Page 112 of The Fall

“Of course.” Lusa rubbed her thumb across her elbow, where the seam of her artificial arm used to be.

Lusa hadn’t understood. “I can’t be Kerr anymore. To anyone. Kerr doesn’t fit anymore.”

Silence, and then, “Okay.” Lusa held her tighter and Caoimhe dared to dream.

In the cool night air, Caoimhe slipped out of bed. Lusa didn’t stir. She found the towel she’d worn and made her way to the lav.

A light, faint, but inviting, came from the hall. Caoimhe followed it to the kitchen. She found Cat, along with two large steaming mugs.

“There’s a housecoat on the chair.” She gestured with her chin.

Caoimhe moved to pick it up, but stopped short. Cat smirked, fine lines framing it, her age mocking modesty. She looked away. Caoimhe wrestled herself into the house coat.

Cat didn’t ask if she had finished. She simply turned around, unbothered after six granddaughters to worry about the possibility of seeing another nipple. “Sit.” She tapped the back of a solid-looking chair. Caoimhe did as she was told.

Cat seated herself and pushed a mug toward her. “Spruce tip tea,” she explained. “It’s odd at first, but you get used to it.”

Caoimhe picked up the mug, radiating warmth like everything else in this house. The tea had a light, fresh taste. Other things she didn’t have the vocabulary for. Strange, bordering on unpleasant, but she kept her expression in check under Cat’s watchful eyes.

“So, you fell for Lusa, huh?”

Caoimhe set the mug down before she choked. “Are you always this direct?”

“It’s a learned behaviour. Otherwise, the only things I would find out about my daughter would be from Sparx.” Cat laced her fingers around her mug. “I worried that one would never find anyone. Most people think she’s dangerous.”

“The first thing Alana did was ask if I’d been abused.”

“Typical.” Cat’s tone suggested she didn’t much care for Alana. “Some things got exaggerated. But there were bruises and bite marks on her first girlfriend. More than normal for two teenagers discovering bodies for the first time.”

The thought of Lusa with someone else prodded her jealousy. She quelled it with a large gulp of tea. It burned on the way down – a sufficient distraction. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’re the first person she’s really connected with.” Cat set her mug down with an air of severity. “Sometimes I think our reaction to what happened made her the way she is. Walled off. She chose control over happiness.” Cat sighed. “We probably made it worse.”

“I don’t get what you want me to do.” Caoimhe said.

“I don’t want you to do anything. I want you to know that it’s going to take time.” She took an audible sip of her tea. “Which is why I had them put up a MobilePod for you. Their plan was to stick you in Lusa’s. Instead, you’re with me until it’s ready. If you want it.”

A million thoughts raced through Caoimhe’s head. They wanted her here. She wanted to see Lusa’s MobilePod. What would happen if her and Lusa broke up? Where would she go? Could she go? “This is… a lot.”

“Uh huh.” Cat finished the rest of her tea. She set the mug down and took Kerr’s hand. “Be careful with my Lusa. She’s a lot more fragile than she looks.” Cat stood up to put her mug in the sink. “You’re with me in the potato fields, after a physical. Jenni’s orders.”

“Thank you.” Caoimhe said quietly.

“And,” Cat lowered her head, looking at her from under her brows. “You can stay here. Regardless of what happens.”

Let Your Indulgence Set Me Free

This one looks like Grandma.” Kuak held up a potato with a protrusion in the middle and two indents for eyes.

“I think it looks more like you.” Caoimhe glanced over at Cat, leaning on a hoe. Kuak stuck her tongue out and tossed the potato in the basket. Ila came running after to show her another special potato. The novelty of being a different adult to acknowledge their potatoes would wear off eventually, but for now, Caoimhe let herself bathe in the acceptance.

Jenni had given her the all clear earlier that morning, but stressed that she needed to take precautions around Lusa.

“Everyone always tells me that.” Caoimhe pulled a borrowed shirt over her head. “I’ve handled myself pretty well so far.”

“That’s not what I mea…” Jenni tried to clarify, but Mackenzie interrupted.

“Also, you have no more eggs. Congratulations, you’re a boy!”