Frequent Traveller (Cathy Dixon #1) (25 page)

“Oh, you’re impossible,” he laughed.

“I know but you still love me,” Cathy giggled as she tried to correct her foot work.

“Hey hon, do you want to go for a walk? Just to get some air?”

“Awww, my dancing is that bad, huh? But yeah, come on. It is a bit crowded in here isn’t it?” said Cathy, as she took his arm.

They stepped out through a side door and walked towards the garden.

“So ... why the sudden change of heart? Why the public appearance?” he asked, as she bent down to pick a flower.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Well, for years we’ve been sneaking around. Emails from Internet cafes, phone calls from a box and now we’re here, dancing for the world to see, in front of your colleagues. What am I missing?”

Cathy took a deep breath and hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. She gently pulled away, smiled and guided him to sit on a bench with her.

“I had this mission ... assignment, two weeks ago. It was more like a test. Anyway, as it turned out, I didn’t have anything to hide. They, the CI-7 knew all along about what had really happened. That I wasn’t alone in the room and that you were the one ...”

“I told you, Cat. From the very beginning, you should have always let me take the fall, you would never have ended up in that cell. You just went and blabbed about it before we even had a chance to talk. And you’ve never allowed us to ever talk about it since,” Thomas said holding her in his arms.

“No, no! You would have gone and told them what you did and let’s face it, we wouldn’t be here now. As bitter as it was, I think it turned out exactly as it should have.”

“With you as a spy?” Thomas snickered.

“Oh stop banging on about that, we’ll figure it out. We’ll still have to be careful where CI-7 is concerned but I figured everyone knows me as the VP of Communications for MoonStar so why hide what we have?

“Wow, talk about making progress. And how long will CI-7 go on for?” Thomas asked softly as he pulled her in closer and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Honestly, I don’t know Tom Tom. For the longest time I freaked out at the thought of them finding out that I was connected to you, just in case they had more questions but now it seems like it doesn’t matter. I guess we’ll learn as we go along, if that’s fine by you?”

“It’s more than fine by me, my love,” Thomas said as he gently played with a lock of her hair. “I’ll always love you more than fruit loops,” he continued.

“Stop it ... and yes, I love you too. Hey, that was really something isn’t it? A sixty year marriage, how do you even start to describe it?”

“By taking the first step.”

Cathy felt Thomas stirring and turned to look at him. He held a small box in his hand and was getting down on one knee. In the background, a loud popping noise sounded as the sky lit up with a fireworks display.

“I’ve been walking around with this for months. I didn’t know how to start. Here, let me show you.”

“Tom, it’s blue.”

“Ah yes, see the diamond is from my mother’s engagement ring. The metal, it’s this reflective material. It’s from the old bicycle we used to have. We grew up with it and I figured it’ll match your pendant so ... so you’ll never have to take it off. You’ll always have me with you.”

“Why would I ever want to take it off?” Cathy said softly as Thomas stood up to kiss her.

The End.

About the author

International best-selling author, Pandora Poikilos has been writing for more than 10 years for various media which include newspapers, radio, television and various websites.

A social media enthusiast who is passionate about blogging and finding her way around the virtual world, she wills away time in the real world by reading, writing and people watching. Read more at pandorapoikilos.com

What readers have said about her debut novel

Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out

“This is a book that some will find difficult, some won't finish, but which cannot fail to move those who take the trouble to accompany Anya on her journey, against seemingly impossible odds, toward a destination that will leave them in a better place than they started. Uplifting and inspiring.” (
SK Allison
)

“In a style reminiscent of Sandra Cisnero's "
The House on Mango Street
" Pandora Poikolos shows us all that Anya is thinking. This book is about LIFE - the ups, the downs, the people we encounter, the dreams we have and the world around us.”(
N Rivera
)

“I realize my brains had actually stepped till the time I read Pandora Poikilos' "Excuse me, my brains have stepped out." The irony in her book shatters the way you think and makes you wonder if you are the one with a brain condition! Pandora Poikilos brings home the facts staring you in the face all this while and puts it in perspective for you.” (
K Mukherjee
)

“Without the cloy of drama, and with a clear, steady voice, Pandora Poikilos has been writing about her journey through life in the face of daunting challenges. If you’d enjoy a graceful author who’s worked her way out of the chaos and frailty of the human condition, I think you won’t need to look any farther.”(
Obscure Writer
)

“Pandora Poikolos is the voice of Anya. She introduces to us a woman who captivates and enchants us with her insights into human nature. Imagine being diagnosed with a rare disorder. What becomes important in your life? What becomes unnecessary? Anya's journey is full of pain and wonder. I was laughing and crying along with her. I recommend this book to others. Especially, but definitely not limited to, those going through life changing journeys.” (
DM Lawrence
)