Russian Doll

Four: What to do?

What to do, what to do....?

The question had been whirling around inside Kathryn's head for a couple of days now. She went to work, walked the dogs, talked to Joan.... And yet that little question wouldn't leave her alone.

Should she call him? Should she call Robert and ask him to.... What exactly? Even in her own mind it seemed like a foolish task. What would she say? How would she act? She didn't have the faintest clue as to how to approach the handsome man she'd knocked off his feet a few weeks back. He'd given her his card (and number, mind you), and yet she couldn't quite picture herself picking up her phone and dialing his number.

She hadn't had a serious relationship in like forever, so she had a hard time trying to figure out that flutter in her stomach whenever she thought of Robert. Sitting at home, Arkady and Zakhar draped over and around her as she lounged on the couch, the TV playing in the background, Kathryn had no clue as to what to make of the situation at hand. Which was new for her. She was used to stric rules, a regimen to follow, a routine that never wavered. And now this! What was she supposed to do?!

Sighing she scratched Arkady behind the ears, the dog humming in content, shifting his weight slightly, head coming to rest comfortably on her thigh as Zakhar nuzzled closed to her waist, his body on the floor but his head draped across her stomach.

This was just a silly crush. A mere infatuation. She'd hardly spoken more than ten minutes with the man and yet she couldn't seem to think of anything but the buisness card, which was burning a hole in her pants pocket, where she'd tucked it after having gotten home. And she'd kept it there, transferring it from the pocket of her pants to the shirtpocket of her shirt, and now again to the back pochet of her jeans. She'd accidentally spilled coffee on it, and folded it over and over as she tried to figure out what to do with the silly piece of carton holding nothing but a name and a phone number, so now the card was all lines and ridges, having been held and folded so often.

It was then that Joan called, her friend's name flashing across the screen of her cellphone as Kathryn fumbled for the electronic device, which she'd placed on the salon table that stood between the TV and the couch. Struggling to reach her Phone with the mountain of fluff in the form of her two dogs surroudning her, it was a miracle Kathryn managed to snag her Phone and press 'answer' before the ringtone came to a stop.

"Kathryn Reynolds speaking" Kathryn answered, more out of habit than out of necessity. The ringtone was enough to alert her to the fact that it was Joan that was calling her.

"Obviously" Joan said smartly "That's why I called. Duh!"

"What can I do for you Joan?" Kat asked, shaking her head, a smile playing on her lips at her friends antics.

"We have that office thing tonight, remember?" Joan spoke excitedly, and Kathryn could just picture her friend with her Phone crammed between her ear and her shoulder as she made up from the noises in the background that she was cooking dinner for her and her family.

"Oh shit, I completely forgot about that!" she groaned, lifting a hand to rub her temples as she groaned in despair.

Truth be told she'd been avoiding the thought of even attending the office party that the University was throwing for the Biomedical Department of the University. There'd be investors, post-graduate students, and scientists as well as professors that thought at the University, as well as representatives from the companies that either donated equipment or financed research projects for the department.

All in all, not something Kathryn wanted to attend.

"Oh please, Kat, tell me you're joking!" Joan exclaimed form the other end of the line, forcing Kathryn to put some distance between her cellphone and her ear or risk permanent damage to her eardrums "This is a big event Kat! You have to go!"