</div> <div> “I'm incredible?” Quentin scoffed, teasing her.  “Julia, you have no idea how hard it was not to come in my pants every time you touched me.  And just now-my God, I think I must've come a gallon.” Julia laughed with real pleasure.  “I'll say it again if you'll laugh again.  I love how you laugh, Julia.  It's like music.”</div> <div> “And the way you make me feel is like a miracle.  I never expected anything like this,” she declared, marveling.</div> <div> “Why not?  I guess I'm pretty good in bed.”  He doubled up and began laughing when she tickled his ribs.  “No don't-I'm ticklish!”</div> <div> “You shouldn't have told me that,” Julia said mischievously.  “You're starting to awaken feelings in me, my dear, and one of them is I've always been a tickler.  I haven't done it in years, but I haven't forgotten how.”</div> <div> “Really?  Are you ticklish?”</div> <div> “Nope.”</div> <div> “No?  Let's see!”  He tried to tickle her back and she grabbed his hands to stop him.  “Ah, you're a tease as well, are you?”  They both began to laugh.  Eventually they calmed down and rested together again.  Then Quentin announced, “Well, Julia, you're ruined now.”  Julia burst into new peals of laughter, tears streaming down her cheeks.  He laughed too, more from the pleasure of making her happy.  As if she realized what he was thinking, Julia turned toward him and kissed him again.  They both sighed contentedly.  As he felt himself falling asleep, Quentin rolled over onto his side and pulled Julia close to him, into the curve of his body.  She was still awake, but perfectly content to let him cuddle her closely.</div> <bR> <div> Hours later, he stretched and realized she wasn't there.  He half woke up, looking around for her sleepily.  He wondered if she'd left already; usually, he was the one who quietly got up and left the babe he'd just slept with.  He didn't think of Julia in that way and he certainly hoped that's now how she thought of him.  He sat up, trying to decide what to do next-get up and look for her, or roll over and go back to sleep?  Getting up and looking for her required getting dressed, and he was still sleepy.  On the other hand, he also had to go to the bathroom now.  Besides, he only needed to pull on his pants.  No one else was around.</div> <div> He looked outside and saw that she was there, smoking a cigarette.  He peed and then went out to make sure she was all right.  As the door opened, she turned and smiled at him.  He felt a little awkward, not knowing how she would respond to him.  He could tell by the way that she was looking at him that she felt awkward in the same way.   Hmm, there was just one thing to try…he walked over to her and gave her a kiss.  She tasted of cigarette smoke, but he hid his distaste of that and said, “Good morning, Julia.  It's early, isn't it?  What time is it?”</div> <div> “I needed this,” Julia explained shyly, indicating the cigarette.  “Yes, it's early.  Why don't you go back to bed?”</div> <div> “Will you come back?”</div> <div> “Well, I did have that early morning appointment…”</div> <div> “Oh.  Julia?”  He felt suddenly shy with her, too.  “I hope you don't regret last night because I don't.  I think you're really special.  I wish everyone thought that way.”  He realized he was beginning to blush like a kid.   “I kind of hate to leave you out here alone.”</div> <div> “Don't worry about me.  And you are such a dear, Quentin.”  Julia had stubbed out her cigarette and walked into his arms to hug him.  “And I have no regrets.”  She put her hand on his neck to pull his head down to kiss her.  “Go back to sleep.  I know that you like to sleep in.”  She let him go, and he stepped back and went back into the cottage.  He felt confused, his feelings in turmoil.</div> <div> He got back into the bed but as soon as he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep.  As he was trying to decide what to do, he heard the door open softly.  Before he could roll over and say anything, Julia  slipped under the sheet next to him.  She blew into his ear, and he started laughing.  “What happened to that early morning appointment?”</div> <div>  “I changed my mind,” Julia answered, smiling.  He stopped laughing, and turned to look at her.  He got up of his elbows and then rolled on his side, facing her.  He ran his hands through her hair; it was thick and wavy.  It wanted to be curly, he could tell.  “Don't just look at me like that,” she said softly. “Kiss me, Quentin.  I want you to kiss me. And then I'll call to reschedule my meeting, and I'll come back to you and you'll kiss me again.”</div> <div> “You don't have to ask me twice,” he said, moving over her to kiss her.  He was very pleased that she'd come back and wanted to show her.  He was sure she got the idea because she began to laugh as she pulled away.</div> <div> “Quentin, let me make the call!”</div> <div>      “Don't let me stop you,” he answered and kissed her again.</div> <div>      She put her hands on his cheeks and gently pushed him away.  “You're terrible!  In a minute, I won't be able to get out of the bed.”</div> <div>      “Good,” he teased, reaching for her.</div> <div>      She evaded him, slipping out the bed, laughing.  He hadn't tried very hard to catch her, and they both knew it.  He knew she needed to make the call.</div> <div> “I'll be right back.”  He heard her pick up the phone and dial out.  Apparently, she was calling Windcliffe, because she started speaking to her secretary.  She asked her to reschedule her morning's appointment to the following day; she'd been unavoidably detained.  He heard the phone go back down onto the receiver.  He was beginning to feel excited again.  She came to the doorway and stood looking at him, a smile on her face.  </div> <div>      He threw back the covers.  “Come back to me, Julia,” he whispered.  He wanted make their lovemaking last a long time this time, wanting to go over every inch of her body.  He wanted her to feel how desirable she really was.  Everytime she tried to touch him, he'd deftly move away and smile at her.  “No, no, this is my gift to you.  Let me just worship you, Julia.”  He brought her to a frenzied climax even before he entered her, and having experienced that, she was able to enjoy him moving slowing in her, bringing her to the edge and over it again.  After that second time, she was wild to have him come in her now, too, and she clawed his back again.  He thrust harder and faster, and when he felt her climaxing yet again, he let go and let himself be carried over the edge, exploding inside her and filling her.</div> <div>      She grabbed his face fiercely between her hands and kissed him, deeply and passionately.  He became aware that she was crying.   “Julia, what is it?” he asked, dismayed, tracing her tears with his finger.</div> <div>      “I never thought I could feel this happy again.”  The tears began to fall faster.</div> <div>      “If you're happy, why are you crying?”</div> <div>      “Because I don't want it to end, and I think it has to.”</div> <div>      “Why?”  She couldn't answer him; she was crying too hard now.  He pulled her to him, so that she lay with her head on his shoulder again.  He cradled her against his side.  “Julia, why?  Why does it have to end?”</div> <div>      “I'm so confused!”</div> <div>      “You don't think I'd dump you?”  he asked, genuinely concerned that she believed he would do that to her.  He couldn't really blame her.  His track record with women spoke for itself.  “I'd never do that to you-never!  Listen, I'll tell you something. I haven't felt this way about anybody in a long time.  You've been my friend-my best friend, and I loved you for it.  But I feel differently now, don't you?  Julia, I l-“</div> <div>      “Ssh!” she exclaimed, putting her finger on his lips. “Don't say it!”</div> <div>      “You don't believe me?  I don't blame you-I know my behavior has been less than savory.  Please trust me, I beg you.  I would never dump you, Julia.”</div> <div>      “I believe you are sincere now, Quentin my dear, but you are so young.  I'm so much older-“</div> <div>      “I thought we went over that,” he protested.</div> <div>      She sighed.  “The point is, you're a very attractive, very handsome, very sexy young man.  And I-I-“</div> <div>      “You are a very beautiful, very sexy, very mature lady,” he finished.</div> <div>      “Beautiful?  How can you say that?  I don't look anything like Farrah Fawcett or any of the other beauties on television.”</div> <div>      “No, but you're more beautiful than they are because of who you are.  Don't you see that?  You're the one who makes you sexy and beautiful.  It's not your hair color or your bust size or-“ He blushed furiously.  “I think you're one of the sexiest women I've ever been with.”</div> <div>      She kissed his hand gently.  “You are the sweetest, gentlest man, Quentin!  I absolutely adore you.  And I refuse to listen to a word anyone says about you.”</div> <div>      “Like…Barnabas?”</div> <div>      She sighed deeply and sat up.  “I don't want to talk about Barnabas.”</div> <div>      “Do you want to be with me?”</div> <div>      She turned and looked at him.  “There's no question about that, dearheart.”</div> <div>      “I want to be with you.  You wouldn't let me say it before, but I love you, Julia.  I do.  What we have means more to me because we were already friends.  Does that make sense?”  When she nodded, he asked, “You said you adore me.  Do you think you might love me, too-a little?”</div> <div>      She caressed the side of his face.  “How could I not?”</div> <div>      “But you love Barnabas too, don't you?  Don't you think we ought to talk about that?”</div> <div>      “He doesn't love me.  I know he doesn't,” she said flatly.  “There's nothing to talk about.”</div> <div>      “Do you want him to love you?”</div> <div>      She looked at him, dismayed.  Her expression seemed to say, “Don't ask me that.  You don't want to know.”  She didn't answer at first.  Then she took his hand and said, “It's hard to let go of hope like that.  I hoped for years he would love me.”</div> <div>      He smiled a little, to cover his hurt.  “I know.  He's a fool not to, Julia.  I wish for your sake that he did.”</div> <div>      She was shaking her head, no.  She squeezed his hand and said, “No, you don't understand, dearheart.  I said it was hard to let go of that hope.  It's not impossible.”  She looked down and away.  “I just don't want to be hurt,” she whispered.</div> <div>      “I'm not the person I was, I swear to you,” Quentin said urgently, pulling on her hand.  “Will you trust me?  Let go of that hope, Julia.  He'll never see how wonderful you are.  Let go of it, and see me instead.”  She came back to him, and he put her arms around her.  As he pulled her to him, he swore to himself that he would do everything to make her happy as she deserved.  He knew that she could make him happy-it was just a matter of getting her to realize it and believe it.     </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>