Page 33 of Be My Valentine

don’t cover yourself, don’t look for warmth,

it is not cold but simply love.

(Khalil Gibran)

She was certain that Emma had not betrayed her secret. Almost nothing changed in the office except Carson’s behavior. She ignored her completely, in return she had redoubled her efforts to get attorney Arrow’s attention. Kate was annoyed, but most of all it annoyed her that this was bothering her.

Oh, God, I’m talking like Emma!

Annie Carson coming up with coffee for him, Annie Carson walking into his office chirping ‘sorry to bother you, Mark’, Annie Carson looking at her with a smile of triumph on her face.

She consoled herself that she’d never seen them leave work together, regretted that he’d never waited for her either, not once; in the days since their impromptu dinner, the lawyer hadn’t shown any sort of interest in her. But what had she expected? He had made up for a shortcoming, apologized, gotten her a job: what else could she have expected? He had also stopped yelling at her, perhaps because she had always brought the right files. Kate smiled, thinking that there had been no more misunderstandings after the joke she had played on him. She could tell that thing were going well, also considering the fact that her mother was using her crutch less and less: she only needed it in the evenings, when she was tired; her fractures had healed well, her muscles were returning and she would soon be able to drive, no more cabs. Since she had started working for the foundation, she had not been able to accompany her mother to rehabilitation therapy. Fortunately, her income had increased, and she could afford it, but she couldn’t save as much money as she would have liked.

She thought back to the meeting with Professor Ross and his rather explicit request to come back in March. She wasn’t going to make it. Even June was practically unattainable, but she would have tried anyway.

Emma’s voice roused her from her thoughts. She’d entered her brother’s office like a hurricane. Kate smiled, imagining the compassionate lawyer Arrow being hit by the cyclone Emma. But the picture she had painted in her mind was short-lived. Annie Carson had practically jumped in, warmly greeting the boss’s sister.

Of course, she did!

Kate kept her head down, trying to ignore it all. She had to stay in her seat.

She saw Mark Arrow approaching and held her breath.

“My sister would like you to come downstairs with us for coffee. You can pick up your work later. Let’s go.”

His sister, not him. Come on, not: would you like to…?

She merely nodded and reached for her coat.

“Family reunion?” asked Mrs. Carson as she saw them leave and stood rigid when she noticed Kate sidling up “I would say no.” She hurried to correct herself.

“We just need to work out the final details for next Saturday’s event, Kate is helping me with the foundation.” Said Emma.

“Great! Maybe she can find a field where she can be really helpful.” Rebutted Carson, looking Mark in the eye.

As soon as the elevator doors closed Emma didn’t hold back.

“What a bitch! Did you hear her?” She turned to her brother and saw how furious he was.

“Why can’t you shut your mouth? You couldn’t wait to throw it in her face for the umpteenth time that she’ll never set foot on the committee, could you?”

“She’s a bitch!” She repeated undaunted.

“I agree! But you made it worse!” he pointed at Kate “She hated her enough without your intervention.”

Kate thought that if she did a triple flip in the elevator, maybe they would notice she was there. Maybe.

“You say it’s bad? Oh man! Kate, I’m sorry.”

So, you do see me!

“Don’t worry, she would have found another excuse.” She almost felt compelled to reassure her.

The lawyer chimed in with a confidence she had never felt.

“Don’t be too accommodating to my sister, Kate! I was counting on your being able to get some reasonableness into her head.”

“I try, Mr. Arrow, I really do.”