Catcher

“Argh” Katerina groans as she slumps down to her floor of her small but quaint apartment. She’s been up since 5 am serving as a waitress in the small and only diner in town. Now just after 11pm she finally gets home to get showered, changed, and ready for bed to to do it all over tomorrow. This is her life, lonely and overworked. But what else can she do. She was left on her own since her parents died when she was 17 years old. She was lucky enough to finish high school but the dream of going off to college was out of the picture. She immediately got a job as a waitress in the local diner. It was enough to survive on. But this is far from the life she craved. She had grown up with loving parents that adored her. Unfortunately in one night her perfect life was turned upside down. A car accident had claimed the life of both her parents, leaving her on her own. She had managed to afford a small apartment for herself. It wasn’t much but she was grateful for what she did have. Now at the age of 23 she was stuck in a routine of sleeping, going to work, then coming home to an empty house to go to bed. She did meet some interesting people from time to time that stopped through the town. She did work at the only diner for miles on the the big highway. Katerina would look forward to meeting those strangers for hopes to just hear about a whole new life that she could only dream about. Katerina was someone who anyone would call beautiful. She had a slim hourglass figure with curves in all the right places. She wasn’t a tall girl, standing at only 5’ 4”. She had long luscious blonde locks that swept down pass her wide hips. Growing up in the south she had a nice golden tan year round that one could envy. With a heart shaped face, round bright blue eyes, plump lips, and a cute button nose she was the complete package, though she never thought that of herself. In the morning Katerina woke up, showered, and dressed for the day. She wore her favorite pair of dark jeans, and her black work t-shirt with a pair of checkered vans. She tied her long hair up into a high ponytail, swiped on her cherry lipgloss and headed towards the kitchen for her morning coffee. She didn’t have much extra money for a lot of groceries so her breakfast usually consisted of just coffee. In no time at all she headed out the door to get to the diner for the first shift. In the early mornings there was always the usual hustle of customers trying to eat before traveling to work. The day seemed to drag on with endless sweeping of the floors and countertops. Around lunchtime Katerina noticed a new group of women coming into the diner. “They have to be from out of town” Katerina thought to herself. It was a group of three middle aged ladies that just oozed stature and class. The three women quickly found a booth to sit looking around for a server. Katerina quickly approached the table with her signature sweet smile to greet them. She could tell by the way they were dressed that they had money. “Must be nice” she thought to herself. She gave them a friendly welcome and asked them what they’d like to drink, and rattled off the special of the day. Katerina couldn’t help but to notice that one of the ladies was eyeing her up and down. Not in a creepy way but in an obvious “I see you” way. Vivian was an upper class woman who had it all in life. Money, power, influence, and looks. She was currently visiting the east coast to see some friends. The diner Vivian and her friends came across was small but clean. She herself had grown up in a small town and appreciated the ambience of the tiny diner. As Vivian and her friends were seated, they looked around for the waitress to order. Vivian automatically caught the sight of the sweet, charming Katerina. Vivian could only think of how the girl reminded her of herself when she was young. She noticed how poised Katerina was and how contagious her smile was. After hearing the daily special and placing their drink orders, Vivian couldn’t help but to watch and observe Katerina. She watched her as she seamlessly float between tables taking orders, delivering food, all while holding that beautiful smile on her flawless face. Vivian wondered to herself how might she handle her young granddaughter. She couldn’t help but to want to find a loving partner for her son and a strong female role model for her grandchild Olivia. Her son Wyatt was a stubborn one who seem to have given up the hope of ever finding love. He did what he could for his daughter Olivia who was abandoned by her mother on his doorstep when she was only 3 months old. Now at the age of 3, Olivia needed a female’s touch in her life. Wyatt cared for her as best he could. Providing Olivia with everything she could ever want or need, except a mothers love. Vivian liked what she saw in Katerina and how she handled herself. She saw how she was strong, charming, and charismatic. “If only I could set her up with Wyatt” she thought to herself. Then an idea popped into her head like a light just switched on. Vivian and her girls were enthralled with Katerina and entered into a friendly chat about everything and anything. They all talked like they were old friends. Vivian smirked to herself “she is perfect”. After 3 hours of chit chatting, Vivian and her friends were ready to head out. Before leaving Vivian approached Katerina and asked her “Do you like living in a small town? Have you ever wanted to move somewhere else and start fresh?” Katerina was thinking Vivian could read her mind. She gave a polite smile and answered “of course, who wouldn’t. But life hasn’t opened many doors for that to happen for me” Vivian couldn’t help but return a smile. “What do you say to packing up and coming back to the west coast with me. I know of a position of a live in nanny that comes with room and board. Olivia is a sweet 3 year old girl who needs a woman’s care. I’ll take care of all moving and living expenses and you can start right away. I know you two would get along so wonderfully. I really won’t take no for an answer.” Katerina looked at Vivian with wide eyes in shock and awe. Could her dream of leaving this small town come true. “What’s the catch?” She asked. “Putting up with Olivia’s father, my son. He’s a stubborn one that one. But he would welcome the help.” Katerina gulped “I would live with Olivia and him, a man?” She had never lived or been around too many boys in her life. She wouldn’t know how to act. Vivian smiled like a Cheshire Cat “of course dear. Nothing to worry about though. You all will get along nicely.” “ Can I think about it before I give you an answer?” Katerina asked wearily. “Yes, of course dear. I leave in two days to head back home. I’ll give you my number. You call me when you have your answer before then.” Vivian gave her the tightest motherly hug before she put on her expensive sunglasses and headed out the diner door. Katerina couldn’t help but to hug her back tight as tears formed in her eyes. Oh how much she missed a mother’s embrace. She watched Vivian walk out and returned to her other tables that lingered. The rest of the evening all she could think about was Vivian’s offer of a new life. After her shift finally ended, Katerina headed home. As she was resting on her beat up sofa she kept thinking of the offer that Vivian gave her. Could she really just move and have a fresh start? She loved children and longed for a mother and daughter relationship for herself. Vivian was kind and very welcoming to her. Katerina felt so at ease and at peace in her embrace earlier. But she was struggling with the idea of having to live with a man. All in all, as she looked around her lonely apartment she was determined to start living a better life for herself. She nervously made the phone call to Vivian to accept her kind offer. Vivian picked up the phone on the fist ring as she was waiting patiently for the call all day with a wide smile on her face. “Hello” “Hi, this is Katerina calling. I have given some thought to your offer of moving and taking the job as a nanny to Olivia. I can’t wait to meet her. I’d love the opportunity if you’ll have me.” Vivian was beyond excited at her response. “Absolutely dear. I am more than happy to have you. And I know Olivia will be so pleased to meet you as well. Start packing your things and I will come over tomorrow to help organize the move. We will leave the morning after tomorrow. Just text me your address and I’ll see you then.” “Ok then I look forward to it.” Katerina responded. After hanging up with Vivian, she had the biggest smile on her face. She looked around at her apartment and knew she didn’t have too much to pack. So she decided to turn in for the night and begin in the morning. Katerina woke at her usual time in the morning, but instead of getting ready for work she called and told them she was no longer going to be working there. She didn’t have any friends to say goodbye to so that was something less she had to worry about. She had dragged out her suitcases that were stuffed underneath her bed and began packing the few things she had required. Everything that she had fit into the three cases. “This is how sad my life is that it fits in three bags.” Katerina mentally thought to herself. Not long there was a knock on her front door. Gathering herself up Katerina went to the door to see a very excited and smiling Vivian. Vivian gave her a big hug and walked right into her apartment ready to get to packing. “Ok darling I have to call for the moving company to send a truck for transport and to send some boxes to pack everything up. I didn’t know how big of a truck we needed do I came over first to scope it out.” Vivian rushed out while looking around. She was caught off guard by the emptiness of the small place. She had expected at least a little more than what she saw before her. “Actually we don’t need a truck. What little furniture I have isn’t mine so it stays. And I’ve already packed everything up.” Katerina nervously responded. Pointing to the three suitcases “this is all I have to bring.” At this point She was playing with the hem of her T-shirt, shifting back and forth on her feet. Vivian looked at the three cases then at her and gave her a sincere smile “ok dear. I understand. Well since your all packed already do you need the day to say goodbyes or take care of anything before we leave?” Katerina returned her smile “ No I don’t really have anything that needs tied up. I’m ready for the next chapter in life.”