It should be clear to everyone by this point that I suck at these AN's.
Mari & Ilna-you're the best.
McRollers-thanks for reading.
Evolution (1/1)
As Catherine pulled into the parking lot at work she saw a sea of people gathered on the front lawn. She jumped out of her car and searched through the chaos until she spotted her assistant Carmen.
"What's going on?" she asked as finally made her way through the crowd and reached Carmen's side.
"Looks like a gas leak." Carmen barely looked up from the tablet in her hand. "The governor was taken back to her residence just to be safe."
They'd only been working together a few months, but Catherine knew better than to mistake her assistant's distraction for lack of focus. A few seconds later Carmen looked up and spoke again.
"The gas company is inside the building now. It may take them some time to locate the leak and then they'll send in a repair team to fix it. Jack Wahamea is the point man inside. I just sent his information to your phone. He's who you'll want to get updates from. He's expecting your call."
Catherine nodded and checked her phone. "Thanks."
Carmen went back to typing. "I'm in the process of rescheduling all your meetings for today."
"Maybe we can find a space offsite to set up as a makeshift office," Catherine suggested.
Her phone rang and she answered immediately when she saw 'Gov Lea' on the screen. She had changed the name in her phone one day as a tribute to the kids' favorite nickname for her boss and when Lea found out she liked it so much she insisted it be left that way.
"Hi, Lea. I'm getting ready to call the inspector in charge," Catherine said without preamble as she answered the phone.
"I just got off the phone with him," Lea replied. "They're close to locating the leak. Looks like it's on either the third or fourth floor. Either way, we're going to be out of the building until tomorrow. Send everyone home and tell them to enjoy an unexpected day off."
"Carmen is looking for a space we can use as a makeshift office for the day….." Catherine started before Lea cut her off.
"I said take the day off. Everyone. That includes you. We're still in a bit of a spring break lull. There's nothing that can't be postponed until tomorrow. Go home and enjoy the day. Governor's orders."
Catherine sighed. "Fine. But I'll keep in touch with the inspector from there and make sure things are on track for us to get back in the building safely tomorrow."
"I know you will. But other than that, no work today. Let's enjoy an extra day of relaxation and get right back at it tomorrow."
"Deal." Catherine smiled. "I'll let everyone know."
After sending everyone home for the day with instructions to come back tomorrow unless they heard differently and checking with the team from the gas company inside the building Catherine headed back to her car.
She had sent Steve a text earlier to update him on what was happening so he wouldn't worry. Her quickly formulated plan for her unanticipated free time was to drop by her parents' condo, pick up Angie, then stop at the grocery store for some supplies to make a special dinner. She had a new pasta recipe she'd been eager to try, and Angie always enjoyed helping roll out dough.
Just as she stowed her tote bag on the passenger seat her phone buzzed with an incoming text from Elizabeth.
'Since it's such a gorgeous day we decided to take Angie on a hike and picnic if that's ok. She's very excited about maybe seeing some lizards.'
Catherine chuckled to herself. So much for an afternoon of mother/daughter cooking. If Angie thought there was any possibility of seeing lizards that would be her preferred activity for the day.
She quickly typed a quick reply. 'It's fine. Have fun.'
On the drive home she decided on a new plan for the day that involved a long hot bath, an afternoon nap, and lots and lots of total silence.
She dropped her bag and took off her shoes as soon as she came through the front door. She greeted an exuberant Cammie who was happy one of her humans was home unexpectedly. Pumpkin raised her head from her spot lounging on the back of the couch, blinked a few times, then went back to sleep.
Catherine made her way upstairs, stripped off her work clothes, and headed for the soaking tub. Before she could turn on the water, she had to move a fleet of ships, a rubber duck, several action figures, and an inflatable dog, all of which had been left there after an epic weekend playtime session with the kids.
She placed everything on the counter then started the water, added a few bubbles, and slid down into the warm water. She sighed contentedly and tried to focus on the soothing sound of running water. It worked for a few minutes but then her mind drifted elsewhere.
She smiled as she remembered how the sounds of the children' laughter had echoed off the bathroom walls as they constructed their own fantastical world within the tub. By the time the bath was finished she and Steve were as soaked as Angie and DJ but they both loved every minute of it.
She shifted trying to find a more comfortable position.
Her mind drifted to other occasions when she and Steve performed some of their own water maneuvers in this very tub and she smiled.
If you had told her ten years ago that all her best memories about a bathtub would center on other people, she would have thought you were crazy. She could have never imagined the changes that would have occurred in her life and in the way she looked at the world.
She was wife now. And a mom. She couldn't remember what it felt like not to be surrounded by the nonstop chaos and boisterous sounds of family. Both their nuclear family and their extended one. It didn't leave her much time for things like long, quiet soaks in the tub, but she wouldn't trade it for anything.
She got out of the tub, dried herself off, slipped on a pair of shorts and a tank top and slid into bed.
"I'm sorry I'm intruding on your normal peace and quiet," she said to Cammie who came immediately to the side of the bed, tail wagging furiously. She scratched the happy dog's ears for a few minutes then laid down and drifted off.
Half an hour later she awoke and listened intently for any sounds of activity. She started to reach for the baby monitor beside the bed then laughed out loud. She'd become so conditioned to listening for the kids every time she woke up it had become habit.
She tossed and turned for a few more minutes then gave up on sleep and went downstairs where her attempt at sitting on the couch and reading a magazine completely undistracted succeeded for about 30 minutes before she was up and restlessly looking for things to do. She had never quite understood what Jenna meant when she talked about the house being 'too quiet' when the kids weren't there but now she got it.
She did a few loads of laundry, organized the toys in the playroom, cleaned the closets in both Angie's and DJ's rooms, and was well into reorganizing the kitchen cabinets when she got a text from Steve saying that they were going to be done for the day early and he would pick up DJ from school then swing by and get Angie.
'I can keep the kids out for another hour or so if you're enjoying the peace and quiet,' he offered.
"No way," she replied immediately. "A little of that goes a long way. I miss the sounds of our family."
Later on as they were having dinner DJ turned to his mother. "What was your very favorite part of your day alone?
Catherine didn't even hesitate. "It's good to be alone sometimes," she said. "I had a hot bath, took a nap, and got lots of chores I've been wanting to do done. But my very favorite part of the day, without a doubt, by a mile, was when you and Daddy and Angie came home. That was my favorite part."
THE END
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