Page 121
KAT
Seats 2A & 2B
“I told Liesel what happened. They’re taking B-roll in Athens and Crete then visiting some relatives in Austria after that. They send their love and prayers.” I tell him I took care of all the work things for now. I wish I could hold all his anxieties but this is all I can do.
I turn his face to mine.
“I know you’re in shock but focus up, my darling, Asshole.” His lips turn up at the corners as we walk through security, “I’m calling my parents. Nan will insist on coming to Boston.”
We’re through security in a moment. “Do they know where you are?”
“They think I’m with you.”
“My clever girl.”
“You owe me a jump in the Aegean.” I pat my cargo shorts and sand and dust flies off of them.
“You can have anything you want.”
“Noted.” We’ve cut it close, and we waltz right onto the plane. I had back-up tickets but thrilled the timing worked. As we settle onto the plane I call.
“Kat. How’s Zane? Are you okay?” Taken aback, I answer her.
“I’m okay, Mom. You’ve already heard, I guess.”
“Sweetie called. We’re headed there in the morning, but I was waiting to hear from you.”
“How do you know Sweetie?” Zane looks puzzled and I put Mom on speaker.
“We’ve been getting the families together. She was there with her children last time. She pushed for peonies, but I shut that right down.”
“I can’t deal with flower summit right now. You could’ve called.”
“I didn’t want to disturb the two of you. I didn’t know how Zane was taking the news.” Wow. Remarkably insightful. He turns away and I take her off speakerphone. She’s never respected my boundaries before, must be Zane’s influence. Irksome but somewhat sweet.
“We’ll be in Boston around four.”
“Birdie said you were headed to Venice. How was that?” Venice seems like a gazillion moments ago.
“Really?”
“I don’t know how to act right now. I’m sorry, Kat.”
“It’s okay.”
“He’s at the Boston Mass General, the address is…”
“What? Can’t hear you. I’m on a plane. We’re taking off. Gotta go.”
Zane looks over at me and says, “I’m sorry.”
“For what? My mother caring too much, your mother needing you. We may be the masters of avoidance but I have a hunch we’re also the masters of showing up. We’re gonna rock being the supportive kids!” He leans over and kisses me softly.
“You go ahead. I may shrink into the floor.”
I’m covered in Egyptian sand and dust. My Doc Martens look like I’ve been working at a construction site. My trusty boots have shielded me from all kinds of icky shit, I hope they work on my parents.
I drape my hoodie over my legs pulling my black v-neck t-shirt down a little bit and tuck my left boob back into my stretched-out bra. He doesn’t even react. Yesterday he tucked it back in for me.
