I look up from my little flashback and see that Joannah has fallen asleep. I don’t know how long she has been asleep but I cover her with a blanket and walk towards the window. Our world is covered in a thick layer of snow. It is glistening and blowing in the wind. Michael used to love playing in the snow late at night, just like Jo does now.
Now that she knows who he is it will be much harder to contain her. He is just within her reach and if she is anything like me she won’t hesitate to grab on. He should know. His daughter is almost fifteen years old and he has no idea she even exists.
In an instant I reach for the phone and dial a number that I haven’t thought of in years. It feels like forever until the line is connected but when it is I hear a familiar hello.
“This isn’t Michael is it?” There is no reply for a few seconds I open my mouth to ask who is on the other side of this call but he finally speaks up.
“Kitty? Kitty Kat Kara? Michael said. There is no way. Kara is this you?” He sounds astonished. Michael said what? Something wasn’t right.
“Kitty Kat calling in for duty.. Cal Pal do you hear me?”
“Affirmative. We are a go on operation save the world. Kara I can’t believe its you? Where are you? Where have you been? Are you still living in Boston because we are here right now and I would love to see you!”
“Meet me on Stockten in twenty minutes? We’ll get coffee,”
“Okay! Did you want to talk to Michael he’s right in the-“
“No I’ll explain everything soon. Don’t tell the other boys okay?”
“Okay I’ll see you soon Kitty Kat, over and out.”
I run into the bathroom and put my hair into a braid. I attempt to put on a touch of makeup but my hands are so shaky. It’s odd to think I’m still as excited to Calum as I would be when they were returning from a tour.
I leave a twenty and a note on the table for Jo. She will end up ordering pepperoni pizza and nothing less. She is like her father in that way, no budging from the pepperoni. I share little laugh with the empty air around me and get into my car. The radio is playing softly in the background as I hum along to an old tune I’m not sure the name of.
I finally reach Stockten Street and see Calum’s tall figure leaning outside of the coffee shop.
“You know you could have gone inside, a superhero can’t be getting sick you know.”
“KITTY!” He wraps his arms around me and twirls me in the air. “I can’t believe its you. Michael said we would probably never.. well I guess never mind. All that matters is your here,” His smile is contagious. He holds the door open and ushers me inside.
I waive to the barista and she begins to prepare my order. I come here so often that they have named a drink after me.
“So Cal, how is life” He gives me a wicked eye roll and deflects the question.
“You know the answer to that. So does the whole world! I want to know everything about you!
“You already know everything. I’m living in the same place, still working at the gallery, there is only one change,” my voice shifts a bit. Why did I say that? He’s going to figure it out. He raises an eyebrow as if he’s begging me to continue. “I have a daughter.”
I gasp escapes from Calum’s lips and he smiles.
“I want to meet her! How old is she? Can I meet her? What does she look like? Can I buy her things and spoil her? You always used to say I’d make the best uncle! Come on tell me all about her!”
“Her name is Joannah. She is fourteen years old and looks a lot like I do but I’ll look to see if I can find a picture. You really want to meet her?” I cannot help but boast about my daughter.
“Yes! I want see her as soon as possible! Let me take the two of you out for dinner?”
“Okay fine let me call her really quickly.” I dial her number as quickly as possible “Hi baby!”
“Hi mummer what’s up?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go get dinner with my friend Calum and I?”
“Okay sure, when should I be ready?”
“How about fifteen?”
“Okay see you soon!”
I hang up the phone and place it on our table. Calum is staring at me in a very strange way and I snap in his face to wake him up.
“Oh sorry, I was just thinking you said she was fourteen. Who is her father?”
