I just returned home after another wonderful evening with Carolyn; well, mostly wonderful. An evening with Carolyn wouldn’t be complete without some of her tough questions!
When I took her home after dinner and we entered the empty drawing room at Collinwood, she said we had the place to ourselves, so we really should celebrate. Would I like a drink? Sure, but celebrate what? She said the emergence of the real Chris Jennings. When did this happen? She said tonight, of course; not once this evening did I look troubled or depressed. How about that! She asked if I knew why and I said I didn’t have the foggiest notion. She said it was because I’d been too busy enjoying yourself to worry about my deep, dark secrets.
That comment changed my mood fast. I bluntly asked her what secret, then apologized for snapping at her. Carolyn’s mood changed also and she said she had a feeling she just spoiled everything. I told her, no, I really did have a good time tonight. In fact, I’d been more relaxed than I have been in a long time. I leaned over and kissed the side of her head. She asked why and I told her she knew the answer to that, then kissed her again. Mmm-hmm, she said, but wanted me to tell her, anyway.
I answered with a real kiss, and she in turn responded by kissing me back. With my arm around her, she said she wished every night could be like tonight. Yeah, so do I. She asked if it was possible. I paused and said maybe. She looked in my eyes and asked, “or it may not?” I told her let’s not think about that yet. My mouth moved to her neck, but she pulled away asking me how she could not. She told me I seemed to have some kind of hangup, and maybe if she knew what it was, she could do something to help me. I don’t think so.
She started to say something, Chris, you don’t… I don’t what? She stood up from the couch and walked away. With her back turned she asked me if I was married. I laughed and walked toward her. Is that what she’d been thinking? She said that something keeps coming between us and that possibility was bound to cross her mind. I can understand that it would. She now faced me and said that I still hadn’t answered the question. I told I was not married and never had been.
She asked how I felt about it. Uh-oh, about what? Marriage. Oh, Carolyn! She told me she wasn’t proposing, she just wanted to know my opinion. Why? She said I had told her so little about myself, and she’d at least like to know where she stands in terms of the future. If there’s no hope for us, she’d like to know it now. All right. I told her I believe in marriage 100% and I intended to be married as soon as I was able. Did that answer her question? She nodded and we again kissed.
The clock chimed and I asked if I was going to see her tomorrow/tonight. Between our long, deep kisses, she was able to tell me that she was counting on it. She walked me to the front door and with one last kiss, I told her goodnight.
Now here I sit contemplating the situation. I like Carolyn quite a bit, but could never take the next step with her, or anyone, in my… condition. Speaking of my condition, I just felt a sharp pain in my stomach… must be something I ate. No! There it is again. It’s all too familiar, but I don’t understand… it can’t be… there isn’t a moon tonight. What’s happening to me? I’ve… got… to… call… Barnabas…
Classic Horrors Club 
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