Never Let Me Go Page 4

  “The Bodyguard,” Mary answered keeping up her pace.

  “Isn’t it better to exercise to something a little more upbeat?”

  Mary shrugged. “I like this album.”

  “I guess you saw the movie?” Katherine looked over at Mary who was now lowering her eyes. “How many times?”

  “Twice,” Mary mumbled.

  “I am in the presence of a true romantic.”

  “I’ll admit to that. I love romantic movies, songs, books. I love to get flowers and have my door opened for me.” Mary turned on the treadmill, but never lost pace. “I guess your boyfriends must love the fact that they don’t have to bring you flowers or take you to chick flicks.”

  Katherine couldn’t tell Mary that she was usually the one bringing the flowers and opening car doors, so instead she said, “I’m a modern woman. What can I say?”

  “There is nothing wrong with a little romance.”

  “You’re right. If it’s the right person,” she said with a shrug. Katherine now took notice of the sweat soaking through Mary’s clothes. “How long have you been on this thing?” She looked over at the machine. “Mary, you’ve been jogging for over an hour.”

  Mary looked down and shrugged, “I’m not even tired.”

  “Your clothes are soaked through. Drink something before you pass out.” Katherine handed Mary a bottle of water. She watched as Mary nearly drank the whole bottle.

  “Thanks, I guess I needed that.” Mary slowed the machine down and when it finally stopped she had to hold onto the rails to keep from falling. Katherine’s arms were around her in an instant.

  “Sit down, Mary.” Katherine led her over to a bench. “Get your legs back under you before you try to move.” She handed her another bottle of water. “Did you eat today?”

  Mary nodded as she drank the water. “I had a salad at lunchtime. My mind was wandering while I was on the machine. I guess the time just got away from me.”

  Kathrine looked at her watch. “It’s six thirty, Mary. Let’s get you into the shower to cool down.” Katherine took her arm and led her to the showers. She turned the water on and made sure it wasn’t too cold or too hot. Katherine helped Mary inside. “Toss your clothes out and I’ll put them in a plastic bag.”

  Mary did as she was told and now stood under the steady stream of water. She felt her body coming back to life and scrubbed away the sweat on her body. Katherine came back into the room and turned on the shower next to her. “Do you want to use my shampoo?”

  “Please,” Mary said through the curtain. Katherine passed the bottle through a slit at the end of the shower and waited until the bottle came back out. “Thank you.”

  Katherine got into the shower next to Mary and cleaned off her body. She now listened to the moans coming from next door. “Feel better?”

  “Yes. Thank you. I like the smell of your shampoo, it’s nice.”

  Katherine stepped out of the shower wrapped in a large towel. Another towel was wrapped around her damp head. She waited until the water went off in Mary’s shower before she walked back to the lockers.

  “Katherine,” she heard Mary calling out.

  “You okay?” Katherine asked stepping back into the shower room.

  “I don’t have a towel.”

  “What locker are you using?” Katherine asked before walking away.

  “First row, number twelve.”

  Katherine opened the door and took a fluffy towel out of Mary’s bag. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” Mary noticed that Katherine was still in her towel as her towel came through the opening. “Go get dressed before you catch a cold.” When Mary walked into the locker room, Katherine had a towel over head and she was sitting on a bench in a black bra and matching underwear. She shook her head thinking that Katherine’s gorgeous face wouldn’t be the only thing in her head. Now she would have the image of her beautiful sexy body to go with it.

  “Would you like to come to my place and share a pizza?” Katherine asked over the row of lockers.

  “I just ran myself into the floor and you want me to load up on carbs,” Mary said with a laugh.

  “Yeah. Your body could use those carbs right about now,” Katherine answered laughing. She waited leaning her side against the wall for a few more minutes, allowing Mary time to get dressed. She didn’t need to see any more of her body than what she had seen already.

  “Okay,” Mary finally answered.

  “Are you dressed?” Katherine asked before stepping to Mary’s side.

  “Just about.”

  Katherine stepped around the lockers just as Mary was pulling up her jeans. “Do you feel any better?”

  “I’m fine, Katherine. Stop worrying.”

  “I’m glad I was here. You could have hurt yourself.”

  Mary couldn’t meet Katherine’s gaze. She was embarrassed that Katherine had to help her, but it felt like a friend was helping and not someone in her position. “Can we keep this between us? I would hate for everyone to know that Congresswoman Willow had to save me.”

  “Hey, it could help my reelection. I think I’ll notify the press. Congresswoman Willow saves woman in gym.” She was now giggling. “Doesn’t that sound like a great headline?”

  “No,” Mary said flicking her towel at Katherine.

  “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  Mary followed Katherine out of the building and into a cab. Katherine ordered the pizza the moment they got into the cab.

  “I see you have your local pizza place on speed dial.”

  Katherine grinned, “And the local Chinese place.”

  Mary was still laughing as they reached their destination.

  “Let me take your suit,” Katherine said reaching for the travel bag that held Mary’s dress clothes. This was the first time that she had seen Mary in street clothes and she had a hard time controlling her breathing. The jeans fit Mary’s small frame and the long sleeve t-shirt hugged her curves. As soon as Katherine stepped away from the closet, the buzzer rang. “Dinner is here.” She went to the door. “Hey, Pete.”

  “Hello, Katherine.”

  Katherine handed him some money and closed the door. “What can I get you to drink?”

  “A bottle of water is fine.”

  Katherine giggled. “You are going to float out of here.”

  “I doubt that since I lost so much fluid exercising.”

  The two women sat on the sofa eating their pizza and watching an episode of Law and Order. “I love this show,” Katherine commented before taking a bite of pizza.

  “Me too,” Mary said with her mouth full.

  After scoffing down their pizza, they both sat back on the couch. Mary crawled into the corner and put her feet up. “So have you ever been married?” Mary asked when the commercial came on.

  “I’ve lived with people, but marriage isn’t for me I guess.”

  “You are giving up at your age?” Mary asked using a teasing voice.

  “What about you? You aren’t married either.” Katherine’s feet followed Mary’s onto the couch.

  “No one has ever asked me. I’m not opposed to marriage.” Mary lowered her voice and continued, “I was in love once and that didn’t turn out well.”

  “I think that romantic side of you is preventing you from giving someone a chance.”

  “It’s true that I want the romance. I won’t settle for someone that doesn’t feel as strongly as I do.” Mary couldn’t believe she was being so honest with Katherine. “We all want that. Even you Ms. Willow,” Mary said poking Katherine’s toes.

  They continued watching the program and when the episode ended, Katherine looked over and saw that Mary had fallen asleep. She turned the television off and covered Mary with a blanket. Katherine stood there for a moment looking down at Mary. She looked so peaceful as she slept and her hair had fallen over one eye. Reaching down she moved the hair away from her face before she left the room.

  In the early morning hours, Kathe
rine heard a noise and sat up. From the living room she heard a low curse. She flipped the light on in her room and called out, “Turn a light on, Mary.”

  “I would if I knew where it was,” Mary said from the hallway. Katherine got out of bed and flipped on the hall light. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. I was looking for the bathroom. Mary looked at Katherine who was now in a pair of sweats and a long sleeve t-shirt. Her nipples were poking through the top due to the chill in the room. Her hair was messy, but still looked sexy.

  “The bathroom is right here,” Katherine said pointing to the door. “I’ll leave you something to change into by the door.”

  “Don’t bother. I’m going to go home.”

  “You are not leaving here at two o’clock in the morning.” Katherine left the room and gathered sleepwear for Mary. “There is a new toothbrush in the right hand drawer,” Katherine began to say through the closed door, but then it opened. She handed the clothes to Mary.

  “Thank you,” Mary said taking the clothes and closing the door again.

  Katherine was just finished making up the couch when Mary walked back into the room. She turned around and took one look before she broke out in laughter.

  Mary looked down at herself and it appeared that she didn’t have feet. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up. “You think it’s so funny. We all can’t be a giant as you are. I’m normal height.”

  Katherine covered her mouth. “I’m sorry for laughing, but you look so damn cute.”

  “Cute, huh?” Mary asked and Katherine nodded. “At least this is more comfortable than sleeping in my clothes.”

  “I’ll let you get back to it then.” Katherine walked toward her bedroom. “Good night, Mary.”

  “Good night, Katherine. Thank you.”

  Katherine turned and grinned. “Any time small fry.”

  “I’ll get you for that,” Mary said calling after her as she disappeared out of sight.

  CHAPTER 8

  Mary opened her eyes seeing the light coming through the front windows. She had to remember for a moment where she was. Her eyes cleared and she sat up on her elbows. The smell of fresh coffee was drifting into the living room and she followed the smell. Katherine was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. “Morning.”

  Katherine lowered the paper. “Good morning. Coffee?”

  “Please.”

  Katherine stood up and poured her a cup. “Milk or sugar?”

  “Black, please.”

  “Can I make you something for breakfast?” Mary wrinkled her nose. “Not a breakfast eater?”

  “Not really. I usually just have a piece of fruit or some yogurt.”

  “Me too.” Katherine stood up and opened the refrigerator. “Oranges, grapefruit and three different kinds of yogurt.”

  Mary got up and stood behind Katherine. “I’ll have the blueberry yogurt, please.”

  Katherine handed the container to Mary and their bodies brushed up against each other. “Sorry,” Katherine apologized.

  “My fault, I was crowding you.”

  Katherine took a yogurt for herself and got them each a spoon. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “I slept fine. Your couch is very comfortable.”

  “I know. I’ve fallen asleep there many times.” Katherine ran her hand through her hair. “Do you have any plans today?”

  “Not really.”

  “Want to hang out?” Katherine asked smiling.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Have you been out to Mount Vernon yet?”

  “You mean George Washington’s home?” Katherine nodded. “No, but I can’t ask you to take me. You’ve probably seen it and would be bored.”

  “I love history and I haven’t been out there in ages.”

  “If you’re sure?”

  “Very sure.” Katherine motioned with her hand. “So eat up so we can get out of here.”

  Mary had to put the clothes on that she had last night, but at least they were clean. Katherine came out of the bedroom wearing a pair of faded jeans and a cashmere sweater. “Wow,” she said almost whistling. “Maybe you should take me home to change clothes.”

  “You look fine, Mary.” Very fine.

  “How are we going to get there?”

  “In my car.”

  “You have a car?”

  “Yes. I don’t use it much except for trips like this.” Katherine took her arm and led her outside to a set of garages in the back of her brownstone.

  “Classy,” Mary whispered as her hand went over the deep leather seats of the luxury car. “See, I knew you were a woman of class.”

  Katherine laughed. “You are so good for my ego, Mary.” And she laughed again.

  The trip to Virginia was filled with top forty radio and they both sang along with the tunes. Mary was having so much fun that she forgot who Katherine was in the scheme of things. It was as if they had been close friends for years.

  They stepped out of the car when they reached their destination. The sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm. “What a beautiful day to take this tour. Thank you, Katherine.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Mary.” Katherine was now walking where they would purchase tickets for the tour.

  As Katherine reached for her wallet, Mary’s hand came down on hers. “Let me, pay, please.”

  Katherine’s hand relaxed which caused Mary’s hand to release hers and she watched as Mary paid for the tickets. Her smile was so bright that Katherine felt her heart pinch in her chest. Mary came back with their tickets and they got in line with the next tour. They walked through the house admiring the structure and furnishings. As the tour continued through the house, Katherine kept stopping to admire something she hadn’t seen before. Mary turned and saw that Katherine was no longer at her side. She found her staring at a painting.

  “I thought I lost you,” Mary said softly as she took Katherine’s arm and led her back to the tour group.

  Katherine looked down at Mary and thought, Never.

  The tour of the house finished and now they were walking outside looking at the out buildings. As Mary gazed into each building, she was amazed at the splendor of the buildings, but she also knew some of these buildings held slaves.

  “Are you okay?” Katherine asked seeing Mary stare straight ahead.

  “It is truly beautiful, but I also know what went on here.”

  “You mean the slavery?” Katherine asked and Mary nodded. “It’s a period in history that makes your skin crawl, but eventually we realized it wasn’t right.”

  “But it took so long for these people,” Mary said softly. She now thought of her own circumstances. She lived a half a life since she was forced to live in a closet of other people’s prejudice and it made her own heart ache.

  “Do you want to leave?” Katherine asked taking her arm.

  “No. I’d like to continue looking around.”

  They spent the rest of their time at Mount Vernon in relative quiet. The grounds were beautiful and they admired its splendor.

  “Are you hungry?” Katherine finally asked.

  “Yes,” Mary answered and they walked back to Katherine’s car. “Thank you so much for bringing me here, Katherine. I enjoyed myself despite the reality of the plantation.”

  Katherine reached over and squeezed Mary’s fingers. “You have a kind soul, Mary. You’d make a good politician.”

  Mary chortled, “No thank you. I’ll leave that to you and Thomas.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, Mary.”

  “I’m not. I just don’t like the scrutiny that goes on in politics. If they can’t beat you fairly, they play dirty and look for other ways to destroy you. Have they used dirt on you, Katherine?”

  “They’ve tried, but I lead a pretty boring life.” She shrugged. “Not much there to discover.”

  “I have a hard time believing that you lead a boring life.”

  Katherine laughed. “Last night was a typical night for me. Of course, t
he company made it special.” She winked at Mary. Katherine was now pulling into a restaurant. “They serve food similar to what Washington was eating in the 1700’s.” Katherine shut off the car. “They also have food from this century.”

  The hostess led them to a table and they took the offered menus. The waitress took their drink orders and told them about the specials. Today’s special was a Cornish hen with roasted potatoes and fresh roasted vegetables. “Sounds good,” Mary said when the waitress walked away.

  They both ordered the special and Katherine was going through her plate as if she hadn’t eaten in days. “What?” she asked seeing Mary staring at her.

  “Hungry?”

  Katherine looked down at her plate and Mary’s half eaten plate. “Sorry. I guess I was hungrier than I thought. I’ll slow down.”

  “Don’t on my account. I enjoy watching you eat. You eat with such enthusiasm.”

  Katherine pointed with her fork. “That’s just another way of saying I’m inhaling my food.” They both laughed and finished their lunch. The waitress dropped off their check and Mary was reaching for her purse. “No, Mary, this is on me.”

  “Are you sure, Katherine?”

  “Very.” Katherine handed the waitress her credit card. “Thank you for spending the day with me. I’ve had a good time.”

  “So the day is over?” Mary asked pouting.

  “Uh, no. I thought maybe you might be sick of me by now.”

  “Sick of you? I’m having a wonderful time.”

  “What do you want to do then?”

  “You’ll think it’s silly.”

  “Tell me, Mary.”

  “I’d like to see the Lincoln Memorial lit up at night.”

  “Really?” Katherine asked trying to keep the laughter out of her voice.

  “Yes. I know I’m a complete nerd.”

  “Then we are a perfect pair. I did all these things when I first came to DC.”

  They parked the car and walked over to the memorial. Mary just stood there looking at the large statue of Lincoln before she climbed the steps. As she read the inscription behind Lincoln she reached and pulled Katherine close to her. It’s a perfect completion of the day after visiting Washington’s home.” Katherine nodded and just stood there happy to enjoy this experience with Mary. “I’ve tied up enough of your day, you’d better take me home now.”