Serena couldn’t believe how calm Nicholas was when she was in a state of near panic. Nicholas’ dismissal of how serious the act was and implying that Serena was a willing participant enraged her so much she couldn’t think straight and was unable to form a logical sentence. “What???...$5...I know but...I didn’t…you took my coat!” was all she managed to stammer.<br/><br/>As Nicholas spoke Serena was constantly looking around, sure that a police car was about to appear. As he spoke Nicholas maneuvered the confused Serena into her coat and then linked arms, guiding them out of the ally. To the casual observer, they looked like close friends, or maybe a couple. Serena was still sure they were about to be apprehended, and was only half listening to Nicholas’ anecdote about mints, as she was half dragged along the street and then suddenly steered into a shop.<br/><br/>On entering the store the sweet sickly fragrance of the candy invaded Serena. Nicholas was still talking about mints while he sorted through the various types of mints on display. Serena watched with disbelief as she saw Nicholas secret the pack of Life Savers and then stumbled after him as they headed towards the store exit. Serena could feel her heart pounding in her chest as the got closer and closer to the door.<br/><br/>Only a few more steps and they would be free, escaping being caught. But at the last moment, the female sales assistant blocked their way, asking if they needed help. Serena was sure the woman had seen the theft. She felt her face burn hot and her mouth become devoid of any moisture convinced they were going to be detained. Again Nicholas dumbfounded her, acting totally unfazed, telling the assistant the store didn’t stock the mints he was looking for. The assistant accepted his explanation but watched them suspiciously as they left.<br/><br/>Nicholas no longer linked arms with Serena, she could have simply turned and walked away, yet she remained at his side following where he went. He conjured the pack of mints from their hiding place, like a magician revealing the object from some trick, and opened the silver wrapping. Serena shook her head when offered a mint, her brow furrowed with concern as she silently waited for an explanation of what had just happened.<br/><br/>Once again Nicholas described Serena’s life perfectly, and she hated him for doing so. She felt embarrassed at apparently being so transparent. He was right, she had never done, or been involved in, anything remotely like the incidents that had just happened. She had grown up in a second generation Italian-American family in North Beach, San Francisco. They had lived in a tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone else.<br/><br/>In Serena’s youth, if you did something wrong it was usual for the parents to know before you got home. Dishonesty of any kind was not tolerated by Serena’s parents and she grew up with a clear understanding of what was right and wrong. These standards were reinforced by the Catholic school she attended and by the sermons preached at church. She had a very protected upbringing, her father keeping a watchful eye on everything his princess did.<br/><br/>Even when Serena left school, she went to work as an administrator for a charity that had strong ties with the church she attended, she was in a very closeted environment. The staff was mainly mature women. Nobody was aged less than fifty, and Serena was treated like a niece or grandchild, being looked after and never being stressed or disciplined. It was while working at the charity that she met Christian. His company had wanted to hold a charity event and he had been tasked with being the event organizer. The pair hit it off straight away and their romance was the main topic of interest for Serena’s co-workers for several months.<br/><br/>Serena wasn’t naive, she knew what kind of things happened in the world. The lying, theft, violence, poverty were all things she was well aware of and very grateful she had managed to remain unaffected by such things. She thought she had a perfect life, with a caring and loving husband, nothing in her life to give her cause for concern. But since their move to D.C. that life didn’t seem so perfect. It was dull. No family or friends to talk to, nothing to do but stay home and watch T.V. or do housework, and plenty to worry about, especially what was happening with her husband at work. She was sure he was faithful, well almost sure. If only she hadn’t seen him gawking at Amanda’s bosom at the party.<br/><br/>If Serena didn’t have enough to contend with since meeting Nicholas she had a growing sense of something missing in her life and it appeared he knew what it was better than she did. The notion of doing something to jeopardize her safe existence was equally frightened and appealing. The more contact she had with Nicholas the greater the feeling grew that she needed to take that first step of breaking out. Maybe the meeting today had been that step?<br/><br/>Once again Nicholas dared Serena to confront her true feelings. As she stood listening her heart was still pounding, she could feel the blood pulsing in the extremities of her body, and yes she felt a thrill, one she shouldn’t enjoy but it was there. She felt guilty about not paying for the coffee, knowing the waitress would probably get in trouble for it, but the way she felt at that moment seemed to lessen that guilt. That realization made Serena shiver. But was it with knowing she had done wrong or the fact she had done wrong and enjoyed it?<br/><br/>Serena was still coming to terms with her emotions as Nicholas said his goodbye, telling her to meet him at the mall tomorrow, and something about him buying her a gift. She flinched slightly as he kissed her lightly on the cheek, the sudden intimacy unexpected. As she watched him walk away Serena’s newfound excitement seemed to disappear too. She became consumed by the guilt of the non-payment and considered returning to the coffee shop to put things right, but she was too embarrassed to do that.<br/><br/>Glancing at her watch made Serena gasp. She had come to the shops to collect the pizza and wine for lunch. Nearly an hour and a half had passed since meeting Nicholas, her original task should have taken no more than half an hour. She scurried to the pizza store to collect a freshly prepared uncooked pizza and then stopped at a general store for the wine. Checking her watch again she wondered if she would make it home before her husband, she really didn’t want to explain why she was running so late.<br/><br/>Waiting for the taxi to arrive was agony for Serena, feeling like an eternity and the journey home was no better. As she sat in the back of the cab she wanted to tell the driver to go faster but instead sat fidgeting with worry. As the taxi turned into the street where her home was located Serena’s worst fears where realized, Christian’s car sat on the driveway. Serena felt the pit of her stomach tie itself into a knot. She couldn’t remember feeling so wretched, guilty and unfaithful. After paying the fare, she exited the cab and walked up to the front door of the house. She paused for a moment, composing herself before entering the house and calling out the usual “Hi honey, I’m home.”<br/><br/><br/>