Pauline simply shone with a perfect, unsullied happiness as she waved a quick farewell to Connor with the tablet in her hand. "Thank you," she said softly, feeling a little silly at the moment when she realized she was getting teary-eyed in her happiness. [i]'Hormonal, Pauline. Little Eva's just making you ridiculously hormonal... '[/i] Nausea and the occasional mad dash for the nearest garbage can, emotional ups and downs to rival any Earth roller coaster: the indignities of pregnancy were only just beginning, and Pauline wasn't entirely convinced that far-fuller bust line and incrementally more lustrous hair were going to make up for what was yet come.

But she had a job now. An honest-to-God job for Third Shift that she had [i]earned[/i], truly earned with her own know-how, her own abilities and willingness to work. She had at least one co-worker and a new boss who had never met her father, couldn't have cared less who he was or knew or did. This had nothing to do with condescending pity for poor, sad Pauline the victim either.

That last thought lit her freckle-dusted face as if a tiny sun had sparked just beneath her ivory skin. Not even Handsome's gentle rejection could break her heart at this moment, the soft press of his paw telling her all she needed to know of the enormous, lovely cat's desire for company at the moment. Certainly not wishing to end up like poor Reece, Pauline oh-so-wisely lifted her hand away, instead rubbing at the corners of her pale blue eyes with her palm, making sure none of those overly-emotional but oh-so happy tears sprouted onto her cheeks. 

Hormonal tears fully in check, she wrapped both hands easily about her tablet as she looked up to her new boss, grinning up into those stunning grey eyes. She decided then and there, it was truly no hardship to do so - she could likely get quite used to this view. 

"So... Connor's blessing. This means I stay, yes Owen?" Pauline did not truly expect to hear the word [i]'no'[/i] from his lips, but some small, likely childish impulse in her still wanted to hear the confirmation all over again, in that low, warm voice that - strangely enough - put her in mind of singing Spring creeks. 

"And please, don't mind the garbage - [i]particularly[/i] if it smells of middle-aged depression," she quipped with a grin, "I'll take it by recycling when I le- "

Pauline's tablet buzzed in her hands, and her brow furrowed curiously as her eyes swept downward, taking in the whole of Pastor... Doctor?... Or just-plain-Park's message for her at a glance.. She bit her lower lip softly, worrying the tender pink flesh for a moment with her teeth. Pauline knew she would, of course, reply to this gentle invitation. She liked tea just fine of course, and she loved those gardens even more. Though how this gentleman would already know such a thing about her? She could not begin to guess. His offer seemed genuine enough, though she was nowhere near yet ready to let go of these last, sweet moments of anonymity quite yet - 

"Oh! So sorry Owen!" Pauline's pale blue eyes went wide as she realized she'd been lost some long moments in her own woe-is-me thoughts, and probably making a heck of an impression on the mining ship pilot, the crew chief for Hangar Six who was likely even now, reconsidering the wisdom of hiring on such a flighty airhead. 

She shook her head quickly as if to clear her thoughts, her tablet turned over once more in her hands. "I was just saying, I'll take the garbage bags with me when I leave. It's not a problem at all. And... Well [i]thank you[/i], for giving me this chance."