The Reunion

Chapter 5 - Kaia

Kaia shoved her phone into her scrub pocket after reading Emily's warning text that Karlie was there.

It was already too late. If it hadn't been for the rolling cart she had taken into Mr. Harris' room, she would've stumbled and tripped over her feet at the sight of Karlie Harris standing in front of her. Kaia could barely remember how to breathe.

Emily had asked her only a few hours earlier whether she still had feelings for Karlie, and she had answered no. After having the opportunity to take in the woman that had stood before her, she wasn't so sure of her answer anymore.

Karlie Harris was probably the most beautiful woman Kaia had ever seen. She had gumption, a look of determination, and confidence that strengthened her posture. All those things hadn't been there the last time Kaia had known her. And it was attractive; it was alluring.

Those qualities seemed to hold Kaia's tongue, and she had no idea what to say first. And most surprising of all, she never once felt pain or anger when she was with her in those moments. Despite knowing that Karlie had left town all those years ago without a word, she held no resentment towards her. Instead, Kaia felt the urge to ask the woman out. She wanted to get to know her. Learn who she has become, what she has been up to. Know her dreams, if she had plans for the future, and more importantly whether she was single.

Kaia shook her head at the thought. No, she couldn't be wondering that.

She didn't even have the opportunity to tell her that they should get together and talk. No, Dwayne Harris made sure of that.

Kaia closed the door to Dwayne's room behind her, leaning against it for a moment to try and regain her composure. How could this one moment change everything she once knew?

As she checked on the rest of her patients, Kaia's mind kept drifting back to Karlie. She had looked so vulnerable and lost right before she walked out. Having her back should have felt different somehow, she was sure of it.

All this time Kaia thought she was the root cause of Karlie's disappearance, but she was beginning to question if it was her at all. After the little that she was able to grasp, the harsh words thrown from father to daughter, and back, had her realizing there was more to play for Karlie leaving so abruptly. There just had to be. But why was it that she felt so clueless? They used to share everything, talk about it all. So what was it that had made Karlie believe she couldn't come to her about whatever it was that had sent her away?

When she was in her apartment, her mind still wouldn't stop replaying her conversation with Karlie. No matter what she did, she couldn't stop thinking about her.

For the first time in a long time, Kaia was relieved to see her mother's name light up her phone screen.

"Hey Mom," she answered. Placing the phone on speaker as she changed into comfier clothes.

"Hey sweetie." Her mother's soft voice filled the room. "I can't remember, are you working this weekend?" She asked cautiously.

No matter how many times Kaia reminded her mother of her schedule, she never remembered.

"I'm on call. I'm helping the softball team a few days this week, so I had to make sure I was on the schedule with work to cover my ass."

"Kaia!" Her mother scorned. "Language."

"Mom," she groaned. "Do you have me on speaker again?"

"Yes, and your father says hello." There was a slight shuffling over the speaker. Kaia could only assume her mother slid the phone across a table, "say hi to your daughter," her mom told her dad in a hushed tone.

"Hi, dear. How are you?" Her dad asked.

"I'm good." She sighed.

"That's a hefty breath. You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," Kaia struggled to refrain from sighing again. "Just a long day."

"What was it this time?" her dad asked. He was always so intrigued with her job. When she chose to be a nurse instead of a lawyer like him, he wasn't just shocked, he was elated. He knew she had no desire to take up his business.

"Well, we thought we were going to have to do an open heart surgery today. But after more extensive scans, the patient required stents instead. So we did it all intravenously." She didn't have the heart to go into all the details of the patient. Especially given her dad with his legal background. He was sure to scold her if she gave him names, even if it was that of her old friend. They both knew Karlie. She had spent almost every free minute over at their house when they were younger.

Her parents loved Karlie. But all talk of her ceased after she left town. Something that she was not ready to confront with them.

"So, no big, forged blades or anything?" he asked.

Kaia could hear her mother's light slap on his arm through the phone. She chuckled, "no, Dad. This isn't Game of Thrones. And we don't slice and dice 'em."

"Hun, if you don't get called in," her mother interjected. Stopping their banter. "We're thinking of having a family cookout."

"Let me guess," Kaia said as she slumped onto her couch in the living area. "Lainey requested hotdogs and burgers by the pool."

"How'd you know." Her parents asked in unison.

"That girl always wants grilled food by the pool." She smiled at the thought of her niece and her mermaid tendencies when it came to swimming.

Over the summer, Lainey was at her parent's house practically every day. Her brother never seemed to care, and neither did their parents. Plus, what kid didn't love spending time with their grandparents? Especially when they had a nice pool to swim in.

"I'll do my best to be there, Mom." Kaia said as she clicked on her television. "But I make no promises."

"You sure you're okay Sugar Bean?" Kaia's dad asked in a more serious tone.

"Yeah," she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Just a long day. I also didn't sleep well last night. That never helps."

"Alright. Well, if that's all it is, we'll let you go. Give you some quiet time so you can rest up." Her dad told her.

"Oh, and let us know how softball conditioning goes." Her mom chimed in.

"It's technically not their summer conditioning." Kaia corrected. "I'm just going out there to see how the girls are doing. It's their last week of school before summer break. We figured starting now would help so that they don't vomit on me when I have them run laps around the school."

"Kaia, don't go killing these girls now, okay?" Kaia's mother was always a softie.

"I'm not going to kill them, Mom. I just know some of the girls on the team will have eyes on them next season for colleges."

"Still. Don't go too hard on them."

"Yes, Mom." She deadpanned.

"We'll see you this weekend!"

"Mom, I told you, I'll do my best. But don't count on me, alright?"

"Alright, alright. But I'm still making extra pasta salad, and your father will be grilling up extra burgers just in case." Her mother tutted, "you know how your brothers eat. It's like I'm feeding an entire army with those two. And they don't even live here anymore."

"Is Stella coming too?" Kaia asked. She had slowly formed a tight bond with her, hopefully, soon to be sister-in-law. That is, if her brother would come to his senses already.

"Last we heard she was."

"Tell her she should bring her watermelon salad."

"Honey, you tell her if that's what you'd like to eat."

"Fiiine," Kaia groaned.