Resilient (2) Read Free

continued her serenade and yanked the covers off, revealing a turtle-like object in the center of the bed, trying, but failing, to keep the light at bay.
    “Okay, Mom, I’m up. Please, for the love of Santa, stop singing!”
    “You left me no choice, sweetie,” she said as she peppered his sweaty head with kisses. “You have soccer practice today after school and swimming before, so let’s move it, mister!”
    Everyday she had to coax, beg, and cajole to get Teddy out of bed. But she’d rather that than him not be here in the morning. Although the alone time with her coffee cup was nice, the mornings he was over at his dad’s were still a little sad. So she would take coercion and show-tunes any day of the week.
    Miraculously they left the house on time.  

    “Have a wonderful day, sweet boy. I love you.”
    “I love you too, Momma. Have a good day, too. See ya later.”
    She watched him walk toward the school, greeting friends on the way in. She smiled and drove away.
    “That there is the sweetest kid on the planet.”

    Today she didn’t have class, so she was headed to the office. She greeted the security guard and took the elevator to the fourth floor. While inside, Katrine smoothed the front of her charcoal gray sweater dress she wore with knee high black leather boots.  
    “Hey, Katrine, how ya doing today?”  
    “Good, Jaimie, and you?” Katrine said as she passed the front desk
    “Oh, can’t complain, but you know I always find a way,” she said as she applied her pink lip gloss. Katrine laughed and shook her head. Jaimie was a young attractive blonde. She was also the town crier of the office. So if someone wanted to keep anything secret they made damn sure not to tell her. That was easier said than done. It was like the receptionists were the special agents of the company. They seemed to know everything about everyone.
    Her co-workers were energetic, a little nutty, and creative; she fit right in. They welcomed her with open arms and she had grown to love this place. She hoped to stay here as long as they would let her. Everyone had different titles and responsibilities, but it truly was a collaborative environment.  
    The head of their division and director of their crazy crew was Nancy Varona. She was a tall formidable woman with a “don’t screw with me” attitude. Katrine loved her and had learned so much from her already. She waved at Nancy as she passed her large windowed office, making her way over to her desk, which was in a cock pit of low walled cubicles. There was tons of light and lots of bright artwork on the wall. Nancy thought that color kept the creative brain working. Brad Teel was the VP that oversaw the entire floor. He had a corner office and he was always in meetings with the big whigs or out of town. Katrine didn’t interact with him much. She saw Hal even less, but when she did, he seemed genuinely glad to see her.
    Ten people made up Katrine’s group, which was managed by Grant Hobart. There were three other marketing divisions, thirty-five people in all, but the floor was large enough to house them, the environmental compliance team, and PR. Marketing worked closely with both, depending on the project, and with the cocky all male sales team which was housed on the fifth floor. One big family, an albeit intense, and at times, dysfunctional family.
    Katrine took her seat and greeted her neighbors as she booted up her computer. She had three meetings today so it was going to be busy. That ended up being a good thing because before she knew it, it was quitting time. She loved when that happened.
    “Hey, Katrine, you want to go to Soapy’s with us for some drinks?”  
    “Thanks, Darren, but I have to take a pass. I have to pick up Teddy from practice. Next time, okay?”
    “Sure thing, see you tomorrow.”
    “Okay, I’ll be in after class.”
    After class and coffee with a collegiate cutie.
    “Oh yeah, you’re a college girl now,” said Nancy, an older