Post by Deleted on May 19, 2019 20:27:40 GMT -8
The sun was shining in the large floor to ceiling windows when the scene opens up in the cafeteria of UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica campus. It was a bright day in the southern California city and it illuminated the cafeteria with a tremendous amount of natural light. It was about lunch time so there were a lot of people crowding into the cafeteria but off on one end where tables were half booth and half chair, sat a tattooed brunette woman dressed in a black tank top and pink denim shorts, capped off with a pair of black Vans slip on sneakers. This woman of course was none other than ICWA Rising Icon Catriona MacKenzie who had a look of sadness and worry on her face, checking her phone every few seconds to see if there were any new updates on her boyfriend, IPW Owner Extraordinaire Joshua Samson, Esquire after he was brutally attacked days ago at the latest IPW Chaos taping by Stasi Herveaux.
Between phone checks, Catriona was attempting to eat something, pushing vegetables around with a fork. She seems to be pretty wrapped up in between trying to eat and checking her phone that she doesn’t even notice when a regal looking woman with white hair sits down across from her.
Woman: You care if I rest myself here for a minute, young lady? I just need to catch my breath for a minute.
Without waiting for acceptance or denial, the much older woman eases herself down into the chair across the table that Catriona was seated.
Catriona: Yeah I guess…
Catriona raises her head and looks up, a slight look of shock coming over her face.
Catriona: You’re… his mom.
Inhaling/exhaling a few times, the woman peers at Catriona with curious eyes.
Woman: “His mom?”
Catriona: I recognize you from the pictures in the house. I’m sorry… I meant Josh’s mom I was just caught a bit off guard is all.
The retired Army Colonel sizes Catriona.
Colonel: So you know my Joshua, huh? You work for him?
Catriona: Well it’s a pretty long story. He first started out as my executive representative, then we became friends and then… we started seeing each other after he separated from Astrid. He also got me a job in the legal department as an assistant to help make ends meet because my wrestling contract barely pays my rent.
The Colonel raises an eyebrow upon hearing the condensed version of the Catriona/Joshua saga.
Colonel: You should really learn to not be so freely with all that information, young lady. What is your name?
Catriona: Catriona ma’am… but he calls me Scotti or Cat… so whichever you prefer. I didn’t know how much to tell you because I didn’t want to tell too much or too little.
Colonel: Ah...Catriona. Yes, I have heard your name pop up a few times between my daughter and daughter-in-law.
Catriona: Oh… yeah. Astrid… she doesn’t like me too much right now. She even refuses to let me see Joshua. So I’ve been here, hoping that maybe she’ll change her mind. One can hope I guess.
Catriona puts down her fork and sits up straight.
Colonel: Well do you blame her? Not to absolve Joshua from his role but how would you feel if that situation were reversed?
Catriona sighs and tucks a section of her brown hair behind her ear.
Catriona: No I don’t… I would probably do the same thing. But I think she’s more angry at the fact that it’s me because we were just starting to be…
A sigh escapes from Catriona’s lips.
Catriona: Well friends and I guess she feels more betrayed that I lied to her about Josh and I being just friends when we weren’t just friends.
The Samson matriarch matches Catriona’s sigh and mutters to herself.
Colonel: As brilliant as he is, my son is an idiot.
Catriona: I’m sorry… if you want I can leave. If that will make it easier on the family.
Colonel: No, no, it’s a somewhat free world. You’re more than welcome to come and go as you please. Though I am shocked that you have been here all week without leaving?
Catriona: I went home once to freshen up and grab supplies. I didn’t want to leave and miss a chance to see Josh… if I would be allowed to. But… doesn’t look like that will be happening and I’m running out of clean clothes.
Colonel: You really care for my Joshua, huh?
Catriona: Yes ma’am… I really do. There’s something about him that… I don’t mean to sound cheesy but I feel butterflies around him, when he texts, things like that. I think I love him.
The mother tries to hold back a chuckle from the girlfriend.
Colonel: I don’t mean to laugh at you, Catriona, but do you really think it is love?
Catriona: I don’t know… but I feel different since I’ve known him. My last serious relationship, he was mentally abusive and there were two guys between him and Joshua that just… well they went AWOL and I never heard from them again. But with Joshua, everything feels different. So I guess you could say it is a deep like.
Colonel: But what of Astrid...his wife?
Catriona: I was trying to be friends with her in case… but I blew that one big time. I never really thought about if he would choose one of us over the other. But if she’s what he wants… I’ll have to accept it because they’re married. I’ll always care for him.
A slight smile comes across her lips but is almost as quick to fade away.
Catriona: I have a feeling that maybe I should head home.
Colonel: My humble opinion is that I agree with you. It’s admirably that you want to be here for Joshua but if it potentially complicated issues once he gets better, it might be best.
Catriona: I just want to see him and tell him that I’m here, I care, all of that even though I know he cannae hear me.
Catriona can feel the tears starting to form in her eyes. The Colonel exhales heavily.
Colonel: Go home, Catriona. Refresh yourself. Come back and I will arrange that you get to see my boy.
Catriona perks up a little bit, but was still a little bit weary.
Catriona: A-a-are you sure? You can really do that for me… even though I am… well in the situation I am in?
Colonel: Did you not just tell me you that you think you love Joshua? I may not be privy to the inner workings of what is truly going on, I can attest that any woman that would camp out in a hospital waiting room for a man, especially that man being my son of all people, it must be something really close to love...or lunacy.
She chuckles.
Colonel: You go now. When you return in a few hours just let the nursing staff know that I have sent for you.
Catriona: Oh thank you… so much. You don’t know how much better you just made my day. But how are you going to get Astrid to let me in?
Colonel: You need not worry about that, my dear. Just do as I say and you will be able to get to spend a moment with Joshua.
Catriona: Yeah… I will do that. But can I finish my food first?
The mother of Joshua Samson, Esquire gracefully stands to her feet and smiles down upon Catriona.
Colonel: By all means, Catriona.
Catriona: You can call me Cat… ma’am.
Catriona was all smiles as she picked her fork back up.
Colonel: Catriona will do. I will see you later.
Catriona: Yes… see you later.
With a smile on her face, Catriona puts her phone to the side and starts to eat as the Colonel walks away and the scene comes to an end.
Colonel Leslie Samson
