Page 21 of Be My Valentine

“Busy night!” Her mother commented, observing her.

“I need to talk to you, Mom, and it’s not good news.”

“Are you okay?” Sarah Donovan became alarmed.

“It’s about the job. I lost my job at the law firm.”

“Oh.” said only her mother, “What happened? Maybe it’s not as irreparable as you think.”

“I told my boss he’s an asshole.”

“Kate! That’s not like you!” She exclaimed in amazement.

“I lost it, I’m sorry. He’s always so controlling, and he hates me. Even the staff person can’t stand me. They constantly rant at me…”

“Honey, you’ve been there for such a short time.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I can increase my hours at the club though and I’m sure I’ll find something, maybe housekeeping or deliveries. I’ll make it up to you!”

Her mother took her hand over the table.

“I, on the other hand, have good news. I got a call from the real estate agency.”

“No, no, no, no way until you are fully fit again!”

“Don’t fret,” she reassured her, “A lot of potential clients are requesting information by email. I’ve been asked to take care of all the inquiries that come in via email. I’ll consult our files and write. All from the comfort of home!”

Kate lit up.

“That’s great!”

“We’ll be fine, as always.” Sarah Donovan reassured her.

Kate turned thoughtful. It was a strange day, her spirits were down, and she saw her dreams slipping away. For a moment she wondered what would have happened if instead of studying literature she had done like her friend Allie, who had started working right after high school to open her own shoe store. She had already set aside a fair amount of money, supplementing it with occasional employment.

“Mom, do you ever regret having me?”

“Kate! Don’t ever think like that again. You gave my life meaning! Having you made me a better person.”

“You were younger than me when I was born. If something like that were to happen to me, I don’t know if I’d have the strength.”

“Honey, do you have something to tell me? Whatever it is you can talk to me about it, and we’ll figure it out together and I’ll respect your choices, but I don’t want you to be alone dealing with too big of a situation. I’ve been there, I know what I’m talking about.”

“Oh my God, mom, no! I’m not pregnant! I don’t even have time to do… that!” Kate was embarrassed, which had never happened. Talking about sex with her mother had happened before, only now it was different, and she didn’t understand why.

“You never told me about your first time.”

“I will, someday, I promise.”

When I have a first time to tell…

She hung around the house all afternoon, prey to melancholy and an emotion she struggled to decipher. She couldn’t help but think about how she had lost her job, what her impetuousness had cost her, and most of all, she realized that the prospect of never seeing Mark Arrow again was not as appealing as she had thought.

At ten p.m. sharp, she showed up at the club, determined to accept the proposal to work extra hours. Mr. Campbell curbed her enthusiasm.

“Kate, I’m very sorry, I’ve been thinking and it’s not possible for me to offer you what I was hoping for.”

“I understand.” She was disappointed, but after all, her mother was starting to work again, it wasn’t the end of the world.