Kate and the Kid

The girl sat still for a few seconds. Kate could hear the sound of the fruit juice being drained through the straw, and the girl's chest heaved once inside the curl of Kate's arm. Then, quick as a young frisky cub, she spun and threw her arms around Kate's neck. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her face was contorted with the effort not to cry. She nuzzled awkwardly against Kate and kissed her over and over with little pecks that covered her forehead and eyes and chin. "I love you, Katy," she said in her high-pitched voice. "I love you so much."