As he walked away she muttered, "Some cop, you look like a thug." Kate wasn't trying to be mean on purpose. She had a horrible day and bumping into Mr. Hottie Pants when she was already angry at men in general just sent her over the edge. Even bruised and beaten, she'd felt a spark of attraction. Of course it didn't help that it had been over a year since she'd been with a man and today her emotions were everywhere due to an argument with her ex who miraculously showed up out of the blue after 7 years. She hated the man and he was making her life a living hell right now. She walked up to her apartment checking the time. It was past 6 and she hadn't had dinner ready yet. She sighed as she pushed into the apartment and was greeted by her youngest brother Nathan.
"Hey Katie." He said smiling. Nathan was a level headed 17 year old in his last year of high school being the youngest of 5 siblings he was the quietest of the boys but also the most spoiled. Thankfully spoiled in a good way and their mother had ingrained in all of them a hard working characteristic and even though he knew how loved he was, he was still top of his class and a star baseball player for his school. She ruffled his hair and pulled him in for a hug as she heard the thundering steps of Oliver come flying into the room. "Mooooom!" He shouted flinging himself at her for a full body hug. Nathan had grabbed the groceries from her thankfully otherwise they would be all over the floor. She hugged the boy tightly and inhaled her son's scent. It was always calming, and he was always able to ground her no matter how frustrated, angry, or tired she was. At 7 years old he was in the second grade this year and he had already had a stressful few months. His dark brown hair was always in his eyes. She was glad she looked more like her than his father. He had her family's trade mark green eyes and dark hair. However he was naturally tanned like his father was. She was pale enough to be see through and all she ever did was burn in the sun. When she was younger seeing her mother struggle to be a single mom to five kids had been the reason she swore she would never have kids but now that she had Oliver she wouldn't trade him for anything.
"How was work?" her brother asked as he re-entered the room.
"It was okay, you know, it was work." She never told her brothers the truth even when she was going through something she always told them things were great.
"I made us sandwiches for dinner since you were running a little late and Oli was getting hungry." He said as he grabbed his letterman jacket from the hook next to the door and his keys off the counter.
"I'm so sorry I was late, I'll make sure to slip some extra funds into your check this week." She said feeling miserable about not being there for her kid.
"Oli's homework is done, but I couldn't wrestle him into a bath, I had some homework to do so I got sidetracked, sorry." Nate said as he started to leave.
"Nate, you know me, I appreciate everything you're doing for me. I love you and there's no need to apologize, you're already doing more than you have to." She said pulling him into another hug.
"Love you too sis." He said squeezing her. "I'll see you tomorrow when you get home. I have a meeting after school with the baseball coach but I'll pick Oli up as soon as I can from the after school program."
"Thanks again bro." She said closing the door behind him and locking it. She leaned on it sighing again. She had worked late tonight to finish the project she needed to complete by the end of the week. Her boss had been incredibly helpful and she was glad about that. Her boss was the only person who really knew Kate's whole life story and they had developed a good friendship in the year and a half that she had been working with the woman. Her boss, Ino, had run a florist shop almost her whole life but had decided a few years ago to make it into a party planning operation. Ino did flowers, and her husband did a lot of the designs because he was an amazing artist even though he also worked full time as a police officer. She baked cakes and helped with designs whenever Ino's husband, Sai, wasn't able to help. She did the easy stuff like table placements and seating cards while he did the major stuff like invitations and remember the dates. She got Oliver's bath started and then placed all the groceries away. She then realized she never heard the sound of her brother's tattered car leaving with its loud ticking engine and she checked outside to see him chatting with the cop who had bumped into her earlier. Some of her frustration returned when she realized they were having a good conversation and she saw the excitement on her brother's face. Oh no, she thought, Nate is not going to get it in his head to be a cop. She grabbed her phone and called him.
"I didn't hear your car leave, and I saw it was still here. Everything okay?" She asked trying to act like she wasn't spying on him.
He looked up and smiled at her when he spotted her in the window. She backed away. "You know I'm almost an adult right?" He asked laughing at her. "I'm just talking to your neighbor about his dog and his work. It's some pretty interesting stuff."
"Nate it's getting late and mom will have my head if you don't hurry home. And you're destined for better things than some street cop, so stop that thought right now." She said with a huff. "Please head home. I don't even know that guy."
"Alright mom," He said sarcastically. "I'm heading out now, if you need to watch me then do what you need to."
She hung up the phone watching him and then went and finished helping Oli take his bath and wash his hair.
