The Naked Man — Chapter 14

“So, my father has run off with Whore of Babylon Barbie and they’re off to happily ever after while my mother is left with nothing.”

Kat sucked down the rest of her latte. It was her third of the morning. Studying 18th Century European History at five o’clock in the morning didn’t encourage perky wakefulness. The espresso would take care of that.

Her listener, Emma Flynn, nodded, shoving the last oversized wedge of a cinnamon sticky bun into her mouth. She glanced down at her white nursing uniform to see if she was wearing the gooey treat, a usual occurrence at their weekly breakfast-meetings-on-the-go.

The uniform outlined Emma’s compact, sturdy, five-foot-five body. Her face, round and plump, held large brown eyes and a no-nonsense ponytail tamed her curly, honey blond hair. Her years in the city had begun to weaken the southern drawl. Kat found the soft lilt comical when Emma let out a string of obscenities at the most unexpected moment.

They had met while rooming with four other girls, a hasty, short-lived arrangement that quickly descended into a pigsty and the occasional pool of puke on the bathroom floor. Together, they fled to a bright, clean, fourth floor walk-up. They went their separate ways when Emma moved in with her boyfriend.

“It happens all the time, hon,” Emma said, licking the frosting from her fingers. “A person comes close to death and reacts by doin’ a three-sixty. He could have another change of heart.”

“He’s in the wind and he’s not coming back. To top it all off, my mom told me my father’s basically been a schmuck my whole life.”

How did I not notice this?

Katerina was about to mention her mother’s lack of finances but kept silent, the familiar internal alarm warning her to pull back before speaking too freely. This time she feared the conversation would sprawl to her own financial situation and she would make a mistake and slip something about the new job. When she worked for Philip, Katerina became an expert at redacting and sanitizing information about the job for Emma. The only exception was the affair. Emma knew all about it.

As if reading her mind, Emma looked at her. “Have you seen Philip?”

“A few days ago. He dropped in.”

“And?”

Kat took a breath. “I let him drop in.”

Emma nodded. Katerina guessed it was an occupational habit. So much of what went on in the hospital was out of Emma’s control. What else was there to do but nod?

They stopped at the corner across from the hospital emergency room entrance.

“Listen, hon, are you okay for cash?”

Emma’s parents were from old money, complete with an aging antebellum plantation housing generations of sins that no one in the family cared to remember. It now functioned as a bed and breakfast to preserve its place in history and prevent it from rupturing into a financial sinkhole.

“I’m fine.”

“So, what about this new job? Did you start?”

“Tomorrow. I think it’s going to work out fine,” she lied.

Emma held her gaze. “What exactly is it that you’re doin’?”

“It’s like a concierge service for people who only need an assistant once in a while. I do — stuff — that they don’t have time for.”

Emma nodded. Kat caught the slight lifting of her friend’s brows, a signal that Emma’s bullshit meter was heading for the red zone. They passed a moment in an awkward silence.

Kat observed people hurry past the hospital, oblivious to the suffering going on inside. They’re not the ones with the problem. Right, Kat thought. The problem. I’m the one with the problem.

She looked at Emma. “I need to run a bunch of errands for an assignment. I hate to ask but could I borrow your car for a few days?”

Digging around in her purse, Emma pulled out a pack of tissues, a few dollar bills, and a car key on a red, round, Betty Boop key chain.

She dropped the key into Kat’s hand. “The car’s in the usual spot. Keep your nose clean, sugar. Remember, you’re one of those nice girls that don’t need to look for trouble. It finds you.”

“You’re a nice girl.”

“Yeah, but I don’t look like you, hon. Trouble sees me and walks right on by.”

Kat waited for the words of wisdom she knew was coming. In these moments she knew exactly what Emma would look like ten years and two children later. A plump, cherub cheeked face, a mom pixie haircut, a peaches and cream complexion that turned a shade of rose whenever she exerted herself.

“Keep your eyes open and your legs closed, doll. That’s my advice.”

Kat nodded, concentrating on Betty Boop pushing her white dress down to cover her lady garden.

“I want you to come to dinner tomorrow night,” Emma said. “I’ve got news and a surprise.”

“Can’t you just tell me the one now because I hate the other.”

“Nope. Come tomorrow at nine.” Emma pulled her in for a quick hug. “Promise me.”

“I promise,” Katerina said.