Lilian and the others offered their congratulations, and Catherine raised her glass to them with a smile.
"Thank you."
After getting drunk at Dave's house last time and being taken to a hotel by Bert—where he drove her nearly to exhaustion—Catherine no longer dared to drink much. One more time like that and she really would collapse.
Every time she thought of that day, she felt he was terribly cunning. He had even told Renata that he was the one who drank too much and couldn't drive—when in truth, it was just an excuse to take her to a hotel and indulge himself.
After dinner, when it was time for fruit, Bert went to the kitchen to cut it, and Catherine followed to help. She didn't know what came over him—he suddenly pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her. They had been together so long and shared far more intimate moments, yet every time he kissed her, her heart still raced and her breathing grew unsteady.
