Excerpt: Albatross Fourteen

Brett groaned again. Even he knew that there was no way in god’s holy heaven that he could ever even START to blame the current situation on Kitt. He just knew – intuitively – that if he tried it would be worse for everyone and – more to the point – worst for him. And he was also fairly certain that all the women in the office would have suggested that Kitt was as transparent as glass and that the only person WRONG in this situation was he – Brett – because he harboured some non-specific traits of maleness that seemed congenitally predispose him to stupidity.

He was not stupid. He was certain of that. And even if he was, he was not prepared to admit it to Kitt.

If only he could think of some way to get the conversation started. Maybe things would flow freely and Kitt would let him off the hook or at least exercise some leniency or forgive him for being a man. That would be nice. He could stand at her door and fumble and mumble and cross the floor with a toe with a downward glance and she would feel sorry for him and how clearly awkward and embarrassed he was at his behaviour and find his tongue tiedness someone endearing and enchanting and in on great show of taking the high road, she would simply say, “you are forgiven. Now get out of my office.”

All at once, Brett brightened. This was a palatable scenario. He could easily see this playing out as he had imagined it. He felt suddenly buoyant and capable and not at all defeated. This apology was going to be simple, straightforward and he would not have to actually apologize for much except – well – hint at the beginning that he might have in the slighted possible fashion been a wee bit mistaken about an approach with Kitt regarding a question of clear innocence that she had utterly misinterpreted and blamed him for.