Chapter 8
Sunday afternoon came much faster than Kim wanted. But the bubble wasn't going to last forever so she reluctantly made her way home to prepare for the coming week. She was hopeful that this was a beginning and not an end but was starting to get worried when Thursday arrived and still no word from Kerry. Kim knew it was a two-way street and she could have called Kerry too, but something inside her prevented her from picking up the phone. Was it pride? Or was it self-preservation? Either way she was resolute in letting Kerry make the next move.
Kerry and Henry had a very busy week. Even though Henry was only in pre-school it was still a very rigorous program that required a lot of parent participation. Being a 1 parent household made Kerry feel like she had to pull double duty sometimes just to keep up appearances. She was finding it hard to spread her time between Henry, work and, well, Kim.
She had a niggling feeling that she should be nurturing this renewed connection but found that there was something stopping her from doing so, convincing herself that Kim could reach out to her just as easily. In true Chief Weaver fashion, Kerry opted to compartmentalize this particular area.
It was 8:00pm and Kerry and Henry were scanning the aisle of the drugstore looking for art supplies to make Thanks Giving decorations for the schools upcoming pageant when she heard Henry squeal "Kimmy! Look Mama, Kimmy!" Kerry looked up to see just exactly that, Kim was standing in the prescription drop off line oblivious to her audience. Kerry made her way over and gently nudge the other woman in a playful way. "Well, hello there Doctor." Kerry smiled, as Kim's surprise expression morphed into recognition. "Well, hello yourself Doctor" she immediately noticed Henry and gave him a big smile, "And hello to you too Sir Henry" "Hi Kimmy, Mama and me are shopping" "I see that" as Kim scanned the cart, "looks like there's a big art project on tap from what I can tell" Henry followed her gaze, "Um hmm, we making...Umm", looking to his Mother for help finding the right word, Kerry helping him along "Decorations" "Oh Yeah", Henry continued "Decoration for my school" Kim looked up at Kerry, "Kind of out of your way isn't it?" Asked Kim, "Not really, Henry's school is right around the corner on Hayward, Kim's eyes grew wide, "My office is on Hayward..." The two looked at each other in silence as the coincidence settled in their mind. Kim rebounded first "I guess you two have been very busy this week" The comment struck Kerry, wondering if it was a subtle dig, "Yes, we have been. His school takes all Holidays very seriously..." Kerry said sounding slightly exacerbated, she thought she saw something in Kim's eyes that put her on alert "I'm sorry I haven't even had time to check in with you" Kim made direct eye contact with Kerry, "I noticed, I was starting to wonder if it was personal" the look of doubt in Kim's eyes sent a wave of panic through Kerry, "No! God no, it was not personal...not at all" And it wasn't, whatever it was that Kerry was afraid of before didn't compare to the feeling she was experiencing now, how could she have been so carless with this second chance she was given with this woman.
"It just has been awhile since I needed to be considerate of someone else other than just me and Hen, I'm sorry Kim...I didn't mean to check out." Kim regarded Kerry as she made this admission. Realizing that was one on the most honest answers she's ever gotten from the redhead. The moment was broken when she felt a gentle tug, at some point Henry had slipped his hand into hers and was dragging her along as he continued shopping for his art supplies. Forgetting her business at the counter she allowed herself to be pulled along and finished shopping with the Weavers.
"Oh. My. God." I cannot eat another bite, said Kim as she pushed herself away from the table, "Thank you for inviting me to join you guys for Dinner" Kim was speaking to both Henry and Kerry as she began to gather up her belongings to go, Kerry reached for her arm first, "I picked up a shift tomorrow night, but would you like to maybe, grab lunch?" Kim squeezed her eyes shut as she mentally scanned her calendar, "Yeah, I'm good, but earlier works better for me, is 11:30 ok?" "It is" yelped Kerry. This for some reason made Kim want to laugh, "Great then, how about you meet me at my office, and I will give you the nickel tour." Kerry finally let go of Kim's arm with a parting squeeze, "perfect, see you at 11:30 then" Kerry returned her attention to Henry "Say Goodnight to Kim, Henry" Henry looked up from his seat, "Goodnight Kimmy" Kerry shook her head as she looked back at Kim "Sorry, try as I might to correct him, he's not budging from the nick name" Kim knelt down to kiss Henry on his forehead, "no need to keep trying, I love it"
