Flights of Fancy

mood: calm

Hannah kicked in her sleep and Kate pondered on what the baby was dreaming of, if in fact she was dreaming at all. She always hated how late she got home, and though she had the whole day to spend with Hannah, she still felt like she needed to be there for her all the time. Times like this, looking at her sleep, she wondered if their life would ever be different. Wondered if she would ever be able to move out of this situation. If she would ever be able to quit her job at the bar. And perhaps the most frightening thing that she worried about was if she would be a good mother. Would she be able to give her daughter what she herself didn’t have growing up? A stable home environment, a mother that always put her first. Or was she going to be forced into the same cycle in which her mother was inexplicably trapped.

mood: cheerful

“You should have seen him James…he’s a mess…”

“I have seen him, and that’s why I don’t like ya going to see the guy.” James took his eyes off of the road and gave his wife a cross look.

“I know. You think I want to go? It’s just that…that…” Kate searched for a way to explain it.

“You’re a sucker for screw-ups.” James supplied.

“Well yeah. I married you didn’t I?” Kate snickered at the scowl he threw in her direction. “You know I’m kidding baby, besides Jack is in a totally different realm of “screwed up” right now.” She leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek and then turned to check on the sleeping toddler in the car seat.

“Hey,” she began in a more cheerful tone, “I got your birthday present. You wanna know what it is?” she teased.

“You wrapped up in nothing but a big ole bow?” James grinned, his dimples on display.

“I thought about that but it’s too cliché.” Kate commented, “And you know how I like to be original.”

“Mmmmhmmm.” James murmured sensually as he remembered all of the very original things she had come up with since they’d been together.

“So do you want to know or what?” Kate pressed him, a smile plastered across her face.

“No. I’ll find out tomorrow.” James told her but he had to admit she had piqued his curiousity.

“Really? You sure about that Baby. I mean this is big. I think you may need a heads up.” Kate was now unable to stop grinning, she knew he would cave and then she would have so much fun telling him no, and that it would spoil the surprise.

“Ok, what is it?” James questioned. He fell for it.

“JAMES!” Kate let out a high-pitched, terrified scream.

All he saw was the SUV careening towards them on the right, mere seconds before impact. Then…nothing.

mood: cheerful

“He’s on his way.” James came back into the room and saw her lying with her head on her mother’s stomach. He walked over, everything that had gone on before forgotten, and rubbed her back gently. All they could do, was wait.

They watched nervously, James’ arm snaked comfortingly around her waist, as the doctor checked Diane out. She had regained consciousness a short while after the doctor had arrived, and that was a huge relief to them both. Dr. Flanigan finished the examination and packed up his instruments, gesturing for Kate and James to follow him outside. Diane had already drifted back off to sleep.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor began in a solemn tone looking between both of them, “she doesn’t have much longer…I think it’s best that you start making…arrangements.”

mood: cheerful

She had kept the key. So getting in wasn’t the problem, it was working up the courage to go in that was. Taking a deep breath she turned the key and disengaged the lock. The click sounded familiar, but from a time long ago past. She stepped into the small living room, the scent of potpourri and moth balls filling her nostrils. In the dim light, she could see that everything had mostly remained the same. She somehow wished it had changed, even just a little bit.

mood: happy

Kate Austin looked around the old dive bar where she worked nights. It was packed. They always did pretty good business during the weekdays with the after-work crowd, but now, on a Friday night they came in droves to slake their thirst, indulge in fries and burgers and prepare themselves for the weekend ahead. Hardly what you would call a ‘modern’ bar, it was comfortable and much resembled an old Wild West saloon. It was filled with sturdy wood furnishings embellished with leather and gold studs, and a substantial oak wood bar with a dark-green, marble, counter-top, which Kate polished almost hourly and took great pride in. None of her patrons would have to belly up to a bar that was less than sparkling.