I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Sixty-Nine

The routine of the start of Trinity helped Alex and I fall back into the routine we'd had before the break in, which made me very happy. Routine made me happy as a rule. I found it to be some comfort in a chaotic world. Unlike, say, touring, which was nothing if unsettling. As I began making my pre-tour lists I also I began mentally preparing for my tour, which was to begin in late July with a kick off party at the press in London. I knew that in many ways this tour would be worse than the others because now everyone would want to ask about the attack. They most likely wouldn't—because that would be impolite—but they'd want to and their curiosity would hang in the air. That was almost worse than openly being asked about it. Almost.

At my birthday Alex gave me an over-sized rectangular box, in it was an enormous t-shirt, an even larger towel and a bathing suit. Along with several bottles of SPF 75 sun block. As I bemusedly examined the contents she smiled. I asked, 'Uh...we're going to Brighton?'

She snorted, 'No. Greece. You need a break before your tour.'

'I'll need a break after the tour, as well. Where are we going then?'

'Term starts shortly after your tour so you'll have to get all your relaxing in beforehand.'

I nodded, 'Ah.' Then I realised what she'd said. 'We're going to Greece?'

Her smile widened, 'It's beautiful there, sweetheart. A great place to begin a new us.'

I looked at my box of holiday things and said delightedly, 'Oh, boy. I get to avoid the sun somewhere else.'

She laughed, then said, 'Speaking of a new start...I've been thinking of something and I wanted your opinion.' She grew serious, which made me wary.

'All right.'

'I've been thinking of taking my birth name again, Mikhailov.' To my quizzical expression she shook her head and looked at her hands and said, 'I know it sounds daft, but I...feel like a different person now...and...would like my old name back.'

'You don't have to explain. I think that's a great idea.'

'Do you?'

I smiled, 'Yes, why wouldn't I? May I change my name, as well?'

She laughed, 'To what?'

I shrugged, '"Catherine Mikhailov" has a nice ring to it.'

'Everyone will think you're my daughter then.'

'Oh, fair point.' I took her hand and cocked my head to a proud angle, 'I should be honoured to be mad on Professor Alexandra Mikhailov,' I kissed the back of her hand and she smiled. Then I kissed her dimple. I rather liked the idea of her changing her name as a new start. And I couldn't wait to go to Greece. I said cheerfully, 'Now I can spend the next three weeks learning useful Greek. Oh boy, I get to go book shopping.' I clapped my hands together in a show of excitement and she smiled,

'Unwrap your other present.' Which, of course, was a phrase book.

I hugged her, 'You know me so well.' I ruffled little Cate's head and addressed her, 'We're going on holiday! Oh. I suppose you're not, but we'll do terribly interesting things so you'll have lots to sniff out when we return.' She sneezed in response, but it was a sneeze of excitement, I could tell.

I immediately got onto making flash cards to learn my new phrases. I hadn't had a truly sweltering summer in ages—it would be like being back in the States. Except without my family. And everyone would be speaking another language. And we'd be on an island in the Mediterranean. Okay, so it would be nothing like being back in the States.