Seas Between

Chapter 8

Katrina, Freddie and Alex ended their video call when Alex had to go to bed. There was a four hour time difference.

Katrina hung around with Freddie for another couple hours until he too got tired and she went home. She sunk into her blankets and fell asleep, Ava at her feet.

When Katrina heard her alarm, she yawned, stretching her arms above her matted hair, stood up and dizzily walked over to turn off the alarm. She ran her fingers through her hair to get the knots out. She went into the bathroom and washed her face.

She met Ava, her mom and dad in the kitchen for breakfast. Her mom and dad were around the island, on stools, smiling. They were eating ham omelettes, an extra plate next to her dad.

Her mom was in a silky robe, pyjama bottoms sticking out from underneath. Her hair was soaked, flat against her neck.

Her dad was already dressed for work, his hair neatly combed. He was a cars salesman, downtown.

"Hey, what's up?" Katrina said to her parents as she sat down.

"Your dad got a promotion!" Her mom cheered.

"Really?" Katrina asked, surprised. She perked up and looked back and forth between her parents.

"Yeah, I got a bonus as well as a hourly raise!" Her dad exclaimed and smiled. Katrina hugged her dad and then hugged her mom, smiling and congratulating her dad.

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you dad!"

After breakfast, she got changed, brushed her hair and teeth and checked her flight. It was still on schedule for just over a week.

She didn't have work that day but she did have errands to run. She took Ava for a checkup at the vet and got her mom's rice flour. Her mom cooked a lot of things without gluten because they knew a lot of people who couldn't eat it, including her dad.

Katrina and Ava went to the park. They played with a brown frisbee. She threw the disk and Ava jumped, catching it every time. Slobber ran down her chin as she proudly carried it back to Katrina.

Katrina got home just before supper, after a quick visit with Freddie. She delivered her mom's rice flour to her.

"Thanks sweetie, just what I needed," she smiled, took the bag, scooped a cup of it and shook it over the counter. "We're having fish."

"Yum, tell me when it's ready." Katrina hugged her mom's shoulders quickly and ran into her room.

She jumped onto her bed and got comfortable, grabbing her phone from her purse. She texts Alex immediately.

Alex!

What...

Oh, you weren't sleeping were you?

No... Why would you say that?

Idk, anyway, what's up?

I'm outside.

So, the stars?

Not quite... Clouds

Oh, too bad, it's really clear out here tonight.

I wish I was there.

I wish you were too.

:(

I guess you don't like Spain.

Ugh, no! It's beautiful but it's so boring. Mom gardens, dad takes pictures. Me? I can't find work.

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find something.

Yeah, hope so.