**The Secret Meetings**
After his divorce, William found himself adriftor so he told his colleagues and friends. Eight years of marriage had ended bitterly, though he hadnt wanted it that way. His wife, he claimed, had been impossible to live with. At least there were no childrenshe had never wanted them.
At thirty-six, William was in his primebroad-shouldered, handsome, with a quiet intensity that drew glances. Hed had his share of flings, some with women younger than himself, but remarriage was the furthest thing from his mind. Office romances, in particular, struck him as dreadfully predictable, and most of his female coworkers were married anyway.
“Ive got more sense than to get tangled up in that mess,” hed say over pints at the pub with his mates.
“Dont count your chickens before they hatch,” theyd laugh. “You know how it goeslove sneaks up on you when you least expect it.”
Pride, it seemed, came before a fall. He would never forget that summer day when the new colleague arrived. His friend Edward had warned him the evening before:
“Weve got a new hireMaxs wife, from the next office over.”
William knew Max vaguelya dull, unremarkable man, or so hed always thought.
“Then his wife must be just as tedious,” he mused, dismissing the matter.
But the next morning, when Lillian was introduced to the team, William nearly lost his tongue. She was stunningand as the days passed, he discovered she was sharp-witted too. Within a week, he was arriving early just to catch a glimpse of her, his evenings spent alone, thoughts full of her.
“Lillian is exactly the woman I need,” he told himself. “Perfect in every way. And if shes right for me, then surely Im right for her.”
Another week passed. He noticed her fondness for himtheir shared work, their laughterbut one thing troubled him: she spoke too often of her husband.
“Is she trying to warn me off,” he wondered, “or does she truly love that dull man of hers?”
Still, he hesitated to flirt outright. Yet how could he help it? They worked side by side, drafting reports, huddled over projects. Rarely alone, thoughEdward was usually nearby.
Until the day Edward was absent. Their heads nearly touching as they bent over papers, William suddenly felt the warmth of her breathand before he could stop himself, he kissed her. She pulled back, pressing fingers to her lips.
“Oh, William, pleasedont do that again.”
But she didnt leave. A good sign, he thought.
“Sorry,” he said, flashing a grin. “Couldnt help myself.”
She returned to work as if nothing had happened. He exhaled in relief and joined her. Days passed without mention of it. Then, on Friday, as they clocked out, he asked:
“May I call you this weekend?”
“No,” she said quickly, then bit her lip. “Better if I call you.”
His heart leapt. “Ill be waiting.”
“But when?”
“When I can.”
Saturday dragged. The phone never rang. Sunday morning was just as silent.
“If her husbands home, surely she could steal a moment,” he fumed.
That evening, he dialed her number. She answered at once, whispering, “Dont call meIll ring you.”
Before dawn on Monday, his phone startled him awake.
“William,” came Lillians voice. “Are you free? May I come over?”
He bolted upright. “Alone? Youve got the car? Of course.”
He scrambledshowered, brewed coffeethen the doorbell chimed. Her eyes told him everything. He pulled her inside, kissing her hungrily.
“Good morning,” she murmured, breathless.
He didnt answer. He couldnt.
Later, over coffee, she said, “Max leaves for work much earlier than I do.”
His jaw tightened. Must she mention him now?
She glanced around. “Your flats lovely and the coffees perfect.”
At the office, no one seemed to suspect a thing, though Edward remarked, “Running late today, Will?”
“Just a bit,” William shrugged.
Mornings became their secret ritual. Then, one Saturday, the phone rang at ten.
“May I come over?”
“Any time,” he said, grinning. “Stay forever.”
She arrived in half an hour.
“Howd you manage today?” he asked as they lay tangled in sheets.
“Max visits his parents cottage on weekends. I hate the countryside.”
“Stay with me, then.”
“Only till evening.”
“I meant always.”
She sighed. “Thats impossible.”
He concealed his disappointment. She needed time, he told himself. But what if Max grew suspicious? The thought chilled him.
“Lillian,” he murmured later, “what happens next?”
“We keep meeting. Today, Im all yours.”
“But what about weekends? I want all of them.”
She laughed when he suggested marriage would balance things. “If you were married, Id never have looked twice. Forbidden fruit, and all that.”
“But forbidden fruits the sweetest.”
“Not for me,” she teased.
Months passed in stolen hours. Then, one morning, William reached his limit.
“Lillian, leave him. Marry me. I cant bear this secrecy.”
“I cant,” she said softly.
“Why?”
“Because besides Max, theres my son. Hes elevenindependent. Thats why I can slip away so easily.”
William stiffened. “You never mentioned a child.”
“Does it change things?”
“No. Id raise him as my own.”
She shook her head. “Max would never allow it.”
Their meetings dwindled. The early risings wearied him. Finally, he steeled himself.
“Lillian, I cant do this anymore. Marry me, or its over.”
Her eyes glistened. “Then its over.”
She left for good. Later, he met another womanfree, unattached. But if he were honest, his heart had already been given. Some loves, he decided, come only once. Between tormenting passion and peace, he chose the quieter path.
It was better this way.
