Katrina's POV
"Buck! We're home!" I put my purse on the counter.
"I'm in the living room!" I went into the living room to find Buck on the couch reading a book.
"Hey. Look, the Pastor's coming over for lunch, and- "
"Wait, what?"
"Pastor Knox. We invited him over for lunch."
"Oh. What time?"
"Twelve forty-five."
"…okay."
"Is that- alright?"
"Yeah, yeah you just- you could've given me some warning."
Ugh. Buck, why can't you just go along with something spontaneous?! Just once!
"Oh. Sorry, we just didn't have time with everything."
"It's fine. I get it. I'll be in my room."
I'm an idiot.
"Okay."
"Katrina!" Eugene called from the entryway.
"Yes?!"
"Have you started lunch yet?"
Have I started lunch yet?! I walked through the door two seconds ago!
"What? No. No, I'm getting to that." I met Eugene in the kitchen and started searching the refrigerator.
"Very well. However, Pastor Knox will be here soon, and it may behoove you to- "
"Yes. Thank you, Eugene. I'm about to begin it. Now, did you help Eliza out of the car?"
"No…"
"Why not?"
"Because she got herself out of the car. She's up in her room."
"Good. Then you can help me make lunch."
Do something useful for once.
"Yes- well I actually have an urgent chemistry exam that I need to begin preparing for tomorrow and- "
I don't care.
"I don't care. Start cutting those peppers."
"Katrina, you don't understand. This is a rather important test- "
How responsible of you.
"Then you should've prepared for it sooner."
"Maybe you should've prepared lunch sooner."
Wow. No. Nope.
"No. I am not doing this again."
"Doing what again?"
"Getting into another petty argument."
"It's hardly petty! You're keeping me from doing my job!"
Finally. We agree on something.
"For half an hour, yes."
"More than that. I have to sit for lunch as well."
Great. So, he doesn't even want to have lunch with us.
"Should we cancel it then?"
"Probably."
We did cancel lunch. I made a small meal for the kids and I, and Eugene locked himself in his office for the rest of the day. That night we got into another argument. No. Not an argument. A fight. I said some things I regretted immediately after- however, because of my pride, I didn't apologize. And I wasn't prepared for what would happen next.
Chapter 8
Buck's POV
"Buck! We're home!" I was sitting in the living room reading when Katrina called from the doorway.
"I'm in the living room!"
"Hey. Look, the Pastor will be here soon, and-"
"Wait, what?"
Why does she never tell me these things?!
"Pastor Knox. We invited him over for lunch."
"Oh. What time?"
Like it matters.
"Twelve forty-five."
"…okay."
"Is that- alright?"
"Yeah, yeah you just- you could've given me some warning."
"Oh. Sorry, we just didn't have time with everything."
"It's fine. I get it. I'll be in my room."
I'm an idiot.
I dashed up to my room, suddenly feeling crowded. I didn't necessarily mind everyone around, but I had gotten used to the quiet, and wanted it to stay.
Eliza came up after me.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
An odd question…
"To my room."
"Oh. Are you going to play?"
Play with what?
"I was going to read."
"Oh. Because you're a big kid?"
No. Because I like to read.
"S-Sure. Why?"
"I-well- see- "
"Did you want me to play with you?"
"No. No, you're busy. I'll be in my room."
"Okay."
Eliza went into her room. Then my heart did a sudden flip. What had triggered it? Then I heard it again. Eugene and Katrina downstairs. I ignored it. Said it wasn't anything to be afraid of. Couples argue. They just- do sometimes. Then again- no. They're not perfect. I sighed and went into my room, trying hard to forgot what I'd heard. Of course, my thoughts were scrabbled again when I found out that not only was the Pastor no longer joining us for lunch, but neither was Eugene.
"Miss Katrina?" I asked, picking at my macaroni and cheese.
"Hm?"
"Is everything okay?"
She gave me a look. A look that said, 'No. But I don't want you to worry, and I don't want to scare Eliza.'
I didn't pry further. I just wish I would've realized enough to anticipate what would happen next.
Chapter 9
Eugene's POV
"Alright, Elizabeth. Now if you wish, you may play in your room until lunch is ready."
"Okay." I followed her inside, then tiredly walked into the bedroom and changed into my casual vest. On the way out, I couldn't hear kitchen noises, as I had hoped.
"Katrina!"
"Yes?!"
"Have you started lunch yet?"
"What? No. No, I'm getting to that."
We don't have much time…
"Very well. However, Pastor Knox will be here soon, and it may behoove you to- "
"Yes. Thank you, Eugene. I'm about to begin it. Now, did you help Eliza out of the car?"
Did she just scold me?
"No…"
"Why not?"
"Because she got herself out of the car. She's up in her room."
"Good. Then you can help me make lunch."
"Yes- well I actually have an urgent chemistry exam that I need to begin preparing for tomorrow and- "
"I don't care. Start cutting those peppers."
You don't care? But I provide for the family by working, and-
"Katrina, you don't understand. This is a rather important test- "
"Then you should've prepared for it sooner."
"Maybe you should've prepared lunch sooner."
"Ugh. No. I am not doing this again."
"Doing what again?"
"Getting into another petty argument."
"It's hardly petty! You're keeping me from doing my job!"
"For half an hour, yes."
"More than that. I have to sit for lunch as well."
Which I'm still unsure of. Why did we invite the Pastor over now?
"Should we cancel it then?"
"Probably."
We did cancel lunch. I went up to my office, locked the door, and just stared out the window. It was the first time in a long time that I didn't want to be with Katrina. I was a young college student again. Content with sitting alone with my computers most days. Even on holidays. I used to loathe the memory of those nights. The feeling of deep seclusion and fear that was only ever brought to peace with a bottle of anything strong enough to keep me from feeling emotions. Now, they almost seemed welcoming. But the irony of it all was simply too much. Because if Buck knew… I fell asleep at my desk, tormented by thoughts of the past.