#earthrunes

He nods and goes to do so.

As they sit, Weatherly waits patiently

'Catherine's' smile turns into a more sympathetic expression. "I'm sorry to hear about your sister. August was telling me her situation."

"Yeah" he sobers but takes her kindness "August is a good man to be concerned for a stranger." Good lord, the lighter shade of hair aside, Weatherly is spookily like August in appearance

It is uncanny. "That's August, through and through." A fond look to her husband at the counter.

"He tells me that they're going to turn off life support soon. That doesn't seem quite fair."

"No, but it saves them money" He looks angry for a second, righteous eyes shining then he calms "Catherine , I have to warn you, I have a hard time not feeling..very angry at the hospital, and at whatever B.. whoever gave my sister the drugs that helped fry her. Even after all these years"

"I don't blame you. It's unforgivable," she agrees.

"August also said something about your mother. She...sneaks in to see your sister? I didn't quite understand that. Why does she need to sneak?"

August orders, pays, gathers the tray and returns.

"Because dad and I try to stop her" he says

She frowns. "But...why? Why not let her see her daughter?"

"Because she always comes back broken, crying.. and one time we found her passed out with a bottle after she did it" He says honestly

A smile to August as he brings her Tall Iced Skinny Hazelnut Macchiato, Sugar-Free Syrup, Extra Shot, Light Ice, No Whip.

Then the smile fades as she listens to the description. A glance at August. "That sounds awful," she says to Weatherly. "Was she always like that?"

He forces a pleasant smile on his face as he passes out the beverages; his own is an herbal tea of some sort.

And he takes a seat.

"No... my mother used to have hair as red and vibrant as yours.. it dulled fast when we lost Rachel"

"Oh, the poor woman!" She sighs, then sips her drink in thought.

"And...what of your father? How is he taking it all?"

"Dad's throwing himself into two jobs, one full time to help pay everyone's way.. hospital bills mostly but it's not enough"

"So he's depleted, too. But before...?"

"We were happier before" He says in that tone he's not sure he knows what they mean and is guessing

"I mean...what did your father do before he had to work so hard?"

"oh? He managed a department store, not a big chain or anything"

"Mm." She nods and sips...and looks to August.

"Sorry, it's really quite uncanny, the two of you."

"mmm?" A look back

"Well...you resemble each other. I wouldn't be surprised if you were...distant cousins, or something."

"Oh I noticed that too" he admits "But I'm not adopted, honest."

"Nor am I."

'Catherine' laughs lightly. "Oh, I'm sure it's just one of those things."

She sips her drink again.

And looks to August.

"Well now I have to ask, just to be fair, do you have a sister, Catherine? Or are you one of a kind?"

"Me? I'm just me. Why?"

"Well if she was single and looked anything like you I'd hope August would introduce me to her"A light blush at the ear tips

August smiles shyly at that and sips his tea.

She beams. "That's sweet." She rests a hand on August's arm. "If I ever find my double, though, I'll let you know."

"Thank you, so what do you do? I mean... August is going into law like me. Are you in college as well?"

"Mm-hm! August and I go to the same college, actually. I'm taking equestrian studies. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with the degree, yet, but I have some ideas."

(TBC)