I tried to put on a brave face for Kath, reassuring her she'd adjust to 21st century life, but I was having doubts myself.
It was an absurd situation―somehow she had been transported here from the 60's and I wasn't sure her stay wasn't just temporary.
But in the interim, I had fallen in love and was prepared to spend my whole life with her but there was no guarantee time would let her remain in the present.
I needed to talk to Charlotte about that―she was the expert, but right now Kath needed modern clothing and female companionship and that took precedence over my worries.
"So, Girl's Day Out at the Mall?" Charlotte smiled, "I hope your credit card's not near its limit."
I handed her my card. "Spend as much as you need on summer clothing and we'll do this again in the fall. Oh, and go to a nice restaurant for lunch and buy whatever cosmetics and personal care items she needs."
"Hey Big Spender," she laughed, "why don't I ever meet a guy who's so generous?"
"Because you're successful and don't need a guy to pay your way. But you do deserve someone who's devoted to you. Maybe you have an ancestral connection and someone will show up on your doorstep."
"I should be so lucky," she said wistfully and I realized she had probably been interested in me and I hadn't seen it. Now, I felt really bad, but also thankful she'd remain a friend and help me out in this time of need.
When the women left, I felt suddenly bereft and ill at ease. I couldn't spend the afternoon in the house alone. It seemed so hollow and forlorn with Kath gone.
I decided to go for a run to distract me and help fill the time or I'd just spend it sitting at home missing Kath and worrying about what I'd do if this all suddenly came to an end.
Even admitting the fear filled me with dread, so I hastily changed into my running gear and headed out on a nearby trail.
But summer weather was unpredictable and before long the sky grew threatening and I had to abandon my planned hour-long run and settle for a brisk twenty minute sprint.
I ended up back on the couch sipping coffee while thunder rumbled overhead.
My sleepless night finally caught up to me and before long, I fell into a deep sleep on the couch.
I found myself in a familiar place where I had often been in my dreams―it was some kind of pub near the lake and I was there with a girl, but it wasn't Kath.
The girl was a redhead and tough, at least, that's how she came across, but was incredibly beautiful and seductive in the way she came onto me.
We were arguing about something―I have no idea what, but the girl was feisty, incredibly attractive and knew how to tempt me.
One minute we were in a heated argument and the next moment we were passionately kissing―and that's when Kath appeared and the shock was so sudden, I instantly awoke, trembling and out of breath.
I could still feel the hardness of that kiss and the faint berry taste of her lipstick.
My mouth actually felt sore and when I got up and stared at myself in the hall mirror, I could see my lower lip was bruised.
How was that was possible? It was completely beyond me.
