16
Robyn
Carla taps on the door and steps inside with a steaming mug in one hand and some fresh printouts I requested in the other. She nudges the door closed with her heel and crosses to my desk.
“Afternoon caffeine, as requested.” She puts the mug down on the coaster nearest to my keyboard. “I made it the way you like it, with cream and two sugars. I added an extra shot of espresso, my treat. You look like you need it. Here are those printouts.” She places them next to my laptop.
“Thanks, Carla.” I push the file I’ve been trying to read aside and reach for the mug. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“That’s what they tell me.” She perches on the corner of the chair across from me and folds one leg over the other. “So, you’ll never guess what I just heard from Felicia in radiology. Apparently, her cousin works in the Council buildings and?—”
“Yes.” I nod.
“He says that security had to bring in extra people to deal with those protestors. It got rowdy really quickly. There wereeven a couple of arrests made. The good news is that it’s totally quiet today. Like someone flipped a switch.”
“Hmm.” I take a sip of the coffee and make a noise of enjoyment. “That’s good news, then.”
“It is, but…do you think it’ll happen again? It sounds like the locals are really pissed about what the Mainland did.”
“It might.” I make a face.
She narrows her eyes.
“It could be the calm before the storm. I don’t understand why they’re angry with us.”
“Because we’re from the Mainland.”
“Yeah, but we had nothing to do with what the Mainland government did.”
“I know that. Hopefully it dies down soon.”
“What happens if it doesn’t?” She looks frightened.
“That’s why security is being tightened. I’m sure it will be okay.”
She nods. “You’re probably right.”
I lift the mug to my mouth, and somewhere between the desk and my lips, my hand catches on the edge of the keyboard tray, and the whole thing tips. Coffee splashes across the printouts. Across the corner of my keyboard. Down onto the carpet by my chair. There is a long brown streak running over my fingers and onto my wrist.
“Oh no.” Carla is already on her feet.
“Dammit.” I put the half-empty mug down. I groan in irritation.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry. I’ll grab some paper towels.”
“I can’t believe I did that.” I stare at the mess on my desk. The printouts are ruined. I scrunch the dripping pages up and toss them in the wastepaper basket under my desk.
“It isn’t a biggie.” Carla puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s coffee. It’s not a national disaster. I’ll bring some paper towelsand a fresh mug. I’ll print out those documents again. It’ll take me five minutes, tops. We’re all a little on edge today.”
“You shouldn’t have to clean up after me.”
“It is literally part of my job description.”
“It is not.”
“Fine, it’s not. But I want to do it. You take a few deep breaths. It’s going to be fine.”
I nod, pushing out a heavy breath.
