Conversations on a Balcony
9
Kara stormed out onto her boss's private balcony, turning left and flinging her pen and notepad the length of it in utter frustration as she growled deep in her chest.
"Well, well," came a voice from behind her. "Why do I feel like there's a chihuahua biting at my ankles?"
The younger blonde spun to find her boss sitting on the rattan couch with her legs crossed, iPad and glasses in hand as she peered up at her.
Kara sucked in a breath and her hand flew to her mouth in mortification. "I'm so sorry, Miss Grant. I thought you were still out at your meeting."
The older woman chuckled slightly. "What happened? There are only two things I know of that are frustrating enough to make Sunny Danvers lose her temper. Me… or a man… and this time I don't think it's me."
Kara sighed and first went to collect her notepad and pencil, then came back to sit next to her boss.
"Actually, Miss Grant…" She adjusted her glasses and then laced her fingers together in her lap as she carefully chose her words. There was no way she could tell Cat about the black mercy, so she adjusted the truth a little. "You're not wrong. I think I told you that I lost my parents when I was young…"
Cat nodded and her eyes gentled. "Yes, you did."
Kara's eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly in an effort to dispel them. "My… uncle, who I didn't even realize until now was still alive, came back into my life and gave me a connection to my mother and father. But he isn't a good person and, when he left, he t-took it away from me all over again. And it hurts like hhhhell."
"Oh," Cat said softly. She thought about that for a moment. "But, Kiera, you don't need anything else in order to feel close to your parents." She reached out a hand and touched Kara's chest, right over her heart. "Because they live here, just as they always have and always will." Then she covered the younger woman's hands with her own and squeezed gently.
Kara blinked… and her breath stuttered… and then her face crumpled into tears. It was for just a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together and offered her boss a tentative smile. "Thank you… Thank you, Miss Grant."
Cat nodded and then got up, straightening her skirt with a little wiggle of her hips. "Take some time alone, Kiera, and then get back to work. Keep your mind busy. It'll help…" She sighed then. "Trust me."