23

Mary and Danni stood looking at their boss as she sat by the fire in the kitchen, feeding wood into it and staring at the flames. The stench of burnt hair was dissipating now the long locks were finally burnt and she settled back to place her feet closer.

"Wow … I didn't know your hair was so …" Mary struggled, then said "Springy."

"Yeah. Neat-o right?" Kathy said sullenly "So black I might as well shape it into an afro."

"I like it" Danni finally said "It's wild. Like you. Nothing wrong with some wild hair boss… looks powerful. You look like you need to get a whip out and round up some cattle or something in tight pants. Damn … I think you look sexy!"

Kathy snorted "not according to my bastard. He says I am fat and dower."

"Oh come on" Danni said softly "Preggers is not fat!"

Kathy swung to stare at her and she leaned closer "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Yeah. I found out I was the day… the day we lost El and the others. Yeah. Been trying to tell him ever since but he deflects conversations with sex. Apparently I am now to ugly for him to keep that up so … anyone want to help me move into El's room?"

"Aw… shit" Danni huffed "its hormones. He… he doesn't know how big of a prick he is being if you don't let him measure himself"

"I don't know if I have the energy to fight anymore. We were on the verge of the D talk when this all went tits up. It's been seven months since it all blew up in our faces and .. well. At first we focused on surviving. Now… I have to focus in the future. And maybe... maybe it's not with him." Kathy explained, then looked over to find Dwight listening at the table. "What do you think?"

"If it were me… I would want to know the level of dickheadedness … I would want a chance to atone. You… you didn't say for Mark, right? You held back so we could grieve too… if I haven't swapped shifts with Elvira that day …" Dwight cleared his throat and let his finger trace the pattern on the table cloth "Thank you. Thank you for that but… my wife's brother was gone in the beginning. Now Mark's sister… his baby nephew …. Elvira…. Tim … No need for you to lose your partner too. Life is precious."

Douglas entered the house, followed by a dower looking Ghost and Kathy glanced between them wondering what was going on. Douglas appeared … disheveled. Ghost had been what… shaking him?

"Tell her!" Ghost barked, making everyone jump a little and Kathy tuned to face him.

"Kathy. I … I was having an affair. Before. I … I was even considering the future with her instead of … I don't know. I still loved you but…"

"Loved. Past tense." Kathy pointed out "So … all this time … I've been the consolation prize?"

"NO!" he shouted, flinging his arms into the air "I chose you. The week before… I took a long hard look at us. Our life and the fact there would never be children, never been that aspect we planned for. My vasectomy reversal clearly was for nothing. I came to realize it didn't matter and… I was in the early stages of breaking things off with her when it all went tits up. God. I don't know… the woman that came into my clinic for me that day was the one I knew so well. This one… I don't know who you are anymore."

"For fucksake" Dwight muttered rubbing his face.

"I have not changed. I have adapted like we all had to!" she said calmly, "And you.."

"What the hell did you do to your hair!" he blurted as he finally noticed the fuzzy almost fro.

"Oh.. got me hair done and you didn't notice? Typical" she snorted with amusement "Since you told me my hair looks slothenly… I cut it off. This is going to get a trim too. Think I will go full afro. What do you think?"

"Kathy!" he gasped, his hands reaching out then dropping to his sides again "Wow. I … I have never seen your natural hair before. Springy."

"So you tell her you were cheating on her, considering leaving her and now you are focused on her fucking hair?" Dwight growled deep in his chest, "Christ man!"

"Kathy… I am sorry I blew up at you. It was uncalled for and the cheap shots were sheer piggery. I am sorry, you know I always go low when tired and hungry. Like a fucking child. I am sorry" he pleaded sliding his chair closer and reaching for her hands "Kitty Kat. I love you, I do. I chose you. I chose this … I accepted that you are more to me than being a dad."

"Wow, aren't you in for a surprise in about four months" she snorted softly "I'm not fat you fucktard. I am preggers! Have been since before we got here I think!"

Douglas sat still as he stared at her then he said the stupidest thing he could possibly think of.

"Is it mine?"